SSS-Class Ranker Return

Chapter 23

Hero’s Trial (2)

“There you are.”

The first place Lokan went to was the square. To be precise, I found the statue standing at the fountain in the square.

The statue pointing to somewhere far away is only known to have taken the image of an old hero, but it actually holds a small secret.

[1123, L200, 130]

When I checked the foot of the statue, there was an unknown mark written on it.

It was a hint found by a detective game enthusiast who suffered from Conan’s disease in Lokan’s previous life. It was said, ‘Somewhere in the direction the hero is pointing, his legacy will remain!’, but everyone laughed, saying that he had read too much fantasy or mystery novels.

But in the end he found it.

‘It took a while for him to become known because he lacked abilities.’

But Lokan wasn’t worried. Because he was confident.

Lokan confirmed the hint and began to move as written.

‘1,123 steps in the direction the statue is pointing. 200 steps to the left. 130 steps back in the original direction.’

There is a slight difference in the stride length of each person, but there is only one alley near the designated location, so only the last location had to be adjusted appropriately.

“I mean, somewhere around here… … .”

Rokhan’s eyes narrowed as he took the last step. Lokan’s eyes flashed in search of a device that someone had discovered in a previous life.

sparkle!

At that moment, a section of the wall that looked all the same gleamed.

[A hidden device has been discovered by the effect of the title seeker.]

The title effect has been activated.

‘Lucky!’

Lokan, who had been pressing here and there on the wall as he reached his hand, immediately pushed the part with force.

Druck!

The extruded part went in and the wall began to change. The wall turned into a door.

A light swipe revealed an endless staircase leading into the darkness.

“Using a lantern.”

I turned on the lantern, but I couldn’t see anything.

Beyond the light is only pitch-black darkness.

Although he was reluctant in fear of not knowing what was there or what might pop out, Rokhan hurriedly went down the stairs.

* * *

‘The time has come to come out… … .’

After going down for a while, uphill and downhill again appeared. It was made to disturb the senses and make the height and distance unknown.

And at some point, the stairs disappeared and a path like an uphill tunnel appeared with a slope.

After walking for another 10 minutes, a not-so-small vibration was transmitted from afar.

Coogong! Kugugugung! Kururu lu lu lu lu lu lulu!

[The first stage of the Hero’s Trial begins.]

“Come!”At that moment, Lokan ran forward, even using dashes.

And he blocked the huge boulder with both hands from rolling in, filling the space.

“strike!”

In order not to be pushed, even when the skill that raises the strength level was revealed with bare hands, Lokan was pushed back for about 10 seconds and was able to stop the rock.

“Whoa!”

I just blocked it, but my vitality was considerably reduced.

Rokhan, who supported the frozen rock with his body, took a deep breath and gave strength again. And he began to roll upside down in the direction the rock had been rolling.

“Whoops, whoops.”

Even for a Lokan with enormous strength, it was not easy to roll up a huge boulder for several dozen minutes.

But it wasn’t too difficult. He drove the orc fighter’s steel boots to the ground, pushing them up with both hands and back, until he finally reached the top.

[Hero’s Trial Step 1. You have passed the test of will.]

‘Test of the Will’.

Originally, it was a test to test willpower near its limits. The weight of the rolling rock is determined according to the level and class of the challenger, and the purpose of the test is to push and climb up the rock with will and mental strength, which is not easy to stand still, to overcome the limit.

“It’s simpler than you think.”

However, Lokan was an existence that could not be judged by a general level and class. For Rokhan, rolling up a rock this weight was tedious, but not painful.

Rokhan cleared it easily with pure power without even needing to show his mental power. It was a mistake by the developers who did not think that there would be anyone with such achievements and strength figures.

“Is this the next step?”

[The Hero’s Trial Phase 2 begins.]

He was kind, but he didn’t tell me what kind of test it was. Like a test of will, the name itself can be a hint.

But even if he didn’t tell him, Rokhan already knew the contents of the test.

This is the ‘test of wisdom’.

It does not mean wisdom, which is one of the abilities, but rather to see how well you use your brain.

“It’s annoying.”

What appeared after reaching the top was a narrow passage. There was no slope, and there were no special features. You just have to walk.

But there was a hidden trap.

“Hmm, this would be dangerous for any country.”

Too Wook!

Lokan lightly threw the lantern he was holding onto the road.

From here on, the lights were on, so there was no need for a lantern.

Wedge lover!

As soon as the lantern touched the ground, an arrow flew from somewhere. Then he broke the lantern and turned the area into a field of arrows.

“Hwiyu, it’s bloody.”

It was a real trap, a trap that was activated by stepping on or touching a specific location. All kinds of traps were hidden along the way, with arrows pouring out, blades flying, and flames.

It would not be easy to avoid unless you were a thief with trap detection and trap release skills, but this test was guiding them to avoid it by using their brains.

“Then where do we go?”

