[B3]Chapter 182: Race to the Hundredth Step

Witnessing Liliana's torment tore at Theo's heart. He couldn’t bear to see her succumbing to the malevolent spirits any longer.

Stepping closer, he knelt beside her. "Don’t listen to them. This isn’t real. These are lies. You’re stronger than this."

His hand hovered over her head, hesitating for a moment. Then, with a tenderness he rarely showed, he gently caressed her silver hair, hoping to offer some comfort.

Theo didn’t know the nature of the sin she believed she had committed, but he knew one thing for certain: It was nearly impossible for him to hate this girl. Whatever burden she carried, it wasn’t hers to bear alone. No matter what these whispers claimed, he would stand by her side—always.

His reassurance seemed to form an invisible barrier around her, the whispers momentarily losing their power as Liliana’s tear-filled eyes met his. There was uncertainty in her gaze, but the bitter memories still clung to her, holding her in their grip.

“Whatever they’re showing you, it’s not the truth,” Theo said softly, gazing at her.

Liliana stared into his eyes—eyes that reminded her of someone she loved deeply, someone she had grown up with.

Yet, these eyes were not silver but a unique cyan, shining like gems born from the depths of an enchanted sea. The connection wasn’t clear, but in that brief moment, she relived the beautiful memories of her time with that person. It was enough to pull her from the clutches of darkness. She remembered that their bond wasn’t so fragile as to be broken by a single mistake.

As her resolve strengthened, the whispers around her began to fade, losing their venomous hold.

Liliana wiped away her tears, her expression turning cold with renewed resolve. Rising to her feet, her form began to radiate with a golden halo that spread outwards, enveloping the entire forest in a brilliant, cleansing light as if the sun itself had descended to illuminate the world.

The whispers turned into anguished screams, "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”

The shadowy figures and lifeless trees began to twist and writhe, their forms disintegrating in the scorching purity of her holy light, like candles melting under an intense flame.

Even the dark, murky water beneath their feet met the same fate, evaporating in her radiant glow, leaving behind only the cleansed earth and the remnants of a world no longer haunted by shadows.

Theo marveled at the sight as Liliana effortlessly erased the haunted forest with her power. Within mere seconds, the eerie landscape vanished, replaced by a serene grass field, as though they had never encountered the twisted nightmare at all.

As the situation calmed, Liliana’s gaze returned to Theo, her eyes filled with questions.

But Theo, misinterpreting her stare, stepped back, reestablishing the distance they had maintained since the beginning.

Liliana brushed her fingers against her head, the gentle touch that had brought her some comfort in the midst of chaos. Her emotions were in turmoil after confronting her darkest fears.

"What’s that place?" Theo muttered, loud enough for Liliana to hear and divert her attention.

She followed his gaze, noticing a towering structure about three meters away, resembling a massive wall that extended far into the distance.

The structure intrigued Theo less than it did Liliana. His primary aim was to distract her, to help her move past the bitter memories she had just faced. He could tell she was trying to regain her composure, though the remnants of her inner turmoil were still evident.

Liliana steadied herself, pushing aside the lingering emotions, and began making her way toward the wall.

Theo followed in silence, his focus more on her than the structure ahead. He could see that her icy demeanor had returned, but he knew she wasn’t okay.

As they neared the wall, a stone gate slid open with a heavy, grinding sound, revealing a path inside.

The gate led them into a vast, desolate arena bathed in a pale, ghostly light. The stands surrounding the field were empty, yet the arena itself was immense.

At the center of the arena stood a burly, middle-aged man clad in regal but decayed armor. In his hand, he clutched the Thornwood Wardstone.

Beside him stood a familiar white-robed man. His face was no longer hidden behind a mask, revealing gray hair that framed a sharp jawline and a neatly trimmed beard.

The armored man’s gaze slowly shifted toward the approaching duo, his eyes gleaming beneath the visor, giving off a cold and menacing aura.

Theo and Liliana exchanged puzzled glances, each silently agreeing that whoever this armored figure was, he wasn’t someone who would readily ally with them. The oppressive atmosphere of the arena confirmed their suspicions—no generosity would be found here.

