The Hero System - Chapter 25

Thanks to his new fear resistance skill, Jonah was able to dodge the deformed Jonah’s attacks. However, the more he battled, the more afraid he became. Just like hatred, fear began to consume his heart. He tried to dispense it, but no avail!

Unlike hatred, fear doesn’t come from your impulses. It takes over your heart blinding your way. If hatred was the one to make people rush in their actions and regret it later, fear is the opposite. Because you’re afraid, you’ll try to run away and back down.

Jonah felt this trial was much harder than the last one. Just calming down wouldn’t change the fear in his heart. Plus, every time he tries to get used to it, seeing the deformed Jonah would just ignite his fear again.

Jonah decided to face his fear! With several light steps on the ground, Jonah dashed toward the deformed Jonah. He launched a punch toward him.

“Ahhhh Nooo!!!” The deformed Jonah started to scream with anguish as he saw the incoming attack.

When Jonah saw his own reflection like that, he flinched.

“Go away! Go away!” The deformed Jonah took the chance of Jonah’s hesitation and madly attacked. Because his punches lacked resolution, Jonah was able to easily dodge. However, his fear would increase every time he dodged.

After a short while. Jonah froze in fear, literally. He can no longer move and his whole body trembled. He felt like his soul was trying to end this discomfort by running away.

Luckily, the deformed Jonah also stopped. The third eye moved restlessly.

‘What am I supposed to do? Should I withdraw from the trial? ‘ Jonah thought to himself. His fear started to influence his thoughts.

Like a dark shadow enveloping his heart, fear got the best of him. Like a soldier dogged by fear, Jonah just wanted to go home. He doesn’t want to be a cultivator nor does he want to save the world anymore. He just wants to live a life with no harm or pain. He decided to submit to his fear.

However, his body jolted. Jonah was able to slightly move again. However, he still can’t walk. At least, his thinking returned to normal.

‘What the hell am I thinking? Even without the fate of the whole world, I don’t want my mother to suffer in five years. I also don’t want to live in a world where I need to hide to be safe.’ Like a fire igniting his soul, his body jolted again.

Jonah clenched his fists. He knew what to do now. Unlike hatred, fear can never disappear from someone’s heart. Because we have things to keep and people to protect, we’ll never be fearless.

However, that’s the point! Fear is what drives us forward! Fear of losing our lives, our loved ones, and everything we have, that’s what makes us thrive!

Bravery never was the lack of fear, but acting even when you’re afraid! Jonah’s body slowly returned to normal. He walked toward the deformed Jonah. He was still afraid. So afraid that he wanted to run, but he still walked forward.

“Don’t! Don’t!” The deformed Jonah started launching attacks again. However, Jonah didn’t retaliate. He took the hits. However, they didn’t hurt. When Jonah realized how weak his punches were, his fear started to dispense. What replaced it was a feeling of determination. A determination to advance! A determination to keep walking!

When Jonah looked at his other self, he was shocked that his face went back to normal. His punches also stopped and he simply stroke Jonah’s heart gently. A helpless smile emerged from his other self and he simply disappeared.

“You’ve finished the second trial. What do you want?” Riya’s voice echoed.

“Life Dew!” Jonah said.

“Very well. Would you like to proceed?” Curiosity was obvious in her voice. Jonah knew why.

He also realized that these trials weren’t simple. Every time he settles his heart demons, he’d feel mentally drained.

You can even see black bags under his eyes and he had a pale skin. The earlier two trials weren’t easy. He felt like he was facing his scariest nightmares.

“Proceed.”

“Jonah, I advise you not to. Since this is your third trial, it’ll be the hardest.”

“I know. Proceed.” Jonah gashed his teeth.

“Very well. But I need to tell you the rules. You won’t know this is a trial. You’ll feel like it’s really happening and you won’t realize something was wrong. Do you wish to proceed?” Riya asked again.

Only then did Jonah realize that this trial was no joke. In the earlier trials, he kept reminding himself that this was a trial. Now, however, he won’t even notice.

But Jonah would die if he doesn’t get a way out. He wanted to ask Riya to help him to fight the one-eyed being. He didn’t know how she’d help, but he knew she can do something.

“Proceed!” Jonah firmly nodded.

When he blinked, the scenery changed. Looked around and saw it was the road to the train station.

‘Oh, what am I doing? I need to catch up to the train!’ Jonah thought as he hurried toward the station. He stopped near a pedestrians crossing. The sign was red so he waited.

“Ed!” Jonah heard a scream so he glanced at the side. He saw a mother holding grocery but her face was pale as she looked at the road. Jonah followed her gaze and he soon knew why she acted like that a child ran toward the other side!

From where he was, Jonah could see that he’s going to get hit by a truck!

“No!” The woman cried and launched herself. However, she was too late.

Without even thinking, Jonah bolted! He used his spirit skill without even knowing.

However, he was barely able to reach the kid. He embraced him and tried to roll. Alas, he was too late. With the kid, Jonah was hit by the speeding truck!

Paaaangg!!

Jonah felt his body being torn apart as he flew away and rolled on the ground miserably. He felt so much pain that he almost went crazy.

“Mommy! Waaaah!” Before he fainted, Jonah heard the kid cry. The kid was safe. Jonah’s vision went black.

“Ed!” Jonah opened his eyes and looked around. He saw the woman holding the grocery like before. He hurriedly shifted his gaze and saw the kid he just saved. Jonah was dumbstruck because what he just experienced is repeating itself!

However, Jonah had no time to think. He bolted himself again. But this time, he hesitated. Because the pain from earlier was too tormenting. If he ever went through that again, he didn’t know if he’d keep his sanity.

This moment of hesitation made Jonah’s heart filled with guilt. He gnashed his teeth and decided to endure! At least, he’ll try to dodge!

Like the earlier time, he embraced the kid. This time he didn’t delay and stomped his feet on the ground to dodge. Alas

Paaaangg!!

Like earlier, Jonah died again. The pain this time was even worst. He felt his whole existence was being slowly demolishing. The pain was real and it struck his very soul.

“Mommy! Waaaah!” Jonah’s vision went black again after he heard the cry.

The same happened the next time. And the one after that was the same. And the one that followed. Every time it happened, Jonah would be tormented by the pain. However, after the fifth time he died, the pain disappeared and the scenery changed.