[ Transportation to the Underworld has commenced. ]
"Huh?"
[ Good luck candidate, the World Will is rooting for you. :) ]
"What is going on right now?"
Saquin had barely made headway with his statement before he felt his world spin.
He was hit with a sense of vertigo, then, it all became white, then colors appeared.
He had been transported to a forest. This was his first thought as he surveyed his surroundings.
He dug through his severely limited knowledge as he came to the conclusion that this was most likely a rainforest.
Saquin closely watched his environment, his guard on full alert. Multiple questions resounded in his head non stop as he stood still. He had a feeling that whatever had brought him here would not leave him stranded without any instructions, at least he hoped.
His feeling hit the mark as soon after, a voice resounded in his head.
[ Welcome candidate to the Underworld. ]
"The Underworld?" Saquin muttered absentmindedly.
[ Yes candidate. This is the Underworld, the birthplace of Senar. ]
"Woah!" Saquin's eyes widened.
[ Oh! It would seem that the candidate is lacking severely in the aspect of common world knowledge. ]
"Che." Saquin pouted. He could not deny it, he knew practically nothing about the Empowered world.
The captain had promised him to teach him a few things before he became one, but...
Now, he stood here, not aware in the least about what an Empowered trial was.
[ This is not good for you candidate. Ha, I am already heavily favoring you by derailing the topic into small talks. Let me leave you with a little advice, do not act like you are ignorant in front of others. ]
"Others?"
[ Yea, it is a monthly event, meaning all those who reach the age of sixteen this month are presently going through their trial. ]
"Oh!" Saquin nodded.
[ You are really cool headed, Hybrid. ]
Saquin shrugged. "I guess so."
[ That is a good thing. Also, you should try to update your knowledge by manipulating it out of others. Never admit to ignorance, never. ]
Saquin nodded, then, "thank you, Miss..."
[ Call me Margaret. ]
"Miss Margaret. " Saquin continued. He could tell, this was not the same voice as the one that transported him here.
[ Hehehe, cute. ]
Saquin smiled at the compliment.
[ Now, let's get back on track. ]
[ Candidate Saquin, you have been transported here, into the Underworld, to undergo your Empowered Trial. ]
[ There are five conditions for fulfillment with varying rewards. ]
A golden rimmed screen appeared in front of Saquin.
[
Condition for fulfillment:
- Kill the Underbeast Boss.
Rewards: Double Advancement + World Class Ability + Upgradeable Skill + One Soul-Bound Weapon.
- Lead a raid to kill the Underbeast Boss.
Rewards: Advancement + Hyper - Unique Ability + Upgradable Skill + One Soul-Bound Weapon.
- Join or participate in the raid to kill the Underbeast.
Rewards(Distribution depends on merits): Advancement + Mundane - Hyper Ability+ Upgradeable Skill + One Soul-Bound Weapon.
- Survive.
Rewards: Advancement + Mundane Ability(20% chance).
- Condition Hidden.
Rewards: Hidden.
]
Saquin was a bit taken aback by the abrupt appearance of the screen, but he shook off the shock soon after and read through the text.
"Hmm." Saquin nodded his head multiple times.
[ You do not understand what you are looking at right? ]
"Yep."
[ I would explain, but I think it is better you experience it yourself. First, head straight for the nearest base camp. Just go straight and you will soon or later arrive there. Plus,be careful in the forest. ]
"Hmm," Saquin nodded in understanding.
[ Good. Now go along and say it. ]
"Say what?"
[ What else? Say Status. ]
"Status?" Saquin tilted his head. He did not understand why he would need to say the word, but he followed through anyway.
"Status."
The golden screen right in front of him simmered, then the text changed.
[
Name: Saquin Sylia.
Tattoo: -
Kind: Hybrid (Living - Dead )
Species: Hybrid (Unliving-Living)
Origin: Humanity --- Dead Ones --- Abomination.
Rank: None.
Affinity: Ice - Space
Type: -
Bloodline: Sylia(Unique - Living){active} - Romca( Unique - Unliving){inactive}.
Ability: -
Skill: -
Soul-Bound: [Black-Ink].
Core(s): -
]
"Miss Margaret, I will be just be direct and say I understand nothing here." Saquin, despite his thick face, was quite embarrassed at this point.
[ Nothing to be shameful about, child. Just do as I say, manipulate the other candidates and you will soon find all the answers to your questions. ]
"Child?" Saquin caught on to that world.
