Chapter 78 - Qualification – 3 (2/2)

It wasn’t even a matter of will. She stimulated the instincts that laid deep within everyone- contained at the base of one’s soul- and forced them to come forward. It couldn’t be prevented with a skill, nor resistances to abnormal statuses. All that awaited me here was defeat. As I progressed through the fifth game again, I realized aberration tolerance wasn’t enough, but it could help a bit.

‘Now I know…’ The moment I gained Jinma’s mana; I felt like I had grabbed onto the edge of a power beyond the realm of her skills. I was able to feel my strength all the better after I emptied myself completely, the power of the mana that filled my soul and forged a new one. ‘This power…a more powerful force than any I’ve encountered before.’ It was too obvious. To overcome her power, I also had to have something outside of the realm of skill. For me, that was Predation. I wouldn’t be able to eat her power, it was beyond me, but I could pick the ones I could eat out of the parts that made up her abilities.

‘There’s one.’ It had been impossible before, but now?

“…Hm…” Her expression, previously one of ease, collapsed slightly for the first time. I had successfully broken through her balance of power, and I enjoyed the sight of her frustration as she ground her teeth. My work was done on the windows, roof, walls, and gate of the castle. I controlled the blocks and stacked them easily with my mana, moving them through the optimal route I had envisioned.

“No… not enough yet…”

“That’s enough.” It felt like I was cheating to interfere with her movements, but I laughed it off as I finished my work elsewhere and avoided her hand. Her Fascination erupted strongly for a moment, but I was able to cover myself with the energy of my Predation, the power of it rising up to cover my soul in its entirety to eat her attack. It wasn’t quite like mana or even devouring the energies of life and death, but it felt similar. It felt like it was energy related to Jinma, which meant it would be possible to eat with Predation now.

“This skill…!” Her interference in my building was gradually slowing as my pace only grew. The castle gates were complete now, as well as the wall and the windows. Even the tiles of floors were done, and her frustration grew in measure with how much she was now puffing out her cheeks.

“It’s too fast!”

“I should have realized this when I earned the mana of Jinma.” It wasn’t as easy as it might have seemed. It was hard to pick out the mana of Jinma amongst her various powers. Nor was it easy to actually eat it once I found it. The process wasn’t perfect, and it wasn’t possible to absorb abilities, but still, I was devouring what I could to give myself strength. I was starting to overpower my opponent now, using all the energy I could to manage my sensing and movement skills. As she attempted to read my movements, she was able to catch the moment she had lost. In a final attempt, L grabbed my wrist to try and stop me as I finished the top of the last spire.

[You have won the fifth game of the Garden of Nak.]

[You have acquired one of the qualifications needed to unseal the castle.]

Her foul expression confirmed my victory, but she surprised me by releasing my wrist and shaking my hand. The last part I had placed rotated around in the air, changing in color and light as it moved to the top floor to finish the final decoration.

“Why…?” The voice left me for a reason I didn’t know.

“It’s your victory.” L ignored my question, responding angrily.

“This is it?”

“You just don’t know yet.” I examined the completed castle. It was just a toy, but it looked rather realistic and even a bit magnificent—the practical product of meticulous design. I wouldn’t have minded living in such a place myself. ‘But what does it mean?’ There was no doubt some hidden meaning to this game that I didn’t know yet, and it would most likely impact me in the future. Perhaps this toy castle had some sort of connection to the castle I was attempting to unseal? I didn’t know, and I didn’t want to ask L out of fear of the answer. I was becoming quite used to their secrecy nowadays anyway.

“It’s all over now. Go away.”

“Alright.” Despite my agreement, she immediately rose out of her seat to stop me from leaving, her expression angry. I briefly felt that she was making herself a bit of a nuisance as I sat back down. L was still regarding me with a harsh look.

“I have a little time left, can I stay here for a bit?”

“Oh…just for a little bit. Are you busy?” Her expression relaxed a bit as she asked me this.

“Well, if I evolve I may not be able to return to the Rookie’s Battlefield, and I need to organize some stuff there before that happens. There is also – “

“…get out.”

“What? Wait a second…”

“Fool!”

I was instantly kicked out of the Garden of Nak, unsure of what just happened. I shook it off quickly, turning my mind to the Rookie’s Battlefield. I had to consider when I would enter there next.