The 31st Piece Turns the Tables

Seol had just been sent flying by the iron pillar.

Did you figure out the rules to the tiles? asked Chi Woo.

Were you able to learn something about it? asked Hye Myeong.

The two asked simultaneously.

Seol shook his head in response.

What, then

Seol then continued.

There arent any rules.

...There arent any rules?

Theyre all tricks.

How are you so sure?

I just have a feeling.

What? If its just a feeling, then

A feeling.

While Chi Woo was confused, Hye Myeongs jaw dropped after hearing feeling.

Ah, then Was that feeling from earlier...?

What the hell is this feeling you guys keep talking about?

Seol stood up, choosing to show it through his actions instead.

Fwip!

Seol leaped in.

It doesnt matter what tile you step on first.

Step.

Seol then stepped on the turtle tile.

Fwoooosh!

An iron pillar shot up from the ground.

Fwirl!

Seol spun midair before striking the pillar away.

Baaaam!

Urgh

Chi Woo was in awe of Seols powers to brute force his way through.

That was something only possible for those on another level of strength.

Seol had felt something strange after stepping onto the first tile. It was as if a part of his body that he couldn't reach was itching.

And I definitely felt it when I stepped on that last tile earlier.

It was as if an electrical signal had flowed through his body.

This led Seol to believe that the patterned tiles were a trick, concealing the true rules behind the trial.

And now, it was time to test it.

Step, step, step!

Pine tree, egret, lotus flower.

Click

Woosh!

Baaam!

Seol detected something from the pine tree tile.

A sharp spear and thin needle shot out at where Seol stood, but they failed to land.

Seol had already leaped over to an egret tile.

Click.

This time, he picked the right tile.

Balancing on one leg, Seol smiled as he looked back. There wasnt any special reason why he had managed to find the next tile.

After all, the stinging sensation that tickled the tips of his feet was guiding him to the correct tiles. Still, immediately finding the right tile was a challenge, even for someone as sensitive as Seol.

A bit of luck was on his side.

Im sure of it.

Seol continued forward.

Click

Baaam!

Fwoooosh!

Rumble, rumble!

Craaaack!

Seol deflected an incoming spear before also completely crushing an iron pillar.

I see what he meant by testing the body.

Even if you could sense the sensation at the tips of your feet, it was extremely difficult to determine which tile it connected to.

Not only was it hard to pinpoint the exact direction, but doing so also took time.

And even when you finally figured out where it led, the sensation didnt account for your current stance or distance, forcing you to step on multiple, separate tiles just to reach it.

In other words, these tiles and traps will keep activating, meaning youll need a sturdy body to endure it all.

Before Seol realized it, he was already close to reaching the platform on the other side.

Just when they thought it was almost over, Hye Myeong and Chi Woo were shocked by Seols next words.

This isnt the exit! shouted Seol. I think we have to step on all of the tiles!

Chi Woo and Hye Myeong exchanged glances.

They then immediately leaped in.

Fwip!

Seol did not say anything more to them.

There was clearly a reason Watala had given them this trial.

If Seol had explained everything to them, the two of them wouldnt have been able to learn anything from this.

I have to focus on myself.

Seol resolved to focus on his task and ignore the others. With this determination, he stepped onto the next tile.

Woosh!

He deflected an incoming iron ball.

Click

And stepped on the next tile.

Fwooooosh

Fwip!

Seol leaped onto an incoming iron pillar to propel himself farther.

Click

Then, he landed on the tile he had aimed for.

The patterns were merely decorative, and Seol saw no need to rely on his vision to dodge the incoming traps.

Instead, he closed his eyes to focus on his other senses.

Fwooosh!

Asuras Sixth Sense was more than enough for Seol to sense and avoid the incoming traps, all he had to do was choose whether to dodge it or use it for his benefit.

And with his eyes closed, he was able to focus more intently on the feeling pricking his feet.

Twitch

Twitch

Over there.

Then there next.

It was as if the tiles were calling to him.

Baaam!

Baaaam!

The rumblings grew quieter, likely because the other two had also grown accustomed to the feeling.

The traps they were triggering were probably ones they had no choice but to activate.

Seol Hong and Mi Ah gulped as they took another step back. Seol Hong tightly held onto the trembling Mi Ah for support.

Theyre all amazing

To them, it was as if they were watching a performance. Their movements were quick and precise, like a rehearsed dance.

The smiles on their faces made it feel even more like such.

Seol found himself honestly chuckling as well.

Is this Watalas power?

Despite just being a small portion of the Golden Divine Statues powers, Seol was filled with energy and vitality he had never felt before.

This was not a power intrinsic to his body

It was a power he hadn't known existed, a completely new power.

Seol felt as if he was being drawn into another world.

He had slipped into a trance.

