Manowa

Let’s challenge heroic spirit

==

(+) Argo mountain range, Coral Temple

“This place is still like when it was a game.”

Kazane looked at the surroundings and judged that way. Probably it is ‘similar’ with Signa Ruin.

The only thing that different was the remnants of camp near the entranceway.

(Perhaps everyone came to take the trial)

But it should be useless. Since this place is player exclusive spot.

While surveying her surrounding Kazane advanced toward the closed front gate, above the gate was decorated with stone mask.

““This is the place for the trial.””

The iron mask spoke.

“”A place for those who released from their karma to regain their own karma. Thou has the qualification or not?””

Just about everything was the same, Kazane feel nostalgic.

“Player name, Yuihama Kazane. I’ve come to take the trial!”

Kazane announced it toward the stone mask.

“Very well. Thou, qualified person. You may pass.”

The stone mask answered and the gate opened.

“Alright, first, before take the ring, let’s take that item.” After passed the gate the path in front of Kazane lit with burning light. However, Kazane ignored it and walk toward side path.

Advancing past the wall after the entrance, she descended slightly from the cliff and walked in the path she found.

“Nothing changed, truly.”

If Kazane careless she might have fall at that narrow path so she walk timidly and finally get out from the cliff area and stand in front strangely magnificent gate.

“Al--right! There is it! It is not locked right?”

The door opened smoothly with a click. Inside was an altar with illumination crystal burning with flame stand in a row, and in the centre was a rectangle red crystal similar with tin pen case.

“Yup yup. As expected it is here.” It was one of eight highest artefacts, Crimson Ark (Crimson Saint Coffin). It gives +300 magical power. Though the recovery rate doesn’t increase (normally magical power recovery from zero to full need half a day. Thus player with 100 magical power need two days to recover to full if use this Crimson Saint Coffin) since this item is really user friendly, many players use this magic tool.

(TL note: half a day: recover 100 MP. (100+300) MP=2 days)

What was in this Coral temple is not only ring to summon heroic spirit. There were 8 artefacts which can be used by players. However there’s a limitation: only the first visited door will open, thus there’s only one from eight artefacts that can be taken by a player.

From those eight, Kazane without hesitation choose Crimson Saint Coffin, taking into consideration that she will need to be able to prolong her combat period for capturing dungeon hereafter.

(Killed because running out of magical power is nothing to joke about)

The mana potion she received from Master is something really pricy and the amount also scarce, so normally she won’t be able to get it. Also, other than absorption magic like magic eater, there’s almost no other way to restore magic power in Zexiahart other than let it recover by itself.

“Alright, first let’s try opens the other doors.”

If she can take it she will, or so Kazane thought, but unfortunately the door won’t open. Well, to be precise, the next two doors won’t open, but the other five already opened. And the artefact inside is no longer there.

“How can this be?”

After confirming the last door, Kazane tilt her head.

(Perhaps, there’re other players? Well, since me and Yumika is here, it’s not that strange though)

Furthermore, one of the taken artefacts was found not long after.

“Artefact, Infinite Key, huh” She found it in the place before the door to the trial. Worn by dead person’s skeleton lying in that place.

“Level 9. Yohan Simpson.”

Since he also own guild card, Kazane confirm its content. Since it’s a guild card, there’s a possibility that it is just alias, however if it’s his real name then he is not Japanese.

“Though, since Zexiahart were spread worldwide, it is not really strange that there’re some foreigners.”

Then, for her to be able to meet her friend Yumika, this might be unexpectedly a miracle. Though it is still unclear, the existence of other players is new information for Kazane. That also applied for the bone in front Kazane.

(So if you dead your corpse will remain. That mean, there’s no reset or continue.)

Then her conjecture and wish that…’since this is a game, even if I died I will revive right?’ was denied.

“Well, it is not like I expect something like that. Even so, about this Yohan, perhaps if I ask Pran I might know when he was registered.”

Since he has become skeletons, then it should not be sometime near, but she herself has no knowledge on how long a corpse will become skeletons in this place. As expected, investigate how much time lapsed from guild card is better, so Kazane pocketed the card and looking at the entrance of test ground.

“Well then, let’s go.”

After humming for seconds, Kazane open the door, and walk inside the room.

