The moment Artemia sat on the magic circle and closed her eyes, she was sent somewhere.
When Artemia opened her eyes again, the entirely different scenery stunned her. At that moment, it was no longer the circular room of the dungeon but a vast, pitch-black land instead. The sky was also incomparably dark.
Artemia's lips curled up, and she muttered.
''So, it's how it's going to be.''
Seconds later, along with deep roars that echoed, mysterious creatures emerged one after another. They had strange appearances, constantly swaying like shadows and snapping their massive jaws open to reveal terrifying glow from their razor-sharp teeth.
''You lots won't even serve as a warm-up.''
Just as her words were finished, Artemia had already moved, passing the mysterious creatures.
These mysterious creatures got wiped out.
After wiping out the enemies in one single attack, Artemia didn't continue her offense immediately. On the contrary, she scanned her surroundings before sighing.
''To think I will be sent here, on the continent we fought and lost. Who will think that my trial would be here.''
There was a tower in the distance. Since the tower was the only building on the vast, empty plains, it was apparent that it was the venue for her trial.
After walking for about fifteen minutes, Artemia arrived before the small tower; pushing open the tower doors, she went inside.
The first floor was pitch black before it became suddenly brighter.
Standing before Artemia was something that looks like a human; it had pitch-black skin, he held a giant black hammer.
''As I thought, it turned out to be your old friend-"
''Grrrr! GRRR!"
The black-skinned man growled. Artemia sighed. Even though this thing looks like one of her friends, she knew it wasn't him because the real thing died a long time ago.
Swoosh!
The man dashed toward Artemia with his hammer raised high, stepping on the side. Artemia dodged the blow.
''Even though it was your shadow, only an illusion, you still don't change. Always charge recklessly, Marcus. Let's me put your rest, my dear friend.''
Artemia tapped on the floor twice; a blue lightning snake appeared out of thin air and tried to wrap around the black-skinned man; however, before the lightning snake could, the black-skinned man struck the beast with his hammer.
Bang!
The lightning snake got destroyed; however, it reappeared shortly after; this time, the lightning snake was already before the man.
Just before the lightning snake could bit the man, a wall made of black earth appeared and blocked the snake's attack.
Artemia disappeared and reappeared not too far from the black-skinned man; she seemed to be waiting for something, and what she was waiting for finally came.
From the ground, numerous black spikes were shot out and tried to skewer Artemia; the latter nimbly dodged those spikes; she was even smiling as she dodged.
''When alive, you never beat me, not even once; I may have been weakened now; however, you won't still be able to beat me. You are not even the real thing.''
Somehow Artemia appeared behind the man; the spikes couldn't injure her, almost as if she knew where to go, the weakness of this skill.
She put her hand on the man's back; the latter stood there, not doing almost as if he was begging to be killed.
''You may rest now; this time, I will not fail.''
''Incinerate, Lightning Blaze.''
Zila~ Boom!
Blue lightning flame covered the black-skinned man before destroying him; at the end, he seemed to have smiled; he wanted to turn his head to say something. Unfortunately, he couldn't.
''Don't worry, I know. I will look after her.''
Artemia seemed to have understood what her friend was trying to convey.
Looking at the lightning flame on her fingers, she sighed.
''I must quickly complete this trial. Alex and Isabella should be waiting for me.''
She muttered before going to the second floor.
The moment she entered, she found herself standing in a prairie, not too far from where she stood as a person.
This person was facing the other side, his back facing Artemia; it was a man. He seemed to know that Artemia has appeared, slowly he turned to face her, he was smiling, it was an extremely handsome man, green hair and eyes, long sharp ears, his skin was so white that you might mistake him for a woman based on his skin.
''How have you been, little Eretria?"
Surprisingly, the man opened his mouth and spoke; his voice was soothing to one's mind.
It took Artemia some time to calm down her emotions; even though she was prepared after seeing Marcus on the 1st floor, encountering this man here sent her emotions into turmoil; for a moment, she has trouble speaking, her eyes were red. It was to be expected; she respects this man too much; she was not the only one, there was another reason for her to become so emotional, this man was her first love, an unrequited love, not that she had not tried telling him that she loves him. However, the answer was no; the man was already in love with someone else. That person was none other than Elseria; ironically, Elseria was not interested in love, so she refused. Her sole purpose in life was to go to higher worlds to find her birth parent.
''I'm Big brother Elesim! For a dead man, you look healthy. As always, your skin made one jealous. I almost want to skin your and wear your skin.''
Elesim smiled; even his smile was beautiful.
''Rude as always. How is Elseria doing? Has she recovered her strength yet?" He asked; the concern in his voice couldn't be faked.
'Sigh! Even dead, you still care about her even when she didn't want you. How deep is your love to still exist even after your death? Even when you became a ghost?'
She inwardly wondered.
'It even makes one jealous.'
''Don't be jealous, even though unanswered, I could only love her. Sigh! Only at the end, she smiled at me, a genuine smile; it was to hide her sadness. I was happy; I died with only one regret. Let's forget these sad things. Can you please answer my question?"
Artemia heaved a long sigh!