The Absolute: Humanity's Second Chance

*** Juliette Silver ***

'How long has it been? Ah, yes. It's been approximately almost 27 hours, and we are not counting the thirty minutes of rest time before this 'hellish' training I experienced.'

'And right now, as you all might have thought, I am undergoing yet another 'hell'. But really though, is this necessary?'

'I am a damsel you know, but now in distress.' I thought, yet my thoughts did not end there. There was more I had in mind right now. For example...

'I am currently now 'flying' through the air... not like a bird, but perhaps a piece of paper? Or maybe a lone leaf?' I thought, idle and yet relaxed.

'Yes, something along those lines. Hm? A pieces of paper can't fly? A leaf as well? Well did you know, so do humans. Humans CANNOT and SHOULD NOT attempt to fly!!'

'So why am flying? Funny question, really. No, it really is a funny question.'

'See that gigantic tornado right there? Yes yes, that one. That one that seems like the rage of a god has befallen the world.'

'Yeah, as weak as I am, I could not fight against it. So here I am, 'flying' through the skies with my unfortunate friends.' My thoughts drifted along once more, as I came to a realization.

I might be going crazy.

"..."

[ Natural wind resistance :- 48,78% ]

But luckily, as you can see, I am almost about to be down. And complaints aside, I really am 'flying' at this point.

I stood suspended within the air, manipulating the wind around me to form an airy bubble. It was an easy feat considering how high my natural resistance to wind was.

I then stared at the giant tornado miles ahead of me, in thought. Honestly, this was a large tornado, maybe something our Stronghold might not survive.

I thought once more, and alongside those thoughts, was more notifications from the will (artificial intelligence) of this training ground.

[ Natural wind resistance :- 49% ]

I stared at the notification and sighed in relief. A little more time left. Around ten more minutes left before I can get out of this treacherous zone.

Why would I consider it treacherous? Well, every training was no different than the first. No, well, uhm, the first was more painful, but so were the next two.

I had to drown, like literally drown, for nine complete hours within the second one. As if that was all, I also spent nine hours in endless darkness.

It was as if I was suspended at the bottom of the ocean, drowning at that, for nine whole hours. It was not as painful, sure, but it was much more of a mental torture.

Then this one. I had to be thrown everywhere like a ragdoll. Colliding with rocks and other obstacles was painful enough, but having my entire clothes torn, and then my skin next... was more unpleasant.

And if we add the fact that my world view was constantly spinning for hours, making me want to vomit every second, was even worse.

...Yes, as we speak now, I am naked. And bruised up all over my body. I looked so horrible. What would Damien think of me.

Yet another mental torture. And to add up, I was now experiencing embarrassment. Well not really. There is no one here to see me... except the idea that those pixies are watching me.

"..."

[ Natural wind resistance :- 49,99% ]

They are lucky I think of them as nothing but children... plus, Damien said that they were even more powerful than gods, so I won't risk it.

'Plus, I am almost out of this hell zone.' I thought in relief, as the final notification of this trial ended it for me.

[ CONGRATULATIONS!!! ]

[ You are the first to ever obtain three AFFINITIES at such a lower League. You have been awarded 3,000 units of Life Essence (Half will be shared to your Eternal Companion) ]

[ Due to doing something unbelievable, and your unfathomable talents; you can now train three laws, and affect it once enough source energy is supplied ]

[ You have obtained another AFFINITY!! Your Mana will increase by 100% due to being even closer to the Natural Workings of Reality ]

[ TING!!! ]

[ Due to being a low leveled Apprentice, you have done an impossible feat. Your Mana will increase by 500%. Please keep up the good work and continue breaking Limits ]

"FINALLY!!!" I thought as I reappeared within the completely white training room, completely unscathed. Another training down, and now I'm down to one more.

[ You have finalized the training of another Affinity in just nine hours straight ]

[ There are still fourteen hours remaining. Please choose the next Affinity under a minutes ]

[ If nothing is chosen under sixty seconds, the A.I will randomly select an Affinity for you, whether it matches or not. Please tread carefully candidate ]

I ignored the notifications. Instead, I hurriedly checked out my Template. After every training, I obtain at least an Ability as well.

