I WAS The Rank–1 Hero-Chapter 155: First Trial [1]

"Are you a deity?"

Deity, huh?

But Maria quickly rejected the idea, "No, that's not possible. I have met all the deities living in the current era, and the possibility of a new deity being born is impossible."

Why impossible?

"How can you read this?" She inquired, narrowing her eyes in my direction.

I gulped but said confidently.

"The reason, well… Let's just say someone taught me. "

"Ah," Ruby seemed to understand who I was referring to.

As for Maria…

"Who is that person? You read it so fluently; she must be a natural genius to teach someone like you."

"Huh?"

What does she mean?! Does she just indirectly call me an idiot?!

—'I like this lady.' Sera shared her interest.

Well, I would rather not expose Sera to her yet. So, I made up a few stories.

"It was an old lady who taught me this language…"

—'Oi!'

"Despite her age, she was very knowledgeable. When I was a kid, she wandered into my house and offered to teach me this language, which I accepted."

"..."

"..."

Both Ruby and Maria fell into an uncomfortable silence.

Ruby's eyelid twitched as she cast her gaze downward, biting her lip to suppress the flush creeping up her cheeks. She was consumed by her embarrassment.

What the—but I made a perfect excuse this time!

"Is that so?" Maria wanted to say something, but she changed the topic. "Anyway, we're wasting time. Perhaps we could postpone the discussions for a later time. Zane, come stand in front of the stone slab."

—'Human, never try—'

Shut it, ghost.

—'You're rude, hmph!'

Ignoring her, I did exactly as Maria instructed me to do.

I stood right in front of the stone slab before Maris came close to my side and offered a small knife.

"Give me your blood."

I stared at the sharp knife. Taking it from her, I made a diagonal cut across my finger.

Blood began to drip from the cut as Maria took the knife from my hand.

She made a rather deep cut on her finger.

"Hurry before it heals back." Maria tugged at my hand, guiding it to the door and pressing it against the bloody side that was stuck to the surface.

Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.

As soon as it touched the surface, the patterns on the door started glowing with a blue light, casting a hue on our faces.

The hourglass on the surface stopped rotating.

Clank—! ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

"Brace yourself."

Her tone and expression changed.

From my left, I took hold of Ruby's hand, gripping it across mine.

The Door of Endless opened slightly with a low creak, sending ripples across the ocean. Waves shattered against the rocks, and the ground beneath us trembled. We stood close together, our eyes fixed on the door as a strange energy filled the air.

The cold energy surged inwardly, crashing over me like a tidal wave. Loud, haunting wails echoed from within, sending a shiver down my spine.

My hair stood on end as a surge of power coursed through every part of me, awakening all five of my Elemental Essence at once.

My body surged with electrifying energy: fire blazed, water flowed, ice chilled, wind howled, and earth anchored me. Each element resonated within me, creating an intoxicating whirlwind of power.

"...hm?" Maria's eyes drifted to me from the right. She too felt the changes my body was radiating.

But before she could ask anything, the Door of Endless fully opened.

Clank. Click—!

At first, it revealed nothing but darkness.

Letting Maria's hand go, we stepped in.

My boot hit the ground—or at least I thought it did. It felt like stepping onto still water. It felt too smooth and fluid.

And then, a single step of white light lit beneath me. Then another. And another. Slowly, a glowing path unfolded ahead of us, step by step, as if coaxing us forward.

Maria walked to my left as I held Ruby's hand. With the katana gripped in one hand, Ruby was completely focused ahead.

None of us spoke. There was something great—no, divine—about this place. The word 'great' would be an insult.

BAAM—!

"...?!"

The loud sound of metal crashing against the wall came from behind. I turned my head to look behind.

The Door of Endless slammed itself closed.

"Wha—!"

"Shhh…" Maria hushed us, "Don't make any noise."

The air turned cold in an instant.

I heard Maria whisper from my right, "It's watching us… Can you sense it?"

She was right.

Even though I couldn't see anything past the glowing path, I could feel it.

Eyes—countless eyes—watching from the beyond.

They were just observing.

As I stepped forward, I heard a faint whisper coming from the front.

"Noo… Please… Don't leave me… How many times has it been…?"

My skin began to crawl.

This voice...?

It was… mine. However, it seemed a bit more mature. It sounded cracked and tired.

I spun around. No one was there. Only Ruby and Maria were there. They were both frozen in place, eyes wide.

They heard it too.

But we didn't stop.

We continued walking; as soon as smoke obscured our vision, the darkness ahead began to shift like ripples on the water.

And in that smoke, I saw them.

No.

I saw 'us.'

Or to be precise, the version of us.

My eyes first landed on the first figure beyond the smoke.

The figure was 'me.'

I stood in chains, pressed against the wall while a crowd gathered.

A bruise was traced on my skin as blood stained the white clothes.

Commoners surrounded me, their faces a mix of sorrow and rage. Some wept silently; others hurled stones in my direction. Their anger hung heavy in the air, it was a collective weight of disdain and despair thrown in my direction.

The lips of this version of mine parted as it spoke.

"Noo… Please don't… I have lost count… you filthy peasants. You have no future without me—!"

Smack!

A giant rock smacked on its eye, ripping out the entire eyeball from its socket. It dangled in the air as this version of me' let out its final groan.

I averted my eyes from it.

"Uu… no!" From my side, Ruby let out a painful cry.