“As expected, it’s the same.”

There was an unusually wide room. Arena with spectators stands surrounding it.

Of course, there’s no spectator here, but in the middle of the arena there’s a ring.

Kazane walked toward the ring in silence and picked it up.

“Let’s go, me.”

She pointed at herself slowly.

In an instant.

Spectator seat filled with people. Or to be more precise, something with the shape of people, half transparent objects with bluish radiance. There’re existence that placed there for the sake of cheering.

Then the door in front Kazane opened, and one man walked from there.

He is a man with silver hair that fluttering about, a scary looks and well featured tall man.

“Ugh, that was the real one.”

Kazane observing the man in front of her.

Firm body donned with silver armour, moreover he wear red mantle like a monarch, and in his forehead is a circlets adorned with two red gems, and in his waist he carry blue crystal similar with Crimson Saint Coffin.

(He is my…)

Kazane feel delight and also fear while looking at that figure. Pressure that she won’t even noticed when looking at the monitor, stir her heart like a storm.

However, ignoring Kazane’s feeling, that man put out his left hand.

And from there, a large shield with mirror like surface and various magic circuits piled up one after another emerged.

(Heaven Mirror Large Shield “Zegai”…)

It’s a shield that has saved Kazane in various dangerous occasions, the strongest shield.

Then from the large shield storage, that man took a great sword that shaped as if created by weaving numerous wings, “Rirn”

Woosh, wind bursting around.

That sound come from in front and behind Kazane.

Unknowingly, a man stood behind Kazane.

That man has the same face, figure, bringing the same shield and holding the same sword with silver haired man in front of her.

Name : Zirg

Occupation: Holy Spirit guide

Level : 300

Equipment: Great Wing Sword “Rien”, Heaven Mirror Shield “Zegai”, Full Body Holy Silver Armour “Seraphim”, Wisdom Circlet, Divine Emperor Mantle, Azure Sky Coffin

That appeared in Kazane’s party member. That is her player character in the first playthrough.

““Welcome, qualified person.””

A voice resounded from the sky.

“”Crossing the world’s karma, here I will manifest the other half of the strongest you.””

Before long, the stone mask in the entrance fall from the ceiling.

“”This is your own self. Yet it’s not you.””

“”Do you have the determination to challenge your own self!?””

“YES I AM!!”

“”Then this place will become the battle ground. The key to win to yourself is inside yourself. Will you life and win after defeating your own self, or will you die destroyed by your own self.””

The man catch the falling mask with the hand that wielding sword and wear it.

“”All depend on you!!””

Kazane was prepared. And the Zirg behind Kazane now stand in front of her, facing the other Zirg with stone mask.

The requirement to obtain ring to summon heroic spirit.

That’s, the current player must fight against the previous player character with the help of previous player character. In term of combat power it’s possible to defeat it since it is 2 vs 1.

However, that only applied if the ‘current player’ still alive.

==

Name : Yuihama Kazane

Occupation : Magic Swords-woman

Title : Ogre Killer

Equipment : Cane [[White Blaze]], Two Handed Sword [[Black Fang]], Leather Jacket, Fur Coat (with Hood), Metal Gauntlet, Plain Clothes, Leather Trouser, Leather Shoes, Pouch, Crimson Saint Coffin

Level : 19

Vitality : 64

Magic Power : 107+300

Strength : 25

Agility : 18

Endurance : 14

Wisdom : 27

Dexterity : 19

Spell : [[Fly]] [[Torch]] [[Fire]] [[Heal]]

Skill : [[Goblin Language]] [[Night Vision]] [[Crushing Blow]] [[Dog’s Sense of Smell]] [[Golem Maker]] [[Rush]] [[Fire Principle: Second Chapter]] [[Healing Principle: Second chapter]] [[Air Jump]] [[Killing Leg]] [[Fear Voice]] [[Invisible]]

==

Yumika : By the way what’s the function of Artefact Infinite Keys?

Kazane : Think it as some kind of cancelling item. It can open lock, undo seal, and dispel abnormal status.

Yumika : I see, it seems simple yet handy.

Kazane : Actually if I were possessed by the spirit, I plan on giving up taking Crimson Saint Casket and take this one to cure myself.