“Sorry about that.” Dyon patted Famine’s shoulder.

What made the technique of this world so amazing was that much like its special qis, their craftsmanship was imbued with a sort of ‘faith’ as well. Famine qi encompassed the emotional trauma of hunger rather than just simulating hunger. Likewise, these treasures embodied wills of their own as well.

For Famine’s balance scale, its core essence was that of apocalypse Famine. This made this weapon incredibly powerful. However, at the same time, the tradeoff was its connection to Famine’s life as well.

As a result, when Dyon began to devour the balance scale, Famine felt as though it was he, himself being devoured.

It was no wonder Dyon didn’t notice this earlier. The previous iterations of Famine, War and Conquest were basically nothing but cheap imitations and puppets. They didn’t speak, nor did they cry out in pain. Only Conquest showed the slightest bit of emotion, and that was contempt. Though that contempt didn’t last very long.

Dyon tossed the balance scale back to Famine. Since he had tried to protect Dyon before he felt this ‘fear’ of him, Dyon didn’t feel right killing him just for a bit of power. He was close to perfecting his Eternity’s Balance even without it.

“You can go now.”

Famine was stunned. “You… You’re really letting me go…?”

“Yea.” Dyon responded plainly, hopping off of Famine’s steed’s head. It seemed the poor horse hadn’t dared to move either.

“… But…”

Famine was completely stunned. This wasn’t a man known for his mercy. What was going on?

Unfortunately, much like others in his position, Famine had too little understanding of Dyon. If no one wronged him first, he had no reason to retaliate.

“… AGGHH!”

Dyon’s brow furrowed, his neck snapping back toward Famine. But what he found were the etchings glowing beneath his feet even as Famine was swallowed by the ground below just like those who came before him.

It seemed that even if Dyon let him go, the trial grounds had no intention of doing so.

“… If this was going to happen anyway… I would have just absorbed it all…”

Dyon knew that he was quite a soft-hearted individual. It was very rare for him lash out against those who were undeserving, even when not doing so was a bit detrimental to him. However this had to be the most direct punishment being soft had gotten him.

‘They’re really trying their best to piss me off…’ Dyon’s gaze sharpened as the moving gears sounded, snapping the large golden door shut for what Dyon felt would truly be the last time…

War’s golden doors slowly opened, but the clopping steps were decidedly weaker than they had been in the past. As expected, yet another War slowly walked out. However, just like before, this version was much more human than the previous versions.

The clattering of teeth filled the quiet hall as yet another comical scene unfolded.

Despite absorbing half of Famine’s white qi, it wasn’t a surprise that Dyon was still in a terrible state. Yet, another of the four horsemen, men that supposedly embodied the apocalypse, was trembling in fear.

Unlike the sympathy Dyon had for Famine, he had next to none for War.

However, it also seemed that War wasn’t intent on staying still and doing nothing like Famine. Even as he trembled in fear, it was his nature to battle.

Unfortunately, the special nature of his qi shone through.

What would happen if Dyon tried to activate his wills during a moment of cowardice? Considering all of his wills followed the sovereign path, wouldn’t they severely weaken? How could one communicate with sovereignty and take control of it if you were a coward?

By the same token, War feared Dyon greatly. His nature was telling him to battle, but deep within, he knew that this was the last thing he wanted to do.

In the end, War couldn’t tap into even 10% of the strength of his qi and wills. Dyon’s battle with him was even easier than the last War.

“YOU’LL DIE ALONG WITH ME SOON ENOUGH. I’LL WAIT FOR YOU IN HELL.”

Dyon refrained from rolling his eyes. How could he take such threats seriously when they were said through chattering teeth?

“Devour.”

This time, Dyon didn’t hold back.

As he absorbed everything, he finally felt a bottleneck shatter.

From the first moment Dyon stepped into this trial, he hadn’t been able to sense qi at all. More precisely, he had sensed famine and war qi, even conquest qi, but he hadn’t sensed any atmospheric qi. It was as though this world was blocking him from touching it.

However, at that moment, Dyon realized that it wasn’t that this trial wanted to squeeze him dry of his stamina, thus resulting in expunging this battle room of qi entirely. Rather, it was that a wool had been pulled over his senses, blocking it from noticing what was right in front of him!

Not only did this room have qi, but it was just as densely packed as the qi below the Ancient Battlefield waters!

Dyon felt like a blind man that could finally see. However, the most shocking part of this change was that Dyon suddenly felt that world’s restrictions loosen on him!