Simon menghela napas dalam-dalam, menenangkan pikirannya. Dia bisa merasakan tatapan Veilmaster menembus topengnya, seakan membaca setiap sudut hatinya. Simon tahu, pertanyaan kedua ini akan menentukan langkahnya selanjutnya—apakah dia akan terus maju atau tersingkir di sini.
“Baiklah. Jawabanku untuk pertanyaan kedua: Aku akan mengerjakan percobaan ini sendirian. Aku tidak butuh tim.”
Veilmaster tertawa pelan. Suaranya seperti gemerisik dedaunan kering yang tertiup angin malam. “Percobaan kedua... adalah tentang kerja sama.”
Simon mengerutkan kening. “Kenapa?”
Veilmaster mengangkat tangannya, dan dari kejauhan, muncul dua sosok yang berjalan mendekat. Simon mengenali mereka—dua kandidat lain yang juga lulus percobaan pertama. Mereka tampak bingung, sama seperti Simon.
“Percobaan kedua adalah permainan poin. Tujuan utamanya adalah mengumpulkan total seratus dua puluh poin (120 poin).”
Simon mendengarkan dengan saksama, dan Veilmaster melanjutkan.
“Untuk mendapat poin, kalian harus membunuh para binatang buas di lembah ini.”
Simon langsung mengangkat alis. “Binatang buas di lembah ini? Tapi aku belum pernah melihat binatang buas sejak aku menginjakkan kaki di lembah ini.”
Veilmaster menunjuk ke langit tempat bulan merah menyinari, dan Simon menengadah.
“Itu karena semua binatang buas sedang tidur. Saat bulan merah bersinar, banyak binatang buas tidur, tapi saat bulan hitam bersinar, para binatang buas Lembah Angin Hitam terbangun.”
Simon menatap bulan merah dan hitam selama beberapa detik, merenung, lalu berkata pelan. “Begitu ya.”
Dia mengalihkan pandangannya kembali ke Veilmaster. “Kau bilang banyak binatang buas tidur saat bulan merah bersinar, bukan semuanya. Jadi, kenapa aku tidak melihat atau mendengar binatang buas apa pun?”
Veilmaster tersenyum di balik topengnya. “Kami menidurkan mereka. Ada racun di udara yang hanya memengaruhi binatang buas dan menidurkan mereka, dan karena aku tertarik padamu, aku bisa memberitahumu bahwa pohon kering di belakangku ini adalah sumber racun itu.”
Veilmaster menepuk pohon kering itu dengan lembut, dan Simon menatapnya.
Pohon itu seukuran pohon mangga, tapi kering, kelabu, tua, tanpa daun, bunga, atau buah. Terlihat seperti pohon mati, tapi Simon bisa merasakan energi iblis yang padat di dalam pohon kering itu.
Energi iblis di satu dahan pohon itu bisa langsung menaikkan api khaosnya ke Tingkat Tertinggi dan membuatnya mencapai peringkat hati berikutnya... Hati yang Membara.
’Pohon yang menarik.’
Meskipun pikirannya begitu, dia mengajukan pertanyaan yang butuh jawaban setelah mendengar kata-kata Veilmaster sebelumnya.
“Apakah racun itu juga akan memengaruhiku karena aku keturunan binatang? Kau bilang racun itu hanya memengaruhi binatang buas.”
“Kau tidak perlu khawatir tentang itu. Racun itu tidak memengaruhi keturunan binatang sepertimu.”
Simon mengangguk, lalu mengajukan pertanyaan lain.
“Bagaimana sistem poin untuk percobaan kedua bekerja?”
Veilmaster terkekeh pelan di balik topeng. “Untuk pertanyaan kedua, ya. Temanya kerja sama.”
Simon menatap Veilmaster, lalu berkata dengan suara yang tenang tapi tegas.
“Kalau begitu, aku bekerja sendirian. Aku tidak akan bergabung dengan tim mana pun.”
Veilmaster menatapnya lama. “Kau yakin? Banyak yang gagal karena memilih jalan sendiri.”
“Aku yakin.”
Veilmaster menghela napas, lalu mengangkat bahu. “Terserah kau. Tapi ingat—di lembah ini, kesombongan bisa menjadi kelemahan terbesarmu.”
Simon tersenyum tipis. “Maka aku akan membuktikan bahwa kesombonganku adalah kekuatanku.”
Simon stared at the withered tree for a few more seconds before deciding to shift his attention to the Veilmaster who was staring at him with slightly narrowed eyes.
"Sorry about that. I was just very curious about this tree."
Simon apologized for ignoring the Veilmaster for so long, and the Veilmaster nonchalantly waved his hand.
