Seething with anger, Darius had spent little time in the trial store, cursing to himself and quickly flicking through the options. He had received fewer points than he had expected to, and he was unable to purchase everything the Death God had commanded him to. Still, he got the stone of corruption, so it wasn’t a complete failure.
Nonetheless, the rage bubbling within him made him more determine...
2025-11-18 22:46:17 +0000 UTC View PostHaving left the trials behind him, Aaron was met with nothing but a notification screen in a sea of darkness. Worst of all, it went on for a while, calculating and blinking. Then again, he figured a decent amount of compute was required to run a System across an entire multiverse, and perhaps his impatience was unwarranted. Not that it made waiting any better.
Also, he looked around and realized Sooty was nowhere to be seen. That s...
2025-11-17 23:14:03 +0000 UTC View PostAaron was catching a few concerned and disgusted sideways glances. But he hadn’t a choice. There was less than fifteen minutes remaining, and he needed to eat as much and as fast as he could, which made for a rather unpleasant sight, even for his standards. But he didn’t care; he needed to store as much energy as he could before his fight with Mo’han.
Mo’han, on the other hand, was taking the opportunity to say his goodbyes. He h...
2025-11-16 22:04:44 +0000 UTC View PostAs Aaron got back to his feet, neither wasted any time, flying forward and clashing at the center of the arena. Mo’han was like an indestructible wrecking ball, destroying everything in its path, and Aaron was an undying menace, looking for opportunities to chip away at the massive asura.
He had to be careful, though. Just about everything Mo’han threw at him could have deadly consequences. Then again, there was no reason to be surpr...
2025-11-16 01:17:08 +0000 UTC View PostAaron limbered up and fed himself in the privacy of a private dining hall instance after saying his goodbyes. He hoped he’d get another chance to talk to everyone before leaving, but couldn’t hang around any longer. He needed to properly prepare for the duel. Besides, he was fairly certain they were all coming to watch anyway.
He considered barring some of those he didn’t know quite so well, especially if Johan was spying on him, b...
2025-11-13 20:46:30 +0000 UTC View PostPassing through the portal, the group appeared in the man-pad Aaron and Mo’han had hung out in several months earlier. It was quite nice to be visiting the place again after everything he had been through, and he was beaming from ear to ear as he stepped into the room.
The group crowded around the bar, and beers, amongst other drinks, were handed out. A short round of small talk followed, and shortly after, he found himself standing ar...
2025-11-13 00:57:18 +0000 UTC View PostPanting, Aaron drained adipose tissue and cycled energy all whilst eating as he spammed [ Spectral Rush ] through the Trial of Travels. The speed increase of his new Skill was nice, and what he truly appreciated was his ability to shift into an incorporeal, ghostly state, since it was surprisingly handy for the Trial of Travels.
After all, it wasn’t just about speed. There were exploding obstacles flying at him, and al...
2025-11-11 20:53:04 +0000 UTC View PostStanding in the hallway, Aaron realized it wasn’t just leaving Yendal’s divine realm that made him feel so strong. Jumping to his feet, he relished the feeling. He felt… very good. Then again, he had gotten the biggest single Stat upgrade since arriving, and so it wasn’t too surprising that it felt as good as it did. He’d get used to new points, of course, but it was nice to appreciate the gains whilst they were fresh.
+1...
2025-11-10 21:18:30 +0000 UTC View PostAs Aaron clashed with the clone, he immediately realized that this fight was different from the previous ones. When forcing his [ Spectral Fist ] to mutate, he had gone at it rather stubbornly, and basically just brute-forced his way into mutating the Skill.
This time, however, he had a very strong sense of what he wanted to achieve, and he felt his inspiration bubbling over and seeping into his [ Gust Step] 2025-11-09 21:31:36 +0000 UTC View Post
Panting and taking a moment to admire his new loot, Aaron straightened. The Well of Truths sounded pretty cryptic. The description said that it helped the truths of its beholder, and he wondered what exactly that meant.
