The Hero System - Chapter 26

He was sitting on the bench next to Riya. Only then did he remember that this was a trial. He felt like he was in a dream. Well, rather than a dream, a nightmare.

“I passed?” Jonah’s asked softly. Something inside of him changed after so many deaths.

“You did.”

“I don’t understand, what was that trial all about? I just kept dying…”

“I don’t know.” Riya shook her head.

“You don’t know?” Jonah furrowed his brows. Wasn’t she the one who gave him the trial?

“I honestly don’t. It was you who made the trial. I just made it that the trial is about what you think would be the most challenging thing. However, you still passed.” Riya smiled.

Jonah went in deep thought. She was probably right. This was something that Jonah was always worried about. Would he be able to endure suffering again and again for others? Would he be able to be the hero the future needs him to be?

Even though he passed the trial, he didn’t know if he can. He suffered for only five times, but they felt like an eternity. How about ten more times? A hundred? A thousand? Would he still be the same? Would he still rush over and save others? Only the future can answer these questions.

“Okay, you need to go. Don’t worry, your third reward has already been given to you. Goodbye, Jonah. Take care of my kingdom.” Riya smiled.

Jonah opened his eyes to the bricks-made ceiling of the shrine. He was back.

[Ding! The user’s Fear Resistance skill leveled up to Level 9.]

[Ding! New skill received. The Wind’s Blessings (Max-Level): Boost Strength, Agility, and Resistance utilizing the spiritual energy in the wind for five minutes. The boost percentage would depend on the environment. Rank: Ultra-Rare. Cool-down: One month. Remarks: This skill cannot be leveled up. However, the user can increase his base-stats and choose an environment with an abundant wind element to increase its effects.]

[Current boost: 1000%]

Jonah heard the notification and hurriedly stood up. He saw the golem and the misty creatures only a few meters away from the shrine.

Luckily, he was next to a wind fairy’s shrine. That’s why the boost was so powerful. Jonah believed that he wouldn’t get such a boost in any other place.

However, his body was still in a mess. He looked around for the Life Dew and saw a branch near the entrance. The branch’s tip had a golden droplet descending from it.

Jonah took out his talisman and activated it. The next moment, he disappeared.

‘Dammit, I need to help Brother Jonah!’ Lia coughed several times before standing up. She looked at the shrine that was surrounded with the golem and the other creatures with despair. She knew she couldn’t help Jonah in time, but she’ll still give it her all!

Green lights hovered around her as the wind started blowing. She was about to rush over. But suddenly

BOOOOOM!!

Several misty creatures were flung away from the shrine. However, Lia couldn’t see who did it. Through the gap created by the earlier attack, she peered into the shrine. However, no one was there. Before Lia’s confusion ended, another few misty creatures flew away!

Jonah could feel his body pulsing with strength! Each time he kicked the ground, he would dash several meters instantly! Every time he swings his spear, several misty creatures would perish! If Jonah had the time to look at his stats, he knew he’d be scared by their amount. This was an ultra-rare skill!

However, he still needs to finish this quickly. The talisman only had a 3-minutes duration. He couldn’t waste any more time.

Jonah dashed toward the golem. The biggest threat was this guy. Normally, he wouldn’t be able to challenge this creature head on, even with his boost. But since he was invisible, the golem couldn’t block his attacks like earlier! Jonah thrust toward the golem back without him resisting!

GUAAAAAAA

The golem screamed with pain and swung his arm backward. However, Jonah already moved to the side. With another thrust, the golem screamed gain. After a minute and a half, Jonah was finally able to take it down!

Even though the golem was a misty creature, it was still constructed with spiritual energy. Thus, spiritual energy attacks worked.

“No No What’s going on? Where is he?! How did he do it?!” The one-eyed being started screaming. However, Jonah was indifferent as he dashed toward him.

After the several trials, Jonah changed. He was more resolute and composed. Even though slight fear was still within his heart, it only forced him to advance forward!

“AAAhhh!!!” The one-eyed being screamed with anguish as he felt the pain in his back. Jonah slashed him earlier.

After the cloak was torn apart, Jonah knew how he failed the attack from earlier. This being had the black mist surrounding his body!

However, this couldn’t stop Jonah. He thrust his spear again, but the one-eyed being kept dodging. Even though he couldn’t see Jonah, he just kept dodging afraid of getting hit.

‘Useless.’ Jonah though as he used his full strength. His needles started obstructing the one-eyed being as he rushed ahead.