"Understandable. But this tree is none of your business at the moment. Survive and advance in the clan, then who knows, you might know what this tree is."
Simon nodded, then he glanced at the tree one last time before looking back at the Veilmaster.
"I was told to come here for the second trial. Can you tell me what it is?"
The Veilmaster chuckled softly. "You’re not really the patient type, are you?"
Simon smiled slightly. "I actually am. But I want to finish this trial as quickly as possible. I need to get stronger."
The Veilmaster’s eyes flashed with a delighted light, and he stroked his chin beneath his mask.
"I can see why you’re the first candidate to pass the first trial. I like you, but let’s see if you can pass the second trial."
The Veilmaster paused, then his gaze behind the mask became slightly strange as he looked at Simon.
Simon noticed this, and he tilted his head slightly with a curious expression.
"Well... for individuals like you, the second trial might be... a little bit difficult and this where many kids like you fail."
"Individuals like me?" Simon raised a brow.
"Yes. Proud, confident kids like you who believe in their talents. Who believe they can do anything on their own... Lone wolves."
Simon frowned, and a terrible premonition dawned on him. He could already guess what the second trial was.
"The second trial has to be done in groups? The theme is teamwork?"
The Veilmaster nodded slightly. "For the second question, yes. The theme is teamwork."
Simon’s eyes flashed with a little bit of hope, and he quickly asked.
"And my first question?"
The Veilmaster chuckled softly behind the mask.
"The answer is both yes and no."
"Yes and no?" Simon frowned deeply.
The Veilmaster nodded. "It is not compulsory that the second trial be done in groups. It is just highly advisable."
Simon’s frown deepened. "Why?"
The Veilmaster sighed softly, then he stretched out his hand.
"Give me the condensed shadow essence first."
Simon raised a brow, but he did as he was told.
The Veilmaster observed the shadow marble for a few seconds before flicking it back to him.
Simon was even more confused.
"I have to confirm that you have the original and not a fake that has been produced by your family or affiliation. It’s not the first time such a thing has happened before."
Simon’s expression instantly became strange.
’He thinks I have a high ranking family or a clan or kingdom backing me? He should be able to see that I’m a mixed demon with the bloodline of a one-horned demon and a demon cat, so why does he believe I have a high ranking family backing me?’
The instant Simon had this thought, he knew the answer to his question.
’Well, I’m the first person to complete the first trial, and in his mind, I’m definitely not an ordinary demon. And I’m definitely not a demon with the lowly bloodline of a one-horned demon and a demon cat.’
Simon did not bother clearing up the misunderstanding.
It was better the demon continued to believe he had powerful demons backing him, because the moment he knew the truth, the respect he was currently receiving from a demon who was a powerful Greater Demon would instantly reduce to zero.
"As I was saying, it is highly advisable that you team up with your fellow candidates for the second trial."
"The second trial is a game of points. The main goal of the second trial is to gain a total of one hundred and twenty points (120 points)."
Simon listened attentively, and the Veilmaster continued.
"To get points, you need to kill the beasts of this valley."
Simon immediately raised a brow.
"The beasts of this valley? But I’ve never seen a beast ever since I stepped foot in this valley."
The Veilmaster pointed at the sky where the crimson moon painted crimson, and Simon looked up.
"That’s because all the beasts are currently sleeping. When the crimson moon shines, many of the beasts sleep, but when the black moon shines, the beasts of the Blackwind Valley come to life."
Simon stared at the crimson and black moon for a few seconds in contemplation, then he said softly.
"I see."
He shifted his gaze back to the Veilmaster.
"You said many of the beasts sleep when the crimson moon shines, not all the beasts. So, why have I not seen or heard of any beast?"
The Veilmaster smiled behind his mask."We put them to sleep. There’s a poison in the air that affects only beasts and puts them to sleep, and since I’ve taken an interest in you, I can tell you that this tree behind me is the source of that poison."
The Veilmaster gently patted the withered tree, and Simon looked at it.
The tree was like the size of a mango tree, but it was withered, grey, old, had no leaves, flowers, or fruits.
It looked like a dead tree, but Simon could sense a dense amount of demonic energy in the withered tree.
The demonic energy in a single branch of the tree could instantly advance his chaos flame to the Supreme Grade and make him to reach the next heart rank... A Burning Heart.
’What an intriguing tree.’
Despite the thoughts he had, he asked the Veilmaster a question he needed the answer to after hearing his previous words.
"Would the poison also affect me since I’m a beastkin? You said it only affects beasts."
"You don’t have to worry about that. It doesn’t affect beastkins like you."
Simon nodded, then he asked another question.
"How does the point system for the second trial work?"
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