CH434

As the rest of them recovered from the mental strain, Ben went to his clothing that was left in a pile off to the side and got dressed as he tried to keep the memories of what he just experienced from flooding him, with thoughts of what sort of sacrilegious acts he’d do to make up for any of what just happened. He may have tried to cheat the trial, but the fact that the gods were willing to put any mortal through something like that was simply going too far.

He didn’t get far in his planning before a light appeared before them all, taking the shape of a goddess he knew well. Helori floated just slightly above them all, exuding her divinity and refusing to meet his eyes.

“So you again, huh?” He asked dryly, not in the mood to make friendly, even if it was a god he actually liked. A god who for her part seemed more than a little uncomfortable being there.

“Ahem, yes. When someone completes a tower, if any of the participants has a connection to a god it represents then that god will be the one who shows up. Since we know each other and Myriad doesn’t qualify, I was selected to come down.”

“Fine. Give your little congratulations speech and then hand out the blessings first again. Also, we’re talking before you give any skill levels.”

She wasn’t used to his eyes being so cold, nor that strange feeling that came with his sacrilege being directed at her and she made no move to argue, instead focusing on the rest around who weren’t so used to interacting with gods.

“You’ve all done well making it to the top, it’s a rare enough occasion that deserves to be celebrated. At such a time, having more life mages is just as valuable as having any fighters, maybe even more so, so it’s the earnest wish of all who just witnessed the work you put in that you’ll use the new strength you’ve gained to aid the world as a whole. Congratulations, you’re all more than deserving of the reward.”

His thoughts pounded as his mind grew again, hundreds more coming into place as each one there already was strengthened further, all while he tried to keep it from showing on his face as he brought them to order and tried to count them up.

So four hundred and ninety-nine new ones, meaning I’m getting that many each level considering that I had nine ninety-eight at the first. The more surprising bit would probably be my thought speed skills transitioning instead of awakening. So now each level, the speed I think at will grow by one hundred and fifty percent? Sounds insane but okay, and I now have even more minds to make it grow all the faster.

Since his thought speed skill was once again at the zeroth level he immediately put it to practice with all of the new minds in his head as he acknowledged what notifications he heard in the thoughts of the others.

As nice as it was to hear Thera raise her mana recovery, earth sense, and mana examination, the real score was for her magics, and not just her own, but everyones.

All four of her non-affinitied options gained levels, while at the same time, the life magics of herself, Steph, and Sonya all grew as well. Even Sachel had the fortune of gaining a level to her earth magic amongst her skills as they each felt the success that came with so much growth.

So after Thera takes her reward level that’s going to put her at the fourth, and Sonya’s sitting at level nine of the first tier which means when she gets her rewards she’ll be able to awaken to level one. It’s almost enough to put a smile on my face. Almost.

He didn’t intend to let that bit of success distract him from the torture he’d just gone through, a fact he was going to make clear as he spoke.

“Alright, me, Thera and Steph will take our levels here, but the other two are taking them later.”

His eyes were daring her to argue with him, to say something about how it needed to be done in the trial to save a bit of faith, but that wasn’t what he got.

“Yes, Myriad is already making sure everything is set up and ready for you.”

He wasn’t sure if it was his face or his thoughts that gave away his surprise at how easy things had just gone, but Helori spoke in his head to clear it up, trying to keep it private.

I’m sorry, what accident? Are you saying I wasn’t supposed to be torn apart like that?

<No, you were. The accident is that the trial wasn’t designed to take into account that you think with your soul. You may need to put your lives on the line at each floor, but we aren’t needlessly cruel. You should have been unconscious for the whole thing.>

Hearing that knocked a bit of the rage out of him. A large part of his anger had been from the idea that the gods would do something so torturous to any mortal, hearing it was a mistake didn’t fix things, but it altered the scale at which his anger was being measured on.