This time, the one-eyed being couldn’t dodge and Jonah pierced his abdomen.

“No No Master! Help!” The one-eyed being cried as he held his wound. He then took out a black pearl and crushed. The next moment, space started to deform.

‘What the?’ Jonah kept his distance. Space next to the one-eyed being deformed and a black whirlpool appeared. Then, a black hand reached out of the whirlpool toward the one-eyed being.

‘Not good!’ Jonah thought as he realized that the one-eyed being is escaping.

Even though Jonah disliked killing, he knew he’d regret it if he allowed this being to live. This being seemed to know something about him and would certainly bring trouble in the future.

Jonah dashed toward the being and thrust with his spear. However, another black hand appeared and attacked Jonah.

The two collided and Jonah was flung away. Thanks to his boost, he didn’t get injured. However, the one-eyed being has already escaped.

‘Your time will come, little hero.’ Jonah heard an ancient voice before the whirlpool disappeared.

Jonah shivered. It seemed he was targeted by a troublesome bunch. However, he’d deal with anything that comes his way.

“Brother Jonah!” Lia rushed over after she saw Jonah reappear. The Talisman effect was over.

“Are you okay?” Jonah asked.

“I am but you?” Lia asked. She saw Jonah’s miserable state before he entered the shrine. However, he was fine now. Only his clothes were blooded.

“I passed the trial,” Jonah answered. Since the one-eyed being escaped, the misty creatures disappeared. They were finally able to relax.

“Oh It’s okay brother Jonah! I can look for another way to help my father.” Lia said consoling him. However, Jonah had a quizzing look as he didn’t understand. Then, he remembered.

“I obtained two Life Dews!” Jonah said as he took out a bottle with a golden droplet in it. He stored it after he attacked the misty creatures earlier.

“You How” Lia was speechless.

“Later! We need to rush to where your father is! Right?!” Jonah said. His boost only had one and a half minute left. Might as well put it to a good use.

“Yes! Let’s go!”

With this, the two dashed out of the cave. They ran at full speed so they reached the exit after 30 seconds.

“You got it?” The old man guarding the door asked with astonishment.

“Un! We need to go, thanks, uncle!” Lia said while running.

The castle was smaller than the cave. Thus, they reached the king’s chamber after another 20 second. However, they were stopped.

“Daniel, move aside! We got the Life Dew!” Lia said to Daniel and the guards.

“I can no longer trust you, you’ve accomplice yourself with a suspect and framed his runaway. Now, you expect that I’d allow you to meet father?”

Daniel said some bullshit since he just wanted an excuse. The person that helped him curse his father said to guard the chamber. However, he didn’t expect Lia would be able to get the Life Dew from the guardian spirit! He didn’t expect this useless human, a side character, to be the one ruining his plans!

“Then I have to force you to step aside!” Lia said as she unsheathed her sword and dashed toward Daniel.

Daniel didn’t expect his sister to be so decisive and was caught off guard. Luckily, he managed to block her.

Jonah, on the side, didn’t stand idly. Using his needles, he attacked the guards. Even though they wouldn’t do much but stall them for a second, he only needed a second to slip in using his boost.

“Stop him!” When Daniel saw Jonah’s speed, he was shocked. He knew this human was only at the energy condensing stage, but his speed could rival his!

Alas they were too late. Jonah rushed into the chamber where the king lied in bed, unconscious. He wrapped with bandages around his body and was sweating a lot. Jonah saw that his body had black marks.

He had already realized that the one who cursed the king was the one-eyed being. Even though the being himself wasn’t so capable, his master was a different story. He might have given his disciple an item capable of cursing the king even though the one-eyed being cultivation was low.

Jonah realized that the one-eyed being wasn’t that strong when he fought him directly. However, his summoned creatures were far stronger. He didn’t know if this was the norm among his ‘race’ or what, but he knew this wasn’t normal.

Jonah had no time to think further and he dashed toward the king. He took out his bottle and opened the king’s mouth. He then poured the droplet inside.

Luckily, he finished before the guards were able to catch up. The king’s body was enveloped with golden light as his wound started to heal.

When the guards saw this, they halted their steps. They realized that this human really had the Life Dew.

[Ding! Quest-Completed. The reward has been received: 93 Upgrade Points.]

A long bonus chapter! This me making up for the earlier chapter’s length… More power stones = More bonus chapters!