Infinite Realm

*Dong* *Dong*

With heavy footsteps that shook the ground beneath it, the 12 metres tall statue proceeded at a slow yet calm pace towards Sato and Xue Yan. Even though its aura was reduced to 7% of the original, it still wasn't something Sato could handle.

"To make things easier, if you manage to land a hit on the 'Achiever', that counts as one less attack to face." The old man added to the previous rules. 

This privilege made the chances of passing the test even easier. This was because compared to just standing still and taking on 6 attacks with each being stronger than the previous one, it was way better to retaliate, turning the test from one of endurance to a spar of sorts. Of course, this was more of an advantage when the participant(s) numbered above 1. This way, one could tank the statue while the other attacks. Obviously, Sato had thought of it and made the necessary changes to the duo's formation.

"Get ready." Sato cautioned Xue Yan. He stood in front while Xue Yan, stood behind with a distance of 10 metres between them. At this range, Xue Yan would be free from harm while still being capable of providing support for Sato. 

A second later, the statue began to increase its walking pace with each 3 steps and as it did so, the intensity of its aura experienced a wild increase. This didn't mean that the old man lied and increased the statue's strength but rather, with its imposing movement, its momentum increased, resulting in an increase to its pressuring aura. Added with the long-sword in its right hand, it looked like a seasoned warrior that could take heads even when surrounded by a battalion.

4 seconds later and the statue had appeared right in front of Sato. Compared to the statue's 12 metre height, even the 7 metres kobold king was a kid much less the 1.8 metres Sato.

"One." The old man said.

The statue lifted its sword high and brought it down on Sato. The pressure from the sword alone would make one feel weak-willed especially when added together with the absurd length and width of the sword, which was an 8 by 0.8 metres long-sword. It would be suicidal to think that anyone would be able to take on such an overbearing strike head-on and Sato didn't think he was the chosen one for this. He didn't shy away from retreating as the rules didn't necessary imply that he had to face the strikes head-on but survive them.

*Bang*

The heavy long-sword landed on the floor with a loud bang and just the reverberations from this collision could offset an average person's balance. Luckily for them, this wasn't real life so Sato and Xue Yan's stats were already much more than they were in reality. The sound alone couldn't do more than leaving behind a lingering tone in their ears.

'What great strength...' Sato sucked in a large amount of cold air. He already knew that the test would be difficult but he wasn't expecting the first strike to already be this hard to handle. One should know that for tests like this that require the participant to last a certain number of moves or even seconds, each strike usually becomes stronger than the last. If the first strike was already this powerful, what would be next one be like. Even if part of the reason the Statue's blow was this powerful was due to the momentum gathered from its run, there was still no denying that the weight and force behind the attack was incredible as to achieve such results, these two factors were extremely crucial.

"Hmm?" Sato briefly glanced at the spot he stood before and was surprised at what he saw.

With the momentum from its run, it was no understatement to say that the slash of the 12 metres tall swordsman was capable of severing 5 armored tanks stacked atop each other in half. However, there was only a white mark on the floor. The stone didn't even show any signs of cracking, as if that attack was nothing more than a pebble being tossed at a boulder by a little kid.

"Hehe. The floor is made from Egrevoid; a special variation of Egrevite that is capable of withstanding massive impacts and absorbing it to strengthen the cohesion between the material(atoms). It would break from a casual slash of the strongest 'Achievers' much less one of the weaker ones who has even been suppressed." The old man commented as he noticed Sato's astonishment.

"Egrevite is the material that the statues of the 'Achievers' are made of." The old man also added. To him, this information wasn't anything worth hiding so he let it known in order to help Sato understand his previous statement easier.

'Egrevite and Egrevoid…' Sato took note of the two materials as he stared at the statue.

The swordsman statue glanced ta Sato with a blue glint in its eyes. It was as if it was surprised that he had actually dodged its attack.

Th statue then positioned its body to face Sato before slowly lifting its right foot high up. The foot had reached an impressive height of 3 metres before it was suddenly brought down. 

*Bang*

With a bang, the 12 metres tall statue, only the heavens knew how much it weighed, propelled itself at an impressive speed of 60 km/hr towards Sato. There was only a distance of 5 metres which was nothing for the blurring statue to cover. Before Sato knew what had happened, he saw a grey colour in front of him as he felt a billowing pressure from the figure.

'Fast!'

