Chapter 226 - Is This Really A Trial? (2/2)
”Well…this is a first,” Argentum said after processing what the disembodied voice had just said, feeling that the inheritance was now becoming serious. Letting out a light chuckle, he then said, ”A ten-minute break would be more than enough for me to reach its max level…and probably reach the Basic level of mastery?”
”I guess I'll just have to grind it to find out,” Argentum said, only for him to remember the massive killing spree he had undergone before entering the inheritance, making him slightly radiate an aura of feeling pained.
”Ugh…never again…”
…
In a deeper part of the Flame Spirit Inheritance.
”Hoh? For a Pseudo-Animate, it's quite smart,” the woman made out of flames said as she looked at the screen wherein Argentum was clearing the first trial. In fact, the screen with Argentum on it was the only screen in front of her field of vision, wanting to focus on his journey in clearing the inheritance.
”Well, it's definitely deserving of a reward,” she said not long after, manipulating a bit of her energy to send a reward she had handpicked towards the Pseudo-Animate she was looking at. At the very instant the Pseudo-Animate had obtained the reward, an aura of disbelief radiated from the Pseudo-Animate, making her laugh at its reaction.
”Hmm…” A few seconds later, the woman made out of flames pondered over what the second trial for the Pseudo-Animate was going to be, an aura of playfulness radiating from her soon after as she chuckled and said, ”How about making the second trial be related to the reward it had just got?”
”This would surely allow it to become more familiar with wielding the Fire element. Not only that, but it might just affect its evolution choices as well,” she said in an interested and cheerful tone. ”I wonder what kind of species it'll evolve into with such a skill? A Pseudo-Animate that has an affinity with both Fire and Wind at the same time? Or will it turn out into a Pseudo-Animate that has one element become dominant and the other recessive?”
”I almost forgot about the reward!” Realizing that her train of thought had slightly gone off course, she brought herself back to her previous train of thought, which was related to the reward the Pseudo-Animate would get from the second trial. Pondering over it for a bit, a burst of raucous laughter resounded from her not long after as she shouted, ”Yeah! That'll be incredibly interesting!”
”I'll have the reward be a part of the trial!”
…
Ten minutes had eventually passed since Argentum had started grinding out [Lesser Flame Magic]. Surprisingly, his prediction from ten minutes ago was not wrong, with the skill being at its maximum level while the level of mastery he had over the skill was at the Basic level.
Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
Manipulating a ball of fire like it was an extension of his limbs, Argentum could not help but look at it as he muttered, ”It seems that [Lesser Wind Magic] and [Lesser Flame Magic] both have the same spells at the beginning grades. An offensive spell in the shape of a ball and…”
”[Lesser Flame Magic: Flame Bolt]!”
Fwoosh!
Not long after, a bolt of fire was soon conjured over his right palm, using his thoughts to move the bolt of fire around like it was some sort of fish afterward. Seeing the bolt of fire move, he then said, ”An offensive spell in the shape of a bolt.”
”Does that mean I'll also get a movement boosting spell once I evolve it to the next grade?” Argentum could not help but ponder over this, thinking that the two magic-related skills would give him the same spells, with the only difference between being their elements. Then again, it kind of made sense, seeing as how both of them had the same types of spells at the start.
Just as he was about to delve deeper into what seemed to be a rabbit hole of overthinking, the disembodied voice resounded in the room once more, prompting Argentum to dispel the spells he had just conjured and focus all of his attention towards the voice.
”The inheritor's ten-minute break is now over. The inheritance shall now prepare the stage for the second trial.” This was what the disembodied voice said, which was soon followed up with a rumbling sound as the pillars became flush with the floor.
Rumble…
A few seconds later, a support beam that went from one end to another end of the wall manifested, taking on the color of the stone that covered the room. Not long after that, five large hooks appeared on this stone-colored beam, giving off an aura that even a light touch on their tips would tear a person into two.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
After the hooks had appeared, one by one, what seemed to be large slabs of meat appeared in the large stone room, which hung upon the five large hooks that appeared a few seconds ago.
Seeing this sight in front of him, Argentum was left at a loss for words since he had no idea what he was going to do for this trial. Fortunately, the disembodied voice soon dispelled Argentum's confusion, explaining the mechanics of the second trial.
”The name of the second trial is Flame Mastery Control,” the disembodied voice said before adding, ”The goal of this trial is for the inheritor to use their prowess with the [Lesser Flame Magic] skill to cook these five slabs of meat to perfection.”
”The inheritor does not have to worry about the meat becoming burnt. This inheritance will tell the inheritor whether the meat has reached an optimal temperature from the exposure of the inheritor's flame magic,” the disembodied voice continued with its explanation.
”To obtain the highest reward, the inheritor must cook all 5 slabs of meat to perfection,” the disembodied voice added in the last minute before saying, ”Let the trial begin!”
”…” Although he had listened to the disembodied voice intently, making sure to process it in his mind to get a better understanding of it, Argentum was still left at a loss for words, radiating an aura of intense disbelief as he truly cannot believe the trial he was going to clear.
Taking in a deep breath, he looked at the slabs of meat before looking up at the ceiling. Letting out a long sigh, he then went ahead and shouted…
”Is this really a trial?!”