“Since Miss Loki is willing to spend those points on our behalf, we should naturally pay her back,” Qiaolin said with a smile.
He happened to be interested in the trial Loki mentioned.
Although he could have asked Gabriela to simply waive the points, Qiaolin’s status was a sensitive matter.
More and more people were becoming aware that the Demon King treated a human like an honored guest.
If he used too many privileges, it would become inappropriate.
“Actually, given your relationship, Mr. Qiaolin, the Demon King might not necessarily refuse to waive my points. However, I imagine you don’t want to trouble her too much. We can go see the Demon King now and have her grant you permission to participate in the trial.”
And so, Qiaolin and his party went to find Gabriela.
“The trial? Oh, that’s right. It’s a trial grounds Caesar built using Archimondia’s exclusive Magic Tool. It allows challengers to face off against pre-set imaginary enemies.”
Gabriela explained after hearing Qiaolin’s description.
“Why do you want to take the challenge too?” Gabriela asked Qiaolin, casting a suspicious glance at Loki.
“Miss Loki used her points to do me a favor. I need to repay her.”
“Points, huh? Well, that…”
Gabriela paused mid-sentence.
Her eyes darted around, and a cunning curve appeared at the corners of her mouth.
She had originally intended to simply waive all of Loki’s points, but another thought popped into her head — why not let Qiaolin have some fun in the trial?
“Fine, you can go now. I’ll notify the people there in advance to get everything ready for you.”
“You’re smiling so sinisterly. You’re not up to something, are you, Gabriela?”
Fafna asked, looking at the young girl with a wary frown.
“If I were up to something, I’d be targeting you. If you’re afraid, then don’t go, Lord Dragon Emperor?”
“Hmph! No matter what kind of opponent appears in that place, I’ll smash them all!”
“You’re welcome to try.”
“Then we’ll be heading out first, Gabriela.”
“Alright.”
Gabriela smiled as she watched Qiaolin and the others leave.
Only after their figures had completely disappeared from the main hall did the girl finally stop suppressing her laughter.
She waved her hand lightly, and the crystal ball beside her connected to the trial grounds.
“Two foreign outsiders will be arriving at the trial grounds shortly. They will also be participating. Get ready to record their information.”
“Yes, Lord Demon King.”
Gabriela then connected to her good friend, Demigula.
“Heehee, I absolutely have to tell Demigula about this!”
“Hello, hello? What’s up, Lina?”
Demigula’s voice came from the crystal ball.
“Demigula, let me tell you, Qiaolin went to the trial grounds! He said he wants to join the trials there!”
“What? He actually went? You didn’t tell him anything, did you?”
“Heeheehee! If I revealed such a big surprise in advance, it wouldn’t be any fun at all!”
“Lina, you’re getting more and more wicked.”
—
The Simulated Trial Ground was located beneath the Demon King Palace.
As their guide, Loki tirelessly introduced the place to Qiaolin and Fafna.
“It is said that before this place was converted into a trial ground, it was where Archimondia used to cultivate. So, as we go deeper, her aura might still linger in the space, causing varying degrees of damage to one’s Mental Power.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. How could mere dregs threaten this Emperor — “
Just as she finished speaking, Fafna felt her head suddenly throb as if pierced by needles, and she knit her brows.
“Hiss — what on earth is this!”
The dragon girl instinctively waved her hands to brush away whatever was in front of her.
Seeing this, Qiaolin knew she had already been affected.
“I didn’t expect her remnants to be so powerful after all these years.”
Qiaolin reached out and placed his hand on Fafna’s head.
A blue light flowed from his palm into her.
“Icy Mind’s Eye.”
The dragon girl immediately felt a lot of relief.
Although Fafna’s strength had reached the Saint Rank, almost all members of the Dragon Race were relatively weak when it came to Mental Power.
Their Magic Power was vast and overbearing, yet they often found it difficult to defend against mental attacks.
Qiaolin looked at the relaxed Loki.
Even Fafna had been affected, so he wondered how Loki was avoiding the pressure of that Mental Power.
“We’ve arrived, you two.”
As Loki pushed open the door, they entered a room filled with pure white.
Unlike the decor within the Demon King Palace outside, the walls and floors here were covered in ceramic tiles rather than rough granite.
Although he didn’t know what kind of ore it was, its sound-absorbing effect was excellent, and its surface was so smooth it reflected everyone’s shadows.
The moment Qiaolin stepped through the door, he felt a familiar aura.
It was Archimondia’s Magic Power, though it had lost the original owner’s malice and sense of oppression.
“The core upon which this trial ground was built is Archimondia’s exclusive Magic Tool, known as the ‘Crown of the Ruler.’ It possesses nearly half of its master’s Magic Power and Mental Power. By connecting to it, challengers can experience lifelike combat. As long as new Magic Power is replenished periodically, it can operate stably.”
As she spoke, Loki pointed toward rows of small cubicles in the room.
There were so many that they could accommodate hundreds of people in total.
Every room was equipped with a small crown.
From Loki’s explanation, Qiaolin learned that these crowns were essentially copies of the Crown of the Ruler, used to link the user’s mind to the core.
They arrived at the core, where a crown radiating the aura of Magic Power hovered in mid-air.
Qiaolin stared at it for a few moments, and images of Archimondia’s appearance, as well as her piercing, bone-chilling laughter, uncontrollably flashed through his mind.
If Qiaolin hadn’t personally killed her, he truly would have thought that woman was still alive upon encountering this Magic Power.
“These are guests of the Demon King. They are also here to join the Mock Trial,” Loki said to the staff members.
“We received notice from the Demon King in advance. We will process their permissions right away.”
The staff member manipulated the crown, causing it to descend slowly in front of Qiaolin.
“You only need to add a drop of your blood to it to gain eligibility to participate.”
“Is that so?”
Qiaolin pricked his finger, and a drop of fresh blood shot into the crown.
It triggered a few ripples of Magic Power before quickly returning to a state of calm.
“Everything is normal. You may use it now.”
“It’s that simple?”
Qiaolin scratched his head.
Fafna followed suit and likewise obtained her eligibility for the experience.
“Alright, now we can find our own rooms. Once you put on the small crown, you can enter the Mock Trial.”
Loki led Qiaolin and Fafna to find suitable rooms.
As they passed one of the cubicles, they saw a faint light flickering inside.
“That means the equipment inside is being used… Strange, there usually aren’t many people here at this time.”
Loki glanced into the doorway, and immediately after, a miserable shriek rang out from within.
“Aaah! Damn it! Hero, how dare you insult me like this! I’ll definitely tear you into a thousand pieces!”
Hearing this, Qiaolin was instantly stunned, a somewhat awkward smile appearing on his face.
He glanced at Fafna, who was also full of confusion.
‘Based on that voice, it sounds like Lockes. That’s strange; I don’t think I’ve usually offended him?’
Qiaolin thought to himself.