Chapter 132 - Path of Paradise (Patreon)

A dashingly handsome man appeared in the colorful world. The man had the face of a warrior-hero, young and faultless. His green eyes were clear like the freshest lake in the spring morning but also emanating hidden fierceness. The shape of his eyebrows was like swords pointed to whosoever the man gazed upon. He was clean-shaven without a single facial hair. His dark-blonde hair was neither short nor long, a delicate blend of tidiness and wildness. 177 centimeters tall with a chiseled toned body untainted with an ounce of unnecessary fat. His white and red clothes were the perfect marriage between style and function, raising his charisma.

This man was none other than Viers Isuel.

His emergence wasn't unwitnessed. He saw a nearby young woman staring at him. The woman was immediately flustered by being caught but Viers’ reply was a wink and a flash smile showing his pearly white teeth.

The young woman’s heart was struck by the cupid’s arrow. Her face turned beet red as she covered his mouth with her hand. Viers flew away because he didn't want to make her faint on his handsomeness.

“Wow, Viers. You become a lady-killer,” Paina said.

“Face indeed matters,” he replied.

After the first quest, Aletro said that the trail takers would no longer be seen as white silhouettes like before. Therefore, before Viers went through the exit portal after defeating the zebra he wore a disguise. The Q&A with Black Aletro was very informative. After long and hard thinking, Viers decided he would not do the trial as Avel of Javia.

He didn't know the ultimate reward of this trial yet but he didn't want to regret missing the prize because he didn't try with all his might, because he didn't muster every inch of effort and means inside him.

That meant Viers couldn't afford to play nice.

Avel of Javia was an identity he used to interact with the public. He wanted Avel the adventurer to have a good reputation. To put it in xianxia terms, he had to maintain his ‘face’.

To reap the full benefits of the trial, he wouldn't do things normally like a goody-goody, he couldn't. Viers already had an inkling he would need to unleash his dark side to succeed in this trial. Viers had to do things differently.

And so Viers created another identity. One that would bear the stigma of bad reputation instead of his true self.

From now on, I’m Tanael!

Viers had this plan from a long time ago, one identity for good and another one for evil. Avel and Tanael. Since Viers wasn't strong enough yet, keeping Avel’s criminal record clean was sufficient for now.

He had used the name Tanael once in the Marakkus city when he was collecting info from a member of the Cult of Dumzuin, the night where he fought Alan for the first time. Today was Tanael’s reemergence.

I wasn't aiming to be ‘good’ per se, it isn't in my nature. I’m evil but not 100% evil. If doing good sometimes benefits me, why not? Not to mention I have Horizon. I also planned to have a long, long life. Experiencing life from both sides is very suitable for me.

Aletro’s trial set the stage so no superstrong person could intervene. All participants had the same cultivation level. The arbitrators, both Aletro, also said they wouldn't intervene excessively. Viers analyzed that with Horizon alone Viers was already stronger than the vast majority.

Doesn't this mean I can do evil unscrupulously without fear? Man oh man!

Freed from the fear of a Level 4 or 5 slapping him to death because of his wicked deeds, Viers was like a wolf in a henhouse! Added with the fact he chose the black spark, Viers opted to transform from his Good Guy not into Great Guy but into Bad Dude!

Ryan Reynolds would be proud, hehehe. To contrast Avel and Tanael, let's make Tanael super handsome!

Viers achieved the feat of otherworldly makeover thanks to the Mask of Unrecognizable Face, a magic item he looted from the vault in Marakkus.

Changing one’s appearance was very important, especially for someone with Viers’ lifestyle and mentality. He had asked Clarissa for this kind of Arte but was forced to prioritize other things. Turned out he made the right call and didn't waste any effort.

Who knew I would gain an appearance-changing magic item as an alternative? The Thousand Treasures Casket alone made the risks I took at Marakkus worthwhile, woohoo! However, the name is too long. I’ll call the mask… Impersonator from now on.

With Impersonator on his face, Viers no longer wore his knight’s helmet. The magic item also gave an illusion that changed others’ perception of his body shape. Viers’ real body was still somewhat round near the stomach and with much less muscle.

The very non-cultivator-like body was the result of his not-completely-normal-human physique, healing factor, insufficient workout, and huge consumption of monster meat.

Sigh… Other MCs have it easy, to have a six-pack body in a few chapters. If my life is a web novel, my story should already be over 100 chapters, right? Why am I still fat? Gah, woe is me… Can't be helped, I’ll just enjoy this super-perfect super-handsome Tanael body for the time being. It’s like temporary plastic surgery. One day, my real body will become as good!

The clothes were real though. Viers had taken more than just money, magic items, and soul from the defeated. Trinkets such as unenchanted but stylish clothes were not spared from his looting thanks to the incredibly convenient Doraemon’s pocket.

