Chapter 19: Chapter 19 – Heavenly Trial

Heaven Floor Four.

Theseus’s dream shifted to another landscape.

Along the climb up Heaven, Astrid’s heart changed. Like Lydia, she grew fond of Alvaro’s careless yet confident personality.

“Is it really okay for me to start seeing her?” Alvaro asked Theseus on the Third Floor of Heaven.

“It’s fine Alvaro. As long as you two are happy.” Theseus smiled but was heartbroken within.

Now that they were on Floor Four and escaped King Ouzo, the dynamics in their party changed drastically. The defining moment was the death of their tanker, Ju Long, shortly after their arrival on Floor Four. More Shades and powerful beasts were emerging from the caves and caverns littered across the wilderness. Theseus was worried someone else could die before his inevitable sacrifice against the Goddess of Fairies, Fayette.

“Astrid, please stay near Alvaro in the next fight.” Theseus warned her. Although his feelings hadn’t gone away, Astrid made her stance clear, and they both still respected each other.

“You got it.” Astrid nodded to Theseus. This man was weak, but she knew his logic was always correct. Berringer overheard the short exchange but thought little of it. As the scout, he spent more time worrying about the next challenge than who was involved with whom romantically.

This was their fourth year climbing Heaven, and they were in a bind. They had to hunt for supplies, and they had to defeat the boss of the fourth floor to get home. Astrid was starting to regret her decision to continue climbing. Her vote at the edge of the third floor was fueled by lust, and she had been easily coerced by Alvaro.

“Was I wrong to trust him?” Astrid looked Alvaro in a different light. He was reckless and spontaneous whereas, Theseus was calm and collected. Even though Theseus was harassed and bullied in the past, he tried to keep his head up and worked tirelessly on finding safe navigation for their party. If they had listened to Theseus, Ju Long wouldn’t have died. Something clicked in her mind and heart.

Maybe she would give him a chance when this was all over.

“Shade beasts!” Berringer appeared next to Alvaro. There were Shade beasts up ahead.

“How many? How strong?” Alvaro asked.

“Three. All peak Sage Realm.” Berringer said with a scowl.

“Theseus, is there any other way around them?” Alvaro asked.

“Yes, but it would enact a Heavenly Trial.”

Heavenly Trials, the hidden death traps of Heaven. Walking into a Heavenly Trial was like facing a boss before the actual boss. At all costs, avoiding the more ruthless Heavenly Trials were a top priority. Some were better than others, however, and would actually be favorable for their group to attempt.

“Do you know what kind of trial it is?” Alvaro asked. Avoiding these Shade beasts were important. Alvaro, the strongest of their party, was a peak S Rank Sage. They couldn’t realistically defeat three Alvaros without getting injured. Unlike beasts, Shades were smart and could fight on par with their party with skills and strategies.

“I believe the trial has to do with sex?” Theseus almost choked on his spit as he looked at the book, Heavenly Trials Guide.

“Ahh I see, wait what?” Alvaro looked at Theseus with a strange look.

“According to the guide, I believe this trial is run by a Goddess named Aurora, who is known to try to seduce climbers in the middle of the trial. She’s known for her twisted and perverted personality.” Theseus had a look of disgust on his face as he read the description of the F Rank Goddess, Aurora.

Berringer and Hama looked at each other with raised eyebrows.

“Do you think we could pass this trial? Or should we face the Shade beasts?” Alvaro didn’t quite understand what this trial entailed.

“I think we can do it, but it will be just as dangerous as the Shade beasts. It depends on how confident you are, ahem, in accepting this Goddess.” Theseus looked at Alvaro awkwardly.

“If I am not a man, I don’t deserve to climb Heaven. Of course I can reject this pervert.” Alvaro boasted. Theseus sighed. Alvaro didn’t understand. Maybe Shade beasts were easier to defeat than a perverted Goddess, who wouldn’t let them live without taking their purity.

“No, Alvaro, it’s the other way around.” Theseus whispered.

“Oh, well, I think we can confidently reject her, and she will understand.” Alvaro boasted.

“Are you sure? A fight with the Shades will be more predictable.” Theseus advised. Astrid and Hama looked at Alvaro with anticipation.

