NOVPUBKat PoV
"This isn't getting that much more difficult, though perhaps that is simply because of the strength that we wield... but still, you would assume that these Trials would be far more... testing then they are, no?"
Mom leaned on her Claymore and watched as Leone bathed the face of a poor, unsuspecting Gryphon in harsh flames, burning it to the a crisp and leaving little behind of that once golden beak.
"To an extent, the lack of challenge is both odd and understandable. On the one hand, as you said these are challenges, a test to determine how worthy you might be to ascend to the new world. It's a way to gauge your abilities and allow you to set yourself apart from those around you.
On the other hand though, these are also the perfect places to train as many people as possible in all facets of strength. Starting from the beginners who struggle with the simple Ghouls and Golems, giving them that initial challenge to whet the appetite and weed out who has potential and who doesn't. Then you begin the climb through the waves and determine the level of challenge that is right for you."
The older Demoness let out a grunt at that, still staring at Leone and still mulling over everything, and yet she was aware enough to tilt her head to the side when a hopeful - and idiotic - Gryphon sent a small blast of electricity streaking past her cheek.
Before she could retaliate I had already shot the stupid chicken out of the sky, a lance of ice skewering its throat and silencing its irritating caws, allowing us to watch as it stopped flapping its wings and crashed against the ground with a rather satisfying thud. 𝙣𝒐𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝙘𝙤𝙢
"So you think the Trials are made this way on purpose? That there are so many easy ones because they were used to train up people from start to finish? Offer a challenge to legitimately everyone who found themselves itching to improve?"
Despite the horde of monsters around us the space around the brazier was calm, and staring at the four large Mana Crystals that signified the four waves we had completed tickled my brain a little, relaxing me a little more as I welcomed the break from the fighting.
"I do, yes. It makes the most sense to me. That being said something about this place once being under some group's control. Like it was a once bustling and prosperous city that was home to many people. That group maintained and utilized these Trials to ascend, and the people above us are aware of that."
Understanding dawned in her eyes as she said "Then this is a... nurturing ground for them. A place to weed out the untalented and send up only those that deserve it. That's clever.", which made me chuckle as I ruminated on the various novels I had once read.
"Clever to us, probably very common to them. Why bother just letting anyone come up if you can set up these cities, fill them with tantalizing rewards and have the people fight for the right to ascend? It just sounds like something is happening up there that caused them to forget about this place."
"And with the Time Magic already warping everything down here to such a degree, that begs the question of what the time difference is between our world and there's. Is it a minute there to an hour here? Vice versa? Perhaps far more drastic; an hour there is a day here, maybe even a week?"
"No idea, but it definitely is quite the difference. It would only make sense that they live in a completely different version of reality compared to ours. But wondering only does us so much..."
She chuckled wryly and looked over at me, giving me a smile that was filled with amusement and memories as she said "You really are just like Julie, aren't you? Such a sharp mind, loves to talk, but also is such a damn realist. Focuses on the here and now and the things we can control, barely muses about the rest."
I just shrugged and replied "Why bother wasting energy on something that I cannot change, understand, or be apart of when there are far more pressing matters?", making her smile wider as she just nodded in agreement.
"Well, let's go ahead and relieve them. Seems like the last Gryphon got turned into barbecue... speaking of-"
"No, we don't have the required herbs, stock, sugar, vinegar and more to make a good barbecue. You'll live off of charred or grilled meat."
Clicking her tongue and sauntering forwards lazily, the bulky Demoness muttered something to herself about being neglected and how this was an unfair persecution on her stomach, leaving me to roll my eyes as I unsheathed my Falacata and walked towards the spot that Draka had been operating from.
"This... is definitely... a workout..."
She wasn't completely exhausted, just winded, and I could see her nursing her side as she shuffled past me, breathing heavy and clearly relieved to be done with the fighting for now; it was just a reminder that the lives we lived were so very different, since her natural born talent, status and power should have made her stronger than me, but...
Here we were, in the opposite roles... though I wasn't going to put it to the test anytime soon, if ever, since the idea of a Dragon wanting to have a 'word' with me or worse was not on my bucket list.
As I took up position where Draka had been earlier, I glanced back at the brazier and saw Leone sitting crosslegged beside the brazier, the red skinned Vampire meditating as she gathered her mana back while also giving herself the rest she needed.
Sensing my gaze she opened her eyes and stared back at me, and I shivered a little as the usual embarrassment or poorly hidden desires were replaced with an open, overwhelming hunger that promised so many things to me, alongside the very obvious mirth as she watched me closely, like a predator staring down its prey.
