Chapter 1098 1042: Each Their Progress

While Maria, Luna, Sakuya, and Gracier participated in an auction to acquire elixirs and other items to enhance their mana pool, in other locations as well the remaining girls did the same, they acquired various elixirs and items not only to enhance their mana pool but to increase other stats as well.

It is true that as one would progress one's stats would increase as well but only relying on your natural level-up benefits would not work because others might be blessed to stumble upon elixirs, items to increase their stats, it is why those high-level rankers would buy elixirs and enhancement items as their level and Rank increase. A perfect acknowledgment by your Gift could also increase some random stats after you passed a test handed by your Gift.

It was exactly what happened to Sera, she consumed elixirs but was not satisfied with the results and therefore sought the complete acknowledgment of her Gift and he gave her a mission.

To fight against a version of herself who had double her stats and the result was her defeat as at the moment Sera was in a pretty sorry state.

Bursts of tearing pain pulsed through Sera's head. Her head felt heavy and she could feel dizziness starting to kick in. Panic slowly took over as, for a moment, a way out of this pain began to seem more and more unrealistic. The road ahead was a tough one and right now they weren't sure whether they were willing to walk it, let alone whether they were able.

Fighting through the pain was becoming increasingly difficult, but above all else, it became increasingly annoying to have to deal with. However, she felt like there wasn't much that could be done either way, so the best course of action was to simply deal with it and get on with life until the pain subsided.

Finally, arriving at the small cottage she was using as a resting place since accepting the trial, Sera removed her clothes and entered the small lake behind the cottage to clean herself. She was quite frustrated because today's defeat was her fifteenth, no matter how well she fought she was unable to come out on top of her opponent, although they both have the same eyes the Sera opposite to her was truly emotionless, her eyes were cold and sharp, even when injured she didn't even flinch, the way she used daggers, the way she used sword was beyond anything Sera had ever experienced so she kept losing.

While resting half of her body inside the water Sera thought and thought again, how should she fight to win? What should she try in their next fight? Should she try using Death's hand again even though it had previously failed?

Suddenly, Sera had a thought, she was well aware that this world was inside her consciousness and whatever happened here wouldn't truly happen outside but it was still scary however she was not afraid and she believed this strategy would be the key to winning.

'To understand death I'm experiencing it firsthand.' She thought.

A few minutes later it happened she experienced her first death.

''It hurts! It hurts so much! I can't take this anymore! Somebody make it stop! I can't. I can't move, it's too heavy. My arms are too heavy. Somebody, please make it stop.

I already fell to my knees and I'm getting weaker by the minute. Perhaps I should lie down, I am kind of tired anyway. Move body, move. Fall over, come on.

Is there no way out of this mess? No way for me to live? I'm not ready to die, I'm not ready for it all to end. Somebody, please find me, I need help. Somebody, please save me. I don't want to die.

It's quite peaceful here, I could stay here for hours. Not that I have a choice right now. No, I do have a choice. Give up or fight and I choose to fight. I will get away from here, as far away as possible until I've found it helpful. Help, I need help to get out of here. I can't do it on my own, it's no use.

I'm going to die. Shame it's not like in the books, I have yet to see flashes of my life as I slowly pass away. Maybe they're yet to come. It should be soon though, I know I have little time left. Best get ready for the show.

My mind is numb, I'm feeling drowsy. I can't think straight anymore, I'm too tired. The world looks distorted, I can't make sense of any of it anymore. My mind is numb.''

After her death, she seemed to have comprehended something from this death because in their next confrontation things changed.

She transformed into a shadow, she became the shadow itself and successfully managed to kill her other self. She gained a new ability as well on top of finally gaining the full approval of Gift and she achieved her goal.

At the same time in a forest a few kilometers from Sera's current location. The forest was modest, shadowy, and thriving. Its canopy was contested by hemlock, dogwood, and hazel, and abundant dancing lights bounced through their crowns for bright plants to use the insect-riddled soils below.

Curling tree limbs waved from a couple of trees, and a hodgepodge of flowers, which were common to this area only, spruced up the otherwise colorless scenery.

A variation of sounds, belonging mostly to fleeing animals, brightened up the forest and formed a chaotic orchestra with the occasional sounds of large animals in the distance.

At this current moment, at a place that was 5 km away from the waterfall. This place revolved around trees, the sounds of birds chirping rang out, and the fragrance of fragrant flowers drifted around the air. This place was a pretty good secluded paradise, but the precondition was that if there weren't any people here.

Saeko was under this waterfall, sitting in a lotus position letting the water cascade on her body before suddenly opening her eyes and shouting.

''I did it.''

Finally, she achieved her goal just like the others.