'At this point, the strength and skill you've shown throughout the last six trials have undoubtedly cemented your place as a member of the Gates of Awakening,' the voice said.

'With that, it is understandable if you were to end your journey through the nine trials right now. After all, the rewards and perks you've obtained so far would undoubtedly allow you to head further no matter what.'

'However, that does not mean that you could ignore the prospects that the final set of trials hold.'

'For attempting these trials would allow you to realize where your strength would ultimately lie.'

'At the pinnacle… or at the pinnacle beyond pinnacles.'

After saying these words, the voice went silent for a bit, prompting Valyr to wonder whether if this was where the explanation ended.

Though, not even a minute later, the voice spoke once more as it continued where it left off.

'The trials leading up to the final bottleneck is quite bizarre,' said the voice. 'Gone are the monotony and predictability of the six trials you've passed.'

'Instead, it pits you against the images of a few select members that have joined the Gates of Awakening in the past, duking it out in their specialty until one side admits defeat.'

'Many of those that strove to reach the final bottleneck mentioned that the difficulty of the final set of trials is a huge step above the second set.'

'In fact, some have even said that the increase in difficulty was so perverse that it made them wonder if such a set of trials was even made to be cleared in the first place.'

'Naturally, it was made to be cleared,' the voice told him.

'But only those who have the necessary strength and skill would be able to do so.'

'With that, would you continue to forge ahead and strive to reach the final bottleneck, reaping its glorious rewards?

'Or shall you remain content with what you have obtained and proceed as a true member of the Gates of Awakening?'

'There shall be no discussion of which choice among the two is the wisest.'

'What only matters is the choice you eventually make, trial taker.'

"I mean… the choice is quite obvious."

After having listened to the voice's entire spiel regarding the third and final bottleneck, Valyr would be lying if he said that he wasn't slightly dissuaded by the voice.

After all, it had mentioned quite often that the difficulty of the second set of trials were a far cry from how difficult the final set of trials were.

Not only that, but it had also told him multiple times that there was no problem in him not attempting the final set of trials at all.

However, with how most, if not all the trials he had passed so far were quite monotonous to him…

Valyr felt like he might be able to create a miracle.

"Then again, if I didn't have the courage to charge towards the final set of trials, then the quest I just got would undoubtedly leave me no choice," said the young man with a wry chuckle as he sent a command to the system.

Ding!

[Gates of Awakening' Trial (3)] (Linked Quest) (Time-limited Quest)

Difficulty: B

The Gates of Awakening… description has been omitted.

Addendum: Having completed the sixth trial with flying colors, you have firmly planted yourself as part of the upper echelon of the Gates of Awakening in both strength and skill.

However, there still stands one sky above you, which is the third and final bottleneck that makes up the Gates of Awakening's nine trials.

Though you have been told multiple times that it is fine for you to concede defeat and claim the rewards that you have yet to claim, you have already made up your mind to aim for the peak while faced with the second bottleneck.

With that, there is no turning back.

Only forward.

Quest Objectives:

> Clear the Gates of Awakening's nine trials (0/1)

Quest Rewards:

> Access to the third level of the Gates of Awakening's True Blacksmith Archive

> Access to the Hall of Legends and Myths

> Increased level of authority within the Gates of Awakening

> Access to a full set of memories from the First Forger

> ??? (Additional rewards dependent on performance during the quest)

> Access to Gates of Awakening' Trial (4)

Quest Penalties:

> Level - 15

> Teleportation to the inheritance's entrance

[Note: This quest can only be obtained and completed within the Four Pillars' Inheritance. Leaving the inheritance is considered as forfeiting the quest.]

"Never mind… the quest was actually going to force me to clear the final bottleneck no matter what."

Sucking in a breath of cold air as he read through the description of his newly obtained quest.

Unlike the two previous quests he had, there were no objectives for him anymore to choose from.

However, the quest did make up for it by tacking on a couple more rewards, such as access to a building called the Hall of Legends and Myths.

'I guess the lack of choices has something to do with the fact that I'll be able to view the full memory of the First Forger,' thought the young man as he read through the quest a bit more, trying to make sense of the current situation.

In the end, he closed the screen in front of him with a faint nod before telling the voice that he would proceed onto the final bottleneck.

In response, the voice gave him some time to prepare, allowing him to send a couple messages to the others in his party chat.

Naturally, he told the four that he had just finished the second set of trials and was moving onto the final set.

Unsurprisingly, the four were left in utter shock at how quick Valyr was in catching up to their progress.

After all, it was not long ago that the four said that they were still stuck at the fifth trial.

And now, just as the others felt like a couple of days had passed, Valyr had surpassed even their own progress?

"You better be careful," said Hal through his message. "I've been told that the final set of trials is tremendously difficult."

"Aren't you going to tackle it as well?" replied Valyr back. "Both of us should be careful if that's the case."

After saying a few more words to the four, the young man closed the party chat as he let out a faint sigh.

At the same time, the monotonous voice began to resound throughout the trial grounds once more.

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