...
At the sa ti, Haishe, Autumn Winds, Steel Mountain, and Mystic Lock had been isolated from the rest of the group. While they were still standing on the ridge behind them, there was an invisible force that did not allow them to interact or interfere with the others participating in the trial.
"Sothing's not right." Autumn Winds said as she noticed the sudden shift in everyone's behavior.
"I wouldn't worry too much. It must be a part of the challenge. For now, all we can do is trust them to get through it." Haishe stated calmly.
However, while he was calm on the outside, inwardly, Haishe felt uncomfortable. It was not often that he lacked control over the outco. Yet, this trial dungeon continued to place him into such situations. He expected as much given that it was made to be challenged by Apothecaries. But, it still left a bad taste in his mouth.
"Lightning Ridge and Mind of Solitude—if we take the words left by Franz Winsor at face value, these trials should be related to sothing an Apothecary needs to be successful." Haishe said.
"I don't know much about pill crafting. But, is sothing like this truly necessary? That lightning is terrifying. Even if I wasn't restricted by this trial dungeon and had my full strength, I'm not confident in surviving a single strike. How are those who aren't even tanks supposed to get through that?" Steel Mountain comnted as he folded his arms with a frown on his face.
"That's right. If I were at full power, twenty ters, that kind of distance, I could close in a second or two with my eyes closed. But, avoiding that torrent of lightning along the path—no matter how I look at it, it's an impossible task for them." Mystic Lock shook his head and released a long sigh.
"No matter how impossible it seems, I doubt they've been given a trial that can't be overco. Just because we can't see a way doesn't an one doesn't exist. Let's wait and see what happens. There's a good chance they can find sothing out on their end that we can't from here." Haishe stated.
...
Ten seconds had passed since the start of the second and third trials. However, no one had yet to leave the starting area of the ridge.
The destructive bolts of lightning were striking down nonstop on the narrow pathway. In addition, there was the abrupt wave of dizziness that washed over everyone and made it difficult to even focus, let alone move or think properly.
'Appraisal and Deep Insight only reveals a few things about the magic formation, which isn't too useful for what has to be achieved. Under normal circumstances, I could reach the other side in one step. But, as I thought, using that thod would be too easy.'
〈System Alert: You do not have enough energy to use «Prid Ability: Space Defying Tread».〉
Izroth's Space Defying Tread was a skill that could not be disrupted or disabled; therefore, even the restrictions placed by a pinnacle-ranked magic formation could not stop it from activating. However, it still required energy to use. Unfortunately, Izroth's energy stat had been reduced to 25 points. This was just 10 points shy from being able to use Space Defying Tread.
'Using that way would have saved a bit of ti. But, I suppose that goes too much against the spirit of the challenge. Very well, then—I will face this challenge the way it is intended.'
Izroth activated his Energy Vision Sense as he observed the ridge and the constant rain of lightning bolts on the pathway. He cleared his mind and tuned out all unnecessary distractions within his surroundings.
Izroth paid close attention to the way the lightning struck the ridge, the sound of the thunder, the way the ground trembled every ti lightning appeared.
〈System Alert: You have entered the state «Mind of Craft». Your crafting speed and senses have been temporarily increased by 300%!〉
Although this system alert appeared, Izroth's focus was locked in to the scene before him as everything beca vividly clearer with the increase to his senses. Simultaneously, the dizziness he experienced from earlier on also seed to have disappeared without a trace.
Thirty seconds had passed since the beginning of the second and third trials, yet no one dared to venture onto the pathway. After all, none of them wanted to be the first to make an attempt and hoped to learn from the mistakes of the one that went before them. In their minds, everyone had already given up on obtaining the maximum amount of points for these two trials. That is, everyone except one.
'I see... So, that's how this challenge works.'
〈System Alert: The state of «Mind of Craft» has ended!〉
Bzzzt! Crrrackle!
Izroth stepped forward, halting his steps just before where the first bolt of lightning struck down. The next mont, Izroth closed his eyes and stood there motionless.
Seeing his actions, Haishe and the others viewing from the isolated area could not help but wonder what he was up to and whether or not he managed to find out the secret to this challenge. But, what happened next almost caused them to fall over in shock.
Izroth took a single step forward right into the lightning just as it struck down!
"Did he just decide to give up?" Mystic Lock said sullenly.
"Aye... I guess even Palace Master Izroth is helpless in front of an unreasonable challenge like this." Steel Mountain stated as he shook his head.
"No, sothing's different." Haishe said as he narrowed his eyes.
As everyone's attention shifted to Izroth, they saw that despite being struck by lightning, he remained completely unhard. But, there was sothing even more unusual than that.
"This... Shouldn't Palace Master Izroth have been disqualified?" Autumn Winds brought up.
The rules stated that those who were hit by the lightning on the ridge would be automatically disqualified. It was not a matter of whether one was skilled, powerful, or even just lucky.
anwhile, Pill Master, Blue Quill, and Iron Cauldron were dumbfounded by Izroth's actions. At first, the three were uncertain if what happened was real as the dizziness was too intense to concentrate or take things at face value. However, after realizing that Izroth had walked into the lightning willingly, a part of them felt relieved.
"I guess even Palace Master Izroth can experience mistakes and failure. It turns out he's only human, after all...!" Blue Quill stated with a wide grin.
"This is where arrogance and confidence without the skill to back it up leads you! Serves that darned brat right!" Pill Master thought to himself gleefully.
Iron Cauldron, on the other hand, realized that sothing was not right.
"But... Doesn't it look like he hasn't been disqualified?" Iron Cauldron comnted.
After Iron Cauldron made that comnt, the other two Apothecaries also registered that Izroth remained standing and unhard.
"Impossible! Why hasn't he been disqualified yet?!" Blue Quill exclaid.
Just as that question left Blue Quill's mouth, sothing even more unbelievable took place.
Izroth, who had been standing where the first bolt of lightning struck down nonstop, abruptly appeared within a different bolt of lightning two ters ahead of him. The strange part was that Izroth was sohow in both places simultaneously!
But, it did not stop there. A third Izroth erged at another lightning bolt, then a fourth and a fifth.
This left those observing flabbergasted as they tried to comprehend the events going on before their eyes. Though before they could even blink, a ninth and final Izroth appeared at the other side of the ridge. The sa ti this happened, the remaining Izroth's inside of the lightning bolts disappeared in the sa order they appeared.
Izroth slowly exhaled as he opened his eyes with a carefree expression on his face.
〈System Alert: You have cleared the second trial «Lightning Ridge» and the third trial «Mind of Solitude»!〉
[Passed]
[Evaluation:
Ti Elapsed: 36 seconds - 75 points
First To Finish(Bonus) - 15 points
First To Step Forward(Bonus) - 10 points
Points Earned: 100
Total Accumulated Points: 160]
'Oh? There are bonus points for things like this? This Franz is rather generous this ti around. Hm?'
All of a sudden, a light flashed around Izroth before his disappeared from the ridge.
Zeeeut!
In the blink of an eye, Izroth appeared in the isolated area along with Haishe and the other mbers of the party not participating in the second and third trials.
Everyone was a little caught off guard by Izroth's sudden appearance; however, their surprise was quickly pushed aside and replaced by their surging curiosity.
"Palace Master Izroth, how did you manage to walk into the lightning without being disqualified?" Haishe asked curiously.
"That's right! That scary lightning—how did you survive taking that head on? Plus, what was that at the end? Was it a high-ranked movent skill?" Mystic Lock said with a look of anticipation in his eyes.
As soone with a rogue-type class, how could he not be interested in such an interesting movent skill?
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