After hearing the instructor's request, Alka sat there, pondering.
He wanted to gather all twelve Trial Towers together to create a true Trial Island, and then spread information about this island.
In other words, he wanted everyone in the world... well, everyone in the entire Infinite Sea to undergo the Trial.
"What's the point of doing this?" Alka asked, somewhat puzzled.
If their Trial God were still alive, or could be resurrected, then this would be perfectly meaningful.
But the problem was, the Trial God had become the will of the Trial, and that clearly made no sense.
"Of course it does," the instructor said, standing up.
"We are in the Trial Temple. Although our god has become the will of the rules, we can still understand the outside world through the feedback of the rules of the Trial.
We also know some records of the outside world through those who have intermittently entered the Trial over the past ten thousand years.
Although our god no longer needs faith, we must let everyone in the outside world know and make everyone aware of our god's dedication.
Our god is different from those betrayers. It's not just the four gods who have worked hard."
Although Alka could understand some of this, it didn't matter. After all, this is a good thing for him and the entire world.
It will only make the world a better place.
As for whether there is anything hidden, no one can tell now. Alka will naturally learn about it during the search.
"Do you know the specific locations of these twelve towers?" Alka asked.
If the locations of the twelve towers were unknown and he was forced to find them, the difficulty would increase dramatically.
Knowing some directions would be much better for them; some information would be helpful.
The main problem is that the vast ocean is largely unmapped.
Otherwise, Alka could have simply used the golden dots to find the location much more quickly.
"We don't know the exact location, but we know who has participated in the trial. We know some information about them, their families, and their names.
We'll tell you this. You can use the information we provide to find the location."
Hearing this, Alka nodded. That was fine.
If you can't find a place, just find someone who knows.
These people are also very useful.
"No problem, I'll take it."
The instructor's face lit up with delight, and he nodded. "No problem. When you gather the twelve towers together, we'll tell you the location of the Libra.
Once we feel the information about the twelve towers has spread, we'll teach you how to use the Libra correctly."
Alka nodded, indicating no problem. Then, suddenly thinking of something very important, he turned to look at him and said, "No, are the rewards for each Trial Tower relatively fixed?"
Hearing this question, the instructor nodded. "You mean each Trial Tower gives out treasures, right?"
Alka was just making a point.
"Every trial grants Divine Essence, but you can only obtain it once.
Once you obtain Divine Essence and then proceed to other Trial Tower trials, you'll only receive other rewards—things that aren't particularly useful to you, but still good.
After all, trials always help you grow, and that's what matters most, isn't it?"
Alka shook his head. He wasn't asking that question, but a more important one: "I want to know, are there so many Divine Essence rewards?"
The reason they each received a Divine Essence trial reward was because they went through the proper channels.
They had obtained legitimate identities to undergo the trials, and therefore were able to receive Divine Essence rewards.
The other Trial Tower participants had always considered this place a place to hone their skills and were completely unaware of the Divine Essence rewards.
They simply believed the place had long since fallen apart, with only the tower remaining and a triangular figure tending nearby.
There are no formal channels or identities to allow them to participate in the most formal trials.
However, if all twelve Trial Towers gather together and understand the meaning of the trials, then rewards are inevitable.
When the news spreads, should Alka also spread the question of how to obtain formal status?
If it does, will the Trial Towers have enough divine essence to offer rewards?
You know, many formal identities are fixed, such as apostles of gods.
It's okay if we don't know. Once we know, the number of these apostles will be very considerable.
The divine essence will surely be consumed in large quantities.
This isn't an ordinary item, how could there be so much?
Looking at Alka, the instructor just stared at him, then suddenly sat down and spoke to him with a serious expression.
"Then I'll tell you a secret. You must swear by the gods not to reveal it.
Until the twelve towers gather, you must not reveal it. And to make up for telling me the secret, you must spread it afterward."
"Interesting. If it's just a secret, then of course I'm willing to listen."
If it's just a secret until the event is complete and then spread afterward, then he's willing.
It satisfies his curiosity.
"Do you know why the twelve Trial Towers are gathered?"
Alka shook his head. It was clear from what he said that he hadn't finished speaking yet, and there was a deeper secret.
"It's simple. These twelve Trial Towers were originally a single entity, but they were scattered due to the destruction of the world.
We built them before the destruction at great expense, a testament to the efforts of our God and his friends for the world.
But they have never been brought together and fully operational.
Thus, no one knows the true power of these twelve Trial Towers once they are united and linked."
Hearing this, Alka's interest was piqued, and he sat there, listening quietly.
That was right. How could anyone be so indifferent to the destruction of the world?
"These twelve Trial Towers are our god's final gift after becoming will. Before becoming will, he was already researching what he could do as rules.
According to his own vision, he designed these twelve towers, and we, after he became will, constructed them.
And this isn't just his will; it's a true treasure constructed by many like-minded, respectable gods, centered around our rules.
After construction, we confirmed the design was flawless, but the world's current state made it impossible for us to continue operating.
Our god's final gift to the world has thus dissipated."
He spoke a great deal.