“Have you recovered yet?” Yendal said.
“Getting there,” Aaron said. “One more Rattus con Caramel and I should be good. By the way, what’s a Well of Truths?” he said, gulping down the c...
2025-11-08 21:29:34 +0000 UTC View PostSpectral Bullet Punch [ Epic ] This mutated version of Spectral Fist has transformed the ranged attack from a spectral fist missile of mana and stamina into something far more streamlined. Like bullets, the user can shoot these spectral attacks from their fists at remarkable speed, creating the perfect vessels for mana, stamina, and aether to be flung at their enemies from afar.
Aaron honestly hadn’t really known wheth...
2025-11-06 21:16:19 +0000 UTC View PostThe two avatars came fast, speeding across the arena and ducking and diving between one another as they took turns throwing their entire bodies into deadly combinations that pressed Aaron to his limit. He was on the back foot and struggling to even return a single strike, but that was exactly how he wanted it.
If he wasn’t being challenged, what point was there? And even though the clones he fought weren’t the strongest versions of Y...
2025-11-05 21:39:33 +0000 UTC View PostReality seemed to twist and bend around Aaron as space warped, and suddenly his breath grew tight, and an incredible weight pressed down upon him.
He was no longer in space but standing on white tiles. However, perhaps this was worse. Much, much worse.
Stubbornly, he gritted his teeth and tried to bear the insufferable force crushing down on him, but no amount of willpower would suffice, and he dropped to his knees.
What ...
2025-11-04 23:39:54 +0000 UTC View PostTying his cape around his neck and adjusting it, Aaron played around for a short moment before getting serious again. He caught a few gazes in the hallway for doing so, but he was essentially a local celebrity by now, and the respect he had earned outweighed any judgment. In fact, a couple of people took notes, as if playing around with capes was the magic ingredient to completing trials.
I can work with this.
Thanks to th...
2025-11-03 21:03:33 +0000 UTC View PostA sudden pang of self-consciousness hit Aaron as his eyes swept over his shadow avatar. He knew he puffed out when energizing his adipose tissue, but seeing the size of himself in person… it made him feel a little uncomfortable.
Breaking eye contact with his shadow avatar, he looked around. What he saw was… nothing. An endless expanse of nothing. There was ambient light, but no source. The ground was a reflective black, and when he l...
2025-11-02 23:02:21 +0000 UTC View PostAaron had to admit, Orrigomo was extraordinarily fast. He was quite strong, too. And one hardy bastard. However, compared to Yendal, he was weak. He didn’t have Yendal’s casual precision, and while he was fast, Aaron could tell he was pushing himself to move that fast, and was on the verge of losing control, making him very predictable. Even without being able to read the threads of fate, Aaron felt he could have seen where his enemy would...
2025-11-01 21:39:10 +0000 UTC View PostLooking out across the land from his throne of skulls, Aaron mused that the gathering crowd of chain-bound slaves really did look angry. Hundreds of them were crowding up by the base of the hill, preparing to attack.
It was quite impressive, actually. There appeared to be all kinds of enslaved on this world, including several races Aaron recognized, and many he didn’t.
I guess this is some kind of prison world.
... 2025-10-30 21:44:47 +0000 UTC View PostGrill Master [ Elite ] Who likes Indoor kitchens anyway? They are such a bore. Go outside, grab a beer, and work the grill! Passively improves the quality of dishes cooked by the user outdoors. Note: any form of roof will render this Skill useless.
Spirit Meat Handler [ Elite ] Wrangling fresh meat can be a dangerous job, even more so when you’re dealing with ghost meat. Passively provides minor increases in ae...
