Start in Terra, immortal

"The Underworld, the Lord of the Underworld, Karon?" Looking at Karon, who was now standing alongside them, Xilan trembled with fear. The scene he had just witnessed had truly terrified him—the way it seemed to have appeared directly in his eyes made him think Karon had already attacked them.

"Come on, adventurer, prove your worth to me!" Kalon gently swung his longsword, and two balls of turquoise energy flew out from Xilan and Alice.

"You can only rescue them if you pass my test within the allotted time."

"You!" The adventurer's expression changed drastically, but he finally sighed, "Tell me, what kind of test..."

Kalon didn't answer, but instead summoned dozens of spirits from the gate to the spirit world: "The living can't see anything in the underworld."

As soon as he finished speaking, the adventurer felt a pulling sensation. Then, he saw his own body appear before him, and at the same time, the whole world seemed to lose its color, becoming dark and narrow.

"You have witnessed many deaths so far. Now, confront the deaths you remember."

In the silence, one by one, people who had died appeared before him.

Vinaro Jürgen: "I will change this country; I will replace the unpredictable heavens with reasonable laws."

Jack: "I will never stop. As long as I, Hawkeye Jack, stand here, Ghent will never fall. Trust me, go!"

Lati: "Okay, even if what you're saying is true... I don't want to just stand there and take a beating. I'll fight to the very end."

Polgan: "I won't give up. I'm going to smash that guy Bakal's fist in the face."

Taneba: "Yes, but unlike those recorded in your history books, I can remain in the memories of some people. In that sense, it's somewhat comforting."

Those who sacrificed themselves for the Celestial Realm fought with the determination to die.

"Was their death inevitable?" Caron questioned.

Then, the apostles who had already died appeared one by one.

Lotus: "Is fate ultimately unchangeable? I die here according to the prophecy of the Holy Book... Foolish humans..."

Matga: "You're nothing but a tool. Without a blade of your own, I wonder how your heroic tale will end..."

Luke: "...Has the prophecy been broken? Has the future been changed? If so..."

Sirocco: "Hilder... won't always do as you wish... won't..."

Ozma: "For me, who has lost everything, the only thing left is revenge..."

"Weren't their deaths all because of you? Blade, why did you draw your sword? Did your sword act according to your own will?"

The adventurer looked around at the familiar faces and gripped his weapon tightly.

"Were their deaths all due to my momentary impulse? No, absolutely not. They were fighting against fate in their own way! How dare I bear the burden of their deaths? All I can do, and all I must do, is remember their deaths and continue to move forward according to my own will!"

The world's luster returned, and the adventurer's soul returned to his body.

"Not bad." Caron's tone was quite satisfied. "You've broken through your limits multiple times, but I don't know if you'll keep your word. No matter how strong you become, without willpower, you'll eventually collapse. This is a truth that even the dead understand."

"Answer me!" Caron's voice suddenly rose, "What is your reason for fighting to the death?"

"For protection, for the path forward, for the truth!" The adventurer was not startled by Karon's suddenly louder voice and answered quickly and firmly.

"What you said is very interesting. Now, you are no longer just the blade, but the hilt. I believe you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the energy clusters formed from the souls of Xilan and Alice returned to their bodies.

"Hmm? Adventurer? What just happened?" Alice asked, only vaguely sensing that something had occurred.

"Huh? Just now? That happened? What are you talking about?" In Xilan's perception, he had been in the same spot ever since Kalon appeared.

To this, the adventurer simply looked at Kalon and shook his head: "Something trivial."

"I have confirmed it; you truly possess the heart of a strong being. Since you are the one chosen by our Lord, then I promise you that when the time is right, we, the dead, will lend you our power to help you break through your limits! At that time, you will possess the power to protect the world. This is also the only way we, the inhabitants of this universe, can still contribute our power..."

The gate to the spirit world slowly opened, and Kalon, along with all the other souls, disappeared into the underworld.

As the golden light fell, this time, no one stepped forward to stop the memory scenes from fading away. The three adventurers returned to the Memory Library once more.

Inside the library, the figures of the three slowly solidified.

Xilan plopped down on the ground, panting heavily. "Phew—finally out! What was that all about? I only remember Caron showing up, and then… and then I don't remember anything else!"

Alice rubbed her temples, trying hard to remember: "Me too, I can only vaguely feel that a lot of time has passed, but I can't remember exactly what happened."

She looked at the adventurer, her eyes filled with inquiry: "Adventurer, what... have you been through?"

The adventurer paused for a moment, then shook his head: "Something we have to face."

He didn't say much. The faces of the deceased, the questioning voices, and the answers he gave himself—these all belonged only to him.

Seeing that he was unwilling to say more, west Lan didn't press him. She simply patted him on the shoulder and said, "Alright, no matter what you went through, it's good that you're alive!"

The boy appeared beside them at some point, a hint of surprise on his face: "Oh, you're out? I told you it was easy, wasn't I? That gatekeeper was pretty friendly."

"Friendly?" west Lan rolled her eyes. "You didn't see how he looked when he appeared. I was so scared I almost thought I was going to die there!"

The boy curled his lip: "Tch, making a fuss over nothing. That guy Caron just likes to put on airs, but he's actually not a bad person—at least easier to talk to than Moros."

He looked at the adventurer, a hint of seriousness in his eyes: "However, to earn his approval means you are indeed extraordinary. Which volume do you want to read next? Volume five or volume four?"

The adventurer thought for a moment: "Let's go in order, Volume 5."

"Alright." The boy snapped his fingers, and the fifth spellbook slowly unfolded, transforming into a portal. "Go in. What's this one about...? Let me think..."

He tilted his head and thought for a moment, then suddenly gave a meaningful smile: "Oh, I remember now, it's the Demon Realm."

"The Demon Realm?" Alice exclaimed in surprise. "The magician has been to the Demon Realm?"

"Of course," the boy said matter-of-factly. "That old man has been to many places. How could he not go and see the Demon Realm, the gathering place of the Apostles? But the contents of this volume..."

He deliberately dragged out his words, keeping everyone in suspense: "You'll find out once you go inside."

west Lan muttered, "It's always the same old routine. Can't you just get it over with?"

The boy chuckled, "What's the point of being straightforward? Hurry up and go in, stop dawdling."

The three exchanged a glance and stepped into the portal.