Black String of Fate

A destructive, unstable star, floated on the tip of Xavier's sword. He performed a stab towards the silhouette, and the star launched, heading straight in the path of the stab. The star started destabilizing and leaking power by the second as it traveled further. It wasn't slow, but it wasn't fast either.

The silhouette just stood there, putting his guard up, without making any attempts to dodge. The star seemed infinitesimally small, like a dust particle, but it had sensed the ridiculous power stored in that move and knew there was no use in trying to dodge it. The attack was going to reach him no matter what.

Xavier stood there, with his hand still outstretched. The star seemed to have been launched already, but the way Xavier was concentrating on it looked like it was still under his control.

Which it still was, given that the move solely contains Xavier's soul power and no other energy.

When it reached near enough the silhouette, Xavier swung his sword up, launching the star high into the air, making it seem like a real star.

'...This is it, defend this.'

Xavier then violently thrust his sword into the ground, kneeling and burying half the blade inside this weird dimensional floor. The star followed suit and dropped on top of the silhouette like a meteor.

And the destruction that followed suit was like a meteor crash too.

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

It was an eruption of silvery energy, far beyond any of the powers unfolded in the duel. A mushroom cloud of soul power formed, blocking the sight of Xavier. He could not move, obviously, but he somehow kept his head up to see the results of his new technique.

The power cleared up, and what Xavier saw left even him a bit uncomfortable. The silhouette was still standing, but that was it. The white silhouette was charred black. It still looked exactly the way it did before, with not a hair in a different position, but it wasn't moving in the slightest. Xavier knew the reason why.

After a few seconds, the now black silhouette started crumbling into fine dust. Starting from the head, right to the feet, it crumbled away like sand blowing on a windy day. Xavier's move was so powerful that it managed to utterly destroy the silhouette right down to the molecular level.

The silhouette was even modeled after Xavier's own tenacity and durability, so this fact alone spoke volumes about this destructive technique.

Of course, the price was equally heavy.

'It has started...'

Xavier now looked down at his own hands and found his fingertips turning black too. The blackness reached his wrist, and then his arms and his blackened fingers started crumbling into dust too, just like the silhouette.

The blackness started spreading towards his whole body, and he knew he only had seconds before he succumbed to the same fate.

'Heh, this is an appropriate price for such a power... But System, I'll die beyond recovery if you don't heal me now.'

**********

Bonus Level Completed!

Healing Challenger...

.

.

.

[ERROR!]

[Extreme degree of soul damage. Insufficient Divinity for healing. Requesting access to !@#$% Divinity.]

.

.

.

[ACCESS GRANTED.]

Healing Challenger...

*********

Xavier had gotten a bit worried after seeing that error, but he was finally healed. This time, the healing felt more profound and comfortable, it was like he was being reborn. This healing had reformed his soul perfectly which was basically vaporized as fuel, something which went beyond common sense.

His body also came back to a perfect state, his mind also felt clear. This 'heal' had somehow also soothed his fatigued mind in ways he couldn't even imagine. He just knew that it worked.

"Ha... This was... something."

Xavier was dazed for a few moments before he recollected himself. He had a lot to process about this fight, but first, there was some other business to take care of.

"System, teleport me back to the trial room."

*********

Teleporting...

*********

Xavier felt his head getting dizzy as he lost consciousness for a split second. When he regained his senses, he was standing in the same room he got into after the maze, but this time, there were 2 green doors instead of one.

*********

Level of Death: Cleared

Levels Cleared: 3 (+1)

Deaths taken: 1 (+999)

Grade: EX

**********

'Hah, all that shit, just for an EX grade. I can't even imagine what will become of me in the last trial...' Xavier thought to himself in self-mockery. Even by his standards of a harsh life, he was pushing himself way too much.

No matter how rugged a life one lived, it didn't make being trapped in a maze for a decade with no salvation, nor dying in gruesome ways a thousand times against a hopeless opponent any easier.

'The first one gave me fears and trauma the likes of which a battle can never give, while the other made me experience death a thousand times while basically killing myself to even stand the slightest chance against my opponent.

The third one, I honestly can't even predict what will happen. One thing I do know is that my experience as an Archon meant nothing to these trials. They are designed to push me to my limits and beyond. I should expect something similar, or even greater difficulty in my next trial.

...But, where is that mysterious guy? Don't tell me he just disappeared...'

**********

< Sup! Did you miss me? C'mon, don't be shy... >

< Anyway, I saw how you tackled that bonus level. Man, was I impressed! That was the first time I had seen a base mortal use his soul. Not only did you use it, you even grew proficient with it! Man, the chills I had in my back while seeing your rage... Ooh, your final move was also super cool!

Using your soul power to purify your soul power, over and over again till you reach a dense point of mass soul destruction, that was seriously- >

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"Okay, okay. Enough with the praises, it's embarrassing. I wanted to ask you about the final trial. I know this may be out of bounds, but is there any way you can provide info?"

**********

<Hmm... Xavier, my boy, you ask such difficult questions. I can't say much about a trial in advance, because it will just ruin the trial itself... But, I can give you a few tidbits. >

< The trial you will take will not be alone. There's another challenger attempting their trials right at the same time as you. >

**********