Rumble

That wasnt the sound of a trap triggering. It was as if the heightened sense Seol had cultivated was emitting a trembling scream.

Seol felt as though his consciousness was being pulled elsewhere.

However, because his mind was firmly anchored in his body, he managed to keep hold of his focus.

Rumble

Rumble

Rumble

Click

When Seol came to, he realized that he had just stepped on the same lotus flower tile as Hye Myeong and Chi Woo.

The three all leaped, spinning midair to strike the incoming iron pillar.

Baaaaaam!

Baaam!

Baaaam!

With that their performance had come to an end.

-

- Thats so cool! That was insane!

- Theyre soaked with sweat, haha

Wow

Seol Hong and Mi Ah were both in awe.

Their movements just now were essentially the truth behind the feelings they were getting.

And then

Clatter, clatter

The tiles beneath their feet all began to flip.

Watching from a distance, Mi Ah and Seol Hong saw the entire event unfold and were left in awe.

A drawing

The tiles beneath them transformed into a large drawing, depicting a scene with fluttering petals.

Rumble, rumble

The air around them began to shake.

Sensing something strange, Seol immediately returned to Seol Hong.

Grab.

Ah

After picking up Seol Hong and Mi Ah over his shoulders, he leaped away.

And at the exact same time, the ground beneath them began to descend.

Wh-what the hell?

- It was an elevator?

- Were going down, hold on~!

- What the hell, LOOOL Then why did they make the platform on the other end?

- That was a trick, too? Not bad, Watala.

They descended at a slow pace.

Chi Woo was the first to talk.

I wasnt the only one who felt that sensation, right?

Hye Myeong nodded in response.

Maybe that was the power Watala was referring to? It felt different.

Seol agreed.

But it disappeared the moment the trial was over. I guess I havent fully acquired it for myself yet?

Just as people often struggle to recall dreams theyve just woken up from, Seol found it difficult to sense the feeling he had experienced earlier.

Clatter

Translator - goguma

Proofreader - Karane

* * *

After a bit of time, Seols party arrived at a new location.

Looking up, they saw an extremely tall ceilingthe place they had just been.

Step

Step

Continuing ahead, they arrived at another open area.

What are these statues

Each holding a weapon, human-sized stone statues were arranged uniformly apart and stared directly at them.

Why do I get the feeling theyll come charging at us the moment we cross over some line? laughed Chi Woo.

More importantly, what are those chains dangling from the ceiling?

Huh? Youre right.

The party then looked up, spotting chains hanging from the ceiling.

They also noticed strange letters written on the walls in front of them.

And just like the first trial, the Golden Divine Statue opened its mouth once more.

- Realize the weakness of your body.

...What?

Watala had just been stressing the importance of the body. Why was it now trying to teach its weakness?

Just as everyone was questioning the two contradictory lessons

- A body unsupported by the mind is no different from a lump of flesh.

It then began repeating itself, like a broken record.

- Realize your ignorance. Realize your ignorance. Realize your ignorance. Realize your ignorance

Kyaaaa!

Wh-what is it saying?!

The Golden Divine Statue then finished after stammering one last line.

- Realize that it is not everything.

Then, it returned to silence.

Chi Woo looked at the statues for a second before giving a proposal.

What if we all jump in at the same time this time?"

Nod

Hye Myeong and Seol nodded in response.

Then

Turn

Now!

Seol, Chi Woo, and Hye Myeong lunged ahead, beyond the line, toward the statues.

Fwip!

Fwip, fwip!

Rumble

The statues immediately reacted.

I knew it!

They began swinging their weapons at Seol and the others.

Fwooosh

Slaaaaaash!

The stone statue quickly swung its spear, deceptively fast for its stiff appearance.

However, each of the three facing the statues was incredibly strong in their own right. They were not so weak to be caught off guard by their attacks.

Duck!

Seol ducked to dodge the spear.

Fssss

He then began to feel something strange.

What? Its movements it was like

Seol began to sense something strange from the stone statue swinging its spear.

It was as if the attack he saw with his eyes was not the one that it had done.

This is the feeling I got from the first trial!

In other words, the stone statues were yet another trick.

Baaam!

...Urgh!

Baaaaam!

Ahhhh!

Hye Myeong and Chi Woo were sent flying away like a kite with its string cut off.

They landed, right next to where Seol Hong and Mi Ah were.

I was sure I dodged it

Look at this

Hye Myeong pulled back the robe near his chest, revealing a swollen, red mark.

While it was certainly strange, Seol had no attention to spare for it as he faced the stone statues.

Fwoosh!

Fast, but not for Seol.

Seol then spotted a stone statue to his side, charging at him with a shield up.

It was a simple attack that could be dodged, however

Seol could not move, as if he was entangled.

...My body!

Baaaaaam!

Helplessly, Seol was also sent flying back from the attack.

