The Cryptic Trial

Seeing this, Renoli and the other two slowly followed. The temple steps stretched for roughly thirty meters.

That woman spoke from above, yet her voice carried directly down to them. She was clearly no ordinary person.

So even though Kyle liked beautiful women, he did not dare entertain any thoughts about Sonia, despite her beauty.

He did like beautiful women, but there was a time and place for everything.

They had come this time to see whether they could join Kassadin’s Void Cult.

Taking bounty missions as individuals gave them freedom, but if they could find a powerful backer and gain a chance at even greater strength, such an opportunity was obviously not to be missed.

As they slowly climbed the steps and reached the platform at the top, they saw a towering stone tablet.

Its doctrine was strikingly displayed: "The great Void will give all living beings the opportunity to believe in the Void. As long as they are devout enough, the Void will respond."

This doctrine told them that they had a chance.

However, two of the other three precepts—maintaining rationality at all times and forbidding cannibalism among one’s kind—made their hearts tremble.

Judging solely from the doctrine and precepts on the stone tablet, those who believed in the Void Cult could gain power.

However, that power seemed unstable and not so easy to control. There was a possibility of losing control.

Otherwise, there would have been no need to mention maintaining rationality at all times.

Normally, they could have waited until someone believed in the Void and joined the Void Cult, leaving them with no way back, before telling them such things.

Yet God of the Void Kassadin had displayed all of it openly.

"Hello, Miss Sonia. What should I do?"

Lacey had also seen the translated doctrine and precepts. Knowing that seizing this opportunity could allow her to escape her current line of work, she respectfully asked without hesitation.

"The stone tablet has already made it clear. As long as you are devout enough, the Void will respond."

Sonia saw the longing in Lacey’s eyes and saw a reflection of her former self. She knew Lacey also wanted to escape her current circumstances, but she said nothing more and merely recited the words as written.

"Beautiful miss, could you give us a hint?"

"We don’t even know what the Void is. We don’t know what counts as devotion, or what we are supposed to do."

Upon hearing Sonia’s words, Kyle immediately asked.

"Mr. Kassadin has said that those willing to believe may remain, while those unwilling may leave on their own."

"As for what the Void is, once you have made your choice and joined the Void, I will naturally tell you."

Sonia said with a smile.

"God of the Void Kassadin established the Void Cult. Isn’t he trying to build a faction?"

"If he wants to build a faction, why make the recruitment requirements so cryptic?"

"The three of us are all superpowered individuals. Recruiting us would definitely make us valuable assets."

Renoli asked in confusion, completely unable to make sense of it.

"To Mr. Kassadin, all intelligent beings have the opportunity to believe in the Void."

"So whether you are an ordinary person or a superpowered individual, there is no difference between the two."

"What matters is whether you are devout enough to be fortunate enough to receive the great Void’s blessing."

Sonia stood upright before the temple gates. Hearing this, she smiled at Renoli.

"…"

Hearing that there was no difference, Renoli felt incredibly frustrated.

As one of the first people to rush here, he had thought that with his strength, he could smoothly pass whatever trials he faced and join them.

He had never expected that their trial would not assess strength, but whether they were devout enough.

Sonia had not given them any hints either. Who the hell knew what counted as devotion?

"Precognitor, did you get anything out of her?"

Kyle was equally bewildered. Knowing Renoli had not gotten any answers, he turned to the Precognitor.

In the past, they could resolve many questions through the Precognitor, because in the futures he observed, he would take various actions to probe others’ intentions.

"My ability does not work on this island, so there is no point asking me."

"She said the trial is already written on the stone tablet. Study it, and you’ll understand."

"Anyway, Kassadin is willing to let us decide for ourselves whether to stay or leave."

"As long as our lives are not in danger, there is no need to worry too much."

The Precognitor spoke in a low voice.

Upon arriving on this island, losing the ability of precognition he relied on had made the Precognitor extremely uneasy.

That was why he had spoken little along the way, remaining constantly alert to his surroundings in case something sudden happened before he could dodge.

But now that he knew they were free to choose whether to stay or leave, it meant Kassadin did not intend to take their lives. This greatly eased the Precognitor’s unease.

At the very least, even if things went badly, he could safely leave this island. That alone was a blessing.

"I’d like to study it, but what exactly counts as devotion?"

Hearing the Precognitor’s words, Kyle looked at the doctrine on the stone tablet and had no idea where to begin.

As bounty hunters, they had always bowed to neither heaven nor earth. At most, they would back down a little when facing someone stronger than themselves.

"Look it up. Look it up."

Renoli knew he could not get anything from Sonia, and he did not dare use force here, so he could only think of another way.

"Devotion refers to an attitude, a sense of reverence toward something."

"Like believing in a god?"

"Seems like it."

"How many people still believe in gods these days…"

"Before discussing that, shouldn’t we first figure out what the Void even is?"

"Other than Kassadin’s origins, I don’t know anything else."

Renoli, Kyle, and the Precognitor stood directly before the stone tablet, carefully discussing the translation written on it.

Lacey, however, felt that she had to cherish this opportunity.

"Great Void, please grant me the power to escape my predicament."

Lacey whispered, repeating the words again and again.

Because she was weak, she could only rely on her body to make money. She had endured many things ordinary people could not bear.

In this world, the weak often had no choices. Their only option was to endure and submit.

Only after experiencing the helplessness of weakness did one long even more desperately for the power to make a change.

Mr. Kassadin’s trial was extremely cryptic, making it easy for people to feel completely lost.

She did not know whether what she was doing would work, but Lacey would not leave so easily no matter what.

Before learning the news and coming here, she had already prepared herself mentally.

Even if she had to undergo harsh trials, as long as she could ultimately gain the power to change her circumstances and escape her predicament, she was willing to do anything.

It would be released tomorrow. After release, there would be a continuous burst of updates. I hope everyone can support it.