As the armored man’s gaze locked onto them, the world around Theo and Liliana warped. In the blink of an eye, they found themselves standing right beside him, the transition so seamless it was as if they had always been there.

The armored man’s deep, gravelly voice soon echoed around them. “Welcome to the Trial of the Deathwhisper Realm,” he began, his tone devoid of warmth. “This land stands as a forbidding place, shrouded in shadows that devour even the faintest glimmer of hope. Few who enter ever return.”

Liliana’s eyes narrowed slightly, her hand instinctively raising to cast the holy spell.

The armored figure must have sensed her intent because he continued without pause, “If you wish to retaliate against me, you may try—but know this: your attacks will have no effect. I will merely teleport you out of this arena. However, be warned, you will not be given another chance to undertake this trial. Those who do not complete the Trial remain trapped here, bound in an endless labyrinth of suffering.”

Theo studied the armored man, noting the dark, sinister energy radiating from him. The information that appeared before his eyes caused him to sigh inwardly.

<<<<

Undead: ???

>>>>

Unlike Liliana, he had no intention of making a reckless move. His tone was calm, almost casual, as he asked, “What’s the trial?”

The armored man’s expression remained unreadable behind his helm, but his voice softened ever so slightly, “A simple game,” he added, “but one that demands every ounce of your wit and strength. The rules are simple.”

Theo tilted his head, curiosity sparking in his eyes. “And what might those be?”

As soon as the question left Theo’s lips, the ground beneath him seemed to dissolve. An invisible force propelled him upward, defying gravity much like when Rowan had lifted him and his friends into the air. However, this time, the ascent was brief and halted abruptly, leaving him suspended twelve feet above the ground.

Theo found himself standing on a glowing, transparent blue tile, barely large enough to hold him. It teetered precariously—a slight nudge, and he might plummet into the ground below.

Moments later, two more platforms ascended, stopping beside him. To his left stood Liliana, her expression as steely and composed as ever, while to his right was the white-robed man. Only a meter separated the three.

The armored man, standing on the arena floor below, surveyed them with a wicked gleam in his eyes. “When only one enters this realm, they compete against me alone. But with three... the challenge of this trial is diluted, perhaps even easier. Each of you will be given a unique six-sided die, and in turn, you will roll. The number you roll dictates your fate and determines how many tiles will materialize from the void, allowing you to progress”

He paused, ensuring his instructions were clear. “Should you roll a six, you are granted a four-second window to launch a ranged attack—be it with weapons or spells—against your opponents. But be careful, rolling a one will materialize a special tile designed to hinder your progress. In any case, if you fall from your tile, you will restart from the very first tile where you now stand.”

Theo couldn’t contain his curiosity. “But how is the victor decided?” he demanded. The man’s explanations felt like meaningless chatter without a clear end goal.

The armored man fixed his gaze on Theo, seemingly unfazed by the interruption. “The objective is simple: reach the hundredth step first, and you will claim the Thornwood Wardstone. Not only that, but you’ll also earn your freedom from this cursed realm. The second to reach the hundredth step is also free to leave. But for the one who finishes last... you will remain here, trapped in this realm, at the mercy of its spirits.”

Knowing they had no choice, both Liliana and Theo steeled themselves for the trial ahead. The stakes were high—failure meant they would lose their only chance to obtain the Thornwood Wardstone.

For Theo, the thought of remaining trapped in this realm was hardly a concern. He had his demonic farm, a place he could retreat to at any time, even bringing Liliana along if needed.

But that wasn’t the point. The true reason he ventured into this cursed land was for Liliana. He knew she had come here to save the Northern Wood and restore the protective barrier around the Thornwood forest. For this purpose, they needed the Wardstone. Thus, winning was the only option.

To the side, Liliana’s thoughts were clouded by another pressing concern. She couldn’t afford to remain trapped here. Her singular focus was on victory. Even finishing second would be acceptable, as long as the one who had pulled her from the abyss of her darkest memories—the one who had saved her—claimed the first place.

Their attention shifted to the white-robed man standing nearby. His indifference was evident, as though they were mere phantoms in his eyes, inconsequential and fleeting. His gaze remained locked on the armored man, as if the trial and its participants were of no interest to him.

“Now,” the armored man declared as he finished outlining the rules, “let the game begin.”