Regaining his composure, Orion surveyed the scene around him and observed that everyone present was now kneeling, their eyes reflecting fear and their bodies quivering under the immense magical pressure.
He returned his gaze to the massive, narrowed eyes peering down at him from above.
"You're correct," Orion affirmed with a nod. He drew in a deep breath before continuing, "I am not a Prismerion. I am a human."
As Orion's words reached their conclusion, the intense magical energy that had descended from the heavens abruptly dissipated.
"Human! You're a human? What brings a human to this place?" The ancient dignified voice echoed once more, but this time, it held a tone of astonishment and bewilderment.
"Yes, I am," Orion responded with a firm nod. "I came here for the trial, to obtain the power that can help us defeat the White Flame."
Orion glanced around and felt a sense of relief as the intense magical pressure had dissipated, and everyone was gradually rising to their feet. As he observed the colossal eye identifying itself as the 'Aegis of the Arctic Deity' contemplating his response, he couldn't help but reflect on Saria's strange behaviour when she mentioned a bizarre energy beneath the garden.
It turned out that the untamed and bizarre energy Saria had sensed, which had prompted her unusual behaviour, was associated with a god.
First, the White Flame, a man-made god; and now, he had encountered another god calling itself the Aegis of the Arctic Deity!
Even though he had braced himself for the unexpected, encountering another god so soon was still an unusual surprise.
"Are you sure about this, human?" the ancient voice asked once more. "This is not your trial, and you have no reason to sacrifice yourself for this treacherous race. They are the ones who have brought this punishment upon themselves; thus, they should bear the responsibility for finding their own freedom." The voice carried a tone of warning, yet Orion sensed no malevolence.
In fact, it felt as though the voice was trying to impart a piece of valuable advice.
Nonetheless, Orion had made his decision, and having come this far, he saw no reason to change it.
"Yes, I'm sure about it," Orion responded without hesitation.
He took a deep breath before continuing, "Besides, I won't be able to leave this mountain without finding a way to deal with the White Flame."
"Are you certain, human? If you wish to leave, then I, the Aegis of the Arctic Deity, can make it happen."
Orion was immediately stunned. He looked around and saw that not only he, but everyone around him, was genuinely bewildered, including Princess Crystalia, who appeared as though her jaw was about to drop to the ground.
"Then... Then you can..." Princess Crystalia began, her voice trembling, but the ancient voice promptly interrupted.
"Silence, treacherous race! This proposal does not apply to you!" The ancient voice thundered from above, its gaze now fixed on Princess Crystalia.
Her lips were sealed shut, and she took a step backwards, shivering in fear.
The pair of golden eyes suddenly narrowed, focusing on Princess Crystalia and Flintor, who stood beside her.
Aegis of the Arctic Deity snorted loudly before returning its attention to Orion. "What is your choice, human? Are you willing to leave and gain your freedom, or will you remain here and help this treacherous race attain theirs?"
The ancient voice resounded from above, awaiting Orion's answer with patience.
Orion briefly glanced around, realizing that he had become the centre of everyone's attention.
He observed Princess Crystalia trembling, as though she wanted to say something to him but was too frightened to speak. Flintor appeared tense, and he noticed Iris clenching her fists from a distance, accompanied by the strained expressions of those surrounding him.
A heavy sigh escaped Orion's lips as he focused his gaze on the large pair of golden eyes.
He spoke, "I've already made my choice. I'm willing to stay here and help them gain their freedom. So, please, Aegis of the Arctic Deity, commence the trial, and let us begin."
The moment Orion's words left his mouth, a heavy silence hung among the participants, only to be shattered by a resounding rumble from above.
"Hahaha, very good," the ancient voice began to laugh. "As expected from a human. Even in front of a god, you still stand tall," the laughter gradually subsided. "Regardless, since you have decided to undertake this trial, I have no reason to stop you. However, before we begin, I must warn you that this trial not only tests one's strength but also their will, determination, and heart."
"Although the trial's difficulty remains constant regardless of the number of participants, if you fail to complete it this time, apart from the Prismerions losing their chance to ever leave this mountain, the other consequence is...
"...Death."
"Death," Orion muttered abruptly.
"Yes. Although they don't remember anything, as the rules dictate that their memories related to the trial have been sealed, you can thank the two treacherous beings beside you for trying twice and failing to complete."
Princess Crystalia bit her lip in frustration, finally understanding why she and Flintor hadn't remembered anything.
It turned out that they had completely wasted the only two chances her race had to leave this mountain.
She felt…
"Don't worry, we will get it right this time and complete the trial," Orion said, his words reaching Princess Crystalia's ears and soothing her troubled heart.
He briefly glanced at her before his eyes moved to encompass everyone present.
"IS EVERYONE READY TO COMPLETE THIS TRIAL?" Orion shouted loudly, ensuring that his voice resonated across all hundred and twenty-one participants.
"I'm ready," Flintor declared, capturing Orion's attention with his firm and unwavering gaze.
"I'm ready!" Iris's voice rang out from a distance. She activated the power of the Crystalforge clan and forged a forty-five-inch-meter crystalline greatsword within her grasp, driving it into the rocky surface of the ground.
Orion locked eyes with Iris briefly before another voice, from a different direction, echoed through the chamber.
"I'M READY!" It was followed by another and another, until every participant joined in, screaming at the top of their lungs, "I'M READY!" Their voices filled the space with unwavering determination.
