The two beasts clashed as a defining sound rang out. Nexus backed up as he looked at his bloody hand. The clash had broken his palm's bones.
The shield wasn't unharmed, the spear was broken off, and cracks of various sizes had appeared on the shield.
Suddenly, he fell into an illusion; this time, the illusion was stronger than ever, as only for a while did he manage to wake up. It was too late at this point as the white being's hand that had turned into a spear was already pointed at his head.
With a forceful method, he managed to turn his head around; his cheeks were grazed as fresh and hot blood spewed out.
Seeing the figure's body in an awkward position, Nexus took his chance and punched it in the chest from the side. The figure showed a pained expression as the spear in its hand melted and turned into a harpoon pointed at him.
But how could Nexus give it a chance for another attack? Thus, with his great footwork, he managed to get behind the figure as he landed three punches to its back, shattering its ribs.
"Quite hard to kill."
Nexus muttered as he looked at the struggling figure on the ground, then, with one swift motion, he crushed his head once more.
"haaa, haaa."
Nexus took a deep breath as he quickly distanced himself from the dead body of the shite figure. Although being close had an advantage for his current weakened self, it's best to stay at a distance to recover some stamina.
"This test is quite hard; no wonder there aren't that many ranked individuals."
Nexus muttered as he wiped the blood from his hands, his body suddenly tightened as he ducked down, looking up a while pole with a spiked head was pointing to the position where his head was before.
Just as he was about to look at his opponent, the pole started to deform as it pierced through his back.
"Fwa!."
Nexus vomited blood as he pushed his body out of the spike, with great speed, he distanced himself as he looked at the white figure standing in the distance, with one of its arms turned into a pole.
Just as he was thinking the white figure moved his other hands as it started to lengthen, in an instant, a long hammer formed as it slammed toward him with great speed.
"Such fast transformatio.."
These were all the words he managed to say before he was slammed by a hammer moving at a few times the speed of sound. He managed to block with his hands, but such an action caused his bones to crack and break.
This white figure was not only stronger than before but also transformed from liquid to solid faster than those before it.
"Tough fight."
Nexus muttered as he continued to dodge all of the figure's attacks. The constantly changing attack gave him a headache as his condition continued to deteriorate.
"All in."
He muttered as his body tensed beyond belief, his heart started to roar as it started to pump blood like crazy. Although it worsened his already bad condition, he didn't care.
He kicked the ground, and in an instant, his speed reached five times the speed of sound. The figure was slow to react as Nexus appeared before him. His legs were already ready to kick the white figure to oblivion.
Pierce!!
Suddenly, the white figure's chest deformed as a spike grew, piercing into Nexus's body. His eyes widened as he vomited even more blood.
He kicked with all his might at it connected with the white figure's head, but he didn't find out if he won or not as the spikes inside him turned into a mace head, tearing him from the inside out.
"Haaa."
He took a deep breath as he opened his eyes, looking at his unharmed body. He breathed a sigh of relief and quickly sat in a lotus position. He calmed his mind as he recalled his moment of death.
Although he had died in the Myriad World, that was a voluntary death now, unlike a fight to the death like today. He looked through all his memories as he used them to strengthen his will.
Will is something that can only be strengthened with time and experience; there is no concrete way to increase will, as everything that one goes through in life can affect their will.
It doesn't matter if the experience is painful or happy, their effect on the will is all the same.
Some facing challenges may cower and hide, while others will continue to move forward even if the path leads to an abyss.
The will of a person can waver due to love, but love also can strengthen the will of a person beyond belief.
When people face death, some may give up, thinking it a hopeless struggle, but others will burst with strength even on the verge of self-destruction.
"Congratulations on completing the test.."
Nexus looked up as a screen appeared before him; the goddess's voice was heard as he completely relaxed.
"Your score has been calculated to be 759."
"Congratulations on becoming a First Rank- Seventh order pathstrider."
"Due to your initial high rank, it will be lowered to First Rank- Fifth order Pathstrider."
Hearing her words, Nexus nodded his head, as for the claim that he will be more than the fifth order that he made to Ronan.
Well, if you can't even brag to your friends, then who will you brag to? Plus, to reach the Fifth Order on the first test is already considered a planet-level genius.
The average level is only the First Order, after all, if everybody can reach the fifth order, then what's the use of the first few orders?
"Goddess, I would like to ask a question."
"Go on, Dear Citizen Nexus."
"Is the white being I found a simulation or a real race?"
"Hmm... Since you have rank 1 authority... You are permitted to know such information..."
"The white being you fought is a real race; they are one of the two great enemies currently faced by humanity."
"Universally, their race is known as the.."
"White Plague."