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Springing up like a olden-day chinese zombie would. Asai groaned as the lingering phantom-pain was still tickling and teasing his memory. Stretching his arms and relaxing his muscles, the man looked over to find himself back upon the circular platform that hovered within an empty sky. 

Equally awaking and groaning, were his party members:

[Robin Sol: Lvl 93->94]

[HP: 100 MP:200]

[Title: Saintess]

[Skills unlocked:]

[Winged Foot]

Increases movement speed by 40%

[Disappear]

80%->100% chance of Vanishing

[Divinity]

Increase Divine Elemental damage by 20% and Elemental defence by 10%.

[All in One]

Shoots 13 arrows at once. Each arrow deals 90%->100% of normal attack.

[Detect]

Detect any players or monsters in Vanish mode within a 40 meter radius for 60 seconds-> 60 minutes.

[Holy Testimony]

Manifests 10 astral swords at target. Each sword deals 35%->45% of normal attack. Swords nullify foreign mana.

[Saintess' Faith]

Increase Holy elemental damage by 25% for you and 15% for your allies.

[Ascension]

Enables flight for [Robin Sol] Sustained Mana: [10->20] +20% Damage Drop 

[Bethel: Lvl 80->81]

[HP: 160 MP:130]

[Title: Hero]

[Mel: Lvl 76->77]

[Sora Kaka: Lvl 72->73]

[HP:100 MP:100]

[Olivia: Lvl 83->84]

[HP: 100 MP:100]

"Am I correct to assume that each and every one of us was forced to fight a mirror image of themselves?" 

Seeing how gloomy Bethel, Mel, Sora and Olivia appeared. Asai could only guess that they too had to go through quite the nightmarish experience of pain and agony. Fighting against an opponent that had a perfect copy of your own skill-set, whilst also visually witnessing the pain and agony they put each other through.

"I won." Robin Sol gleamed, smiling and shuffling over to lean her head against Asai's chest. 

"Well done, you did good." Stroking her soft white hair, Asai was finally able to remove all lingering remnant pain out of his thoughts and concentrate on his party members.

Robin looked over to the others who were mostly examining their own limbs, within their eyes, fingers, hands, and even toes were still missing. Only after blinking enough times, and coming back to reality through physically touching said limbs, did they realize that the ordeal was truly over.

"My opponent fucking crippled me..." Bethel pouted, wondering what good is the title [Hero] if she were to go through such pain and suffering. Having fought against herself, and realizing how brazen all of her attacks and abilities were. She now realized she had many holes to fill, as she had easily abused many against herself.

Sora and Olivia was looking over towards the half-elf, eyes in awe and wonder as they simply weren't able to figure out how the girl could be so mentally-strong. Catching sight of their eyes, Robin tilted her head to a side.

"First time dying? You'll get used to it~"

Rather than reassuring them, the women were only filled with further dread, as they now questioned as to how many times she had experienced death during her path and climb to power. And after that, their eyes shifted to Asai, the man renowned as the duke of war; and how many times such a man had also experienced death.

"Don't look at me like that. It's simple, become so strong, that you won't have to worry about dying."

"That's easy for you to say!" Olivia pouted as her legs trembled from her recent horrible experience.

Seeing as they were still so shaken up, Asai took it upon himself to pour everyone two fingers worth of whisky. Which they all gladly accepted and downed.

"Congratulations"

Everyone shifted their sights over towards Kami, who suddenly appeared in between them all. Dressed in a shrine maiden's uniform, albeit her skirt was insanely short and revealing of her smooth legs. She gently approached the man and took his drink for herself, leading to him simply pouring another for himself before downing it with her.

"Cheers~"

Sora, perhaps being the only one knowing exactly who she was, and her origins. Knelt upon a single knee and silently prayed, whilst the others simply watched on in curiosity. For unknown reasons, even after seeing her mouth open and close, they weren't privy to her vocals. Asai noticed this, as he was wondering whether or not Kami would be putting them to sleep again or not.

"Don't worry about them, earlier, I had to follow the regulations of the dungeon. However, the dungeon is over now, so I now have more control over it."

"I see..."

"Anyways, you humans sure are funny. If it were me, if I was ever given the chance to talk to a carbon-copy of myself. I would immediately sit down and enjoy some sakura dango sweets with her. Talk about life, and learn. Only you humans would see yourself, and the first thing you do is try to kill them..."

"Wait- What are you trying to say? that I could've sat down and spoken to them to beat the trial?"

"Yup. The trial was to learn from oneself.  [Know Thy Selves] was the name of that trial. As for all that it implies and encompasses, I'll simply leave that to your imagination~" Kami's eyes glimmered in golden radiance as they lingered upon Mel, who suddenly felt goose bumps assault her entirety, making her shiver uncomfortable as the celestial beauty peered through her soul and inspecting her bloodline itself.

"This girl, Mel. Her bloodline isn't optimized for combat at all. Her ancestors consisted mostly of servants, maids, cleaners and gardeners. Goddess knows- Oh wait, that's me. Actually, I still don't know what drove her out of her village and into becoming an adventurer..."

Her gaze shifting back towards Asai, who found the world tree's dew sitting within his palm instead of his cup. "If you really do plan on giving that to her, I'm telling you now. Don't expect much."

"Are you allowed to tell me this much information? For free at that?"

Kami seated herself next to Asai, taking the other shoulder whilst Robin remained hugging his other. "Thrud has done many a favour for me, and as you're a man who has received her blessing, I naturally should be nicer to you no? Unless you don't like me? Am I not cute?" Kami pouted, as she wrapped her arms around under her celestial-melons, giving them an oomph as they bounced. Clearly acting, but Asai didn't want to risk it, so it pulled out some pudding.

The celestial-being's facial expression immediately shifted to one of excitement. As her eyes inspected the dessert that was entirely new to her.

Whispering into her ears "It's called [Crème Caramel] it's best eaten by cracking the top layer with a tea-spoon before eating the soft under layer." Kami shivered in delight as she took in the sweet aroma of sugar and milk, taking the little thing out of his hands before enjoying it. Feeling the soft texture break apart within her mouth, and smoothly slide down her throat. She shivered in ecstasy before releasing a slow and sensual moan.

Bethel also took notice of the dessert, whilst she had encountered treats like bread and butter pudding. Which was a dish invented simply to soften old and harden bread for consumption. Something as delicate as the milk-pudding was a first for her. Especially when such treats were only afforded by nobles. However, she kept her questions for later, if she remembered them that is.

[Congratulations]

[Bonus Stage Clear]

[Additional Award Earned]

[Calculating...]

Asai's gaze shifted away from the notifications that were displayed high above them all, and back towards Kami who had just finished her last bite, slowly licking her soft supple lips in satisfaction.

"What? It's a bonus stage. What, did you really think I would walk around you humans for fun? You know~ In the past, humans would attack me on sight. The lure of power, to be crowned as [God Slayer] or [Dragon Slayer] the humans of old weren't able to resist their temptations... Some even tried to rape me. HA." Kami smiled, as if she were revisiting fond memories. 

Asai thought back to his childhood days, back before he had any times and was simply left alone within the garden to play. Out of naivety and innocence, he would pluck red ants of the ground and simply watch them try as much as they could to bite his fingertips, whilst feeling nothing of it.

Her eyes lingering upon Asai's ring. [Caronia's Ring] as her gentle demeanour momentarily turned into one that was sinister and cruel...

"Anyway! Confirm with me now before I leave. That tree essence, you are going to give it to Mel correct?"

kophzi

If it results in another draw, the dew will be reserved for book 2.