[ Name: Juliette Silver ]

[ Mana: 60 016 345 670 011 units ]

[ Epithet(3): First Blood(Grand), Grand Pioneer of Mana(Myth-1), Dragon Slayer(Myth-1) ]

[ Class: Lvl 6 Classless (0/90) ]

[ Sub-Class: None ]

[ Excess Life Essence: 18,195,389 units ]

[Alignment: Chaotic Neutral ]

[ Stats: STR - 10,0 || AGI - 10,0 || END - 10,0 || WIS - 300,0 || INT - 300,0 || AFF - 30,0 ]

[ Stat Points: 0 || Ability Points: 1 ]

[Ultimate Abilities(1): Spirit Source(1) ]

[ Unique Abilities(6): Spirit Zone(1), Spirit Medium(1), Mystic Magic(1), Mana Magic(1), Spirit Magic(1) Elemental Magic(1) ]

[ Extra Abilities(4): Self-Hypnosis(1), Dark Vision(1), Underwater Breathing(1), Float(1) ]

[ Techniques(1): Mana Incorporation(Unique) ]

[ Natural Resistance(3): <Fire: 50%> <Water:50%> <Wind:50%> ]

[ Spells(23): Spell Creation(2nd), Rune Casting(2nd), Symbol Inscription(2nd), Magic Manipulation(2nd), Personal Magic: Mana(2nd), Mana Control(2nd), Mana Enhancement(2nd), Mana Construction(2nd), Mana Aura(2nd), Mana Creation(2nd), Spirit Summon(2nd), Spirit Grooming(2nd), Spirit Communication(2nd), Spirit Empowerment(2nd), Spirit Fusion(2nd), Fire Ball(2nd), Fire Blast(2nd), Bubble Prison(2nd), Water Dragon(2nd), Haste(2nd), Hurricane Burst(2nd), Mountain Wall(2nd), Meteorite(2nd) ]

[ Equipment(0): None ]

[ Resources(0): None ]

"Float?" I thought. So that was the Ability I obtained? Not "Pain Resistance" or something else? Well the Ability is not bad, so let me not complain.

I moved on. I had also obtained [Dark Vision] and [Underwater Breathing] for my last trial. They were both not bad... or so I believe.

Either than that, nothing much has changed, either than my Mana increasing. I also realized that it seemed that I was not the only one constantly improving.

Sometimes my Mana would increase in large percentages every now and then. Maybe twice everyday (two and a half hours)? Or maybe more or less.

"But is having so much Mana at such a low Realm considered good? We already have more than we can chew. Almost a Trillion times what we should have." I thought.

With our reserves, we can use Unique Abilities without a care. Which made me wonder, "At this point, what is the difference between us, and a god? Levels?"

It was something I have been contemplating for hours. But then again, if I think about it, Damien already had strength to fight a dragon. He did fight a dragon.

A demon too. An angel. A spirit. And many more. Maybe we are gods as well? Or godly at most? But I am not sure. I can never be sure... 'I'll just ask him when he returns.'

I thought, and then disregarded the thought. Now, I checked up myself. 'Hmm... my skin became even smoother than it was before. It's as if it's glowing more slightly.'

'My hair also became more prominent. I feel like it's darker than before, and more lusturious... Wow, it's so beautiful I envy it... Oh silly, it's mine, hehe.' I smiled as I appraised my beauty.

I also have three marks on my forehead. One red, one blue and one green. Each in the form of an inversed small droplet, where the tails meet up at the bottom.

Made me look sacred or so something. I look even more beautiful. Maybe now, I can definitely see Damien blushing at my beauty. I have to see him blush even once!!

...At me.

I thought in embarrassment. Honestly, I know it's selfish of me, but I want to be the only woman he looks at, and blush at.

I want to be the only woman whom he will one day constantly sing "I love you" too, as a good morning and as a good night.

I want to be the only woman he holds in mind twenty four seven. I want to be his mental demons!! Okay no, not that. But also that. It doesn't matter how... I just want to be important to him.

"..."

I sound silly. I thought and prepared to welcome yet another training. Luckily, this one will be the last one. Hopefully.

[ Three seconds left. Please choose an Affinity to undergo training in next ]

A reminder appeared, and I helplessly mentioned the one natural element I was missing. "Earth." And just like that, another training began for our young 'damsel in distress'.

'A damsel in distress, with her knight not showing any signs of appearing.' I thought as the environment changed once more.

"..."