Chapter 1493 - 1493: Test of Character
Inside his consciousness, Rex was faced with three holographic screens.
Each one dictated a path or approach in creating a Spirit Genesis for the Aegis of Moon Sentinel.
Rex started with reading the left screen and worked his way to the right.
…
<Spirit Genesis 1: Path of the Black Rift>
Soul Artifact: Aegis of Moon Sentinel
Compatible Echoes: 22%
Description: For thousands of years, in the Spirit Realm, the moonlight was barely able to touch the ground due to the Black Rift’s blockage. Through time, the Black Rift’s darkness adapted—able to trap moonlight energy in its body, making its depth darker than before. This Spirit Genesis tapped into the trapped moonlight energy to strengthen the user’s endurance significantly.
Power: Harness the trapped moonlight energy to emit a golden aura that nullifes the Black Rift’s effects.
Limitation: Can only be used within the Black Rift and be blind to void entities while it’s active.
Neutralizer: A massive amount of life energy from Voidal Monsters. (Can’t be stored)
…
<Spirit Genesis 2: Path of Golden Lunar Reflection>
Soul Artifact: Aegis of Moon Sentinel
Compatible Echoes: 55%
Description: Harnessing the true essence of the Honey Moon, this Spirit Genesis would amplify the user’s golden halo, allowing it to become sturdier—and faster under the moonlight to protect the user like a sentinel, increasing the user’s endurance significantly.
Power: Absorb and weaken incoming energy-based attacks—while simultaneously using the absorbed energy to enhance the halo.
Limitation: Has a cooldown time whenever the halo absorbs too much and numbs the user’s senses as long as this Spirit Genesis is active.
Neutralizer: Limitations will not occur as long as the user has above 70% Sanity stat.
…
<Spirit Genesis 3: Path of the Perfect Beastr>
Soul Artifact: Aegis of the Moon Sentinel
Compatible Echoes: 48%
Description: Accentuated with a Werewolf’s paramount physical prowess, this Spirit Genesis would merge the golden halo into the user’s body, creating a hard—golden exoskeleton that resembled crystallized honey that retained the golden halo’s ability and special ability and also increasing the user’s endurance significantly.
Power: Berserk fortification, the exoskeleton hardened the angrier the user becomes.
Limitation: Decrease the user’s agility slightly and double the user’s tendency to become angry.
Neutralizer: Has a high enough strength stat and infuse personal blood into the exoskeleton.
…
<All three paths will increase the Minor Law of Misdirection while active>
Rex reads through the three paths and immediately falls into contemplation.
He needs to choose one before breaking through the Aegis of Moon Sentinel to the next rank.
As expected of a defense-type Soul Artifact—all three compatible paths were defensive abilities.
Each one provided Rex with different kinds of defensive capability, ranging from protection against the Black Rift, energy-based attack, and physical attack. However, what surprised Rex the most was the severity of their limitations.
Rex in particular found these three paths’ limitations were even worse than the Inevitable Death’s.
For the Inevitable Death, the limitation revolved around pain.
He would suffer a phantom pain if he miscalculated.
But these paths, all of them target different parts of his acute senses.
One would make him blind, the other numb his senses, while the last one increased his berserk tendency.
“I could pick them based on the Neutralizer,” Rex thought aloud, rubbing his chin—as he contemplated on which one to choose. “As long as the Neutralizer was easy to fulfill, I can basically ignore what the limitations were. So in that case, Spirit Genesis 2 is out of the option,”
Just one look at Spirit Genesis 2’s limitations, Rex instantly thought it impossible.
In his current situation, having about 70% sanity stat is close to impossible.
Normally, his sanity stat hovered around thirty to fifty percent.
It was hard to reach sixty percent much less seventy percent, so path number two is out of the option.
Now, there was only Spirit Genesis 1 and Spirit Genesis 3 to choose from.
“System, what does the compatible echoes section dictate?” Rex asked, searching for a way to eliminate one.
<Notice: The percentage is the number of compatible and available Echoes that could be integrated>
“So you meant, for Spirit Genesis 1, out of all the available Echoes—in this realm, only twenty-two percent of them are compatible with it?” Rex lowered his hand as he now reached a decision. “If that is the case, then I could only choose Spirit Genesis 3”
Reading Spirit Genesis 3’s screen for the second time, Rex became hesitant.
He saw that his berserk tendency would be stimulated if he made this Spirit Genesis.
It’s a physical ability, so it works on any kind of attack—perfect. And the Neutralizer? That should be easy enough to complete. Having enough strength and blood? That’s nothing to me. I just hope I can use this Spirit Genesis without having to shift into my Werwolf form.
Deciding on the Spirit Genesis, Rex pushed the other two screens away and selected the third screen.
Once he came to a decision, the screen flickered a couple of times before turning into green energy.
It was life energy, coursing through his veins and gathered into his Soul Artifact mark.
Soon, this specific strand of life energy seeped into the Aegis of Moon Sentinel’s mark and taught it the map of the Spirit Genesis Rex decided to make from it. For a few seconds there, Rex could feel the life energy gloating at the mark until the pressure was released, causing his body to shiver.
Now that the map was ready, Rex summoned his Nightfall Stars and began cultivating.
Under the curious glances of the others, he began to progress his second Soul Artifact to the next rank.
Time flew by with Rex fully immersed in the increase in power.
Compared to the creation of the Inevitable Death Spirit Genesis, Rex made sure that every step of the way in creating this new Spirit Genesis was perfect—and thorough. He wanted it to have a very strong foundation to handle stronger Echoes that he would certainly obtain in the future.
