Ultimate Trial

"That's right," Night Raid Widow Village patted Black White's shoulder, "Don't you dare back out later, kid. I can see it—there's an eagle hidden in your eyes."

The moment the group of Feather Clan Players from the Riding the Wind Sword guild stepped into the teleportation array, the scene before their eyes abruptly transformed:

An endless expanse of white clouds stretched before them, with wind, rain, thunder, and lightning converging in one place.

The land beneath their feet vanished abruptly.

Fortunately, the players had prepared before entering the Instance and promptly activated their Breathing Technique to spread their wings.

"It seems that to qualify for adjusting the Instance, one needs to at least master flight capability."

It's a good thing they didn't rashly let newbie players participate in the Instance.

Even the earliest newbie players online had a continuous playtime of no more than three hours.

How could anyone possibly master the 'Winged Race Breathing Technique' to that extent in such a short time?

Speaking of newbies...

My Cat Can Do Backflips instinctively looked towards the newbie player whom Night Raid Widow Village had insisted on bringing along.

Upon seeing the pair of pure white wings behind Black White, My Cat Can Do Backflips exclaimed in surprise, "You've already mastered flight?"

Night Raid Widow Village was also surprised by Black White's talent but pretended not to care on the surface. "Haven't you heard the saying? Birds of a feather flock together."

"I told you any player who can become my teammate must be a genius, right?"

Black White felt a bit embarrassed. "Is it that impressive? I thought everyone could fly after learning the Breathing Technique."

The other Feather Clan Players: Damn show-off!

My Cat Can Do Backflips suddenly realized something. "Why aren't the other players here?"

"Everyone, be careful. This trial is probably not as simple as we imagined."

"Widow, I might not be able to look after you in a moment."

Night Raid Widow Village expressed understanding. "Cat Master, you just focus on your own thing. The two of us are just here to make up the numbers."

As the group flew forward, the cloud layer above suddenly churned like a vortex.

"Boom!"

Several thunderclaps rang out, and streaks of lightning shot towards them.

"Watch out, Captain!"

Seeing the purple serpent-like arc of electricity flying towards Night Raid Widow Village, Black White's slender body suddenly erupted with immense potential.

Under Night Raid Widow Village's astonished gaze, he actually arrived in front of Night Raid Widow Village faster than the lightning.

"No way! Are you really that naive!?"

Night Raid Widow Village, who originally had a chance to dodge, grabbed Black White.

[Wind Striking Wing]!

The grayish-brown wings behind him rapidly enlarged, firmly shielding Black White.

Electric current flowed from the wings through his body. Accompanied by a numbing sensation, Night Raid Widow Village and Black White both vanished from the spot.

After dodging several lightning strikes in succession, My Cat Can Do Backflips watched players disappearing one by one after being struck by lightning and seemed to realize something.

Another bolt of lightning shot towards My Cat Can Do Backflips.

Gritting his teeth, My Cat Can Do Backflips actively flew to meet the purple arc of light.

The next second, My Cat Can Do Backflips' figure vanished.

As the last player disappeared from the spot, the thunder and lightning above the Instance also calmed down.

The entire Instance space became as quiet as a windless lake, without a single ripple.

...

"Where is this?"

The first thing Night Raid Widow Village saw was Black White beside him, and the second was a massive Cloud Pillar in the distance connecting to the clouds above.

[Congratulations, player, for passing the first trial. Proceed to the ultimate trial: Reach the Temple!]

"First trial?"

Night Raid Widow Village remembered clearly being struck by lightning.

That counted as a success?

"Could it be that the first trial tested not reaction speed and flight ability, but mastery of the Breathing Technique?"

Night Raid Widow Village's mind was filled with the numbness and pain from being struck by lightning.

An attack of that intensity, if one's Breathing Technique wasn't proficient, would easily disrupt the flow of dark energy within the body, causing loss of flight ability, right?

Thinking of this, Night Raid Widow Village couldn't help but look at Black White. "Kid, you really hit the jackpot."

Although he didn't know if Black White could have withstood the lightning attack alone.

But judging from the situation just now, Night Raid Widow Village himself had borne nearly ninety percent of that strike's damage.

"Captain, as long as we successfully reach that pillar, we clear the stage, right?"

"Theoretically, that should be the case..." Night Raid Widow Village's gaze gradually grew serious. "Remember to fly fast, Black White. If you fall behind, I won't wait for you."

"Roger that!"

Two figures flew towards the Cloud Pillar, one after the other.

With their movement, the snowy white clouds in the sky began to surge.

