Chapter 109: Re-entering the dark souls world

  While the White Tes were thrown into chaos in the Sky Arena, Alex was quite satisfied with his gains. Yet, the results weren't as favorable as he'd hoped.

  "How did it go, Ikaros?"

  "Yes, Master. During today's battle, you were trolled by enters eighteen times and ensnared by illusions seven times. The shortest time to break free was one sed, and the lo was five seds."

  "This isn't good…"

  Hearing Ikaros's report, Alex frowned and crossed his arms in thought.

  If there were any truly troublesome foes in the Sky Arena, it would be the enters and illusionists.

  Illusions weren't much of an issue sihe prophecy branch ters them well; with True Sight, illusions were rendered useless. But entments were a different story. They bombarded Alex with an array of mental trol spells, leaving him stantly on edge. Luckily, the enters he entered were of low level, using mostly basic spells like sleep spells. But even so, they gave Alex a fright. For the first time, he realized that no matter how strong his bat skills, magic, or physical resilience, his mind was still vulnerable. Even a minor enter could influence him.

  What worried Alex even more were the eerie and frightening teiques within the entment branch. For instance, he'd once read about a spell called "Mercy Bind." The effect was straightforward—it pelled a creature to fight more mercifully, avoiding poisohal strikes, and sparing non-threatening targets. When Alex read that, he felt a chill run down his spine.

  This was like f a boss to set themselves up for failure!

  Alex was almost certain this spell expined why 99% of bosses in various worlds met their demise.

  At the pinnacle of the entment branch were terrifying spells like "Memory Weave," "Mind Invasion," and "Death and." Alex had no desire to test his resilience against these.

  When he sulted Rex about this, Rex firmed that few methods existed to ter the entment branch.

  "Like prophecy, entment is not suited for direbat. But just as no one avoid the future that prophecy foretells, entment, too, is iable. The human will and mind are plex and unfathomable. People strive to escape fate, to ge the future, only to find their efforts were all part of destiny. The mind and will are simir; people wish to evade or alter them, but ultimately, they only alter themselves."

  "But how one be sure if that es from the outside or from within?"

  To Alex's objes, Rex remained silent for a long time before finally replying.

  "Does it matter? In the end, only you would know."

  Acc to Rex, dealing with entment spells required either unshakeable willpower to break free ic items that granted immunity to mind trol.

  Unfortunately, Alex currently had none of the tter. And after the past few days of battles, he wasn't so fident in the former.

  He had ohought of himself as resilient, but now he was no longer so sure.

  Fortunately, Ikaros was by his side. As an artificial angel, she didn't dream and was immuo all mental and illusion-based attacks. Thanks to this, Alex could always break free in time, rgely because he trusted Ikaros implicitly.

  But Alex couldn't shake his —what if he entered a more formidable enter?

  At this level, enters were still limited, but Alex had read enough novels, watched enough movies, and pyed enough games to know how easily one's will could be eroded. Right now, he trusted Ikaros without reservation, but what if someone impnted a subtle suggestion against her?

  Simple, brute-force tactics like sleep and hold spells could be resisted with willpower, but insidious suggestions were far more dangerous. What if he stopped trusting his own summoned panion? Or worse, if he lost faith in himself?

  The thought left Alex uneasy. Better safe than sorry. He had always thought he was strong; after all, he'd faced hundreds of deaths in the dark world of souls and had bee desensitized to it. What was there to fear?

  But now, he realized he wasn't as unbreakable as he'd imagined.

  Rex had little advi this, for a well-trained prophet would never allow themselves to fall uhe trol of an enter. Each magic branch had its own strengths and terbances. Enters could manipute a person's mind and will, but prophets could sense danger and avoid it. Everyone had their urengths, and the one who faltered simply hadn't mastered their craft.

  However, Rex did agree with Alex's decision to train his mental fortitude and will. Fes, a steadfast mind was essential, especially for a prophet.

  "The future is not set in stone, nor is it a predetermined fate. What lies within the web of destiny could just as well be an illusory dream as it could be reality. Seeing through the mists of fate depeirely on your irength. Those tile ot bee prophets; this is the path you must take, so give it your best."

  "Master, are you truly prepared?"

  "Yes."

  In respoo Ikaros's question, Alex nodded, reag out to pat the little angel on the head.

  "I'll be relying on you to keep things in order while I'm away. If anything happens, remember to log it and inform me when I return."

  "Uood, no problem, Master," Ikaros replied with a gentle smile.

  "Stay safe; I hope you'll e ba one piece."

  "Don't worry; I'll be fine."

  With that, Alex reopehe Map of Myriad Dimensions.

  The world teleportation was still on cooldown, but the portal to the Free World was avaible. Previously, he'd explored the Free World realm of "Skill" in the dark world of souls. Now he'd decided to unlock a new instance of the Free World.

  "Heart."

  If "Skill" honed his teique, the" would likely test his spirit and mind.

  Staring at the Map of Myriad Dimensions before him, Alex felt a bit uneasy. And who could bme him? From his experience, any world ected to "spirit" or "will" was rarely a walk in the park. Physical pain could be endured, but agony that strikes the soul ure torment.

  Even Alex wasn't sure he could ha smoothly.

  But this was the path he had chosen.

  With a look of renewed determination, he g Ikaros standing beside him and then pressed the button firmly.

  In an instant, the Map of Myriad Dimensions dissolved into particles of light, enveloping Alex.

  In the blink of ahe light soared skyward and then vanished into the air.

  This time, it wasn't a soul transfer.

  When Alex opened his eyes, he found himself sitting on a small, old minibus. Besides himself, there was only oher passenger, an elderly woman squinting as she chatted with the driver.

  They were speaking Japanese.

  Listening to their versation, Alex looked down, examining his attire. His clothes were different from before: he now wore a simple shirt and pants, with a small travel bag by his side. Peering out the window, he saw dense forests lining the road and fields stretg out in the distance.

  It appeared to be… modern-day Japan, specifically… the tryside?

  What kind of world is this?

  "Sir, we've arrived."

  As Alex pohe bus gradually stopped in front of a worn-out bus station, where the elderly woman had already disembarked. The driver turo Alex with a nod, signaling him. Alex aowledged, picked up his travel bag, and stepped off the bus.

  It was dusk. The crimson su bathed the ndscape in a warm glow.

  And softly eg in Alex's ears was the cicada song, drifting from somewhere iranquil evening...

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