Translator: SumTLMan
Amidst the excited clamor of the Tribulation of Resentment, Toby stood poised and ready, resolved to completely eradicate whatever emerged from behind the vortex!
As time flowed, the fluctuations emanating from within the vortex grew increasingly powerful. Even before the creature appeared, subtle rustling sounds could already be heard.
When a gentle breeze passed, the fluctuations of the vortex disappeared. Yet, simultaneously, a void materialized at the very center of the vortex.
The appearance of this void signaled that the creature was about to reveal itself.
The Tribulation of Resentment grew even more animated, and Toby’s vigilance heightened. However… no creature emerged from the void.
After an extended wait, signs of the vortex’s disintegration began to manifest, yet still, no creature appeared.
“What’s going on?” Toby was utterly perplexed at this point. Just when he believed he was about to confront the most formidable adversary of this tribulation, everything unexpectedly came to a halt?
The Tribulation of Resentment was taken aback as well, its initial enthusiasm shifting to confusion. As the vortex showed signs of dissipation, the Tribulation of Resentment once again stirred up negative emotions, attempting to halt the vortex’s fading. However, it was in vain.
Witnessing this, the Tribulation of Resentment stomped in fury, exclaiming, “Why? Why won’t it come out and kill it?!”
No echo answered.
The Tribulation of Resentment’s hatred intensified, and, burning with jealousy, it roared to the heavens, “Don’t you understand? If I perish, you will be next!”
Yet, still, there was no response.
“You can’t escape! You can’t!” The voice of the Tribulation of Resentment roared angrily. Amid its repeated curses, sounds finally began to emerge from the void within the vortex.
A soft chuckle, devoid of discernible emotion, contrasted sharply with the presently infuriated Tribulation of Resentment, as if mocking its overestimation of its own abilities through laughter.
“How weak you are——” came a voice that sounded elegant but sent shivers down one’s spine, emanating from the vortex’s void.
Whether it was Toby or the Tribulation of Resentment, both were captivated by this voice at the moment.
Because this was a tangible sound. Unlike the “emotional language” radiated by the Tribulation of Resentment, the voice from the vortex was very much real, even speaking in the common tongue.
“You think you, in your weakness, can control me?” The voice continued, speaking very slowly, but every word was incredibly clear. One could even discern the disdainful emotion contained within.
“You are not worthy.” As the vortex began to dissipate, the voice faded, but one could faintly hear some murmured whispers.
——Only the weak are envious and resentful. Weakness is a sin. All weak entities are fundamentally unworthy of existence in this world.
With the disappearance of these murmured words, a flash of white light suddenly shimmered from the void in the vortex.
Although Toby had been listening to the conversation of the creature, he had not let his guard down. The moment the white light appeared, he was ready to defend himself. However, this white light was not aimed at him, but rather at its intended target on the platform at the end——The Tribulation of Resentment.
The streaking white light traveled at an incredible speed, piercing through the skull of the manifestation of the Malevolent Thoughts, much like an arrow. Following the anguished scream of the Malevolent Thoughts, its form began to waver, gradually turning into specks of light.
“Why… why…” The Malevolent Thoughts murmured, but the light specks had already corroded up to its waist.
As the Malevolent Thoughts began to transform into specks of light, Toby could distinctly feel his control over this Mental Space growing stronger.
Toby understood all too well what this signified.
——He had successfully weathered the tribulation!
This should have been a moment of joy, but there wasn’t a hint of happiness in Toby’s heart. He turned his gaze towards the vortex, which by now had almost vanished. However, he could still faintly sense the deep and oppressive aura emanating from it.
What exactly was that? Toby didn’t know before, but now he had a budding suspicion.
Perhaps, what lay behind the vortex… was also a version of himself.
But not his current self.
The common seabird was him, the Griffin of Rage was him, the soon-to-transform Serpent-Bird of Resentment was also him, and the entity behind the vortex might represent himself from the three other tribulations.
Toby was unsure which of the Tribulations of the Five Flavors he was facing, nor did he know what form it took. But one thing was certain: this adversary was incredibly powerful, even more so than the Malevolent Thoughts.
How could Toby possibly feel joy, knowing he’d inevitably face such a formidable tribulation again?
What upset Toby the most was the fact that this entity had attacked the Malevolent Thoughts! Toby was well aware that with his current strength, dealing with the Malevolent Thoughts would be a breeze. After he had vanquished the Serpent-Bird, he had already secured his path to victory.
Originally, he should have joyfully reached the distant finish line, defeating the Tribulation of Resentment in a ceremonious manner and putting an end to this tribulation.
However, out of the blue, a streak of white light appeared, stealing his prize.
Even if the final outcome remained the same, Toby was vexed. It felt as if he had taken 99 steps on his own, and the final step, which he could have taken independently, was pushed by someone else. Even though he still reached the finish line, those previous 99 steps of “solitude” seemed to lose their significance.
A surge of anger welled up within Toby. Since the vortex had disappeared, he could only focus its gaze on that white light.
After passing through the skull of the Tribulation of Resentment, the white light finally halted. Toby could clearly see that the white light was, in fact, a feather.
A pristine white feather, shimmering with a gentle glow.
This feather simply floated in the void, not vanishing. In his frustration, Toby spewed a flame towards the feather, but the feather seemed illusory and remained untouched by the fire.
Toby then rushed towards the feather, intending to tear it apart, but just like before, the feather couldn’t be touched and yet refused to disappear.
Observing the softly glowing feather before him, a realization dawned upon Toby.
The creature behind the vortex must be using this method to infuriate him.
Moreover, the very act of the other party prematurely resolving the Tribulation of Resentment might also have been meant to mock Toby.
Because, even though Toby could have handled it himself, the opponent just wanted to unsettle him. Including this phantom white feather, which remained blatantly in the void, asserting its existence… It was like a Fishbone Stuck in the Throat, infuriatingly annoying, yet there was nothing one could do about it.
Toby roared in anger, suppressing the displeasure within him, deliberately turning away from the white feather and making his way to the endpoint.
By now, the essence of the Tribulation of Resentment had completely transformed into luminescent dust. However, this doesn’t signify its death but merely the ‘consciousness’ perishing. All the negative emotions like rage and jealousy still persisted.
Yet, at this moment, these emotions were no longer weapons to use against Toby but became the sword in his hands!
If he could master these negative emotions, Toby would genuinely overcome the tribulation and attain a new form——The Serpent-Bird of Resentment!
Toby had previously experienced the “Tribulation of Rage,” and employing it for the Tribulation of Resentment was just as fitting.
He began to slowly claim the tower of consciousness, asserting total dominion over this Mental Space, and started to consume the surrounding light dust, the core of the Tribulation of Resentment.
Once he had completely assimilated the Tribulation of Resentment, something resembling a “cocoon” seemed to materialize before him. Entering it would lead to rebirth——
This was the reward for successfully overcoming the tribulation.
However, Toby did not immediately step into the “cocoon.” Instead, he turned back and looked at the distant void.
That white feather, which had once stuck in his throat like a bone, still floated there.
With a cold sneer, Toby focused his thoughts and the white feather was surrounded by a layer of dark mist. Under the corrosion of this dark mist, the previously untouchable white feather was eventually eradicated completely.
Only when the white feather vanished did Toby proudly raise his head, stepping confidently into the “cocoon”…