MMORPG: Rise of the Primordial Godsmith

Chapter 1599: Breaking Barriers: The Second Trial (2)

”200 points...?”

At those words, Ataraxia’s expression turned grim as he inwardly felt dread.

Although the second trial initially seemed like an extremely difficult endeavor thanks to the man’s demonstration, the feeling that it was extremely difficult to achieve gradually disappeared once the man clarified more of the second trial’s mechanics.

Specifically, the part where the number of beams would gradually increase the more sets of beams he successfully cleared.

Then again, even though this setup allowed him to slowly get used to the beams, the overall difficulty of completing the second trial’s requirement did not diminish in the slightest.

If anything, the part wherein he had to successfully clear 200 sets was the part introduced the greatest amount of difficulty to the entire thing.

’I guess that’s why the second trial isn’t just a test of maneuverability,’ thought Ataraxia to himself as he inwardly had a wry smile. ’It’s a test of maneuverability AND stamina.’

Though it was more than possible to minimize the amounts of stamina he used in clearing each set, there were two requirements he first needed to meet if he wanted to make it a reality.

The first one was to have high enough stats that would allow one to exert greater control over one’s body. The finer control he had over his body, the less energy he needed to use to avoid the beams.

Of course, with his current stats already rivaling the elite Rank 5 class holder, it went without saying that he had long met this requirement before even entering the inheritance.

However, between the two requirements needed to achieve such a feat, the second one was more important.

After all, the second requirement was to have experience in making split-second solutions that would allow him to avoid those beams in one motion.

Although his instincts and reflexes were greatly polished thanks to the combat experience he had accumulated over his two lives, the young man still felt like his abilities in that area were lacking if he wanted to achieve the second trial’s minimum requirements.

Even if the number of beams only went up by one for every 10 sets he successfully avoided, by the time he neared the 200th set, he would have to face over 20 red beams at once.

Specifically, 20 red beams that had the ability to kill him if any of them made contact.

Considering the amount of combat experience he had accumulated, Ataraxia felt confident that he would be able to handle sets of 10 beams with ease.

And if he were to give it everything he had, he felt that it was possible for him to push that number to around 14 or 15.

Nevertheless, even though having the ability to avoid 15 red beams at once was already considered an insane feat to many, that still left the 5 extra beams he would also have to clear in the last 50 sets.

Without much experience in avoiding those extra beams, the young man was certain that he’d not only spend far more time drafting up a solution that would allow him to clear as many of the beams as possible, but also far more mental power in the process.

Adding on the greater stamina spent during that entire process, it went without saying that he would also spend more stamina just to make fine-tuned adjustments on the fly.

’I guess I’ve forgotten how difficult the path of Breaking Barriers is after passing through the first trial so easily,’ thought the young man as he came to that conclusion, a wry smile slowly creeping up onto his lips.

’Then again, I see no way of succeeding.’

’Even if I were to give it my all, I would only be able to reach 150 points at most, perhaps 160 if I end up getting lucky.’

Just as the young man was still wondering how he’d be able to bridge the remaining gap needed to achieve 200 points, Aeramis continued to give Ataraxia more detail on how the second trial worked.

”Though having to clear 200 sets to move on to the third trial might seem like a lot, you would only have to keep track of two beams at the start of the second trial,” said the man, oblivious to the thoughts that were running in the young man’s mind.

”For every 25 sets you successfully clear, the number of beams you have to keep track of would go up by one. Eventually reaching a cap of 10 beams by the time you get to 200.”

’...25 sets?’ Even though he’d been paying attention to the man’s words while he was still wondering how to clear the second trial, it was only after hearing this figure leave the man’s mouth did Ataraxia snap out of it, giving Aeramis a brief look of surprise.

After all, if he only needed to face 10 beams just to amass 200 points, then there would be no issues for him to achieve that figure.

’Then again, how many points would I have to amass if I want to reach the limit of the second trial?’ asked the young man after that, getting the slight urge to achieve the same feat he did in the first trial now that clearing the second one had become possible.

However, before he could even imagine himself leaving Aeramis at an utter loss for words once more, the next few words that left the latter’s mouth caused the young man to immediately dismiss his earlier thoughts.

”Of course, achieving a score of 200 points is not the limit,” said the man, having already read through the young man’s intentions. ”If anything, it’s merely the beginning in terms of obtaining greater rewards from the inheritance.”

”If amassing a score of 200 points is equivalent to a passing grade of C, then amassing 500 points would be equivalent to a grade of B.”

”Achieving an above-average grade would need you to clear at least 800 sets of beams, while achieving the highest grade possible in the trial would need you to clear 1,000 sets of beams in a row, which is also the limit I’ve arbitrarily set for the second trial.”

”Now, with all of that said...”

”Shall we begin the second trial?”