Chapter 37 - The Forgotten Past – II

> Urgent Quest: [The One who Forgot, the One who was Forgotten] has commenced.

> Objective: ???

> Success: ???

> Failure: Cancelled Quest Line [What Lays Forgotten]

> WARNING! A strong synergy exists between you and [Alexander Smith]! Do not be swept away!

===

In my eyes, everything shattered all at once.

A colossal hand tore the darkness and sky apart, leaving behind dripping violet miasma in the sky. Although light came back when it emerged, it was an ominous crimson hue.

I froze, taking in the suddenly changed surroundings.

It was [familiar]/unfamiliar.

Imperial Guards lay dead in the street and Heroes were running away with expressions of sheer terror.

'What... is this?'

A scene I never wrote/[A scene burned into my very soul] played out in front of my eyes.

But even as I gathered my bearings, my body was already moving, running towards a young girl in front of me.

Golden blonde hair, dyed brown from dried blood, and violet eyes glistening with tears. She turned to look at me and sobbed, hugging herself out of fear. "Big brother...!"

A name I didn't know/[The name of the one I had to find] fell from my lips. [And I screamed. "BEATRICE!"]

The colossal hand reached down as if to grab her.

[I]/I swept out my hand and summoned the Tyrannical Mana Blade from my inventory and sprinted with all my might. ["You won't take her from me!"]/"I won't let you do that!"

-A splitting headache.

I didn't know what was going on.

[I didn't know why I had this second chance.]

But I wasn't going to ignore what was in front of me.

> Optional Quest: [What Lays Forgotten] has been updated.

> You have partially discovered the unfulfilled wish of [Alexander Smith].

> Updated Objective: Save Beatrice Smith from her Fated End of being taken by [CANNOT BE READ].

System messages appeared in front of my eyes. But [I]/I ignored them and swung, simultaneously equipping .

===

> WARNING! Causality tilts!

> Your true Talent flickers!

> The broken causality is forcibly mended!

> You have temporarily gained the Domain !

> Rank Down is successfully applied on !

> You have challenged that which cannot be challenged and succeeded!

===

[I] pulled Beatrice into my arms and sprinted away, [my] body burning with power that [I] didn't have but was welling up because of someone else.

At the same time, an earthshattering roar echoed and purple miasma bled from the hand clawing through the sky.

With each drop of miasma, monsters formed, tarry and sinister beings with all scales and sharp edges.

[Demons.]

I still didn't know what was going on. But... "[Hold on tight, Beatrice.] I'll make sure we get out of here."

Words that were and weren't mine, but a sentiment that was all the same.

'Let's save her.'

I could think about the how and the why later. But for now...

I had to fight.

===

An empty plaza within a modern-looking city of pure ashen gray.

Evelyn placed her hand on the hilt of her rapier and slowly walked around the perimeter, surveying everything. "How strange..."

Alex had shouted to meet in the plaza after the trial.

But for Evelyn, there was no trial. She had simply been enveloped in the vortex and then appeared here. "Am I simply early? Or... is something wrong?"

There was too much unknown.

Evelyn was worried. Even though Alex said it was safe... she couldn't help but be concerned. 'My Alex has a habit of overdoing things...'

Even if Alex said it was 'safe,' Evelyn was worried that he would do something that would result in it NOT being safe. She never did forget that first Gate Exploration class where Alex risked his life to kill the Rank 5 monster before either Roland or Evelyn could even comprehend what was happening...

A faint ripple of mana spread out from nearby, followed by a soft golden light.

Evelyn spun on her heel, drawing her rapier. But then she lowered it when she saw who emerged. "Mari." She let out a sigh. "Thank the gods."

Marisa brushed off her robes and frowned. "That was... unpleasant." She grimaced. Then she sighed and looked at Evelyn. "Since you're here... are the others too?"

Evelyn shook her head. "No. I had thought we would all arrive at the same time... Or at the least Alex would be here waiting."

Alex always seemed to have a solution for even the most unexpected scenario, so Evelyn had been expecting him to be here waiting already. But he wasn't... and something within Evelyn was saying that he was in danger.

Marisa frowned in thought. "Like Alex said, there was a trial. I blasted everything apart and then emerged here... so perhaps there is a time element at play as well?"

Evelyn sighed. "I hope that is the case..."

Another surge of mana welled up, and then Roland appeared in a flash of golden light. Holding a translucent white sword in his right hand, Roland closed his eyes and quietly murmured, "Thank you, Grandfather. I won't forget."

Evelyn quickly walked over and said, "Roland!"

Roland jumped and then looked around. He seemed confused, but then he gathered his bearings and said, "Evelyn. What's the matter?"

"Was Alex not with you?" Evelyn frowned. "We have all arrived, but he is still missing."

Roland frowned. "No... It was just me in that trial."

Evelyn pursed her lips, her stomach sinking.

Marisa remained calm and said, "Then it appears that we were not split into genders. Perhaps the trials were individualized..."

Evelyn hesitantly nodded. "It seems so. Then... is Alex still in his?"

"Perhaps. So next we should confirm the time duration." Marisa looked to Roland and said, "How long were you in your trial, Rolo? I personally only spent a few minutes."

Roland's eyes widened. "A few minutes? I spent a month with my grandfather in the trial..."

Evelyn gasped. "A month?"

Roland nodded. "Yes. I was actually getting worried for a while there... but since we're all here, it seems the time doesn't matter?"

Marisa hummed and said, "Evelyn? How about you?"

Evelyn shook her head. "I had no trial. I simply arrived directly here. But Uncle has always said that Gates interact strangely with me due to my physique."

Marisa paused and then nodded. "Yes. I suppose that would be true. The mythical can accept even the otherworld Gate energy, so perhaps you were simply passed over. But then..." She trailed off.

"...Where is Alex?" Evelyn finished, frowning.

Roland frowned too, dismissing his translucent white blade. "Yes... if the time doesn't really matter, then shouldn't he be here by now?"

Evelyn opened her mouth to reply. But at that time, the familiar Gate Guidance messages appeared in her field of view.

[Due to the efficient clearing of the Trial by the entrants, an elevated Trial is offered.]

[Trial is being offered.]

[Accept?]

Evelyn frowned. "Do... you all see this message as well?"

Roland nodded. "Yeah. An elevated Trial?"

Marisa frowned, staring at her own message. "I had read that situations like this could occur in certain gates. Special trials that occurred in sequence. They offer great rewards... but they are usually extremely dangerous."

Evelyn sighed. "...Which means that Alex is likely inside of it."

Roland chuckled. "True. Our friend tends to get easily wrapped up in chaotic situations, so he may very well be inside that trial now."

Marisa smiled. "Then we may as well help him, no?"

Evelyn nodded. "Of course."

All three of them reached out to press the [Accept] prompt in front of them. And then...

===

[WARNING!]

[You will be thrust into a conflict with Rank 5 and higher enemies.]

[A shadow of a Transcendent being is cast upon the battlefield.]

[Objective: Survive and find your ally, Alexander Smith]

[Success: Enhancement by one Rank. Advancement of your Talent.]

[Failure: Death and annihilation of your soul.]

===

All hell broke loose.