I Refused To Be Reincarnated

Chapter 188: The Third Trial: The Final Confrontation

As Adam's ghostly form recovered in the real world, the clean essence melded with his soul, overpowering his apprentice-level negative energy with its gentle but powerful tier-six strength.

Embracing his body, the essence progressed towards his head, finally reaching the deep-seated madness hiding in the snapped corner of his mind.

Assaulted in its last bastion, the chaotic insanity shook wildly, trying to defend its territory. Alas, it failed to resist. Like the rising tides of the sea, light-grey currents washed over it, scattering and healing the remnants of the craziness spawned by the first trial's bear.

Upon feeling the ally he leaned on for so many years dissipate, Adam couldn't help but mutter, "Thank you... But I can't rely on you anymore. I must find my own strengths. After all, I don't want to become the maddest person, even if I can."

Then, he gazed at Misha and said, "I'm glad to learn you survived. Let's finish Ignatius and leave this complex."

With a bright smile, Misha nodded. However, guilt flashed through her eyes as she hid the truth and said, "Quickly wake up before he hits you."

"See you outside," Adam answered, swiftly closing his eyes to leave his soul sea and join her for their ultimate confrontation with the monster.

*****

As light greeted his eyes and his sane mind took its rightful place in his body, memories of his actions flooded him. Thankfully, this place was isolated and void of humans. Yet his lips quivered at the disturbing scene of him trying to enter the chimaeras' frames.

"..." He didn't find words to express his disgust. Lost in his thoughts, Adam's contemplation was abruptly interrupted by Misha's panicked warning.

"Move!"

Instantly reacting, he jumped to the side, avoiding a red pincer connected to a tentacle trying to smash him.

"You're out of energy, annoying ant. Give up!" Ignatius's voice echoed in the chamber, a mix of rage and panic covering his scaled face. Each movement caused his state to worsen as his single heart failed to pump enough blood into his massive frame. With his organs and cells slowly dying, he had to kill the man as soon as possible to focus on recovering.

Yet, he momentarily fell silent as the man's cauterised right shoulder suddenly squirmed to life. Under his widened eyes, he witnessed new bones extending before muscle tissues wrapped them. Finally, healthy, supple skin covered everything under Adam's pained yelps.

Confused by the sudden regeneration, Adam exclaimed, seeking an answer from Misha, "What's happening?" However, her silhouette was nowhere to be seen, startling him.

"I helped you recover. Don't ask questions and focus on Ignatius!" Misha answered, urgency in her tone as she used her deep understanding and experience to hasten her friend's arm's restoration. Then, she added, "Your cape and red energy are gone. You'll have to fight in melee. Also, be careful! I won't be able to help heal you again."

After all, his body needed nutrients to recover, and she had already exhausted them, causing his fat ratio to lower to a dangerous three percent.

Confusedly, he nodded, wondering how she could help him and where she was. But she was right. It wasn't time for questions.

He swiped his right arm before him, seizing the materialising Ethereal Radiance before bending his knees. With a forceful stomp, causing the slabs under his feet to groan, he raced towards the abomination, his mind as calm as a lake.

As the ant charged at him, unafraid and conscious of his actions, Ignatius swiftly recovered from his bewilderment and roared. "How will you damage my perfect body without that vibrating aura? Fool!"

He lashed his three tentacles in Adam's direction, planning to empale the stupid man. Yet, like before, the moment he launched his attack, Adam moved out of their trajectory and resumed his charge.

"MISHAAAAAAA!" He roared in fury. Everything was her fault. She was the one warning him and the reason for his arm's recovery. Without her interference, this farce would have ended long ago.

Rage fueling his movements, he rose to his paws against his body's warnings and unfurled his twelve wings. Then, he flapped them with broad movements, causing angry gales to rise, blowing dust everywhere. Of course, flying in his condition was out of the question, but it wasn't what he was aiming for.

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"Try to dodge this, stupid girl!" He exclaimed as mighty winds assaulted Adam from all directions, raging in his ears and causing him to slow down and struggle against the pressure.

'Not good. I can't push through.' Adam thought, gazing at the rising tentacles, ready to be launched at him.

"Don't resist or try to control your legs." Misha's voice echoed in his mind softly, her demand astonishing him. Swiftly, he gave up on controlling his legs, thinking she wanted him to be carried back by the wind to dodge the income strikes.

Yet, his eyes widened in confusion as he felt his legs' muscles swell like balloons. He failed to comprehend how Misha's intervention had caused such sudden changes but couldn't be distracted from the battle and trusted her. Subsequently, his body exploded with terrifying speed as they carried him through the wind.

In a flash, he covered the distance separating him from the tentacles and spun around them with beast-like grace before finally reaching the monster. Adrenalin pumped in his veins, and a myriad of emotions he had never felt in battle gleamed in his eyes. Yet, his overshadowed greatest trait revealed itself in full splendor as his eyes narrowed in incredible focus.

Then, his legs swelled once more as they bent and released the tension. Like two springs, they propelled him towards the monster's head.

"Your turn. Finish him!" Misha said, her voice filled with hope yet sounding weaker.

Simultaneously, Ignatius' eyes widened in fright. His already fast-beating heart pounded painfully in his chest as he hastily swung his gorilla's arms to swat Adam. In mid-air, and without footing to dodge, even with Misha's warning, he already saw his victory as his lips curled into a victorious smile. However, what happened next failed to register in his mind.

Clutching his spear with both hands, Adam struck the incoming arm, using the force of the blow and subsequent explosion of light to propel himself faster towards Ignatius' lowered eyes.

Time slowed for the monster as he peered at Adam, simulations of counter-attacks flashing in his mind swiftly. Yet, Adam's momentum was too high. With gritted teeth, he readied himself to endure the strike and rely on his body's incredible defences.

"RAAAAAAAH!"

A mighty shout echoed in the chamber as Adam's spear collided with his giant right eye, triggering another explosion of light and piercing one of the weakest parts of his body.

"STOP! I GIVE UP!" Ignatius shrieked in fear as Adam's flying body entered and scrambled up inside his socket. He desperately shook his head, attempting to expel the man until he heard his voice.

"Give up your life, fucker." He answered, defiance burning in his eyes as he charged and cut the tissues blocking his path to victory until the monster's brain appeared in his vision.

Then, tensing his muscles, he hurled his spear with all his strength, his joints popping under the strain.

Misha followed the elegant crystalline spear cut through the air in intense focus through Adam's eyes. Hope, relief, and accomplishment filled her cells as the weapon lodged itself deeply into the monster's brain... her brain.

Then, the soundless world she perceived at that moment recovered its natural right as...

BOOM

Ignatius' skull shook wildly as burning light engulfed everything, his grafted consciousness included. Simultaneously, his towering body fell limply to the ground, cut off from its command center, as a question thundered in his fading mind.

'How? How did I lose against a mad ant and a little girl?' Despite his perfect body, even if Misha messed with her genetic code, his loss was incomprehensible to him.

'How, how, how, HOOOOOOOOOW?!' His mind rumbled with the question, reluctance, anger and disbelief accompanying it until his consciousness turned dark... forever.