Chapter 2: Trial of Suffering
At this moment, the bird turned towards Ayaan severely before asking, "What will you choose if I give you two options, humanity or power?"
Ayaan looked at the Birdy in surprise; then remembered everything happened with him in last year. A determination flashed inside his dark eye before he replied, "What is the use of humanity if I can't live my life with freedom?
What is the use of that humanity if I can't protect my loved ones? And If humanity means I have to live like a cockroach in this society, I will forsake that humanity and become a demon instead!"
When the bird heard his reply, a burst of triumphant laughter escaped from her mouth. Then abruptly stopped and looked into Ayaan's eyes before speaking, "You are good, kid. I like the way you think, but just talking won't be enough in the next trial, haha!"
Ayaan looked at her in confusion and asked, "Umm… so what is the next trial?"
Afterwards, the bird looked in a different direction and dashed towards that direction, when Ayaan realised the bird was already a few hundred meters away and a voice resounded in his mind, "Follow me!"
Without wasting his time Ayaan followed firmly; he was in a weak state but still could run with a bird. It took him half an hour to arrive in front of the vast pool.
The red blood filled the pool, and bubbles formed on it's the surface. Black-heads made of blood and dark energy were emerging at its surface, two red-eye sockets on the heads were shining with an eerie light.
The shrieks would come from the pool from time to time, making a silent environment even more ghastly.
Ayaan looked at the blood pond wearily and felt the same coldness as he felt from the first trial, but hundreds of times more intense.
Gradually, Ayaan's body drowned in sweat and shivered from dread. The dark energy from the blood pond continuedly tried to break through the defence of his emotions. Although he didn't lose his focus and his heart remained unwavering while his eyes were staring into the bloody pool.
Eventually, the bird turned towards him before saying with an arrogant manner, "This blood belongs to the greatest demon. He was one of the primal beings created by heaven and earth!"
When she was explaining everything excitedly, Ayaan asked in confusion, "As you said the demon lord was the mighty being, then how did he die?"
The rage flashed in the small eyes of Birdy but she calmed down immediately before replying disdainfully, "You aren't qualified to know about it yet."
Afterwards, the Birdy looked at Ayaan before chuckling, " You should worry about your trial instead. If you pass, you will get the magic library; but, if you fail... you die!"
Before Ayaan could speak, the bird asked him, "You see that pool?"
She pointed towards the bloody pool, giving a dreadful feeling. Instantly, a foreboding feeling appeared inside his heart. When Birdy saw his ugly expression, she replied with a smirk, "Hehe, this trial is very simple: dive in this pool and survive."
Eventually, she looked at his sweat drowned face and shivering body, "You want to gain this legacy but can't even stand straight in front of the pool..." shaking her head she proceeded, "...if you want to complete the trial, forsake all the fear inside your heart or the fear inside you will eat your consciousness."
Ayaan heard her but didn't understand what she meant. However, he still nodded before proceeding towards the blood pond with no delay.
Then Ayaan arrived in front of the bloody pool and looked at those dreadful heads inside, but he immediately closed his eyes and didn't dare to look into the pond. Not wasting any second considering, he jumped.
When the bird saw him jumping, she murmured, "I hope he will survive or I have to wait another millennium for a next candidate to appear."
Sighing with melancholy, she turned towards the pool, which had become still. It was so calm that it gave the feeling of dread.
Inside the pool...
The dark heads attacked him from all sides, they had eaten his flesh, revealing veins under his skin, few of those heads entered inside his blood-vessels drinking his blood from inside.
Ayaan tried to move, but couldn't even budge from his place. He could only endure the torment and anguish. The despair he felt wasn't something he felt before.
When he jumped, the fleece from his body disappeared. He realised black-heads were eating his flesh and blood. At the start, it was just like an ant nip. However, after a few seconds, it became torment which was unbearable.
Slowly, his body's skin vanished, and blood flew like a fountain. Still, not even a single drop went inside the pool. Instead, the black-heads manifestations devoured his blood.
Ayaan screamed miserably and struggled with all his strength, but to no avail. The pool suppressed his screams. On the surface, not a screech appeared.
However, it was just the start of his macabre and miserable trial. Time passed, the pain increased every second. From his body, all the fleece vanished, revealing white bones underneath.
No energy left in his vocal cords after screaming continuedly. No tear came out from his eyes because his eyes had already dried. However, he still didn't lose his consciousness, forcing himself to awake.
Finally, when the flesh faded, the blackheads began devouring his bones.
The time passed, and every part of his body melted gradually. There was only one speck of light that remained inside the dark pool.
The source of this light was none-other than Ayaan's consciousness. He could hold this long only because of his willpower and determination.
However, the light was losing its brightness steadily. If this went on, it wouldn't take long for his consciousness to disappear, and that would be an actual death.
The suffering clouded his consciousness, and he succumbed to his pain. He couldn't feel or hear anything other than infinite darkness. The darkness which would make the hearts of millions tremble in dread.
But when the spark of light was about to disappear, he saw a face, a beautiful and familiar face, which made his consciousness tremble. The girl had red hair and beautiful white feathers, which spread like a fairy behind her back.
The girl looked at him before smiling, "I didn't think you will have a fruitful encounter and this amazing at that."
The white light flickered inside the pool when the lady spoke, and afterwards, Ayaan's voice followed, "Is that you, Noor?"
An enchanting smile appeared on her face before she replied, "If not me, who else? hehe."
Pausing for a second she continued with a long sigh, " Alas, last time I didn't have time to inform you and had to run away, or we both would be dead by now. But before leaving, I left the portion of my will in your consciousness to ensure your safety."
Ayaan heard her, and when she finished speaking. He looked at her before shouting, "No! You can't be here! I know Noor is powerful, but not powerful enough to help me from thousands of miles away; you are fake!"
"No! I am Noor! How could you forget me, Ayaan?" the girl said with a pitiful face.
Ayaan looked at her sobbing face. He felt a pang in his heart, but he stiffened his heart and didn't look at her.
Within just a few seconds, the figure of a girl disappeared. Eventually, the whirlpools formed inside the pool, and blood gathered around his consciousness.
Finally, the black-heads also melted in the blood and went towards his consciousness.
The drops of blood took shape around his consciousness, and this process continued for many days. At the moment, the beautiful bird was sitting at the corner of the pool, which was waiting for the outcome.
Suddenly, the pool shook, and many whirlpools formed at its surface. When the bird saw this, an excited expression appeared before saying emotionally, "How many years has it been!? The new unparalleled demon is going to be born!
Who will dare to defy the will of the demon? Everyone has to bow when they stand in front of the successor of the greatest demon! Hahaha!"
She laughed and her body became illusory. In just a blink, she disappeared from the edge of the pool.
Ultimately, the complete pool slowly vanished. What remained was the vast pit and a brief shadow standing at its bottom, which enlarged gradually.
Ding: The owner of the magic library is being identified.
Eventually, the notification resounded inside Ayaan's head. When he opened his eyes, a small window greeted him.
'Do you want to become the owner of the magic library?'