But even if it is, it’s over if you make a mistake once or twice. It didn’t fit Rokhan’s personality to roll his head to the point of cramping and move forward step by step.

“Because I said there were no fall traps… … .”

Rokhan remembered the last test of wisdom, and immediately prepared to run.

‘Three, two, one… … !’

“Berserk! dash!”

The next moment, Rokhan also put his weapon in and started running at full power.

Arrows and memorabilia flew, spears and swords scratched his body, and fire magic learned his flesh, but he clenched his teeth and ran steadfastly.

As soon as the cooldown came back, he repeatedly used dashes and put all his energy into escaping the space where the traps were installed in the shortest time.

[Hero’s Trial Step 2. You have passed the test of wisdom.]

In the end, it broke through all the trap zones in 7 minutes.

“Whoa, cancel!”

[Not enough vitality. If you do not recover to 10% of your maximum health within 5 seconds, you may die.]

“Sheesh.”

Berserk’s aftereffects caused his vitality to fall in an instant, but Rokhan was not embarrassed. This was also expected.

He drank a pre-prepared intermediate stamina potion and sprayed the lower stamina potion on the wound, and his vitality quickly filled up.

Intermediate potions were expensive, but the effect was clear. Unlike the lower level potions that recover over time, it has an immediate recovery effect, so you can raise your life force at once.

Thanks to this, my vision that had flickered brightly returned and my vitality entered the sphere of stability.

“Because it’s good that it’s expensive.”

1 gold per potion. At the present time, the price was extremely high, but considering that it had saved one life, it was not too expensive.

Of course, that was the story when I completed this test.

“Shall we go now?”

Rokhan, who had recovered his remaining health by using first aid to increase his proficiency, waited until Berserk’s aftereffects disappeared completely before moving on to the next stage.

I know there will be no battle in the next stage, but just in case, it’s in the best state.

[The Hero’s Trial Phase 3 begins.]

Finally, the last test. As I passed the door that transitioned from stage 2 to stage 3, a notice of the start of the test appeared along with a thick smoke.

The third stage test is the ‘test of temptation’.

In a sense, it was the most terrifying test in which powerful mental magic worked to seduce the challenger, and the challenger could only succeed by overcoming it and finding the right path.

‘What will appear?’

This time, even Rokhan firmly ate his heart.

According to an interview with a person who passed this test in a previous life, a woman close to the nude may appear, all kinds of treasures and great items may appear, and a table with seafood and seafood may appear.

Not only does it dazzle the eyes, but it also confuses the senses of hearing, smell, touch, and taste, so you need to be alert.

‘Clap.’

An unexpected notification appeared to Rokhan, who was looking ahead with strange expectations.

[The effect of the title Indomitable Will has resisted negative psychic effects.]

“… … what ”

What is this again? While he blinked his eyes in embarrassment for a moment, the fog that obscured his view disappeared and a single wooden bridge appeared across the cliff-like road.

“Is that so?”

It was a cliff of a thousand roads that seemed to have ended if he stumbled while struggling with temptation.

“Zep!”Lokan crossed the log bridge with a strange feeling of regret. It was a narrow road that could only be crossed by one person, but there was no way that it could not be balanced like this.

[Hero’s Trial Step 3. You have passed the temptation test.]

Kugugung!

As soon as I crossed the bridge, a notification appeared that I had passed the test.

Then, the wall that had been blocked while on the other side opened and led Rokhan to a certain place.

But Lokan didn’t move right away.

“Summon the servant of truth. Is that the real road?”

[lie.]

That door was the last test.

He used it just in case he was in his previous life, because he had an interview about the 3rd stage test, just in case.

“Yeah, there’s no way it’s going to be easy.”

Instead of entering the door, Rokhan traced the other walls. No new gates have appeared, and the Bell of Truth can only be used once a day, so now you have to rely on your senses.

“Are you here?”

Kugugung!

Then, when I pushed the strange point with force, a space was created where I could go in and out like a revolving door.

I don’t know if this place is real. You only have to try it once.

[You have passed all tests of the hero.]

Upon entering, a pleasant notification appeared. A large room appeared, and a helmet was placed on the altar located in the center.

When I picked it up, a new notification appeared.

[You have acquired the Sealed Helmet of the Lion King.][You have acquired the quest ‘Finding the Lion King’s Armor’.][Finding the Lion King’s Armor][Quest]

Collect the sealed weapons of the Lion King Gaokan and inherit the power of the Lion King.

Success conditions:

-Acquire the Sealed Helmet of the Lion King (completed)

-Sealed Breastplate of the Lion King 0/1

-The Lion King’s Sealed Pants 0/1

-Sealed Pauldrons of the Lion King 0/1

-The Lion King’s Sealed Boots 0/1

Reward: Unseal the Lion King set

[Lion King’s Sealed Helmet][Set][Sealed]

A helmet worn by the Lion King Gaokan during his lifetime. Most of its power is now sealed.

-Defense: 530

-Durability: 3,000/3,000