Transcendent Gene
Chapter 222: Simulated Riftworld [8]

Chapter 222: Simulated Riftworld [8]

Whoooosh!

The winds were especially strong. They were blowing from the other side of the mountain and mostly one-directional, so Gio and his competitors didn’t need to deal with it as much when they were racing to the peak.

However, standing here, Gio didn’t know if he’d be able to keep himself upright without support.

Luckily, he did not have to.

The moment Gio removed his barrier, another hue of warm energy covered his body, removing the hazards of the world around him.

It was hard to miss the one who created it. In fact, it was the first thing Gio saw when he peeled his eyes away from the horizon to his side. It was perched peacefully on one side of the peak, but when it noticed that it had a visitor, it immediately flew to the center.

Its body was big enough to block any winds that could possibly hit Gio.

’This is what makes monsters scary.’

He looked up at it with hardened eyes.

It didn’t look like anything he’d seen before. The closest comparison he could make was to a bat.

Its wings were massive, able to span the entire half-a-kilometer-long mountain peak with ease. They were curved crescents adorned with jagged horns that looked like the candles on a candelabra. Their foundations were a deep and opaque purple color, while their main body was made up of veiny, beige-ish skin. They were outlined by an almost metallic golden border, giving the creature an air of regality.

It stood on two feet with talons almost as long as Gio was tall. Its chest was covered in a tuft of grey feathers that looked like fur, and its head...

’It looks more like an alien than a creature.’

It was almost humanoid yet not humanoid at all. Its face itself could be mistaken for that of a human’s if one ignored its pale greyish skin and the purple bulbs that were its eyes. Its head was like the helmet one would expect a robot warrior to wear, a crown of purple, gold, and black that amplified the regality of its form.

It gazed down at Gio with those eyes devoid of anything like emotion. Its energy was still wrapped around its body, and he could clearly feel as it scanned his body and assessed him.

This was the King of the Mountain. This was the being that, in the distant past, won the same race Gio did at a much, much higher level against monsters that could turn him into dust without batting an eye.

There was nothing for him to do.

There was nothing he could do.

Communication was impossible from the start. Monsters in Riftworlds weren’t the same as the ones acting on Earth. Fighting was also not the answer, as was made particularly clear by now.

Gio stood there, covered in the creature’s light, and stared into its eyes without fear or hostility.

He knew that this being was fundamentally opposed to him. He knew that in any other circumstance, he would not accept such a clear condition.

’If I was the one who found this Riftworld...’

If he was the one who found it, nothing would have been left alive by the time he was done.

But this was a Riftworld of the past. He didn’t know what happened to it in the end, but he could assume that the monsters within were either killed or banished. Otherwise, the Riftworld would still be plaguing Earth to this very day.

The one in front of him was just an illusion. It was a product of the simulated realm. There was no need to display his hostility.

HUMMMMM–!

A low sound came from its mouth, vibrating through Gio’s body and into his very soul. Like a whale call, but with the presence of a deity. It was that kind of sound, representing the will of the one who ruled this mountain.

To say he wasn’t intimidated was a lie, but he didn’t let it show. He showed dignity in front of the one who was testing his qualifications and freely observed its form, not afraid to offend it in the slightest.

’It’s old.’

Its age didn’t show at first glance, but became clear upon further inspection.

The fleshy skin in its wings was wrinkled. They were majestic when spread, yet didn’t seem like they could sustain much flight.

Its body was large and it emanated an aura of power, especially when it called to him, yet the warm energy around his body felt like it was withering away far too quickly.

[It has been 500 years.]

The words were not spoken or communicated in any way. Still, Gio heard them in his ears.

[Successor, seize my crown.]

He wondered if he was hallucinating until the massive monster folded its wings inward and bent its body, lowering its head to his level.

That head was almost as tall as his entire body. It was truly an absurdly large creature.

Gio walked towards it with slow and careful steps. When he was close enough to touch it, it slowly bent its head down, allowing him to place his hand on its forehead.

His energy was drawn out on its own. The Aether in his body connected with the Aether it held. Its eyes widened in something like realization, unbeknownst to Gio, and in the next moment...

Xiu!

Something flew into the air and exploded into a beautiful burst of colors. The monster in front of Gio was covered in light as it slowly shrunk into a small ball and sunk into his hand.

A new kind of aura flowed through his body.

The extreme nature of the environment could no longer affect him despite the disappearance of his shield.

When he looked off the side of the peak, he felt the mountain itself calling to him.

He was its King.

This was his domain.

He was–

[Stage Clear!]

A holographic window appeared, cutting off his reverie. At the same time, it appeared before every other student in the realm.

Everything froze. From the winds to the monsters to the avalanches of snow, everything froze.

Shiro, who’d been stuck in combat, was suddenly freed from his obligations all at once. When he saw the floating screen in front of his face, he looked up at the peak with raised eyebrows.

There stood a man adorned by a crown of virtual blue energy. His eyes were starry bulbs that seemed to contain the world within them.

’Damn,’ he thought with a grin.

’Now I wish I tried harder. That looks like it feels fucking sick.’

Sadly, he wouldn’t get the chance to reach that position this time.

The sight of the new King of the Mountain was the last thing he saw before his vision was covered in white.

One by one, the students’ bodies turned into particles of light, ending with Gio, who played the biggest role in the Riftworld.

When they opened their eyes again, they were back inside simulation capsules at the First Institute.

As for Gio specifically...

He came face to face with the Professor who was waiting for him.

And truth be told, he couldn’t tell if the look on his face was fury or admiration.

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