Broken stood tall on the final island, his face set in a determined expression as he took in the lay of the land. His once gleaming armor was now smeared with dirt, and his hair was disheveled from the relentless battles he’d fought. He clenched his fists, bracing himself for the next challenge, resolute in his determination to see this through to the end, no matter the cost. It had taken him three grueling days to reach this point.
[Name: Broken]
[Courage Points: 4,727,200]
He had earned bonus Courage Points multiple times, gradually amassing a substantial amount by the trial’s end. Though he wasn’t entirely sure of their purpose, he hoped that Courage Points in such a vast number would yield exceptional rewards. Today, he was resolute about completing the trial!
In addition to the rewards he had garnered up to the ninth island in the Trial Domain, he had gained an extra 55 stat points, which significantly bolstered his fighting potential. Without hesitation, he allocated all the newly acquired stat points to enhance his strength.
[Name: Broken]
[Level: 50]
[Classes: Super Novice | Royal Blacksmith]
[Health: 1,980 | Mana: 2,268]
[Strength: 395 | Agility: 164 | Intelligence: 194 | Constitution: 148 | Stamina: 150]
[Charisma: 50 | Luck: 25 | Dexterity: 40 | Survival: 20]
[Available Stat Points: 0]
[Weight: 1,780/2,370]
He had meticulously balanced his stats to suit his fighting style, and this recent allocation was his most up-to-date reflection. He had felt the difference in his recent battles against the golems; he recognized the need for more Mana, but he couldn’t afford to neglect his Strength, which was crucial for amplifying his overall damage output.
Despite being only at level 50, his overall stat profile was comparable to those at levels 70 or 80, thanks to the numerous significant achievements he had completed, earning him plenty of extra stat points as rewards.
In addition to his stat points, Broken now possesses three Elite-grade Golem Cores at levels 160, 165, and 170. The thing is, he has no idea how to utilize these cores yet. Maybe they can be used to create Golems? There’s a Player Class related to Golem creation, so they could potentially be valuable if sold. However, he decides to hang on to them until he figures out their true purpose.
Broken walked slowly across the floating island, and what he encountered at its center was a stone altar.
The stone altar was a pristine white, illuminating the area with its bright light. Its surface was smooth and unblemished, standing tall amidst the swirling mist. Intricate designs of winding lines were carved into its base. A strange energy emanated from it, giving off an almost ethereal feeling.
“Let’s see what they’ve got for me this time,” Broken proclaimed, just seconds before a set of inscriptions materialized in front of him.
[The Challenge of Courage.]
As Broken stood in front of the stone altar, he noticed a silhouette looming in the distance. Squinting to sharpen his vision, he discerned that it was a human figure-perhaps another adventurer or a player like himself?
“An enemy?” he muttered under his breath, suspicion creeping into his voice.
Before he could ponder further, several other figures emerged from various points on the island, encircling him from all sides. Behind these adventurers, monstrous forms began to take shape, their massive frames casting ominous shadows across the ground.
“Those are enemies, Master,” Polly whispered.
“Yes, it seems that way.”
The earth beneath his feet trembled as more and more of these beasts crawled out from every corner, hemming him in and blocking off any possible escape routes. It felt as though hundreds of them raged around him, each one carefully eyeing him up and down, sizing up their prey.
[This is your chance to show the extent of your courage!]
“What the hell is happening here?” Broken muttered, sweat beading on his forehead and his heart pounding wildly in his chest. He knew he was in serious trouble and braced himself for what was to come next.
Polly, who remained by Broken’s side, stood straight and stoic, seemingly unaffected by the situation unfolding around them.
“Do we need to fight all of them?” he murmured under his breath.
And then, from the stone altar, glowing text appeared and hovered in front of him. The letters arranged themselves into fragments that seemed familiar to him – he had encountered them during his struggle until here. They belonged to a story he had been trying to piece together.
[She was the hope. The chosen one.] freēwēbnovel.com
[She survived. While the others perished.]
[She lived with those lower than her. She was saved by the humble one.]
[But, another disaster struck. A calamity seemed to follow her.]
[Everything perished. Except her.]
[She was so isolated. She felt forgotten and forlorn.]
[The voice told her of her destiny. To fulfill a heavy duty of her people.]
[The girl had a choice to make. To accept her fate or run away.]
[She thought of the people she used to know. But they were gone, so she chose to stay.]
Broken stood still, cautiously surveying the area as the creatures surrounding him crept closer. Sweat trickled down his face, his eyes darting from one creature to the next, ready to react at a moment’s notice.
[Pick your fate.]
“Yeah, finally,” he muttered slowly, almost to himself.
[It takes an act of indomitable courage, unfaltering honesty, and a deep passion for your dreams to achieve greatness. Those who embody these three principles can forge ahead with unwavering conviction, ready to face whatever adversity may come in pursuit of their goals.]
“Yes, and then?” Broken asked.
[You have two options:]
[First, surrender the Trial and forfeit, leaving you unscathed.]
[Second, show your courage and fight. Face the onslaught from all directions but with the risk of losing everything. The stakes are high: if you fail, you will lose ten levels if you die in this
challenge.]
Broken felt the weight of the decision pressing down on him. As he stood there, surrounded by enemies, Polly by his side, he knew the choice would determine the path he would take.
“So if I choose to make it out of this trial domain unscathed, I won’t get anything,” Broken mused aloud. “But then, I risk losing ten levels if I choose to advance and possibly lose the
final battle.”
He took a deep breath and allowed a slight smile to crease his lips. “I hope this Trial Domain realizes that I can regain those levels just by relaxing in an inn. So, for me, the second option
is always the best choice.”
Though he could almost taste the fear on his tongue, and every cell in his body screamed at him to turn back, he took another deep breath and steeled himself for the fight ahead.
“I’d rather take a risk and push forward, even without knowing the outcome, than turn around and go home empty-handed,” he declared with unwavering resolve.
He clenched his fists tightly. “I have decided!”
With a firm nod, he chose the second option.
Suddenly, a barrage of notifications flooded his view, overwhelming his senses.
[Congratulations! You have successfully overcome the Fate Trial – The Challenge of Courage
Level 150.]
“What the heck!” he exclaimed in disbelief.