"HA!!"
The great sword through from above with the force of a speeding train as it cleaved the massive monstrosity in half. But that was not the end...
Ross knew it could regenerate if he didn't completely obliterate it. With his newfound strength via the induced anger and added energy, he released a powerful burst of mana into the monster.
*BOOOOOM!*
The monstrosity exploded in a gory of flesh and blood until the entire space around Ross felt as it looked; nauseating and an eye-sore.
Ross landed on his feet as he took in deep breaths with gritted teeth, and his eyes continued to burn with mana as the raging anger in him pushed him to do something else, anything!
He let out a deafening roar with a slightly tilted head to the back.
'I need to calm down now,'
He thought and then looked over the blue side, and without a second thought ran towards the region.
His anger dissipated like snowflakes under the heat of the sun the moment he reached the blur region.
With a thud, he fell on his butt and then his back as he gasped for breath.
"Ha… That took a lot out of me. I thought I was a goner for a moment." His chuckle reverberated through the abstract space recalling how dreadful was just to look at the creature.
"This trial must have been about learning about how emotions can affect a person's fighting prowess."
His thoughts spun as he tried to see through the essence of the trail.
"But if it was to learn about how emotions affect us, then fear and anger should be the most important elements."
Overwhelming fear could affect a person's fighting prowess. It could even lead to death if fear freezes your thoughts and actions.
With anger, however, you could call upon the entirety of your power and dish out a powerful attack.
"But anger could also blind you to your surroundings, potentially making you a liability to the people around you."
His guess was right. The trial did teach anyone who encountered it that emotions can be powerful too at the same time a great liability. It was always important to know when to use certain emotions and when to accept your loss and try to run.
Of course, that part was ignored by Ross as he felt he would have died if he showed his back to the monster. Moreover, where was he supposed to go once he started running?
He was taken out of his thoughts and musings when the environment suddenly changed, he found himself in a different space that looked like a large hall with poor lighting.
The space was dark and gloomy, yet Ross did not sense any danger. He got up and then proceeded to look around the massive space.
Even though he felt no threats around, he didn't let his guard down for one bit. Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice that brought a smile to his face.
"Took you long enough."
Alex muttered as he appeared from the darkness with a knowing smile.
"Alex… When did you get here?"
Ross inquired the moment Alex reached him. He had no visible wounds on his body and nothing showed that he went through a rough trial.
"A few hours ago."
Alex sighed as he replied, looking around the empty space.
"After I completed my trial, I just found myself on this floor. There were no traps and no constructs to fight. Aside from a gateway in that direction that refused to do its job, there was nothing else to do besides wait.
Ross turned to the direction Alex pointed with a curious look, however, he quickly thought of another question.
"Are you the only one here?"
"Looks like it. Why?"
"Well, if this space is empty of any constructs, trials and traps, I'm guessing it's a resting area of sorts."
Alex smiled in agreement.
"Indeed. I thought of that after nothing came out to attack or assault me for no reason."
He laughed at his own silly jokes making Ross shake his head in mock disappointment.
"When are you going to take things seriously?"
Alex just remained composed and shook his head.
"Trust me when I tell you, the trial I went through might be more than anything you've experienced."
"Really?"
Ross knew Alex long enough to understand that Alex did not lie. And there was no point in bragging in doing either.
Alex then spoke about what he went through to Ross. Initially, he was confused as to how Alex was able to defeat a clone that was basically Alex.
It was only when he described how he was able to see through the veil of lies before killing himself.
Ross was in shock and couldn't open his mouth for a few minutes before,
"Are you insane?!
"What if your guess was wrong?!"
Alex could understand where he was coming from as he would have felt the same if someone told him what he just explained.
"Relax…"
Alex reassured him before his expression took a serious turn.
"I know what I did was reckless, but that was the only way out. I wouldn't gamble with my life like that if I wasn't absolutely sure."
"Hm. If you say, but be prepared to receive a scolding from Julia. And—"
But before Ross could add more to his words, he and Alex snapped their head in another direction where another student was approaching.
"Oh, Alexander. Nice to meet you."
The new person stretched his hands out for a handshake.
"My name is Winslow, Winslow Rexlar."
He introduced himself with a charming smile.
"Huh? Aren't you the one who approached Julia during the Convergence Maze incident?" Alex inquired with intrigue; his brows raised in slight amusement.
Winslow suddenly had a small coughing fit.
"S- sorry about that.."
He apologized not daring to defend himself or anything like that.
'Don't tell me he's going to target me now, is he?'
He broke out a cold sweat and saw Ross look at him like a dead man.
'Yeah, I'm dead.'