[ Yes, you are a child of the Underworld too. Hence your hybrid state. Why else do you think I would gift you that Soul-Bound gift. ]
"Oh," Saquin eyes drifted to the Soul-Bound attribute on the panel and saw that it indeed had something there.
"Thank you, Miss Margaret." Saquin dipped into a low bow. He did not need more prior knowledge to know that Soul-Bound items are extremely valuable. The rewards for the Empowered Trial served as a great reference.
[ You don't have to, child. I am blushing here. The Black-Ink is simply an item that can take the shape of any weapon you like and its power scales with you. It is not much. Now time to get moving. Just remember all I have told you earlier. I will remove the protection around you now. ]
"Okay, Miss Margaret." Saquin nodded as his mind wandered, he was thinking about the Black-Ink. A shape shifting weapon, nice.
"Thank you again, Miss Margaret." Saquin said again as he felt a restriction loosen around him.
[ Don't mention it, now go on and show the world what it means to be an Abomination. ]
"What?!" Saquin was taken aback. He wanted to call out to ask for what Miss Margaret meant, but he could just tell, he would get no answers. And just as usual, he pushed away his worries and questions.
"First, before heading to the base. I should at least try to see what this Black-Ink is." Saquin said to himself.
His attention went to the holographic screen just in front of him. He stared at the Soul-Bound tab.
"Now, how do I this?"
He racked his brain.
"I mean, I shouldn't think about this too much. For Miss Margaret to not specifically tell how, it is most likely a simple thing to do. So most likely... A thought based response?"
Black-Ink. With his right hand stretched out, he called out in his mind, his gaze focused on the Soul-Bound tab.
Just as he thought, he received a response.
A black orb of Ink appeared on his right hand.
He stared at the mass of Ink. "Interesting."
He then willed the Ink to change shape. First, a sword. As soon as he willed it, he felt a stream of something flow from him into the Ink, afterwards, it morphed into a sturdy pitch black sword.
"Hmm, it most likely just took my energy. I guess it is due to the fact I cannot use Senar yet."
He then willed the sword to dissolve, after which, he turned he willed it into a glove.
"Wait, what if?"
He brought his left hand to his right hand as he willed the glove to extend to it too. It worked. He was now wearing two pitch black gloves.
"Nice." Saquin nodded to himself as he checked them out. "Too bad I can't really measure their toughness. Well, as a gift from Miss Margaret, it should out quite well."
Finally, he took a good look at his surroundings. He had skimmed through it all earlier to make sure he was safe, but only now, did he get a good look.
There were trees all around, he was definitely not used such a sight. Before this, he could literally count the amount of times he had seen life trees in the past.
He started his journey. Straight forward.
As Saquin walked further, he could tell that anyone who sees him would be able to tell this was his first time in a forest.
"My gait is trash, my footsteps keep resounding, my clothes have gotten caught in bushes hundreds of times. Why did this not take place in a desert." Saquin rambled on as he walked.
He went under a thick foilage, going over a huge branch. As soon as he landed though, he froze.
Right in front of him was a humanoid figure, a hulking figure of about three meters tall, two wings jolted out from its back. The humanoid was stamping on a huge snake like creature that looked very dead.
The humanoid creature suddenly stopped, its head slowly turned backwards just to be hit back.
Bang!
Saquin's figure cut through the air, clearing the four meters distance easily, his leg landed squarely on the creature's turning head.
Crack!
A cracking sound resounded through the air, and it was not from Saquin's leg.
The creature hit the floor in a bang, before it could recollect itself, Saquin was already on it.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three punches landed on the creature's head in succession. The skull gave in to a crack from the first one, the second enlarged the crack, the third punch sealed the creature's death.
A ping notification resounded in Saquin head.
[ You have successfully killed a Low-Class Grade One(1) Underbeast. ]
[ Underessence extracted. ]
[ Core gained. ]
"Well, that was anticlimatic." Saquin said to himself. He was expecting more... resistance at least. "Hey, won't this Empowered Trial be a walk in the park?"
Just then, Miss Margaret voice came back.
[ Oh, little Abomination, don't be so optimistic. An Empowered Trial is not so simple, especially so for this specific one. Your strength is great, true, but don't fret, you will be Challenged. Sit tight, child, you are in for a ride. :))) ]