Chapter 156: Points

"Con... congratulations, challenger," the spirit’s voice echoed, sounding almost awkward. "For passing the baseline trial. This vial of Standard-grade healing paste is your reward. Please proceed to the second floor..."

A cheap clay vial materialized next to Silas. The staircase to the second floor lit up.

The spirit immediately muted its presence, clearly eager to distance itself from the pathetic display.

*Am I... crippled?* Silas stared blankly at the floor. *No. No! When I return to the Western Marches, the Patriarch will have a solution. If I have to spend a fortune to acquire a Primeval-grade elixir, I will! It will heal!*

Still reeling from the trauma, Silas looked at the cheap Standard-grade paste the spirit had offered him.

It was a humiliating pity prize, worth less than the potion he had just consumed.

Silas lashed out, kicking the clay vial.

It smashed against the wall.

"Ouch!"

Silas inhaled sharply, clutching his newly healed leg as a fresh wave of phantom pain shot up his spine.

Refusing to linger in the arena of his humiliation a moment longer, he pulled a clean set of robes from his spatial ring, changed swiftly, and limped up the staircase.

***

Unlike the sparse, martial arena of the first floor, this level resembled a sprawling library...

In the center of the room, seated at a polished wooden desk, was a projection of a woman reading an ancient tome.

She did not even glance up as the three participants arrived.

"When does the second trial commence?" Seraphina asked.

She and Cassia had been waiting patiently for the young master of the Cult to finish getting himself maimed.

"Why the rush?" the woman replied, lazily turning a page. "This floor’s psychic array can accommodate ten challengers. The trial will commence once the cohort is full."

"It will just be the three of us," Silas stated, stepping forward.

For a brief moment, he regained a fraction of his arrogance.

Though the first floor had been a disaster, he had locked down the Spire.

In the entire Eastern Marches, no one could enter the trial without his permission!

"I see," the hologram said, setting her book aside.

She finally looked up. "If there are only three of you, the psychic feedback will not be distributed. The difficulty will be multiplied proportionally. This is a Trial of the Mind."

The hologram stood, pacing around the desk. "Once the trial initiates, you will be submerged in a cognitive simulation. An illusion. If you die within the illusion, or if you fail to awaken from it, your consciousness will dissipate. Your bodies will be left in a permanent vegetative state."

"To pass the trial," she continued, "you must awaken within three hours. If you wish to withdraw, the exit is behind you. Once the illusion engages, life and death are your own responsibility."

"How does one achieve a flawless score?" Seraphina asked.

She cared little for the danger.

Since the ultimate reward of the Spire was rumored to be a Primeval-grade artifact, she intended to secure a perfect rating on every single floor.

"Wake up within thirty minutes," the hologram replied, glancing at Seraphina with a hint of amusement.

To date, no challenger in the Spire’s history had managed to regain cognitive awareness within an hour, let alone thirty minutes...

The spirit wondered where the bespectacled girl derived her confidence, daring to strive for a perfect score on a trial that routinely erased the minds of Exarchs.

***

Within the Abyssal World-Forge, the sky burned with perpetual twilight...

Nova, the Forge’s sentient Aether-sprite flitted around the Astral Enlightenment Tree.

"Where is the Boss?" Nova chimed.

Just a moment ago, she had been napping on Theo’s shoulder.

Because she was a manifestation of pure Aether, sleeping near him accelerated her own cohesion.

Yet, he had vanished without a trace when his Shadow-Clone deployed to the Eastern Marches, causing her great distress.

*Do not worry,* the Astral Enlightenment Tree conveyed through a rustle of its leaves. *The Master always returns shortly after departing.*

During Theo’s first sudden disappearance, the ancient tree had also been perturbed.

However, over time, it had realized its master treated the laws of space and time as mere suggestions...

True to the tree’s wisdom, a spatial ripple tore through the twilight, and Theo materialized, reclining lazily upon his padded lounger beneath the canopy.

"Ah, that was a satisfying trip," Theo muttered, stretching his arms.

His Shadow-Clone’s extortion run in the Eastern Marches had been wildly successful.

Not only had he secured a monumental influx of capital from wiping out House Rullus, but he had also extorted Provincial-grade artifacts and high-grade Aether-crystals from the three Provincial Archons.

"Boss is back!" Nova chimed joyfully, darting forward to nestle into the crook of his neck. "I thought you abandoned the Forge!"

"I was merely resolving a minor inconvenience for your senior sisters," Theo explained, reaching up to pat the sprite’s luminous form. "No need to panic."

Nova hummed in contentment, feeling safe by his side.

"Now, let’s see the loot," Theo muttered, pulling up his system interface.

[Host: Theo]

[Class: Parasite (Tier 5 - Vanguard Realm)]

[Points: 142,333]

[Disciples: Seraphina (Tier 5 - Vanguard), Cassia (Tier 3 - Vanguard)]

He had spent one hundred thousand points recently to upgrade his class, leaving his reserves somewhat depleted, but the Rullus expedition had already pushed him back over one hundred and forty thousand!

"System," Theo commanded. "Convert all the extorted artifacts, texts, and crystals in the storage into Merit Points. Keep exactly one thousand high-grade crystals as petty cash."

Though one hundred and forty thousand points was a respectable sum, it left him unsatisfied.

He had emptied the Rullus family vaults, and he wanted his payout.

As his voice faded, a cascade of chimes rang in his mind.

[Acknowledged. Converting five Provincial-grade artifacts... Gained: 100,000 Points.]

[Converting 35,000 high-grade Aether-crystals... Gained: 70,000 Points.]

[Converting miscellaneous Rullus estate assets...]

Theo smiled. It was the most delightful sound in the world.

He was slightly surprised that the system had processed *five* Provincial-grade artifacts. He had extorted three from the Archons, meaning House Rullus had possessed two in their vault.

He hadn’t even bothered to inspect them before ordering the conversion...