Soon, the carriage came to a halt.
Rex could smell a foul stench through the closed window and he opened his eyes.
“Lord Rex, we’re here,” Crimoria informed.
Nodding his head, Rex turned to look outside and found the terrain had changed completely.
It wasn’t a desolate plain anymore—the area was now rocky, wet, and cold.
Rex didn’t linger his attention on the terrain for too long as he saw several more carriages aside from theirs outside. Judging from the color and banner, these carriages—also came from the Aurelius Noble House.
On the other side, four figures in polished, royal armor stood in a circle.
“Who are we going to follow again?” One of them placed both hands behind his back and stretched.
“His identity is unknown,” Another answered. “But he should be strong,”
“Since the Great Elder was the one who vouched for him, of course he’s strong,” One mused.
“Oh, look,” One nudged her chin towards the carriage. “He’s coming out”
“Alright, let’s go meet with this person”
Meanwhile, Rex stepped out of the carriage and turned to the side.
He saw several figures approaching him.
Like Crimoria, these four figures were also fully equipped in armor.
“Who are these soldiers?” Rex asked, crossing his arms.
Crimoria stepped forward and gestured toward them with a graceful motion, “Lord Rex, these four are the heirs of the house. Since hunting special Voidal Knights is no ordinary occurrence, as the risks are considerably high—Great Elder Rosa has chosen to send them here to train.”
She paused briefly before adding, “Great Elder Rosa also expressed full confidence that you would be able to ensure their safety.”
Upon hearing this, Rex glanced over to the heirs and scanned them with the System.
All of them are you, the strongest is at the Immortal Spirit 5 rank.
…
<Sudden Quest: Test of Character!>
Description: Great Elder Rosa is testing the user’s character—and abilities by assigning the direct heirs of the Aurelius Noble House to partake in this endeavor. She has entrusted their safety to the user as they train to handle the power of a special Voidal Knight. Failing to keep them safe will result in the user losing Great Elder Rosa’s favorability.
Objective: Protect the four heirs of the Aurelius Noble House!
Penalty: Annulment of the deal.
Rewards: 1 Red Nightfall Star, 500,000 Gold, and 1x Overload Potion.
…
Upon seeing the sudden quest appearing out of nowhere, Rex clicked his tongue in displeasure.
He thought he was in the clear but he obviously wasn’t.
Since this was a test, Crimoria and her men might not be helping me during the first battle. Also, with Great Elder Rosa herself who mapped this endeavor, there must be a reason why this place, the Rocky Puzzle, was the first place to visit.
As soon as he thought of that, he turned to Linthia.
Knowing what Rex wanted from his gaze alone, Linthia’s eyes narrowed.
Even though the Flare Crystal lit up the entire space, the Black Rift’s influence still dull Rex’s senses.
Only a Seeker like Linthia was able to be in full power.
“One of them is normal but the other one,” Linthia whispered. “It’s as strong as Kraken’s mother”
Rex nodded his head as his suspicion was true.
Even though he managed to defeat the Three-faced Leecher back then, that was with the help of both Istvan and Garvain. Not to mention, Rex was able to turn into his Werewolf form back then—which he now couldn’t.
Not when the Arcalen House’s destruction was still fresh.
It would be hard for Rex to defeat the special Voidal Knight as well as protect them.
“Introduce yourself and let’s get this over with,” Rex glanced at them.
As soon as he said that, the burly knight that was almost as big as Rex with a horned helmet pounded his chest plate with his fist, “I’m the Eleventh Prince, Taylan. I’m almost 100 years old and I’m excited for the next couple of days, Lord Rex! Please take care of me”
Then, a slender female knight with amber hair cascading down from her helmet was next in line.
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance,” She politely greeted. “I’m the Twelfth Princess, Hannah, 80 years old.”
Next up was another female knight, who was the strongest of the group and wore a crowned helmet.
In her hand was a beautiful black nodachi.
“Thirteenth Princess,” She introduced with an indifferent tone. “April, 62 years old”
Lastly, the male knight with a normal build introduced, “I’m Riko, the Twelfth Prince, 82 years old.”
Even though Riko was normal in appearance, Rex was intrigued by his choice of weapon.
He chose a deep blue war glaive as his main weapon but unlike the normal one, the hilt and the blade were the same length. Rex could instantly tell that this Riko was a fast cleaver, his weapon of choice depicted that clearly.
Rex nodded his head and gestured towards Linthia, “This is my sister, Linthia.”
“Pleasure to meet with you,” Linthia bowed slightly out of respect.
Just as Rex was about to say something more, Taylan raised his hand again, “Can I ask you something?”
“Ask away but we need to move soon,” Rex answered.
Nodding his head repeatedly, Taylan then asked, “How old are you and Lady Linthia?”
“I’m 21 years old,” Rex answered without thinking much.
Upon hearing this, Linthia smiled wryly as Rex should’ve lied but he didn’t—also, it would’ve been weird if her age was in the hundreds when she’s his sister so she was forced to lie, “It’s impolite to ask a lady for her age but sure, I’m 45 years old”
As soon as the heirs heard that, their jaw dropped.
All of them were stunned as they weren’t expecting Rex and Linthia to be so young.
“21 years old—and was already at the Immortal Spirit rank…?” Taylan mumbled in shock, looking at Rex as if he was a monster. “Even his sister is not that far off in terms of talent. How come I’ve never heard of them before…?”