“What is the condition for us to leave the Trial?” Broken asked.
“Meow… I’m so generous… I will allow one of you to leave the Trial. Isn’t that an enticing offer?” Flauros continued.
Broken nodded slowly at the explanation.
“Broken, let me take the responsibility. You don’t need to sacrifice yourself for me. Take the offer,” Alora insisted.
Broken turned to her, gripping her hand tighter. “You know I won’t leave you here alone, right?” he said. freewebnσvel.cѳm
“No,” Alora replied firmly. “Why should you? Just because you can revive after you die? But I’m not someone who will leave while someone sacrifices for me.”
Broken shook his head. “We will stay here, together,” he responded.
“No, that’s not a good answer. The level of the monsters will keep rising; we won’t be able to get through it,” Alora argued.
“Are you being pessimistic, Princess?” he asked softly.
“This isn’t about pessimism; it’s about being realistic. The current monster levels are already very difficult, and we still have another six waves to go,” she answered firmly.
“You have a kingdom to protect; they need you,” he insisted.
“But a warrior doesn’t back down from a challenge, Broken. Please understand my position,” she affirmed.
“You said you would trust my decision,” he replied.
Alora fell silent, but it was clear she was still determined. “I won’t let you die for me.”
“I said I would die hundreds of times for you,” he reiterated.
“And I won’t let you do it for me.”
“I will survive, we will survive, and I will claim my reward,” Broken asserted once more.
Alora shook her head. “I will command you with my authority.”
Broken shook his head, too. “In this situation, you have no authority, Princess. You yourself said that we players aren’t the type to bow to authority,” he reminded her.
They were both equally stubborn, standing their ground.
“Meow, you don’t have much time. This is a one-time offer. Or do you prefer to die together, meow? I warn you, that’s not the right choice,” Flauros pressed, increasing the tension.
It was another message from Maylock that solidified Broken’s decision.
[Maylock: “Trial Domains are usually meant to be tackled by one person, Broken. But you’re an anomaly, being able to enter a Trial Domain while someone else is working on it.
I believe this means the Trial could become easier to complete. That’s probably why the demon showed up—he’s worried the Trial may actually be completed. Try to fight the demon; if he refuses, it might indicate there’s a restriction on him.
Yes, my conclusion is, hold on until the end. Don’t worry about the demons’ level in each wave. Good luck. Me, Elincia, and the others are on our way there.”]
Broken turned back to Flauros. “I’m afraid we need to refuse your offer, Mr. Cat Demon.”
“Hahaha… Meow, you both are so foolish and naive. I have warned you! You will die a pointless death.”
Another message from Maylock echoed in Broken’s mind, reinforcing his resolve.
[Maylock: “In this regard, Broken, you can’t reveal the secret behind the demon’s illusion. Doing so would affect the restrictions set by the demons. You have to fully act as if you are deceived by their illusions. You can’t tell Alora about the fake demons’ levels either; it will be hard. I hope you succeed.”]
With this in mind, Broken steeled his resolve. “We will see who ends up laughing in the end,” he said.
“You’re so stupid, meow!” The demon smiled wickedly before his body vanished.
They steeled themselves for the next challenge.
Alora grabbed Broken’s left wrist and held it tightly. “Why did you waste that opportunity?” she said firmly.
“You wouldn’t have left, would you? And neither will I.”
“You can’t be that stubborn, can you?”
“Take a look in the mirror, Princess. You’re just as stubborn.”
“But this is my problem!” she insisted.
“You invited me on this expedition, and now you expect me to shirk my responsibilities?” he retorted.
[Wave 5 of 10 in the Abyssal Arena will begin shortly. Prepare yourself.]
[Bloodfiend Lv. 237]
[Hellfire Knight Lv. 239]
[Bone Collector Lv. 242]
“I tried to save you,” Alora reiterated.
“And I did the same,” Broken countered. “Two heads are better than one. We’ll face this together until the end.”
Alora took a deep breath and nodded. “I hope you don’t regret this.”
Another battle erupted, much like the ones before. Broken focused intently on killing the demons, regardless of their perceived levels. Although each clash was grueling-especially given their dwindling resources-Broken noted something peculiar. Maylock’s words echoed in his mind as he observed the damage he inflicted on the demos. It was exactly as he stated: the demons’ levels hadn’t genuinely increased; it was merely a visual illusion. “Damn,” Broken thought, marveling at how Maylock had foreseen this aspect. It was no wonder he was regarded as the brain of the Ass Guild. Maylock could solve problems even when not directly involved.
Despite this revelation, the battle remained exceedingly tough. Fatigue was setting in, and their concentration waned with the growing number of monsters. The strain on their bodies and minds was relentless. Nonetheless, They fought through it, each move calculated and each strike delivered with precision.
Their combined efforts, along with the invaluable support from Polly, allowed them to tackle the monstrous hordes. Broken’s spear and Alora’s sword moved in deadly harmony, cutting down foes left and right. Polly’s agility and control over the battlefield kept the chaos
manageable.
Finally, they emerged victorious from the seemingly insurmountable challenge of the 5th wave. The final demon fell, the sound of its collapse echoing through the arena, leaving behind a profound silence.
Broken and Alora stood amidst the remnants of their battle, breaths heavy, bodies aching, but
spirits unbroken.
“I can’t believe we managed that,” Broken said.
“We’re not done yet, but this gives us hope,” Alora replied
They locked eyes, still catching their breath, and then they both broke into small, relieved
laughter, sharing a brief moment of levity amidst the chaos.
“You’re the most stubborn person I’ve ever met!” Alora said firmly. “I hate you.”
“That’s not a proper way for a princess to speak, is it, Princess?”
“You don’t see me as a princess whose words you must follow!” she shot back, her tone
equally firm. “That’s your own mistake.”
“I don’t. But I see you as a princess I must protect!” he replied.
“I should be stronger than this.” She said quietly.
“You’re strong. Stronger than you think,” he said softly. “The battle would be harder if you
weren’t you.”
[In this heavy moment, Alora slowly realized she could place more trust in Broken. His unwavering dedication had shown her his true intent, and it bolstered her resolve to fight
even harder beside him.]
[Alora feels she can place more trust in you. Her affinity with you has increased to 47%.]
[In the future, she will put even more trust in you and become a reliable ally to you.]
“Thanks,” Alora replied.
“We have another five waves to face. Are you ready?”
“I’ve been ready since the day I was born.”
“I love your answer,” he said softly.
“You’ll need to love me as a person too if you manage to bring me back from this trial,” Alora
added.
Broken paused for a moment and then chuckled. “Please don’t bring that up now, Princess. I
might lose concentration.”
“That should motivate you further, so no complaints. It’s a command.”
“Aye, Your Highness,” he responded with a playful grin.
A notification appeared before them, pulling their attention back to the trial at hand.
[Wave 6 of 10 in the Abyssal Arena will begin shortly. Prepare yourself.]