Alright, well I don’t think that agreeing to something that’s literally going to help the world as a whole puts us on even grounds for a mistake like that, but you can help me argue that point when it comes up later.

She felt whatever emotions he was giving off decrease as she breathed just a little easier. The fact that no harm was being done by his skill meant it probably couldn’t affect her in a meaningful way, but it was the most unpleasant experience she’d gotten from a mortal which made it bad enough.

Ben for his part was unaware of any of this, whatever his sacrilege did being driven by instinct, not controlled with intent, as he tried to put on a slightly lighter mood.

“Okay, give me two levels to my mental symbiosis.”

It wasn’t what he really wanted, he thought defense enhancement was far more worthwhile overall, but what he did want was every chance of success for what would come next, and a higher level of mental symbiosis was his best shot at making it happen.

He listened as both Thera and Steph asked for their levels to their life magics before the exit appeared and they all walked off, with both Sonya and Sachel left in confusion as to why they were taking their levels later.

When they got to the gate they parted with Steph, with her needing to go off to share the news of her success, as well as let Will know that she was safe, while the rest of them carried on to Allfaith.

“Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” Thera asked him for the untold time, still worried about any lingering effects of what just happened. “Your body is moving alright? You don’t feel ill or sore at all?”

“I’m fine, don’t worry. You all did an excellent job of putting me back together, I’ve got no complaints.”

No attempt at reassurance kept her from hanging onto his arm, trying to keep him close though.

“This time no more towers for real.”

“No argument from me, I still think I might destroy one or two of them if the world doesn’t end as a little treat to myself. We’ll see what the future holds I guess.”

None of them made any comment against the thought like they usually would, not after seeing that. The inborn respect for gods they each felt could only go so far, and the final floor had just pressed it to its limits.

<Which isn’t surprising.> Myriad sighed. <Coming up with appropriate trials for life magic especially isn’t the easiest thing compared to other magics, but a few of the options it has probably should have been re-evaluated before being implemented.>

Oh hey, you finally showed up after your sweet little apostle was just tortured. I’m going to need a therapist after that, man.

<You’ve clearly needed a therapist for years now and I was busy yelling at the others.>

You were yelling at other gods? Ha, I actually would have liked to see that, you always come off as a bit meek with the ones that show up in your realm.

And that’s why you’re the god I like best. Love you buddy.

<Ha, you better. Now go in there and let’s see if your crazy idea actually works. They’re expecting you.>

His god went silent when they reached the door of a building partly within the sea itself as he introduced himself to the guards out front to be let in before finding many a familiar face waiting.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

“Woo, I win!” Jake cheered. “I told you it would be him doing something crazy.”

“Ugh, fine, dinner’s on me tonight,” Amy grumbled, still giving them all a smile that disappeared as Yuzu went up to him again, grabbing his shoulders and shaking with all she had as the other soul mage, Elvat looked like he wanted to do the same, the only thing stopping him being his aquatic nature binding him to the water he swam in.

“It’s only been three months! Last time wasn’t even a year! How does your status keep changing so much each time I see you!”

The comment immediately drew looks from the others, not just Jake and Amy, but Uliel and Vasta who were standing to the side, along with three more who were standing at the back, one of which was Valaria who stood with an exhaurire he didn’t immediately recognise but nonetheless had to be one of Myriad’s believers that she’d selected, plus what could only be the most surprising second pick of all.

I really wasn’t expecting to see Cheele here.

Greed’s son, the very same son who’d tried to eat the crab, was standing with the other two. Ben had known he’d converted to Myriad after he’d grown his shell, but he hadn’t expected to see him again like that.

Did she actually pick them herself or did you give some suggestions Myriad?

He’d honestly been expecting to just see succubi coming with her, the fact that she got two different races, with one of them not even being an enchanter, couldn’t help but surprise him.

Well, works for me.

He gave them all a friendly smile before focusing back on the soul mage who still had him in her grasp.

Related chapter tags