But the bottom line is that these gods, who wished to imbue rules with their will, surely did not want the world to be destroyed.
Wouldn't it be useless if they dissipated themselves, leaving only their will to imbue the rules? After all, if the world were destroyed, wouldn't the rules imbued with their will also dissipate into thin air?
So, this group of gods were also making their own efforts. However, based on the instructor's descriptions and Aka's understanding of some of them, they were likely the type whose combat capabilities weren't very strong, their omnipotence more focused on functionality.
Similar to a group of scholars among the gods.
"So, after all this talk, what exactly will the 12 towers be capable of once they are assembled?" Aka couldn't help but ask directly.
He felt the responsibility before him was keeping him in suspense.
"That is, when the 12 towers are assembled, they will produce infinite treasures."
The instructor spoke clearly, each word clearly.
"..." Aka fell silent.
He couldn't help but scratch the back of his head, momentarily wondering if he'd misheard.
What do you mean by being able to produce infinite treasures?
Would you like to hear what you're talking about?
What's going on? Are you going to hollow out the world? If that's the case, you're worse than a traitor.
Can there be more rules than people?
"From your expression, I know you've misunderstood. There's a limit to the treasures you can produce."
"Tell me, if you don't give me a specific reason, I won't help you."
The instructor smiled and said, "It's simple. This kind of treasure will remain connected to the world.
In other words, when the possessor dies, the treasure loses its effect, and the divine essence within will return to the world."
Hearing this, Alka wasn't completely convinced and remained skeptical.
As long as a treasure is in their possession, the greed of those who possess it will lead them to do whatever it takes to preserve their divinity.
"Then I'll be frank. I will verify the authenticity of your secret. When the twelve towers gather, we'll also conduct experiments with the divine power we've obtained to ensure it's as you claim."
If it's truly as you say, then this is actually a good thing. From now on, if people kill for treasure, they'll have to accept that the treasure might have been obtained through trials.
After all the hard work, the treasure will return to the world.
Overall, it's a good thing.
"Of course, you can do anything you can to be sure of it.
This will be a good thing for us, too."
"Okay, then it's a deal."
Alka stood up and shook the instructor's hand, and the deal was sealed.
Now it was time to get back to the point. Alka looked at the instructor and asked, "With my current strength, can I guarantee passing the trial?"
The instructor looked at him and suddenly smiled. "How can you guarantee passing a trial? Isn't a trial a trial because it tests you?
Not to mention that you're taking the test to clear the level. Then the final trial won't be what you think. It definitely won't test your strength anymore."
Alka continued, his brow furrowed. "It will test other aspects of you—your weaknesses, the things you're most afraid to face, the things hidden deepest within you.
These will become your weaknesses, obstacles to your progress.
If you don't face them, if you don't change them, how can it be called a trial?"
This was something the instructor was certain of. After all, Alka's strength no longer required trials of strength to improve him.
So it must be all about willpower.
Few people possess such tenacious, solid, and flawless hearts and minds.
This group also presents the most challenging challenges in the Trial.
However, the instructor offered some reassurance: "Don't be too nervous. The Trial is essentially about elevating you, making you stronger.
We won't deliberately make things difficult for you. This Trial of the Heart depends entirely on how you approach it.
Facing it calmly may make it seem as easy as child's play."
Although Alka had already considered this, upon hearing this, he remained seated, lost in thought.
After a long moment, he took a deep breath, patted his butt, and stood up.
"In that case, I'll be heading out to complete the Trial now."
"Of course, I hope you can pass it, too."
With that, the instructor vanished, and Alka also left the area, reappearing outside the tower.
As soon as he emerged...
The few people resting in the nearby camp stood up and looked at him. "Want a break?"
Alka shook his head and said, "Let's follow our earlier arrangement. I'll take the trial first. If I fail, you'll practice for a while longer before the final trial."
Alka hadn't initially expected to pass the trial with a 100% chance of success.
As the instructor had said, ordinary trials simply foster progress, and growth is considered success.
Because the essence of this Trial Tower ultimately hinges on strength.
Just like when Juanlu and Mathilda obtained the treasure.
The final stage of the final trial would undoubtedly be challenging, forcing them to push their limits, but ultimately, strength would still be a foundation.
But the final stage of the final trial was different. They'd focus on their weaknesses, specifically the ones they were most reluctant to confront.
So they had a plan in place.
Use Alka to complete the first trial. If he fails, Sofia will take over, rotating through the ranks until someone succeeds.
Even if Alka fails, he'll at least achieve his goal of progress. He'll obtain a Holy Grail-level artifact.
Having prepared himself, Alka stood on the teleportation platform.
He didn't need to prove anything, as he was a divine apostle and the Dream King, allowing him to directly enter the other trial.
He vanished from the spot.
He then reappeared in a hall identical to the previous one, with Gate Number One before him.
...
The initial stages of the trial were still primarily based on strength. With Alka's strength, he could simply crush them all without much difficulty.
The difficulty of the trial was concentrated in the final few levels. The real challenge lay in those levels, where players with strength similar to Alka's were the real challenge.
