DSE Chapter 122: Heavenly Tribulation - Zeus

Slifer stood in the center of the courtyard, his eyes fixed on the sky above. The air crackled with energy, and he could feel the hair on the back of his neck standing up. Three lightning bolts began to form in the air, their electric blue tendrils twisting and coiling like angry serpents.

Here we go, Slifer thought, bracing himself for the impact. Three lightning strikes.

But as he watched, something strange happened. The lightning bolts seemed to hesitate, as if unsure where to strike. Slifer's brow furrowed in confusion.

What's going on? This isn't how it's supposed to work.

Before his eyes, the three bolts of lightning began to merge, twisting and coalescing into a massive figure in the sky. A fully-bearded face formed in the clouds and a single enormous arm extended from the mass of energy.

Well, this is new, Slifer thought, his eyes wide. I don't remember reading about Zeus showing up for Core Formation tribulations.

Nearby, Morvran stood watching, his mouth agape. This was his first time witnessing an immortal tribulation, and it looked like his master was about to fight a deity.

"Master," Morvran called out, his voice trembling slightly. "Is this... normal?"

Slifer glanced at his subordinate. "Not exactly…this is something else.”

Before Slifer could ponder further, the giant hand in the sky moved. In the blink of an eye, it appeared directly in front of him, its fingers outstretched to grab and crush him.

Oh, crap.

Just as the hand was about to close around him, an invisible barrier sprang into existence before him.

Critical Block Activated

The lightning struck the barrier with a thunderous crack, sending sparks flying in all directions.

Thank you System for these Critical Block cards, Slifer thought, watching as the card's effect protected him from certain death.

But his relief was short-lived. The hand didn't disappear or retreat. Instead, it continued to squeeze the barrier, testing its strength.

This isn't good.

Slifer watched as another Critical Block card activated, then another. Sweat began to bead on his forehead as he did some quick mental math.

Each Critical Block lasts about three seconds. I have 41 cards left. That gives me... 123 seconds before I'm out of protection.

The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. If the hand didn't dissipate in the next two minutes, he was going to die. And with the shop on lockdown, he couldn't buy any more cards.

Just great. I finally make it to Core Formation, and I'm about to be squished by a giant lightning hand.

Slifer gritted his teeth, watching as card after card was used up. The barrier flickered each time a new one activated.

If all the Critical Blocks are used up, I'll have to use the Reflection Barrier cards along with the Phase ability. But after that... I'm not sure how I'll survive.

As the seconds ticked by, Slifer found himself counting down, a grim countdown to his death.

"Thirty cards left," he muttered. "Twenty-nine... twenty-eight..."

Meanwhile, Morvran watched the scene unfold with a mixture of confusion and awe. The aura emanating from the giant hand felt impossibly powerful, easily at the Origin Realm level. And yet, his master stood there, seemingly unfazed by the cosmic forces trying to crush him.

Incredible, Morvran thought. The Supreme Elder truly is on another level. This must be just the weakest attack. From here, even more powerful assaults will rain down, perhaps even reaching the Immortal Realm.

As Morvran's imagination ran wild with visions of ever-escalating tribulations, Slifer continued his countdown.

Twenty five Critical Blocks left, Slifer said through clenched teeth. "Twenty four... twenty three...

The pressure from the hand seemed to increase with each passing second. Slifer could feel the weight of it, even through the barrier. It was like having a mountain slowly descend upon him.

Come on, come on. Dissipate already!

Just as the twentieth Critical Block card was used up, something unexpected happened. The massive lightning hand began to flicker and fade as bits of electricity flew off in all directions.

Slifer, surprised by this, looked up at the sky. The face made of lightning was still there, but it was changing too. Its angry look turned into something else - like it was trying to speak.

The face's mouth moved, but Slifer couldn't hear anything. He squinted, trying to understand what was happening. The face looked like it was fighting to stay together, really wanting to tell Slifer something.

Is it trying to talk to me? Slifer wondered, feeling a bit scared.

But before any words came out, the face started to fall apart. Its features got blurry and started to disappear. With one last silent try, the face broke into sparks and vanished.

What was that about? Slifer blinked in confusion as the oppressive energy that had filled the air moments ago vanished as if it had never been there.

Is that it? Slifer wondered, his brow furrowing in confusion. As unexpected as that whole experience was, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

He looked around cautiously, half-expecting another giant hand to pop out of nowhere.

"Master?" Morvran called out hesitantly. "Is it over?"

Slifer held up a hand, signaling for silence. He closed his eyes, focusing his attention inward to check on his dantian. What he saw made him frown.

In his mind's eye, Slifer could see his core. It was about the size of a marble, floating in the center of his dantian. The core wasn't solid yet - instead, it looked like a swirling mix of colors. The colors shifted and changed, never settling into a final form.

The edges of the core were fuzzy, as if it was still trying to take shape. It pulsed gently, sending little waves of energy through Slifer's body. But it was clear the core wasn't done forming. It lacked the solid, stable feeling a finished core should have.

If the tribulation was complete, it should be finished by now.