[Bones of Origin consumes the impact.]

[Bones of Origin currently has an empty stomach.]

[Bones of Origin digests all of the impact.]

Thud

Thud!

Grind

As Seol was sent flying back past the line, the stone statues returned to their original positions.

Seol then looked back at Chi Woo and Hye Myeong.

All three of them realized the secrets behind this trial.

This is

Yeah.

Seol nodded before saying, There must be an invisible statue we cant see.

And the way to sense it

The three of them could tell what it was.

After all, they had gotten a hint of it from the previous trial and Watalas words.

Were supposed to hone the feeling we got earlier.

Chi Woo clicked his tongue.

So hes going to teach us by beating us down? What an asshole!

Chi Woo then began grinding his knuckles on the Golden Divine Statues temples, as if he was trying to hurt it.

- Watala: St-stop it, please.

- It hurts! It hurts!

We dont have a lot of time, quietly muttered Hye Myeong. We have to clear this place fast.

Nod.

Chi Woo and Seol nodded in response, then took a stance.

Want to make a bet to see who gets knocked out first?

Sounds good. Whoevers first out has to do the dishes.

Nod.

Chi Woo immediately accepted Hye Myeongs bet, and Seol slowly nodded as well.

Lets go!

Fwip! Leap, leap!

Regardless of the outcome, Seol planned to focus solely on the statue directly in front of him.

The worst case scenario is getting grabbed by the invisible statue like before. I have to keep myself moving.

Fwooosh

The stone statue drew an arc with the dull blade in his hands.

The statues here, as if deliberately designed to be nonlethal, all carried dulled weapons.

However, taking a direct attack was still dangerous as it could lead to bruises and broken bones.

I dodged the stone statues attack, next is!

There was a brief moment after dodging the stone statues attack. It was clear that this was the time the invisible statue would strike.

Twitch!

Behind!

The invisible statue was already behind Seol. While Seol wasnt certain how he knew, he could sense through the feeling he got from the first trial that it was.

Fwirl!

Seol awkwardly rolled forward.

However, his decision was the correct one.

I dodged it!

Chi Woo then shouted from across the room.

Hye Myeong, dodge!

Baaam!

Argh!

Despite being the one giving the warning, Chi Woo was the first to be knocked out.

- ChiWoo: Dodge the breath attack! Go to the corner!

- You have died.

- Wipe Wipe Wiping the raid is fun!

- ChiWoo: Im happy that you guys can clear the raid Dont rez me

Chi Woo! Hahahahahaha! You

Baaam!

Urgh

Hye Myeong immediately ended up like Chi Woo after letting his guard down for a second.

However, after recovering, the two immediately leaped back into the fray.

The reason? Simple.

It was because Seol hadnt been pushed out by the stone statues yet.

Fwooosh!

Twitch!

I can sense it!

Seol felt a wave of stinging sensation wash over him.

It was as if he were a dam that had been trickling water slowly, only to be overwhelmed by a fierce torrent that swept everything away.

Waver

Seol began to see it flickering before his eyes, like a haze in a burning desert.

...Im getting used to it.

Inhale

Twitch!

I have to jump up!

Baaam!

Seol leaped off the stone statues arms to soar higher.

Fwip, fwip

He got the sense that the invisible statue was swinging wildly at where he had just been.

He was gradually becoming more accustomed to it, as if he could start to make out its silhouette.

- Realize your ignorance.

That was what the Golden Divine Statue said.

Fwoosh!

Fwip!

Bam!

However, Seol had already realized it.

- Realize your ignorance.

Ignorance.

Seol hadn't known it before.

That something like this even existed.

Watalas words were right.

Tap!

Though there was nothing in front of him, there definitely was something.

I can see it!

Seol began to make out more details about the statue.

It was taller than the others and resembled a stone monkey.

- Realize that it is not everything.

Seol realized that the world he saw wasnt everything.

Fwoooosh

Seol pulled his arms back before unleashing a powerful blow to the monkey statues face.

Baaaaaam!

The sound just now was something only Chi Woo and Hye Myeong could hear. In fact, they were so surprised by it that they immediately turned to Seol.

However, there was nothing there. It was something they still couldnt see.

The monkey statue had flown far away, yet Seol remained standing in place.

It wasnt just that he was growing accustomed to his new powers.

For a moment, he had glimpsed a door far away in a place he couldnt reach.

A door covered in charms and wrapped in chains.

A human would look like a grain of rice if placed in front of that massive door.

Rumble, rumble

[Eyes of Foresight unlocks a new skill.]

[You are able to perceive more flows of power than before.]

[You are able to project your mind into your vision.]

I found it the door, muttered Seol to himself.

Seol finally found where the door was.

[A wonderful discovery! You have discovered a mysterious object.]

[You are now able to recognize the Void Door.]

The door had continuously been by his side.