“Yes. Although more unpredictable, the trial is of equal danger. If we pass the trial, we can make better time.”

“Let’s get going then.” Theseus pointed due west. Either way, they were in a bad situation.

Seeing a sinister cavern up ahead, Theseus confirmed this cave was the place of the trial.

“This is an individual trial. We have to go in one at a time, if you pass, you get to go ahead a few hundred feet up. If you fail, the Goddess kicks you out. No one will die, but the problem is if any one of us fails, they are trapped down here and have to sneak past the Shade beasts.”

“Is there no way for all of us to go in?” Alvaro was skeptical.

“Yes, but it will be… awkward…” Theseus paused.

“Come on, spit is out.” Alvaro grew impatient.

“A group trial involves the Goddess’s involvement with our romantic lives.”

“That’s it? It can’t get any less awkward than dying to Shade beasts. Come on.” Alvaro beckoned everyone into the cave. Hama shook his head in disdain. Every day, Alvaro’s decisions were getting more and more desperate.

As they walked in, a rock rolled over the entrance, sealing them inside. A loud cackle was heard as they entered a large, spacious cave.

“Welcome climbers! I am Aurora, Goddess of the Dawn.” A beautiful Goddess sent sparkling lights throughout the cavern. She had pink hair, blue eyes, and a voluptuous figure.

“Alright let’s see what I’m dealing with here. Please, attack me, I won’t bite… yet.” She giggled.

“Huh?” Berringer muttered.

“Do what she says.” Theseus whispered. Everyone sent attacks and skills at Aurora.

“Oh yeah, that feels good.” Aurora twisted as the attacks scorched her body.

“What a pervert!” Lydia couldn’t help but exclaim. Aurora ignored her.

“Okay. Okay. I see what’s going on here.” Aurora motioned for the party to stop attacking.

“Looks like I’m going to have to do some more romance counseling…” Aurora contemplated.

“You three, go through that door, and the other three, stay here.” Aurora pointed to Berringer, Hama, and Lydia to leave the cavern through a door while Theseus, Astrid, and Theseus remained.

Conjuring up a table in the middle of the vast cavern, Aurora sat down and made spots for the three to awkwardly sit.

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“You, woman. Tell these two how you feel about them.” The Goddess proclaimed.

“Do it.” Theseus whispered.

“I thought this was a dungeon, not a counseling session!” Astrid said out loud.

“Come on now red-haired woman. I’m just trying to help.” Aurora sighed.

“Isn’t this supposed to be a trial? Where are the beasts, where are the Shades?” Astrid stood up angrily.

“Sit, down.” Theseus tried to calm Astrid down.

“You better listen to your boyfriends, child, or else.” The Goddess said while grinding her teeth.

“Just tell me, what does this have to do wi-“ Before Astrid could finish, Aurora blasted a stream of rainbow energy as Astrid, melting her right arm off.

“Ahh!” Astrid screamed, and Theseus, shocked, stood up and forced the squirming Astrid into her seat.

“Much better. We’ll start with the strong one.” The Goddess looked at Alvaro.

“Yes, yes. How I feel? I love everyone in this party. Romance wise, I am in love with Lydia and feel quite strongly for Astrid.” He hid nothing.

“Now you.” Aurora pointed at Theseus.

“I am still in love with Astrid. I told her hold I felt years ago on Floor One, but she did not reciprocate. I’ve felt like an outcast in this party since we started climbing, but Alvaro always stood up for me. Although, I feel jealous of him and resentful to the party at times for how they’ve treated me despite my reliability.” Theseus didn’t dare lie. Alvaro looked sad hearing these things from his friend.

“Now you, woman.” Aurora pointed at Astrid, who squirmed in pain.

“When I came, I liked Hama but fell for Alvaro. I thought Theseus was smart but was a burden to the party. That was until Floor Four.” Astrid spoke faster than usual because of the pain.

“Now, I’ve come to see that Alvaro is too emotional and not logical enough. Ju Long is dead because we foolishly continued to climb. When this is done, I want to give Theseus a chance. His mind is the only reason we are alive at this point.” Astrid said way too quickly. Theseus and Alvaro looked at each other in shock.

