MMORPG: Rise of the Primordial Godsmith

Chapter 1590: Breaking Barriers: The Beginning

”...”

”...Where am I...?”

Caught off guard by the sudden gust of wind that blew on his back, Ataraxia was forced to watch Aeramis’ silhouette disappear from his field of vision as he was sent barreling through the path of Breaking Barriers.

Carried by the gust of wind for quite some time, the young man soon found himself at a sprawling space at least ten times larger than the area he was in just moments earlier.

However, unlike the space from earlier, the ground beneath his feet this time was made from actual solid dirt, which made him inwardly feel more at ease as he decided to start exploring his surroundings.

’For a place called the path of Breaking Barriers, it sure doesn’t seem like there’s a path I should follow here.’

Moving around at a moderate pace, Ataraxia gradually came to realize that he was currently in some sort of forest, the total size of which was unknown to him.

Swerving through the massive trees and shrubs that made up the entire forest, the young man eventually came across a couple of clearings here and there, committing them to memory in the off chance the clearings were needed for him to proceed.

Yet, even after spending over a couple hours in the forest and discovering over a dozen clearings, the young man obtained no sign that he was making progress on the inheritance whatsoever.

For a while, he even began to wonder whether Aeramis’ words from earlier were actually meant to misled him from actually inheriting part of the man’s abilities.

’...Is this also a hidden test of sorts?’ Though, after recalling what transpired between him and the man before he was thrown directly into the path of Breaking Barriers, Ataraxia soon came up with something that made more sense for his current situation.

Getting the feeling that the exploration aspect of the forest was a test to see how far his patience could be stretched out, the young man decided to wander through the forest for a bit longer, noting down far more clearings than before thanks to his new lackadaisical approach.

Fortunately, after spending over six hours in the forest, as well as discovering over 40 clearings within its territory, a change finally occurred.

’Quite surprising that you haven’t voiced out a complaint even after obtaining nothing of importance for the past six hours.’

Hearing Aeramis’ voice echo in his mind at that very moment, Ataraxia inwardly let out a wide sigh of relief as his earlier thoughts were finally confirmed.

”Considering the small test you’ve given me before being thrown here, I eventually thought that this was yet another one of your hidden tests,” replied the young man with a wry smile, his voice faintly echoing throughout the forest.

”Of course, this speculation could also be wrong. If that were the case, then I just spent the past six hours wandering around the forest making myself look like a fool in front of you.”

’Though your last statement is quite amusing, the time you’ve spent wandering the forest was indeed another hidden test.’ Aeramis confirmed with him. ’I’m sure you understand why I’ve also decided to this aspect of yours.’

’To recognize your limits and to challenge them at the same time is undoubtedly crucial to getting far on one’s journey to the pinnacle,’ the man reminded Ataraxia. ’However, alongside such a characteristic... one must also need to exercise immense patience when necessary.’

’For if one allows their impulses to dominate their rationality, only opportunities that focus on the short term shall appear before them.’

Whoosh!

At the very moment the man was finished imparting yet another lesson to Ataraxia, the layout of the forest slowly began to change.

Within a matter of seconds, the trees that littered the young man’s vision slowly parted in the middle, revealing a fresh dirt path that reminded the young man of the rural roads he occasionally traversed in the past.

’For passing yet another one of my hidden tests, I shall bestow you another personal reward once you reach the end of what the path of Breaking Barriers can offer.’

Hearing these words echo in his mind, Ataraxia could not help but have a faint smile on his face, inwardly thanking his earlier self for not letting his impatience get the better of himself.

’For now, reach the end of the road before you,’ said Aeramis soon after. ’No gimmicks nor hidden tests this time. Once you reach the end of this road, you shall be faced with your first trial on the path of Breaking Barriers.’

Nodding as a way to show that he understood, the young man went ahead and activated his movement skill, allowing him to zoom through the fresh dirt road at a speed that eclipsed his movements while traversing the forest earlier.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Making use of all the agility his body could unleash, it only took half an hour for Ataraxia to reach the end of the road, only to be greeted by a sight that felt a bit out of place.

”...Running tracks?”

In the middle of a large clearing within the depths of the forest, Ataraxia found himself staring at a pair of dirt running tracks.

Taking note of the sleek wooden fences that lined both of them, the young man faintly wondered if the man was bringing him to a track meet rather than a trial for an inheritance.

”You’ve arrived.”

Whoosh!

Just as he was questioning what kind of trial he’d have to go through that involved running tracks, the creator of the inheritance he was tackling appeared beside him, looking at him with a mix of amusement and anticipation.

”I suppose you’re familiar with the running tracks before you, no?” he asked, to which Ataraxia faintly nodded in response.

”Is this seriously where the first trial will be held?” The young man could not help but ask.

”Yes.” Aeramis firmly nodded. ”Though it may seem absurd for it to be the first trial to one of my inheritance’s harder paths, I assure you that it will all makes sense once I explain the reasoning behind it.”

”What kind of reasoning would possibly make these running tracks make sense as a trial?” asked Ataraxia in return, his expression a mix of skepticism and curiosity.

In response, the man could only let out a chuckle. ”I’m sure it’s more than obvious, but the goal I’ve set upon myself to arrive at any point at any time is not the first goal I’ve given myself.”

”After all, I did not have the means to make this feat a reality from the start, nor were my ambitions and desires that massive to make it such a goal.”

”Instead, my first ever goal was far simpler.”

”...And that’s where the running tracks come in.”