Shuttling Between the Two Worlds

Before stepping into the grey tiles of the corridor, Lugh told Aria to release a bit of her true aura, so as to receive the D+ Rank trial.

"Once you step into the grey tiles, the trial begins. Before that, you must let the inheritance site know of your true rank."

Or so Alina says..

Tap!

As Lugh took his first step, he felt a bit of pressure on his body.

{Master, this kind of power belongs to the Deity-Realm Combatants. With my current rank, i won't be able to negate it.}

'No, it's fine. I'll finally have the chance to train myself.'

Ever since he bound his soul to Xiao Song, he's always one realm higher than his true strength. Now that he bore the pressure for a SS+ Rank with his own body, he thought that it's time for training again.

'I've already did this countless times with my Master, so this wouldn't make a difference.'

2nd step, 3rd strep, 4th step... As he progressed through the corridor, the pressure that his body bore became stronger. At the 17th step, he had to fully utilize his Heaven's Force to strengthen his body. Coincidentally, he catched up to the guys who ran away earlier.

"You're all dead meat."

"Shit! Block!"

A rain Dark Spears flew at them. With that at LV6, he can use it to damage them to some extent. thanks to him brute forcing with his Heaven's Force, he was able to use it to annoy them.

For your information, most SS+ Ranks would have their Darkness Control at LV7 or LV8. The level of his traits are one of the disadvantages that Lugh had.

Splat!

An entire head was blown off thanks to the homing Dark Spears. Seeing this, the remaining survivor got scared.

[600,000 EXP has been gained.]

"I-I beg you! I have a fam-"

Stab!

With a single strike, Lugh stabbed his heart. Knowing that he's already an enemy, Lugh's decisive enough to kill him. If he didn't have enough power right now, their situations might be switched.

Just like his [Decisiveness] trait, Lugh became like it too.

[650,000 EXP has been gained.]

He didn't take long before passing through this corridor. This time, Lugh saw that Aria is at 17th step.

'I told her to let me go first to clean those guys up. Now that I look at it, she could've arrived here just a bit slower than me. If she didn't slow down, she would've been at the 19th step already.'

After some wait, Aria finally passed this trial as well. When they looked forward, all they could see is a door.

"Are you fine?"

"Mn. Just some internal damage."

"Ah-why did you say that just now?"

Lugh quickly took out some Healing Potions for her and let her drink it.

"There's no need.. I can heal this quickly."

"No, drink this. This will fully restore you from injuries."

"It's.. Alright, I'll drink it."

After recovering from her injuries thanks to the potion, they finally went in front of the door.

"This is the third trial. Its main theme is illusions."

"Illusions? What kind?"

"I made it so that the core of the illusion would be yourself. Only when you break free of the illusion that you generated will you guys pass."

"An illusion with us as the core.."

"Teacher, what would it show us?"

"Anything. From what you fear the most to a paradise. It depends on yourself."

'Quite broad..'

When Lugh trained his sword for almost 22 years now, he developed a very strong mentality along with his Mental Realm. This is the benefit of a long-term training.

"Do not worry, though. The ones who failed will be kicked out and be sent here."

"Alright. Lugh, let's go!"

"You're that confident?"

"Mn. I might not be able to be proud of my rank, but my Mental Realm is something else!"

"Speaking of, you're at half-step Controlling Stage already?"

"Huh? How did you know?"

"Your swordsmanship."

"Then, at what stage are you now?"

"In the middle of Controlling Stage."

"Wow. As expected of Lugh!"

"Can you guys start the trial now?"

"Teacher.. Understood."

With that, they opened the door and stepped into it.

***

[Overlapping Rate is now at 78%. Executing planned procedures..]

***

"Huff!"

Lugh suddenly woke up from his sleep. he looked as if he experienced a nightmare.

"Hah.. What was that?"

It is an awful dream. He couldn't remember much, but he felt that it's a very devastating dream. He felt extreme sadness from just recalling that.

"I need to calm down first.."

One breath. Two Breaths. Three Breaths. With his third breath, he fully recovered from his tense state. Still, one could see sweat in his face and hands, evident of the nightmare that he just woke up in.

"Mn.. Lugh?"

With him waking up all of a sudden, he woke up Aria in the process. As a married couple for almost a year, Lugh is now used to seeing her every time he wakes up.

"Good morning."

"Morning, Lugh."

Then, Lugh proceeded to give her a kiss on her lips.

"I might be busy starting today, so here's my advance compensation."

"Because of them again?"

"Yes."

 What Aria is referring to are the Demons. Unlike in the Zerg World, they developed to be cunning in this world. They even made an alliance with the Evil Spirits way back then just to win the war of Aquamarine.

Today is the day that the Dawn Cult would be attacked by the joint forces of Frost Dragon Empire, Flammingbird Empire, Yamashiro Country, and the Nisch Country. They deemed the cult as a hindrance for so long, but they weren't able to get hold of their Main Base.

Though, it changes now. One spy successfully escaped while being unnoticed, thus the major powers decided a joint operation. The ones participating here are the Major Powers who weren't troubled of major problems.

"Then.. One more time."

"If that's what you want."

Due to Aria, a new "round" has started. It took an entire hour before its finished. While putting on his clothes, Aria asked Lugh whether she could go or not.

"Nope. Definitely not."

"Why? Is it because I'm the Empress? I want to go to the battlefield too!"

"You can't. You are the only pillar of the Empire."

"I don't want to lose you too!"

Due to some unfortunate circumstances, her entire family died, leaving her alone to lead the Empire. If not for Lugh's intuition working, she might've died too.

"Sigh.. Then, let's escape. I already have a plan laid out."

"Nn.."

She really wanted to escape from this burden, but she recalled the final will of her family. They entrusted the Empire to her. How could she leave just like that?

Looking at her face, Lugh knew why she is conflicted. Seeing this, he just comforted her.

"Don't worry, I won't die. I'm only at the back lines. If they wanted to kill me, they have to get pass through the EX Ranks guarding me."

"Mn.. Be safe."

"I will. I still want to shoulder some of your burden. I'll live."

After sharing another kiss with Aria, he left the room.