2025-10-29 22:48:22 +0000 UTC View PostHost-Bound Spiked Gauntlets of the Spectral Horror [ Legendary - E-grade [ Adaptive ] ]
These magnificent gauntlets have been crafted of vampire iron and are at one with the person who provided their blood for their creation. At the heart of each gauntlet is a shining and shimmering white gem, known as a shimmer stone, that works as a conduit for spiritual energy, or aether, allowing these gauntlets to channel th...
2025-10-28 21:26:51 +0000 UTC View Post“Hold on. Hold your horses,” Aaron raised his hands and attempted to calm the crowd. It had gotten a little large and rowdy. “You’ll all get your turn.”
Well, maybe… hopefully…
He was already running low on soul-repairing food, but they didn’t need to know that. Not yet, at least.
“How much for the Rejuvenating Spirit Touched Slug Sashimi?” A man said, waving his arms.
“That one? Ahh… I...
2025-10-27 21:24:40 +0000 UTC View Post“Enjoy the rewards, bahaha!” Oozagh rocked back and forth. “Especially that one. That issue there is my favorite. I’m sure you’ll find it particularly good. You should see the fold-out, it is something else. Anyway,” Oozagh said, attempting to calm his quickened voice. “It’ll help you understand what you’re missing out on by not having a good ogre wife!”
“I’m… I think I’m good,” Aaron said, grimacing as he p...
2025-10-26 21:30:32 +0000 UTC View PostPassing through the hallway, Aaron made his way up to the trial dial and selected Oozagh. It was fitting, as the ogre had accompanied him on the vast majority of the Trial of Endurance stages, and they had even led to his patronage so many trials ago.
Checking for trial compatibility…
Prerequisites met: Challenger has a divine blessing.
Trial starting…
I w...
2025-10-25 21:27:37 +0000 UTC View PostIt was a peculiar level they found themselves in. The dragon heads were huge, craning over what looked like a little settlement, but it was completely out of place. It was a medieval-looking town plopped down and surrounded by a barrier of rock, which created a path directly to it from the tunnel passages.
Their goal was simple: to keep the one hundred villagers who were just standing around doing nothing in the town square from dying. 2025-10-23 21:31:38 +0000 UTC View Post
Hunched over in the dining hall, Aaron swirled his finger around the edge of his cup. He needed to take a short break after his previous trial. Unfortunately, a few drinks didn’t work to take his mind off something like they once did. He could probably down a few dozen beers before he got a good buzz now, and he didn’t have time for that.
However, it wasn’t all bad. It turned out that he had only spent about an hour in the tr...
2025-10-22 20:34:58 +0000 UTC View Post
Hey all, I'd like to thank everyone who has supported me and this story.
I've also added the unfinished artwork for book 1.
2025-10-21 21:40:44 +0000 UTC View PostThe ninth stage of the Trial of Endurance began with the repetitive thuds of helicopter blades sounding above his head.
Blinking repetitively, Aaron looked around. He’d seen a lot, but this wasn’t what he expected. Why was he aboard a military helicopter? Furthermore, why was everything a little off about it?
Overly stylish gray camo, pointed ears, and surfaces that seemed just a little too slick. Then he noticed the weapons he...
2025-10-21 21:28:16 +0000 UTC View PostEntering the Trial of Endurance beside Oozagh’s avatar, Aaron began the eighth stage trial, and immediately, he was subjected to unspeakable pain.
It hit him within literal seconds. His vision blurred, the world shook around him, and he felt as if his entire body was to be ripped apart.
The pain seemed to have no limit to what it could force upon him, and before he knew it, he was on the ground. He didn’t even have a chance to ...
2025-10-20 21:29:27 +0000 UTC View PostTutorial days elapsed: 84 (336 Days in Trial time)
With the end of the Tutorial drawing nearer and nearer, the hallway had turned into a crowded mess of commotion. With so many people around, Aaron had figured spotting more people from Earth was likely sooner or later, but hadn’t expected to run into the scene he did on his way to the trial dial.
However, there was still quite a bit of time remaining in the trial...
2025-10-19 22:53:38 +0000 UTC View Post