Chapter Sixty: Trial Point

After disconnecting from the Second World, I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep and passed the night in peace. Rising earlier than anyone else, I ate breakfast alone, then donned my helmet and activated the interface to re-enter the virtual world. Soon, I was back in the game.

The moment I entered, the sight before me startled me. I was standing on a vast platform, my feet planted on marble tiles, before a massive stone gate towering nearly fifty meters high. The gate was tightly shut, and an eerie silence hung about. All around, ominous, shadowy mountains loomed, casting an oppressive pall over the scene.

Just then, Violet Moon logged in as well. She, too, was taken aback by the surroundings and asked, “Where is this place?”

I shook my head, then summoned Hurricane Wolf King and Dragon Warrior, while Violet Moon called forth the Infernal Flame Demon. I asked, “Dragon Warrior, do you know where this is? This place gives me a really bad feeling.”

Dragon Warrior replied, “I don’t know. I’ve never heard of or seen this place before. But since we’re here, let’s make the best of it. I don’t think our arrival is a coincidence. Besides, I sense a powerful magical force beyond that gate... There’s no mistake—this energy is incredibly strong. Master, I believe the answers we seek are behind that door. Let’s go and see.”

Violet Moon and I exchanged glances. Together with our three beasts, we advanced toward the imposing stone gate. As we approached, we saw a massive plaque above the door, upon which three blood-red characters spelled: Gate of Ghosts.

A chill ran through us. “Gate of Ghosts? Hmph, sounds scary enough,” Violet Moon scoffed.

But no sooner had she spoken than a strange, mocking voice echoed from the void, “Life and death, the cycle unending. Cross this gate, and what remains of the living is no more—only death awaits. It’s been a long time since outsiders have come. Hahaha...”

“Show yourself! Stop playing tricks!” Dragon Warrior shouted. As he spoke, ripples appeared in the air between the gates, and two figures slowly emerged. Both were towering, easily two meters tall, bare-chested, their muscles bulging with raw power. Yet what was most peculiar was that one had the face of a horse, the other the head of a bull—surely the legendary Bull-Head and Horse-Face.

I said, “You two must be Bull-Head and Horse-Face.”

The bull-headed figure replied, “Correct—I am Bull-Head, and he is Horse-Face. Outsiders, your allotted years are not yet over. Why have you come here—are you in such a hurry to be reincarnated? Haha.”

So they really were Bull-Head and Horse-Face. At that moment, Violet Moon shouted, “I’m not ready to be reincarnated! Maybe you should be!” Sticking her tongue out at them as she spoke.

Horse-Face grinned, his equine features twisting into a grotesque smile. “It’s been years since any outsiders set foot here. This time, luck is surely on our side. We were just wandering, and stumbled across such fine prey. Bull-Head, what do you say?”

Bull-Head chuckled, “It’s simple—the usual way, we split them half and half. The female is mine, the male is yours. As for those beasts, I’m not interested. Let’s just make them disappear.” With that, he conjured a fan, waved it, and in an instant, Hurricane Wolf King and the others vanished into thin air. The system notified us that they had entered a slumber and could not be summoned. At the same time, Violet Moon was shocked to discover she could not summon any new creatures. The situation turned sharply against us.

“Fine, let’s do it your way. You’re getting the better deal, though. But we shouldn’t delay. If that fellow shows up, we’ll be in trouble,” Horse-Face called out.

Bull-Head burst into hearty laughter. “Brother, you’re as straightforward as ever. Let’s go, then. Each takes what he wants.” As soon as he finished speaking, he lunged toward Violet Moon.

Bull-Head was not especially fast. “Hehe... You’re mine now,” he growled, leaping at Violet Moon. But she immediately flipped him over her shoulder, sending him flying.

Bull-Head twisted in midair, landed with a powerful stomp, and charged again, his horns aimed directly at Violet Moon.

Violet Moon’s palms burst with fiery red tendrils, snaking around her body to form a blazing shield that protected her. Bull-Head crashed into the barrier, which shuddered under the impact. With a flick of her wrist, Violet Moon’s whip transformed into a fiery serpent and swiftly wrapped around Bull-Head.

“Aaargh!” Bull-Head howled, struggling fiercely, but the fiery snake only tightened its grip, binding him fast. Violet Moon gave a cold, triumphant laugh.

But Bull-Head roared, “Don’t underestimate me, girl! I’ll devour your soul and flesh, leave nothing behind!” With a thunderous shout, a shockwave burst from him, breaking free of the whip’s hold. Freed, he suddenly shot toward Violet Moon in a streak of black light, much faster than before.

“You stupid ox!” Violet Moon yelled, her whip lashing Bull-Head for –300 points of damage. She sprang back, but Bull-Head bellowed, “You little brat! No one calls me a stupid ox! Woman, you won’t leave here alive!” With a sudden roar, like thunder in the sky, his eyes turned blood-red and his face twisted in rage.

With a deafening crash, he stomped the ground so hard it rumbled, then with a sharp crack, his massive fist struck Violet Moon before she could retreat. Bones snapped inside her, blood sprayed from her lips as she was hurled through the air—–1444 points of damage appeared overhead.

“Die!” Bull-Head howled, his speed terrifying as he stomped the ground again, covering the distance in a flash. He reached the fallen Violet Moon, seized her by the throat, and began to squeeze, intent on strangling her.

Meanwhile, on my side, Horse-Face drew an iron chain and lashed it at me. I couldn’t get any information on him—not his level, not his type. But seeing that he hadn’t instantly killed Violet Moon, I figured they weren’t bosses and could be defeated. Still, a summoner without their beasts was at a serious disadvantage.

Horse-Face’s chain came down with a heavy blow, and I dodged just in time. The marble floor shattered where it struck; if that hit me, I’d be pulverized. Another strike followed. I activated Feint, but the shield it created barely absorbed a thousand points of damage—at this rate, Feint would only last four hits, and if I didn’t use potions, I could only take two myself. Horse-Face’s chain struck my shield four times, shattering it, and the next blow landed directly on me.

Blood gushed from my mouth as I was hurled away, losing 1200 health. Another blow followed, but I rolled aside, swept Horse-Face’s leg with my Ruyi Staff to trip him, then leaped up and unleashed Crushing Blow, Energy Burst, and Assault all at once. Horse-Face blocked with his chain, then kicked me in the stomach, sending me stumbling back.

I seized the moment to gulp a potion, then charged with Nimbus Strike, knocking the chain aside with my staff. We clashed fists, and I unleashed Rending Wheel at point-blank range—a spinning green blade sliced across Horse-Face’s equine face. He shrieked in agony as a spray of blood erupted—–3433 points of massive damage appeared. I was stunned—I’d never dealt such a high blow before. Yet as he died, I gained no experience, but a notification flashed in my vision.

“Ding! You have eliminated Horse-Face and earned 1000 Trial Points.”