Chapter 285

Chapter 285

Ben found himself in a much smaller room than any other time he’d finished a section and thought it to be a good sign. There was no fountain for water, nor table for food, and while the pile of old items was still there, that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The only difference he could see was a small stand with a bound book placed on top of it, and seconds later the appearance of a star.

Star was the best way to describe it at least, even if it didn’t feel like it was burning hot, nor was it large, only being about his size as it hovered above him. It wasn’t blazing just red or yellow or blue, but instead the light it gave off was similar to the light in Helori’s horns, looking like all branches of mana were swirling together to make whatever it was.

It pricked at his sacrilege, but not in a way he knew what to make of. It didn’t seem like a god, a fact all the more likely if it was true the trial maker was dead, but instead it felt the same as if he was looking at the statue of one. Something with some faith to it, but not true divinity that only began to make sense as it spoke up.

“Congratulations,” It began, pulsing and changing with the word. “To be the first people to complete my challenge on this world, you’ve surely done your races and your gods proud. I am the great god Galwax, or at least I was. All you see before you is nothing more than an image or an echo to leave my final message and my reward.”

“And some healing would be nice,” Ben muttered as he pressed his hand against his bleeding wound, not that there was anything there to hear him as the message went on.

“My people were a proud race of warrior mages, or at least they were when they arrived, a threat I’m sure you’re all too aware of. Centuries can change the shape of a culture, but at least at that point, they were at their best to fight. They even survived to the third wave, striking a heavy blow in the process against the monsters that came to conquer, but in the end they still lost, choosing to fight to the last of them instead of fleeing.”

I’m sure your race was great but if you could hurry it up cause I think I’m dying.

“Of course, I had to do the same as well. As their god it was only right, but not before coming to this world. A passing void god had informed me of this refuge, and though I had no one to bring, I did have things I didn’t want to fall into enemy hands. The trial, which can operate independent of myself-”

Absolutely should have fucking left it for them you evil bastar-

“And the archive on the table. An item I gifted the people of my world able to store their most valuable knowledge. An item that could be used by the many races of this world as well.”

That was enough to make Ben’s anger at the god briefly disappear as he threw his head away from the image of Galwax to the book he’d only glanced at before, looking at it with the limited analysis his crafting gave him in order to see it’s rank and finding the pain in his body instantly forgotten as he saw what it was. A middle mythic item, sitting there and free for the taking.

He felt himself begin to drool as he looked at it, doing his best to keep at least some of his minds on the image of the dead god to see if it had anything else important to say.

“Since I didn’t stay long enough to learn to interact with the system here, the rewards I give will be limited. I have no skill to bequeath you, but in its place I believe selling that should allow however many of you made it through to live as emperors for the rest of your lives. Speaking of which, it’s time to discuss how you did,” The star said, staying silent for a few moments before briefly flaring up. “A part of me can’t believe I’m even bothering to set up the recording and reward parameters for this, but in the spirit of looking after every possibility I have no choice but to accept that however unlikely, it is possible. In a trial designed to let up to twenty-seven people take it, you’ve somehow completed it with only two and no deaths. Considering the previous record for such a thing was five, you should consider yourselves to be outstanding.”

“There’s going to be two more deaths if you don’t get on with it and let us out of here!” Ben yelled out as it went on.

“Not only that, but to have finished the trial in only fourteen days. While that has been accomplished by members of my own race, I have to say that your achievement was extraordinary.”

“Fourteen days? It’s been like two and half months, what are you...”

He trailed off as the answer occurred to him. He’d been freezing the counter within the rest areas. All the time he’d spent in there hadn’t been recorded for the trial to acknowledge, leaving Ben feeling supremely smug in the process.

“I left enough of myself to pass on my blessing to a full team, but it will be all the greater for the fact that it won’t go nearly so divided. As well, as mentioned I cannot give you a skill as seems to be the common reward, however I will do the one other thing I can to pay off this massive achievement. A soul can only grow so much at once, I will stretch the limits of what I can give for both your lifeforce and mana. Use it well.”

A satisfied grin spread out over his face as the surrounding crowd exploded at the sight, none knowing what to make of what just happened as Ben made his way down the ramp back to Abrus who let out a worried chuckle.

“You really are an interesting boy, you know that?” the great spirit said, wondering if Ben was about to suffer some sort of divine retribution so soon after gaining his freedom.

“What can I say, I really freaking hated that place. Also, the god that made it said that all the trial had was mine so I could do with it what I wanted. Well, I guess I was splitting it with Greed. Sorry if you wanted to keep it man.”

“Screw that place and good riddance,” The crab spat, getting a laugh from Ben.

“Well, do you mind if I use this land? I’ll pay you properly for it, I swear.”

“Hell legs, do whatever you want with it, I’m not going to complain.”

“Sweet. Hey Abrus, mind if I get your help with one more thing before anyone in Allfaith see’s this land up for grabs and decides it’s theirs to keep or sell?

“Ha, Ben honestly I’m just so happy to see you alive and well that so long as it isn’t too unreasonable I’ll do it.”

“I mean, considering just how powerful you are, I don’t think it’s unreasonable at least, but here’s what I’m thinking...”

Ben took the time to explain exactly what he had in mind, and in great detail too, to the great earth spirit who was listening carefully to exactly what he wanted before fulfilling the request, giving the crowd around another incredible sight as the powerful being built a cathedral then and there, raising it from the ground to end with something smaller than the trial had been, but being as glamorous as any church on earth, with a fair amount of cubes mixed into it to denote his god before he turned to the crowd of onlookers and yelled out, silencing them all before he said the only thing he needed to.

“When we beat the trial, the god who’d made it said that everything he had was ours to do with. As far as I’m concerned that includes the land, so from now on, this is being used for the church of the god Myriad. If anyone has a problem with it feel free to speak up now, but your complaints will be ignored.”

He was expecting some opposition but got none, everyone there being too impressed by the display of power that occurred to say anything in the face of it, let alone try to argue it.

Myriad basically sobbed in his head.

Ha, well just remember that the next time I do anything less than acceptable. I am a level eight sacrilege holder now after all, it’s gonna happen.

Ha, I’m glad to hear you too man. Honestly, I missed you. Now to just find-

His thought was cut off as a cloaked figure made their way to the front of the crowd and hopped the wall, not being stopped by Abrus as they ran straight at him, tackling him to the ground in their haste to get him in a tight hug, their face pressed into his chest and leaving his shirt damp.

“You idiot. Do you have any idea how worried I was this entire time,” She said, not pulling her face away. “I think I must have lost decades of my life to how scared I was.”

He wrapped his arms around her too as he laid there, feeling content and truly at peace for the first time in weeks.

“I’m back, Thera.”