NOVPUBIn the sacred realm of the Divine Angel Tower, a group of ten dedicated disciples embarked on a journey of rigorous tests and trials, each designed to challenge their skills, endurance, and spirit.
For a month, they toiled and persevered within the tower’s hallowed halls, floor by floor, striving to prove their worth and capability to achieve enlightenment. As their trials drew to a close, Elysia arrived to evaluate their progress and guide them forward.
The tower itself was a marvel of celestial architecture with gleaming spires and radiant walls inscribed with ancient runes. Each level of the tower presented a new set of challenges, from physical endurance tests to mental puzzles, all designed to hone the disciples’ abilities and push them beyond their limits.
Throughout the month, the disciples faced a series of grueling trials. They battled fierce elemental guardians, navigated intricate mazes filled with traps, and solved complex riddles that tested their wisdom and teamwork. Each trial demanded not only individual excellence but also cooperation and trust among the disciples, forging bonds that would last a lifetime.
As the days turned into weeks, the disciples grew in strength, wisdom, and character. They learned to harness their inner potential to the next level, mastering new skills and discovering hidden depths within themselves.
On the final day, as the disciples completed their last trial, the air shimmered with divine light, and their master seemed to descend from Heaven.
Clad in resplendent pure white robes that glowed with an otherworldly radiance, Elysia smiled tenderly. With a serene smile, she approached the weary but triumphant disciples. "You have faced your trials with honor and emerged stronger and wiser. I am proud of each and every one of you."
Gabriella knelt before her master and was followed by all the disciples. They felt both relieved and proud. Regardless of anything, they felt so peaceful because their master’s recognition was so momentous.
"We’ve given our best, master. If we had more time, we might be able to reach the final floor." Gabriella looked at the floor mark. It was a safe area on floor 293.
She and everyone had to wait in the safe area because the fairy navigator forbade them to proceed further. Time was up, and their master would pick them up.
"Hmm, did you know? This tower has a thousand floors. You can’t reach the top if you haven’t achieved a divine ascension. You only needed one month to reach this floor, and that’s really impressive. Your seniors took almost three times as long to reach this floor." Elysia couldn’t help but praise her disciples.
"Wow~ we did push ourselves beyond the limit." Jophiel’s eyes sparkled. She truly missed her master, but she had to behave well now.
"How about we go upstairs and clear two more floors? We’ll finish on floor 295 for breakfast before heading out. Your master also wants to hear your stories~" Elysia invited her disciples to proceed to the next floor.
"As your wish, master." The disciples replied in unison. They received the honor of surpassing their seniors, but to undergo trials under their master’s direct guidance was something they greatly appreciated.
The next floor was a trial for resilience against spiritual disturbances. Some demonic whispers tried to influence everyone’s mind, and they had to repel the disturbing noises from their minds and find the exit amidst the dark realm illusion.
"!~" Elysia hopped around like a rabbit and arrived at the exit. When she turned around to guide her disciples, she found that Jophiel was right behind her.
"Hehe~ I am always the first to pass this kind of trial again." Jophiel said it proudly.
She couldn’t help it as those whispers and illusions couldn’t affect her in the slightest because she only had to think about her master all the time, and those disturbing things would vanish by themselves.
"Good girl. Master doesn’t seem to have much more to teach you in this kind of field." Elysia replied with an amused smile and gently rubbed Jophiel’s head.
"Jophi still has many things to learn from master." Jophiel held her master’s arm, enjoying the attention and affection.
Gabriella and Rafaela stumbled a little, but they managed to find the path to the exit, banishing the darkness of illusions from their sight and the whispers of demons from their minds.
Uriel got lost a bit before arriving at the exit. Michael and Azrael crouched down as they tried to find direction. However, the other disciples circled around several times as if they had lost their direction.
"..." Gabriella remained silent as she knew her voice couldn’t reach the other disciples in this kind of trial.
She could see them just fine, wandering around the empty hall. But, those in the trial could only see the darkness. They had to find the path and get rid of the disturbing thoughts of the demon’s whispers to arrive at the exit.
This kind of trial was a bit time-consuming because one or two disciples might fail and have to repeat from the first step out of formation. However, everyone could find their way to the exit by themselves eventually.
