"Exorcism!" My opponent shouted. He launched at with his Dark Moon Staff that had changed its appearance into a Dark Moon Sickle. Exorcism was a skill that was done by slicing the opponent into pieces using the sickle. The pointy edge of the sickle glead with spiritual power as it hung above my head, threatening to turn into shreds. I turned my head to the side and held my Dark Moon Staff up, just enough to stop the attack. The pointy edge of the sickle hung precariously above my shoulder.
"Jaden" was strong. Very strong.
Not only that, he mastered all the skills perfectly!
I kicked at "Jaden"'s stomach hard, sending him a few ters into the air. He turned a sorsault in the air and then charged back at with the sickle.
I had no other choice but to grab my own sickle.
"Exorcism!" I said through gritted teeth, transforming my staff into a sickle. As soon as "Jaden" ca near, our weapons clashed with a loud clang. The force from the encounter caused sparks to fly everywhere.
"Holy Dragon!"
I summoned my holy beast to help , but Jaden also summoned his. Our holy dragons ended up keeping each other busy instead.
As we exchanged blow after blow using the sickle, I kept wondering what to do. I had long since changed my mind about seeing "Jaden" only as a cheap duplicate of myself. If anything, he was the superior one of both of us. He was fast, strong, and agile. Almost like...
Almost like the real Jaden.
"Jaden" put both of his hands around his sickle and it turned back into a Dark Moon Staff. "Apocalypse."
As soon as he spoke the word out loud, the clouds started to shake and the sky turned bright golden. I knew what was coming. Apocalpyse, bishops' ultimate skill! The dream skill of those who stepped into the path of Healers, including !
Pillars of golden light shot from the sky and shot at from all directions. When used for grinding purposes, these pillars would hit around 20 targets at once. Since "Jaden" used it with only as the opponent, naturally all of the pillars would attack only . No escape was possible. Not even using Teleport. The range of the attack was too big.
"Prayer!!!"
It was the only skill that I could think of to survive Apocalypse. During the one minute when I sat in the lotus position and endured the brutal attack, my past life flashed before .
Back when I was still attending school, our school held a sports tournant every year. Held back one year due to my weak body, I was in the 7th grade while Jaden was in 6th grade.
Participation in sports tournants was obligatory for all students, but the principal understood that my body was weak and thus gave permission to skip the tournants. I skipped for many years already, so that year I did not want to skip anymore. I did not know the reason for my obstinacy at that ti.
Later on, I realized that it was because Jaden just happened to be selected to participate in the water polo tournant. Jaden hated the water polo tournant. I just happened to be quite decent whenever I took part in the school practices. I was sure that I would win against Jaden.
Unfortunately, school practices could not be compared to tournants. I not only lost but almost drowned. To add salt to the wound, it was Jaden who ultimately rescued . It was humiliating. Ever since then, I refused to participate in any tournant as long as Jaden was participating. I didn't want the sa thing to happen. I did not want to lose against Jaden. It was my biggest fear.
My biggest fear.
The truth hit like a giant boulder. I did not fear Jaden. I feared losing to him. It was because Jaden was the best kid I knew. He was smart and healthy and energetic. I wanted to be better than him. I had to be better than him. I needed to prove to the world that I was better than him, in whatever aspect. There had to be at least one aspect in which I was superior to him.
I had to win in Afterlife Dream!
The one minute was over, and so was Apocalypse. After the first one minute, I was able to move freely. Prayer lasted for five minutes in total. "Jaden" was busy wielding the words that kept shooting at him persistently. anwhile, I jumped to my feet and shouted, "Dispel!"
The spell caused "Jaden" to lose his Mana Guard and Divine Guard. As a result, the attacks from Prayer eroded his HP brutally. He had to heal and buff himself afterward, but I did not give him ti to do so.
"Apocalypse!!!"
Between Heal and buffs, which one did he pick? Whichever he picked, it was not enough ti to cast anything to resist the force of Apocalypse.
"Jaden" just stood there and did nothing. He looked at instead with his lips slightly parted. As if he wanted to ask, "Brother, what am I supposed to do?"
Apocalypse rcilessly slamd him against the cloud surface. I watched as the golden pillars hit him one by one. Warm tears flowed down my cheeks while I watched. At the end of the attack, "Jaden" lay on the cloud with his eyes closed.
I knelt next to him and cried.
"Jaden," I called. "Jaden..."
I beat him, but why was I not happy at all? He was my brother. I didn't want to kill him. I pulled "Jaden"'s lifeless body into my arms and sobbed like a little child.
"Jaden..."
I hoped that the real Jaden was alright. I wanted Jaden to know that although I wanted to beat him, I really did love him.
The body in my arms beca lighter. I opened my eyes and saw it dispersing before my eyes.
"Jaden..." I called again in exasperation. His peaceful face disappeared last. I remained kneeling for quite so ti before the ga announced the end of the trial.
"Congratulations on concluding the fourth job advancent, Adventurer!"
The ga congratulated , but I felt more like a loser than a winner. I kept telling myself that it was not the real Jaden, and that it was over. It was just a test. I did not really kill Jaden. But still, it was a horrible feeling. To kill even the shadow of my own brother... I was not willing to relive it again.
I opened my inventory again with a trembling finger and searched for another item that I procured from Kitty. A Skill Reset Scroll. I had avoided using the scroll during my second and third job advancent because the offense skills were not worth considering. The fourth job skills on the other side were exquisite.
With one click, all my skill levels were reduced to zero, and I gained 120 skill points that I could allocate at will. My end skill build looked like this :
0 point into Magical Ball.
1 point into Teleport.
20 points into Heal.
1 point into Prayer.
0 point into Spiritual teor.
20 points into Heavenly Blessing.
20 points into Divine Guard.
20 points into Mana Guard.
1 point into Purification.
1 point into Dispel.
0 points into Holy Arrow.
0 points into Holy Wings.
1 point into Resurrection.
20 points into Apocalypse.
1 point into Sacrifice.
1 point into Holy Dragon.
1 point into Prison.
20 points into Holy Arrow Barrage.
12 points into Exorcism.
After 8 more levels, I would have enough to maximize Exorcism. And then I could add more points into Holy Dragon for an added advantage during the battle.
After I was done with my skill setting, I marched back to the other end of the corridor. The wooden door was already there, waiting for to go back. I opened the door and saw only a bright curtain of white beyond it. After one last look at the empty corridor, I stepped past the door.
Once I went through the door, I landed in front of the little hooded boy again. He smiled at upon my return.
"Dear Adventurer, you have gone through the test and you are found worthy to bear the title of 'Bishop'. I wish you good luck in your future adventures. Never forget that the true strength cos from the heart."
True strength ca from the heart.
Not long after, the congratulatory banner spread across the sky to announce the completion of my fourth job advancent.
[Antares has successfully completed the Fourth Job Advancent. Please send him your congratulations!!!]
As I looked up at the banner, congratulatory ssages from my friends and guildmates flooded my chat screen.
I closed my eyes for a second.
A wonderful feeling washed over as I reveled in the joy of my newly gained Bishop title.
Finally. Finally, I did it.
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