That was the only thing Sato could think of before he forced his body to quickly respond to the incoming attack. 

It was already too late to dodge so the only thing Sato could do at that point was to meet the attack head on while praying that he doesn't end up as pulp.

A light grey glow shimmered as the long-sword locked in on Sato and approached him. Sato didn't bother thinking as he moved his sword to meet the attack.

*Clang*

There was no spark forming or an excessive reverberation of the colliding of metals, or any such. Normally, those stuffs happen when the forces in conflict are equivalent in strength, whether roughly or not, but that didn't happen here. This was because the sheer strength of the 'Achiever' was well beyond Sato's. The difference was even more than with the kobold chief where back then , Sato could at least exchange hits at the cost of his HP. But against the 'Achiever', his HP wasn't the only thing at stake.

*Phew* 

*Boom*

From the point of collision, a figure flew through the air like a stone flung through the air, only stopping after coming in heavy contact with the walls of the hall.

"Puah!" Sato's body convulsed in mid-air as he puked out blood due to the agitation of his internal organs from both the shock received from the sword strike and the collision with the wall.

*Bang* 

With the aid of the natural forces of gravity, Sato's body was brought down in dereliction with his limbs sprawled out like a knocked out drunkard. 

"Sato!" Xue Yan screamed as she hurried over to his side.

"Are you alright?" Lifting him up by the shoulder, Xue Yan asked with care.

"Sure." Sato tried to extenuate his situation despite the sliver of blood running down his lips all the way to his jaw.

Sato could only feel pains all over his body and this made him realise something; ever since he had started playing VR games, this was one of the most brutal beatings he had ever received. The fact that IR had better sensation and reaction-based technology didn't make things feel any better. Without a doubt, if he had received such damages in the real world, Sato didn't doubt that he would have died just from the shock received in the sword clash alone.

"Did you think you would be left to keep dodging like a mouse?" the old man suddenly asked with a grin. "If the test was that easy then it would have no meaning."

Sato could barely smile bitterly at the old man's words as his ploy was being seen through. Indeed, Sato never planned on a contest of strength with the 'Achiever' but wanted to keep running around the place and dodging its attacks. He never expected it to suddenly erupt with such impressive speed, catching him off guard an into close quarter combat. However…

'Why didn't I use [Parry]?' Sato thought as he realised that he had made a noob mistake, which was unlike him.

He had obviously decided on facing the 'Achiever' head on and no matter which speed it moved at, Sato would have used his defensive skills nonetheless. However, he actually didn't. It was as if he had forgotten he had such skills.

"Oh? You realised it so quickly?" The old man smiled mysteriously.

Sato glanced ta the old man hoping for an explanation and without a doubt, the old mana gave him one.

"The abilities of the 'Achievers' aren't just limited to strength otherwise how would they become so strong and famous? Each 'Achiever' has a special ability they either mastered or were born with and it was thanks to not only their talent and hard work but also their abilities that they were capable of making it thus far. 

"The 'Achiever' whom you are facing has a special ability known as [Guide]. He can easily lead an opponent to forget or think of something else while confronting him, when they lose the slightest of concentration. While it sounds simple, the uses are unimaginably plenty especially in battle." The old man explained with a smile.

Hearing the words from the old man, Sato's body went cold and he realised how much he had actually underestimated this 'Achiever' before him. If this were a life or death battle then he would have died a hundred times over, even if it was actually the weakened version of the 'Achiever' he was facing much less the original.

"This is one of the weakest yet its ability is this strong. I wonder how powerful the rest are." Xue Yan couldn't help but exclaim.

'But why aren't they famous?' Both Sato and Xue Yan thought at the same time.

"Alright. Seeing as you're injured, this test is over." The old man suddenly said. "While I did say it's a life or death battle, that was if you kept on facing it. In reality, you have 3 opportunities to give up and restart. After that, you either pass or die. With how you are now, I doubt you can continue right?" 

Sato didn't disagree with the man and simply nodded. Even if he used a healing potion, he would still end up dead. He might as well use this opportunity to take a break and come up with a winning strategy with Xue Yan.

"Good." The old man then clapped twice and the grey statue walked over to its original spot. 

"The test is over and you can challenge it another time. Of course, this 'other time' is limited within 3 days. After 3 days, whether you're ready or not, you must challenge the test once more. 

"I wish you good healing…cause you will need it.." The old man grinned creepily.

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