Viers made his way to the quest obelisk once again. The structure was sufficiently big but it was swarmed by the trial takers. Viers’ approach to the middle area with the medium difficulty quests turned a lot of heads. Just like they observed Viers, he also observed them. Since they no longer shadowed, they could see each other’s appearance.

These were the people that had finished their first quest. Viers’ completion time wasn't long but his chat with Aletro took a bit of time. By the time he appeared, there were already a lot of people in front of the quest obelisk.

Most were young people but there were people in their late twenties or even in their thirties. The majority were human but there were other races as well. Some were picking the quest on their own while others were doing it in groups. There were some groups with similar attire so maybe they were from the same faction from the start.

Viers found some familiar faces among the crowd such as the beastfolk adventurer Khalmar, the Noble Tiger.

Oh? That’s Boram. Hehehe, I bet he’s grateful for all the reading and writing exercises I gave him. What would he be in this trial if he couldn't even read?

Viers looked around but didn't see Izabella. Most likely she also disguised herself. Although he couldn't use any investigative Arte in this place, there were a few people that stood out from the rest. After a short cursory observation of the others, Viers’ concern returned to himself then to the quests.

Next is this one.

Viers picked a quest about monster-hunting again only in medium difficulty this time. He burned the quest card with his black spark and got teleported to another place. The place he appeared in was different from before, he was in an open grass field.

Viers didn't waste any second to make a square with his index and big fingers on both hands, giving the kobold a photoshoot.

Arte - Fatal Soulframe First Form: Horror!

It had been too long since Viers unleashed his soul Arte attack in full power and the result was a photo and a corpse.

“All too easy,” the handsome Tanael smiled.

Viers absorbed the flecks of light for his spark, took some of its meat, then went out of the portal without delay.

The speedy return of Viers drew some interest. The fact he returned signified he completed the quest already and that garnered scrutiny from the community.

“Oi, isn't that the earlier guy?”

“Yeah, the white-red clothes are the same.”

“My! What a dream… Does anyone recognizes him?”

“Who cares about his face? He took the medium difficulty, didn't he? He finished it so fast?”

“You there, may I have a word?”

Viers ignored the man’s request with a hand gesture before taking another monster-hunting quest but this time on the hard difficulty.

Viers repeated the action against the giant chicken monster. This time his Fatal Soulframe didn't instantly kill the monster, it made the monster berserk.

Finally, some challenge! By the way this monster… isn't it the evolution of that monster chicken that I hunted with Lena, Irene, Paul, and Oliver a long time ago?

“Haha! Give me your meat!”

Viers suddenly got a hankering for some KFC.

It took some time but the chicken was still a Rank 2 monster and Veirs defeated it without complication.

42 minutes later…

“Ruuuaaah!”

After letting loose Mortal Severing from his katana for the second time, a hard fight against a heron-lizard hybrid was concluded. With the monster’s fall, Viers fell on his butt in exhaustion.

Hah, hah, hah… should I say it is as expected for expert difficulty? What a difficulty spike from hard to expert.

Viers found some solace seeing his black spark eating the spark shards. The flecks of light were certainly in greater numbers than before.

After a short break, Viers chugged a health potion before stepping out of the portal.

We’re here using our real bodies… Heavy injury would be troublesome. Those who got maimed would have a dim prospect in this week-long trial. This stage one also tests our judgment-making ability. Hmmm… I should try those non-monster-hunting quests, see if the efficiency is better- NUOOOH?

Out of the portal, Viers expected to see the empty, dizzying colorful paint liquid space with the quest obelisk as the only place of importance. What he saw was something he didn't expect.

Las Vegas?

The neon lights on both sides of the red carpet, the grand fountain of water, the masterfully arranged exotic plants, fireworks above the sky, and the regal building that belonged in the busiest part of the city. Viers was like looking at the 30 stories hotel from the streets of Vegas.

What is this?

Viers was not the only one stunned. He joined the others that streamed into the grand architecture. The design was not similar to Earth’s and bore many traces of this world’s magical culture. Although he could fly, from the red carpet that extended from the building’s grand entrance Viers lost the ability to levitate and must walk.

Viers was greeted with extreme fanfare the second he set foot in the lobby.

Rows of sharply dressed men and women greeted him with a smile. Waiting for Viers and the others were the two Aletro. This time they were no longer a projection 15 meters tall and appeared just like normal humans. Both were wearing formal wear on the same level as tuxedos in this world, one was white and the one was black.

“Welcome! To the Path of Paradise Resort!” The black and white uniformly said.

“We are pleased to announce that this place will be your accommodation during the stages of the trial. There are shops, restaurants, healing centers, recreational facilities, training rooms, and many more for your enjoyment! Enjoy your stay, your satisfaction is paramount in our priorities!”

The crowd let out a shout of happiness.

Sweet Jesus! How much more game-like is this going to get? MAGNIFICENT!!!