After swimming through the rapids, Ryan's eyes adjusted to underwater darkness.
Ryan was almost about to call bullshit when he saw a small dark opening on the riverbed. It was a tiny fissure in the ground, just big enough for a person to squeeze through.
Entering the crevice, Ryan suddenly felt the sensation of falling as the liquid disappeared, and slick walls became his only support.
Starting to fall deeper into the passageway, it didn't take long for him to slam into the floor, a sharp pain spreading from his back all over his body.
"Shit," groaned Ryan. "That could have gone better."
Ryan took a deep breath and climbed off the floor, examining himself. There were several scrapes along both thighs, but there wasn't any bleeding.
Ryan examined every part of his body, but after finding no significant wounds, he started to take in his surroundings.
Ryan determined he had somehow entered a cave, its floor slick with algae, its walls wet with moss, its ceiling high above him, a black void that seemed to go on forever.
He looked above but didn't see the hole he had come from. Instead, he saw a ceiling filled with stalactites.
Examining the walls closer, he saw the same three-ring symbol he had witnessed on the destroyed tree when he had so graciously given this quest.
"You have come," A voice boomed throughout the chamber.
Frowning, Ryan replied, "No, I don't cum in caves."
'I am a man of class, after all.'
The voice carried on, signifying it as a recording. "The first test you have passed by coming here, and although it is the longest task, it is hardly the most difficult."
"For your next test, you must pass the test of the vessel."
Suddenly a rumbling noise echoed through the cave, and the whole place shook before Ryan could hear something rising from the ground.
Breaking through the ground was an altar made from obsidian stone. The altar held the same symbol of three rings, each linked to another.
As the altar rose, a white fog followed it from the opening, filling the room and bathing Ryan and the walls in light.
"Place your hand on the altar. This test is not one of skill but of talent," the voice stated.
With his jaw clenched tightly, Ryan slowly walked towards the glowing rock until he felt its warmth wash over his arm. Once he touched it, Ryan found that he couldn't move his hands anymore, so he closed his eyes and entered his mind.
With each step, he became more invincible. More powerful and more ferocious. Ryan stepped forward, his stride filled with the sheer weight of the world.
Taking a deep breath, Ryan placed both of his palms down onto the black surface, feeling the coldness seep into his skin like a leeching poison as it crept into his veins. The chill spread to his wrists, traveling and filling every inch of his flesh and bones.
Ryan felt the energy settle into his entire being. Opening his eyes, he stared straight ahead without flinching.
The symbols on the walls began to glow brighter, and the white fog dissipated, leaving only pure white light everywhere except behind him, where there was only darkness.
A symbol on the floor also began to glow, sending out beams of light that made Ryan's pupils shrink almost instantly before they grew again when the light vanished.
The sound of water dripping echoed in the distance as several things moved above him, along with a strange scratching noise coming from somewhere close.
===
The Old Man watched Ryan as he landed in the testing room and sighed. Then, with a groan, he grabbed a drink from his private stock. Before he could even start pouring it, though, he saw a bright light in the bottle's reflection and frowned, turning.
Dropping the bottle, he didn't care that it had broken. Instead, he felt joy as he watched what hadn't happened since he came to this realm 16 eons ago take place.
Tears streamed down the old man's face, "I can't believe it. Finally, after so long."
The tears vanished, and his voice turned colder than ice. "I can have what's rightfully mine."
===
pαndα noνɐ1,сoМ The scratching turned into a pounding noise as loud thuds and cracks began to echo throughout the cave. Something was breaking through the walls and ceiling of the chamber. Ryan barely noticed as he kept his hand on the obsidian altar while the white light slowly faded from around him. As soon as the light completely disappeared, he heard a familiar voice booming around him.
"Congratulations! You have passed your first trial!"
The rumbling sound stopped, but there were more noises from above, cracking and creaking, along with splintering wood and grinding rock.
A door made of granite fell from the ceiling and slammed against the ground with a deafening crash.
"This doorway will lead you to your second test. After entering, you will be transported to an independent heavenly space and given tasks via your heavenly screen."
Ryan heard the voice, but his attention was on the door. Intricate patterns adorned the granite, some of which he recognized from Shade's tattoos.
The door had landed rather oddly in the middle of the room, so as Ryan circled it, he saw both sides that looked identical.
Deciding it was now or never, Ryan touched the handle and opened it.
"Not that easy, huh."
Ryan peered into the doorway. Just as he had that first day on Ravier, he felt like he was looking into the abyss.
Trying to activate energy vision didn't help either, as he didn't even see a spec of energy anywhere near the door.
"Well, as Aliza always said, 'When it doubt, pull it out.'"
As Ryan was contemplating whether he remembered the right line, he passed through the door, as The Old Man laughed maniacally, watching the scene.
===
Green meadows filled with tall grass and flowers greeted his eyes when Ryan stepped through the door. A light wind blew across his body, causing his long black hair to whip behind him. It also smelled a little damp but pleasant. Everything about his new surroundings seemed perfect. 'This aura is amazing!'
When he had been inside the portal realm, he could feel the energy density was much lower than it had been on Ravier. But the difference was nothing compared to how much energy he felt inside this heavenly space.
Taking a deep breath, Ryan felt like he had bathed for the first time in years.
The feeling was euphoric and a little orgasmic. Ryan instantly wanted to share this feeling with the girls inside his palace but first decided to look around for any danger.
As he was starting to look around, he received a notification.
[First Task: Kill 10 E-Grade Monsters]
[Time Limit: 24 hours]
[Note: Completing the task in 1 hour is required for eligibility for the entire inheritance.]
"Well, as Aliza always said, 'Aim for the best, so you don't cum in last.'"
"Or was it 'Cum last is always the best?'" Ryan stroked his imaginary beard in contemplation.
"Either way, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's take care of this beastly monster menace."
With that said, he drew his sword and started toward where he thought he might find a target.
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