Slifer’s eyes snapped open, narrowing as he scanned the sky once more. "It's not over," he said quietly. "Another tribulation is coming."

Morvran's eyes widened. "Another one? But the clouds have dissipated.”

Slifer shook his head. "The heavens aren't following the usual playbook here. We need to be ready for anything."

As he spoke, Slifer's mind raced through the various types of tribulations he had read about in countless xianxia novels. Lightning tribulation, check. Fire tribulation? Possible. Demon tribulation? God, I hope not. What else... oh, right. Human tribulation.

His thoughts were interrupted by a blood-curdling scream that echoed across the courtyard. Slifer's head snapped up, searching for the source of the sound.

A figure appeared in the sky, descending rapidly towards them. At first, Slifer couldn't make out who it was. The person seemed to be surrounded by a chaotic aura, their features distorted by rage.

As the figure drew closer, Slifer's eyes widened in recognition. "No way," he muttered.

It was the Sect Master, Malachar. But he looked... different. His usually neat appearance was in disarray, his hair wild and his eyes blazing with an unnatural light. The friendly, approachable face Slifer was used to had been transformed into a mask of fury.

A blue box appeared before Slifer's eyes:

Name: Malachar (True Name Unknown)

Realm: Half-step Immortal Realm Known

Techniques: N/A

Known Affiliations: Black Rose Sect

Disposition: berserk

Slifer blinked at the information, a sinking feeling in his stomach.

A berserk half-step immortal. Just great.

"Master!" Morvran cried out, his voice filled with panic. "It's the Sect Master! But... but he looks..."

"Completely off his rocker?" Slifer finished, his eyes never leaving the approaching figure. "Yeah, I noticed. It seems to be part of the tribulation, the heavens are using him as a tool to test me."

Or to kill me, he added silently. Let's hope it's the former.

Malachar landed in the courtyard with enough force to crack the stone beneath his feet. His eyes, usually so cunning and perceptive, now burned with mindless rage. He let out another scream, the sound more animal than human.

"Supreme Elder!" Malachar roared, his voice distorted and unrecognizable. "You dare! You dare to betray us!"

"Betray?" Slifer raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about, Sect Master?"

But Malachar didn't seem interested in explanations. With a snarl, he lunged forward, moving so fast he seemed to blur.

In that split second, Slifer activated his Phase Ability. His body shimmered, becoming intangible just as Malachar reached him.

The berserk Sect Master passed right through Slifer, his momentum carrying him forward. Malachar's fist, crackling with barely contained power, slammed into the courtyard ground behind Slifer.

The impact was catastrophic. Stone shattered like glass, sending shards flying in all directions. A spider web of cracks spread out from the point of impact, racing across the courtyard. The ground buckled and heaved, creating a small crater where Malachar's fist had landed.

Okay, it looks like the heavens want to get rid of me for good. A half-step immortal for a Core Formation tribulation is a death sentence!

Slifer's eyes darted around, searching for Morvran. He released a sigh of relief when he spotted his right-hand man at a safe distance, having wisely retreated to the far edge of the courtyard.

Undeterred by his miss, Malachar whirled around, his eyes blazing with fury.

"Soul-Devouring Palm of the Nether Beast!" Malachar roared, his hand wreathed in sickly purple qi as he swiped at Slifer. The attack passed through harmlessly, but the qi lingered, corroding the courtyard wall behind.

"Blood-Boiling Kick of the Infernal Phoenix!" The Sect Master's leg ignited with crimson flames as he aimed a devastating roundhouse at Slifer's head. The kick missed, instead connecting with a nearby pillar, turning it into ash.

"Thousand Curses of the Void Demon!" Malachar's fingers danced in a complex pattern, summoning a storm of purple sigils that should have torn Slifer's soul apart. Instead, they passed through him and peppered the surrounding area with spots of decay and corruption.

For thirty seconds, Slifer watched as Malachar's relentless assault devastated the courtyard. Walls crumbled, pillars toppled, and the ground became a patchwork of craters. The protective formations flickered and strained against the onslaught, wavering dangerously.

Just a second before Slifer's Phase Ability wore off, Malachar's latest attack, a wild "Crushing Fist of the Abyssal Tyrant," passed through him, obliterating a nearby statue and leaving a pool of hissing, corrosive energy.

Holy crap, Slifer thought as he solidified. Any one of those strikes could one-shot an Ascendant cultivator! If that had hit me... I'd be nothing but a smear on the ground right now.

Ding!

New Mission: Survive the Human Tribulation

Objective: Overcome the trial presented by the berserk Sect Master Malachar and complete your breakthrough to Core Formation.

Reward: Successful formation of your Core and advancement to Core Formation realm. 10,000 Karmic Credits.

Failure: Death

Note: The Sect Master's attacks are part of your tribulation. Each blow you withstand brings you closer to forming your Core. Find a way to endure long enough for your breakthrough to complete.

If this is all part of the tribulation, then maybe... Slifer's thoughts quickened. Maybe once I complete my breakthrough, Malachar will regain his sanity and stop attacking me? But, how can I survive long enough for that to happen?