Before embarking on his journey, Agysmal visited Beardman's grave to bid farewell and seek his blessing. He had buried him at the top of a mountain, where the scenery below was breathtaking, and what's more, the sunrise and sunset could be seen from the summit. Next to the grave stood an oak tree, providing shelter for any visitors. Agysmal knew that Beardman loved flowers, so he offered many dahlia flowers that he had personally picked from Beardman's own garden.
Despite their short time together at the Volition Abode, Agysmal considered his experiences with Beardman unforgettable. Although Beardman was a man of few words, mysterious, and strict, he had been caring, understanding, and considerate towards Agysmal. Agysmal had come to regard Beardman as a father figure. Agysmal vowed to fulfill his promises.
And finally, Agysmal regained consciousness after falling off the bridge, gasping for air as he clutched himself tightly.
He knew he had been swallowed by a massive monster, chewed and torn apart, and the pain still lingered. Yet, he was determined to confirm that he was indeed alive.
As he looked around, he found himself surrounded by a foggy landscape, standing in a grassy field filled with poppies. Feeling a chill, he wrapped his arms around himself.
Suddenly, a wooden screen materialized above him, and Miss Lauven, the entrance exam facilitator, appeared.
"Congratulations, examinees, for passing the second part of the test," Miss Lauven announced. Upon hearing this, Agysmal collapsed to his knees, overwhelmed with gratitude for having overcome the second challenge.
The first challenge had tested their physical abilities, while the second challenge had pushed their mental capacity, particularly in discerning objects. Agysmal had noticed that the defective hanging bridges were infested with tiny Termets, a bug type of Meadow Feral no larger than a sunflower seed. These Meadow Ferals had a habit of gnawing on the external parts of wood, causing unexpected structural collapses. As Agysmal had studied Meadow Ferals since childhood, he was familiar with Termets, which had helped him make the right choice.
Initially, he had been disappointed when he failed to choose the correct bridge, but now he needed to muster his strength and confidence once again.
Agysmal's thoughts drifted to the woman with aquamarine hair, and he couldn't help but wonder what had become of her and the other examinees who had crossed the Golden Gate.
His gaze drifted up to the screen hovering above, where Miss Lauven's voice echoed through the air. "Your final exam is about to commence," she announced. Agysmal's eyes remained fixed on the screen as he listened to her instructions. "A random object will materialize before you, and you must use it to take the life of the person who approaches you. You have ten minutes to complete this challenge. Good luck, examinees!"
The screen vanished after Miss Lauven finished speaking, leaving Agysmal with a sense of unease. He felt that Miss Lauven had omitted a crucial detail – the consequences of failing the test.
A rope suddenly appeared in front of Agysmal, and he quickly grabbed it. Now, he just waited for the person who would approach him.
"I hope this challenge will be easy," he said to himself. However, to his surprise, a very familiar boy ran towards him. The boy even hugged him when he saw him. Agysmal froze at the sight.
"Big Bro, I'm so happy to see you," said the boy, his younger brother, seven-year-old Revictor. The boy released his hug and faced his older brother with a smile. "We've been looking for you for a long time, Big Bro. We thought Uncle had caught up with you, but here you are." Agysmal's eyes glazed over as he stared at his younger brother.
He thought that this might be just an illusion, a trick, but his instinct told him that the person in front of him was indeed his real brother. Although he missed his siblings, especially Revictor, he needed to make sure that the person in front of him was truly his brother.
He sat down in mid-air to be at the same height as Revictor. He held the boy's hands and stroked them to feel a connection.
"Tell me what happened to you and Big Sis? How did you survive?" Agysmal asked softly.
Revictor tried to recall the events. "I was in the garden, chasing after flying Butlerflies with our nanny, when Big Sis came and said we had to leave the house because we were going to meet Mom and Dad at the beach house. Big Sis was with Merrick."
"Merrick, the gardener's son?"
Revictor nodded. "But you were left behind. Big Sis said you would follow us, but you didn't show up. I waited for you. Then, Big Sis lied to me because we didn't go to the beach house, but to a shack. I didn't see Mom and Dad."