"If you are confused, don’t move. Crouch down and remember who you are. If necessary, inflict pain to make your mind sober. Follow your heart and belief. You will find the path to the exit easily." Elysia provided a little guidance.
The formation blocked her voice, but she pushed her voice through. Unfortunately, her voice became a faint echo and seemed to come from a misleading direction. That was why she reminded her disciples not to follow the origin of her voice.
"?!" The disciples within the trial looked around and nodded in understanding. Once they regained their sober mind, they could see a faint path. They then slowly approached the exit.
"Huff... Haah..." Azrael knelt down and wiped his sweat. This kind of mind and mental trial was pretty exhausting.
"You can still be affected by demonic possession. Don’t lose your path, senior brother." Jophiel reminded her senior once again.
Even though they were all descendants of past heroes with the cursed bloodline, Azrael still retained the most dangerous inclination when it came to mind and spirit disturbance.
"Hrrr... I need to train my mind more. My spiritual defenses are still not strong enough. I need more power." Azrael pushed himself back to his feet. He showed the pathetic side of him in front of his master, and that made him feel embarrassed.
"Yes, and it takes a real man to accept one’s shortcomings. You can surpass it soon. I believe in you." Elysia nodded in agreement, quite satisfied with Azrael’s calm temperament.
"Thank you for your guidance, master." Azrael grasped his hand in a martial salute.
"Hmm-mm~ Would you like to rest for a while?" Elysia offered her disciples, remembering the time here was running ten times slower than outside.
Unfortunately, nobody wished to rest. They could do it in the safe area on the next floor while having breakfast and sharing the stories.
The next floor was the field boss room, and the elemental guardian got beaten up by the excited disciples.
The field boss who was supposed to be under the mini-boss was reduced to a mere mob monster. The disciples were good at the 6th Rank, and some of them were almost at the threshold to the 7th Rank.
What awaited afterward was a family breakfast. Elysia prepared some steamy hot pot for her disciples to enjoy.
"Ah, don’t forget to spend your points and exchange your loot at the shop. You can take them out later." Elysia reminded her disciples and pointed to the nearby virtual shop, guarded by a magical fairy.
"Mm, we’ll do it after breakfast, master~" Jophiel wiped her saliva. She also missed her master’s delicacy for a whole month.
In that month of hardship, she could barely eat anything delicious. It was either bland or bitter, and it was all liquid in the form of elixirs and potions!
"It’s so tasty. It’s heaven~" Remiel took a bit of seafood, and her tongue seemed to melt in the pleasure of the taste. She felt pampered and rejuvenated, feeling truly alive.
Even though they were pretty much starving, all the disciples kept their table manners and had breakfast in peace, especially because they were in their master’s presence.
The disciples shared their stories with their master, and Elysia responded by giving them several compliments, praises, and pointers.
Once the master-disciples discussion was over, the breakfast was also finished. The disciples went to the shop to spend their points.
"We will hold a grand meeting which will be attended by the supreme leaders in Vrelenia. You should prepare yourself here before we leave." Elysia summoned two emergency bathhouses, including the dressing rooms.
"Uh-huh? May I know what happened, master?" Gabriella was stunned. She returned to her master’s side to inquire for more.
"Yes. We will raid and punish a particular God soon. The world boss raid. The details will be discussed at the grand meeting. After you exchange your points, please prepare and change your outfit for a formal meeting." Elysia clapped her hands for attention.
Her disciples were covered in sweat and dirt. They had to prepare themselves before going out.
"!!!" The disciples gasped in surprise. They would hunt a God soon!
It had been a while since they were involved in a battle against a God-tier entity, but this one would clearly be different because it was a direct confrontation with God as the target!
All the disciples immediately spent their points in the shop, securing whatever they might need in the future. After that, they waited nothing more and took a shower. They dressed themselves dashingly and beautifully.
After all, they would attend the grand meeting as their master’s disciples. And, it was clear they had to look charming so as not to embarrass their master.
Elysia helped her female disciples in the dressing room because the girls would require more time in their preparations than the boys.
"Thank you, master." Gabriella expressed her gratitude.
Elysia replied with a smile as she styled Gabriella’s long golden blonde hair. She then went to the nearby girl and helped her female disciples one after another.
