Jack used his mana sense to detect his surroundings since he couldn't see anything, but he sensed nothing.

"Peniel?

" Jack called. He received no reply.

Just like that time during the Time Sage trial, he lost contact with Peniel. He tried to access his inventory. As expected, he was unable to. He tried casting the Illumination spell. He failed. He also couldn't use his other skills.

'No wonder Chris said levels are useless in these trials,' Jack thought.

He decided to continue walking without aim.

'Don't tell me this trial is going to make me walk around in years like in the Time Sage trial…,' Jack thought with worry.

When he decided to sit down and use his incorporeal state to scout his surroundings, he heard a voice.

"Give up so soon?

"

Jack also sensed a presence that appeared out of nowhere following that voice. He turned around and saw a person there. Despite the surroundings being pitch-black. The person was plainly visible as if light existed around him. Jack looked at himself. He was also plainly visible in this otherwise lightless environment.

Jack returned his attention to the mysterious person. The person was a human male. He wore a simple tunic and leather pants. He was sitting cross-legged on the ground. He had a hardened face and looked to be in his fifties. His hair was disheveled and long.

"You come here for my trial, don't you?

" The man asked.

"Greeting, honored elder. Yes, I'm here for the trial,

" Jack replied politely.

"Hmph. Honored elder? That's amusing. All right, let's begin the trial. Here!

"

The man threw a sword that suddenly materialized out of nowhere at Jack. The sword fell clanging to the ground next to Jack's feet. Jack picked up the sword. He couldn't use his inspect, but the sword looked very common and unimpressive.

"Is the trial a test by combat?

" Jack asked.

The man chuckled.

"That is cute,

" he said.

"No, the trial is not a test by combat. You only need to hit me.

"

"Hit you? Like, hit you one time? Just a touch? Or am I allowed to hit you as hard as possible?

"

The man's smile turned wider.

"Just once. As hard as you can, if you like. I don't mind.

"

"Okay,

" Jack said. This took him back to the time when Commander Quintus was testing him. The difference was that he was a way better swordsman than at that time.

Jack got ready as he waited for the elder to get ready, but the elder remained in his position. They just stared at one another.

When Jack was about to ask, the elder beat him to it,

"What's wrong? Are you going to attack or not?

"

"Huh?

" Jack thought he heard wrong. The elder was still sitting cross-legged on the ground.

"Uh… Are you not getting ready?

" Jack asked.

"I'm ready,

" The elder replied. He remained in his position.

'Aren't you underestimating me too much?' Jack thought in his mind. 'Well, if that's how you want to do it, then I won't hesitate.'

With that thought, Jack lunged forward. His stats weren't reduced in this place, so he was still unusually fast. In a fraction of a second, his sword was already before the elder. Jack was fully focused on the elder. If the elder moved, his sword would change direction following the elder's movement. The elder wouldn't escape him.

However, even when his sword was a couple of inches away from the elder's body, the elder didn't show any sign of moving.

'Ah, screw this!' Jack thought. He applied true strength to his grip, and his sword slashed away.

"Huh?

"

Jack didn't feel any impact from his slash. The elder was still sitting in his original position. He never took his eyes off the elder. The elder never moved. There was also no slash mark on the elder. How did he miss?

Jack couldn't believe it. Even if he was an amateur, he wouldn't miss hitting someone who sat still. For a sword practitioner with the sword's heart technique, this was even more unthinkable.

"You are a good swordsman,

" the elder spoke.

"Perhaps I've underestimated you a bit. I apologize. Nothing earns my respect more than someone who respects the way of the sword. Even so, you won't hit me with your current ability.

"

Jack frowned after hearing that. He didn't miss. The elder had somehow dodged his sword. But how? It was evident that the elder didn't move.

"May I try again?

" Jack asked.

"You can try as many times as you like,

" the elder answered.

"By the way, may I know how to address you?

"

"You can just call me maniac.

"

"Ma… Maniac?

" Jack stammered. That's an unusual name for someone to give to himself.

"Enough talk. Give me your best effort,

" the elder said.

"Yes, uh… elder maniac,

" Jack replied.

He readied his stance. He was going to be serious this time.

'Let's see how you dodge this!' Jack exclaimed in his mind as he performed the One-word Slash.

His sword traveled in a straight line with a flashing speed. A thin light slashed past the elder's body. Yet, it was the same as the last time. Jack felt no impact from his slash.

"Good sword technique!

" Elder maniac declared.

"However, it is not enough.

"

Jack gritted his teeth.

"I don't believe I can't hit you!

" He exclaimed and used the burst attack of Formless Flowing Sword Style. Ninety-six sword lights crisscrossed around the elder. It was as if a net of light had materialized, trapping the elder within it.

But even with so many slashes, not one gave Jack the feeling that his sword had collided with something. He felt all his sword hit was just empty space.

'Is elder maniac an illusion?' Jack thought. No, he sensed the elder's mana. His existence was real. But then again, the Vision Bending from his Staff of Illios could create an illusion that fooled one's mana sense.

Jack put down his sword and put his hand forward.

"May I?

" Jack asked. He wanted to touch the elder to make sure the elder was not an illusion.

Elder Maniac chuckled.

"Go ahead. But that doesn't count as part of the trial. You have to hit me with your sword to consider passing.

"

Jack nodded. His hand moved forward and touched the elder's crisscrossed leg.

The elder was real.