"'So you're living in a shack now. How's life there?' Revictor asked, curious about the siblings' fate after escaping the palace.
"It's simple, but often sad because we're not whole,' the child replied honestly. 'The only thing is, it's noisy in the shack because there are many of us living there. Almost everyone brings weapons or guns, even Big Sis.'"
Agysmal's eyes began to well up with tears. "How did you end up in a place like this?"
"Big Sis told me to pick some tomatoes from the garden, and then a man approached me. He said he knew where you were, so I followed him. He also gave me treats for being obedient," Revictor revealed. "I was scared at first because this place was all foggy and empty, but I was happy to see you."
Agysmal gazed intently at Revictor, examining his brother's condition. Unlike his usual well-groomed and healthy appearance, Revictor now looked like a wild child, with numerous scratches on his skin. His hair was disheveled, and he wore tattered, oversized clothes with many patches. He had lost weight and seemed malnourished.
When Agysmal glanced at the floating clock, he realized he was running out of time. The child was oblivious to the situation.
"Big Bro, let's go home," Revictor urged. "We've been waiting for you so we can go to the beach house."
Agysmal thought that if this really was the real Revictor, then he must know him very well.
"Revictor, tell me, what do you think is my happiest memory with you?"
"Oh, there are many!" Revictor replied enthusiastically, but then he paused, thinking. "I guess you're happiest memory is when you carried me on your shoulders and caught falling leaves with me."
"Wasn't that the time after I got sad because the string of our flying kite broke, and the kite itself was swept away by the wind?"
"That's not what happened," the boy corrected composedly. "It was after I got scared because a Jaguarnaut attacked you. With the bravery you showed, you scared the Jaguarnaut so much that it ran through the woods. And because I was still terrified, worried that it might come back for you, you calmed me down by carrying me on your shoulders. I saw how happy you were, laughing as you held me up."
Agysmal couldn't help but tear up as he listened to his innocent brother. If the person who's about to be killed is this innocent and pure-hearted, how will they be able to pass the test?
As time ran out, Revictor continued sharing happy memories while Agysmal hugged him tight.
"Mom and Dad—they're gone," he revealed, his face streaming with tears. Revictor stopped mid-story, looking utterly bewildered. "They were accused of being traitors and corrupt by the very people they trusted. And now, our kingdom is ruled by our uncle, who has a terrible temper. I feel sorry for the future of the kingdom—the innocent citizens of Lovelrinth. I feel sorry for them. And here I am, powerless to bring justice to our parents' death. I'm unable to help you and Recontesa. I'm a disappointing brother. I'm sorry, Revictor, but I have to do this."
Agysmal wrapped the rope around his brother's neck, tightening it as Revictor struggled for life. Agysmal's tears flowed as he held the rope, his grip tightening as the clock ticked down. Before time ran out, Revictor's lifeless body slumped to the ground.
Agysmal collapsed to his knees, embracing his brother's corpse. His sobs were now accompanied by screams. A minute passed, and Agysmal remained frozen in that position, his tears dried up. The pain was so overwhelming that he felt numb.
Suddenly, the fog dissipated, revealing a clear sky. As the fog lifted, the other examinees emerged, mourning the loss of their loved ones. It turned out they were all nearby.
Some examinees had succeeded in facing the challenge, while others had failed. Instead of killing their loved ones, some had chosen to spare their lives. A few examinees wanted to protest the unfair exam method, but those who failed were crushed by massive boulders falling from the sky, killing both them and their loved ones.
Agysmal was insensible to the chaos around him. Hugging his dead brother's body, he realized that he was even worse than the people who falsely accused and killed their parents, and that his parents would despise him for what he did. But he had to take the risk, he had to make the sacrifice to achieve his goals.
The screen popped up again, and Miss Lauven's face appeared. "Congratulations, you have all passed the third and final part of your entrance exam. You are now official trainees in the High Periphery. All of you did a great job!"