As the seventh floor was pushed open, Alka's body showed some minor scars.
However, he still managed to hold on with his strength.
Once he entered the hall, his fatigue and lost mana were completely repaired.
Refreshed, he looked at the door with the number eight inscribed on it, took a deep breath, and pushed through.
It was quick; it didn't take long, perhaps only a few hours.
Alka, covered in wounds, pushed through the door.
His body was covered in wounds, and he had lost a significant amount of both physical strength and mana, putting him in a precarious position.
However, he had already passed this level, and once he entered the hall, his body was once again refreshed.
It was true that the Tower of Trials targeted weaknesses.
He had just encountered a strange spirit whose perception was incredibly off.
Furthermore, the setting was a completely fixed space.
This was a complete tactic used against Alka, forcing him to fight at a disadvantage.
Even after fully recovering mentally and physically, Alka rested for a while in the hall before looking towards the final door numbered nine.
A long moment passed before Alka reached the door.
He took a deep breath and pushed it open.
A flash of white light passed.
Alka lost consciousness.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
In a strange, hidden space.
"I don't understand. Is there something seriously wrong with the Trial Tower?" The being responsible for operating the Trial Tower within the Trial Temple bustled into a frenzy.
"Ramadari, where are you, damn you? Get here!"
A loud roar echoed through the temple.
Then a figure scurried over.
If Alka were here, he would have recognized the figure as the male instructor who had been teaching him.
"What's wrong? Is there something wrong?"
This person, seemingly the temple's leader, was an energy lifeform, but he could be seen transforming his form into a humanoid.
With a serious expression, he pointed at the crystal block before him.
The crystal block seemed to be shimmering with a faint red light, and around this person were a dozen similar crystal blocks.
These floating crystal blocks clearly corresponded to the twelve scattered Trial Towers.
"You were training in the Trial Tower corresponding to this crystal block, right?"
Ramadari nodded. "Yes, didn't I just tell you?"
"So, is the Trialist you entrusted with the task currently completing the Trial?"
"Yes, judging by the time, he should be almost at the top, right?"
"No, he's already there."
"Oh, pretty fast, young man." Ramadari smiled.
The Trialist he was training was so skilled, and he felt proud of it, like a teacher nurturing a brilliant student.
However, Ramadari also noticed a problem. The crystal representing the Arka Trial Tower was flashing red. This indicated that the Trial Tower was overloaded, or perhaps experiencing some kind of problem.
"What's going on? Why is there a problem?"
This situation had never occurred before.
The leader in the center said bluntly, "It's simple. The Trial Tower conducts targeted trials, and the chosen direction is somewhat overreaching for this trialist."
"Overreaching? You mean the Trial Tower?" This left Ramadari a bit bewildered.
The Trial Tower overreached.
What's going on?
Are you looking down on the gods' design and contributions, or are you looking down on those who invested so much time and energy in the construction of the twelve Trial Towers?
Although this is only one of the twelve, and although all twelve aren't gathered together and their power isn't fully unleashed,
It's still a divinely created device.
"Does your trialist hold some extraordinary status?"
Ramadari nodded. "Yes, the most precious status is probably that he's the newly born Dream King.
And it seems this Dream King has also consumed the fragments of a powerful Dream God's divine power."
Finally, Ramadari thought of something else and patted his head. "He also seemed to say he'd already built his own royal court."
"Oh my god, oh my god!"
The controller, always known for his composure, roared, his head pounding.
He instantly transformed from a humanoid form into an energy form, fluctuating wildly.
"Do you know what his trial is?"
"How would I know? We can't control the trials we pass. Everything operates according to the rules of the Trial Tower and the world."
This is like a natural phenomenon in the world.
"Then let me tell you what the theme is: dreams!"
"..."
Then the entire room fell silent.
In other words, their Trial Tower, given to a Dream King, was a relatively complete one. A dream-choreographed trial.
Excellent, excellent.
They were at a loss for words for a moment, finally understanding why the Trial Tower was being accused of overreaching.
Even if it was a divinely created device, it was still part of a whole.
And a fragmented part at that.
Trials involve all aspects, but it's impossible to achieve perfection in all aspects.
A Dream King needs a dream to reveal the weakest and most reluctant aspect of himself.
Undoubtedly, it would be a scene he'd rather not face, or one filled with regret and sorrow.
Normal Dream Kings aren't natural beings; they're spiritual beings; such a situation wouldn't exist.
But Alka and the others more or less knew that it was different.
A human Dream King.
The only one.
So now the question arises: wouldn't such a trial be easily discovered by a Dream King?
The trial's purpose would be lost.
This was unacceptable to them.
"So! Now! All of you, put down what you are doing and use your own energy to maintain the situation."
As he spoke, he began to mobilize the other 11 Trial Towers, temporarily shutting them down. He channeled the energy of the entire Trial Temple into this single Trial Tower.
This wasn't to embarrass Alka, but to preserve the trial's significance.
This was what they had always strived for.
They had to ensure Alka's trial progressed smoothly.
At the very least, they couldn't let Alka, relying on his status as a Dream King, easily see through the trial.