Black storm clouds gathered, with lightning of various colors brewing within, restless and eager.

"Black White! This time, the test is probably speed and evasion!"

"Okay!"

Gritting his teeth, Black White dodged lightning while operating the 'Winged Race Breathing Technique'.

He didn't know if it was hisillusion, but the cultivation speed of the 'Winged Race Breathing Technique' in this Instance seemed roughly two or even three times faster than outside.

This lightning was clearly different from the previous strikes that seemed to have eyes; each bolt now fell straight down from above.

Although easier to dodge than the first trial's lightning, facing increasingly dense strikes, both Night Raid Widow Village and Black White were finding it more and more strenuous.

"Boom!"

Another rumble of thunder, and raindrops the size of beans fell on Night Raid Widow Village's forehead.

This... it was raining?

The further they flew, the heavier the rain became.

"Dammit! Are they even letting us live!"

Soon, fierce winds appeared within the torrential rain, and hail mixed within the gale.

After his wings were hit by several fist-sized hailstones in succession, Black White lost control and plummeted downward.

"Black White!"

Although he felt sorry for Black White in his heart, Night Raid Widow Village knew that stopping the trial now would be the most foolish move.

His vision was dyed pitch-black by the storm clouds. Night Raid Widow Village clenched his jaw, the taste of blood already rising in his throat.

No, absolutely cannot give up!

He couldn't let others keep thinking Night Raid Widow Village was just a useless guy who only relied on luck, right?

Light appeared through the layers of dark clouds ahead, like a desert traveler seeing an oasis.

Using the last ounce of strength to break through the cloud layer, what awaited Night Raid Widow Village wasn't the light of hope.

But a vast ocean composed of five-colored lightning!

Amidst the surging thunderlight, it seemed like thousands of thunderbirds were crying out in unison. An aura of destruction brewed within, as if falling into it would mean eternal doom.

At this moment, Night Raid Widow Village finally understood what 'myriad thunders stirring' meant.

"Widow!?"

Hearing a familiar voice, Night Raid Widow Village looked up and suddenly discovered the figure on the opposite side of the sea of lightning surrounding the Cloud Pillar—wasn't that My Cat Can Do Backflips?

"Cat Master?" Night Raid Widow Village wasn't surprised at all and couldn't help but smile. "Looks like only the two of us made it here."

But it seemed they could only go this far.

Before them was a terrifying sea of lightning, and even if they crossed it, there was a wall of wind composed of wind blades.

"Captain!"

Night Raid Widow Village instinctively turned around, doubting if he was seeing a mirage. "Black White? You didn't log off?"

"No!" Faint, flickering arcs of electricity shimmered around Black White's body. "While falling, I frantically operated my Breathing Technique. I happened to be struck by a bolt of lightning and, by sheer luck, absorbed its power and leveled up."

Absorbed lightning power?

Night Raid Widow Village understood every single word the guy said, but put together, it made no sense.

To be able to absorb lightning power, what kind of incredibly robust physique would that require!

"Tell me the truth, are you a Transcendent in real life?"

"No, I haven't been tested yet."

Night Raid Widow Village's expression was complicated. "That lightning strike earlier should have been yours to take for me."

Had he known earlier, he wouldn't have wasted a quarter of his health bar right at the start.

Fortunately, his [Wind Striking Wing] wasn't affected by the storm, and his speed and reaction were fast, which prevented him from logging off midway.

Health recovery items couldn't be used during the Instance trial. Night Raid Widow Village's health bar was now down to only one-fifth.

"I can still do it now, Captain. I saw lightning rods for sale in the shop. I can use one to clear a path for you."

Only...

"My yuan energy seems to be running low."

Black White felt a bit embarrassed.

The equipment on him had already cost the captain enough.

"Sigh—" Night Raid Widow Village sighed. "My health bar is almost depleted. Even if we could cross that sea of lightning, I couldn't withstand that wind wall."

"Black White!" My Cat Can Do Backflips' voice came from the opposite side. "How much health do you have left?"

Black White displayed his health bar, nearly blinding Night Raid Widow Village's titanium alloy dog eyes.

"What the... Why does a Level 9 player have a thicker health bar than mine!"

"Wait... When the hell did you break through to Level 9?!"

My Cat Can Do Backflips' voice was calm. "Black White, listen carefully. Your current condition is the best among the three of us."

"In a moment, Widow and I will join forces to open a path for you. Your task is to get as close as possible to that wind wall barrier. Success or failure doesn't matter."

"Understood?"