“Good, now that that’s out of the way. It’s time for you all to decide. Alvaro and Theseus, one of you must pleasure me while the other pleasures Astrid.” She laughed and arose into the air.

“What the fuck?” Alvaro gasped. He regretted not facing the Shade beasts. Maybe Astrid was right. They could’ve avoided this insane Goddess if they hadn’t recklessly faced a floor Theseus was wary of. He kept making the same mistakes and ignored Theseus despite standing up for him. Was he really a hypocrite?

“Theseus, I’m sorry.” Astrid said over the pain. She knew she was dying.

“I wish I said no. I wish I had given you a chance on Floor One. I-I don’t think I’ll make it.” She said while clutching her wound. The burns and blood loss were too much, even for an A Rank Sage like herself. Her entire left side was smothered with intense burns.

“Don’t… don’t say that.” Theseus had tears in his eyes.

“I don’t care if that bitch dies, fuck her dead body for all I care.” Aurora rolled her eyes at the scene and laughed.

“How could you say that? She’s dying.” Alvaro looked at the Goddess with disdain and shock. Although Aurora was, at best, a half-Goddess at the F Rank Realm, her presence was stronger than any foe they had encountered so far.

“If I do my duty as leader of this party for you, will you let us go?” Alvaro came to his decision. He couldn’t tell Lydia what happened here, but he had to save the party.

“Oh, you want to sacrifice yourself for them?” Aurora asked.

“I accept.”

Aurora laughed, and the Alvaro disappeared, along with the Goddess.

Theseus and Astrid were all alone.

“Don’t cry Theseus, I knew you liked me for years before the expedition. I heard the rumors but accepted to be in this party with you regardless. You were always a mature researcher to me, so I didn’t think there would be any problems. Maybe it was selfish of me.” Astrid kept speaking faster and faster.

“Slow down…” Theseus cradled Astrid in his hands.

“I don’t have much tim-“ Astrid coughed up blood. One attack from the crazed half-Goddess was enough to leave her in this state.

“No don’t say that. I can find a way. I know some skills tha-“ Astrid cut Theseus off, placing her hand interlocked with his.

“Don’t. Whatever you’re thinking, it isn’t worth it. You must’ve known how dangerous this floor was. I’m guessing that whatever you have something planned for the boss is just as reckless as whatever you’re thinking of doing now. Why didn’t you say more about Floor Four when we took the vote?” Astrid asked curiously.

“You were so happy going along with Alvaro, I didn’t speak up. I should’ve said more, fought harder to turn back.” Tears streamed down Theseus’s face.

“You’re a coward, you know that?” Astrid laughed but coughed up more blood instead.

“What will it take for them to get home?” Astrid asked one last question.

“I-I haven’t told anyone, but, I will have to die.” Theseus told the truth.

“I see. Maybe you aren’t too different from Alvaro after all… Both of you are crazy and reckless, but at least you’re smart.” Astrid forced herself upright with all her strength and kissed Theseus lightly on the lips, staining his face with blood.

“Save Lydia and Alvaro. At least then, they can have what we couldn’t…” Astrid said slowly as she lost consciousness.

“No!” Theseus cried out as she died in his arms. Minutes passed in silence. Hours passed, but Theseus did not budge.

Out of nowhere, Alvaro returned with Aurora.

“Man, I haven’t had that much fun in ages!” Aurora giggled and kissed Alvaro’s cheek. Alvaro on the other hand, was as pale as a ghost. They were holding hands, but Alvaro felt only disgust for this Goddess.

“Did you fuck that dead body yet?” Aurora questioned the paralyzed Theseus. Not moving nor responding, Theseus sat there with Astrid’s body.

“Oh yeah, I was just kidding. That’s messed up!” Aurora laughed, but neither Theseus nor Alvaro laughed.

“Well, awkward, anyways… I don’t really think your other friends are that attractive, so I’m just going to let you go. I don’t really care about these trials anyways.” Aurora shrugged and sent Theseus and Alvaro to the exit to the cave, where Berringer, Lydia, and Hama waited patiently.

“What… What happened?” Lydia could tell something was wrong. Alvaro broke down into tears instantly while the defeated Theseus stared blankly into the horizon, defeated.

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