Chapter 33: Her prime

Half a month later.

The training was nearing its end.

Physical fitness couldn’t be improved overnight—at least in the short term, such training had already reached its limit.

During the final week, she wore a thirty-kilogram weighted suit and was permitted to use first-level Enhancement Technique.

Selina didn’t know how she had managed to get through this month.

Audrey gradually began to fulfill her duties as a saint, so she hadn’t appeared for many days.

A physician cannot heal themselves; her healing spells had little effect on her own body, and the other priests had their own work.

So for those few days, she had to settle for letting Hajime rub her legs.

The last day had no training.

According to Vika, it was time to test the results of this period.

Yes, it was that nine-story tower again.

Pushing open the great door, she swept her gaze and saw many familiar faces.

They were the ones who had ranked high during the tower challenge that day, each with their own trainers standing behind them.

The twins were also among them, though their trainers were clearly two very different types of people.

“Hi~ Long time no see! How have you been lately?”

The girl approached Selina and said.

“Last time we didn’t get a chance to introduce ourselves. I’m Nicole, and this is my twin brother Nick.”

“You’re the one who was born later, aren’t you?”

Nick complained from behind.

“Nyah nyah, whatever! Just a few seconds difference—negligible!”

Nicole retorted childishly.

Selina tilted her head.

She had no siblings, so she found this dynamic curious.

The fact that they came to greet her voluntarily showed they acknowledged her strength.

Just then, a girl rushed in front of Selina and pointed at her nose.

“I lost to you last time, but I won’t lose this time! Remember my name—I’m Coletta!”

With that, she turned and scurried back behind her trainer.

So was she shy or outgoing?

There were all sorts of weird personalities here.

‘I sigh inwardly,’ she thought as she scanned everyone.

Counting them, there weren’t that many.

It seemed some had been weeded out.

Those who chose martial paths this time were basically all here.

Among so many people, only the twins likely had a chance to become paladins.

She herself barely qualified.

Bishop Ferens cleared his throat and looked at everyone.

“Since everyone is here, let’s begin this stage’s test. If the previous stage tested your talent and perseverance, this one tests your insight and ability to break through your limits.”

“You’ve all undergone a certain degree of training. As warriors, it’s time to transcend yourselves! This test won’t eliminate anyone, but the results will influence our evaluation of you!”

The bishop’s speech was a bit lackluster—probably due to his age.

“Without further delay, proceed with the test in order.”

As he finished, his two assistants opened a door.

Inside the room lay a capsule-shaped—bed?

It looked like the cryo-pods often seen in sci-fi movies.

There was only one, so they wouldn’t all test together.

Then, the elderly nun who was the bishop’s assistant explained the device to everyone.

“This is a relic from an ancient civilization unearthed two years ago, discovered by chance while building the Defense Bunker. When a user lies inside this capsule, they fall asleep naturally and enter a special dream.”

“In the dream, you either defeat the enemy or are defeated by it. That enemy is yourself—your peak self, using all your techniques and abilities, and even executing some skills better than you do.”

“Don’t be careless. While you know your opponent, your opponent also knows everything about you. So, who wants to go first?”

“I’ll go first!”

Nicole said eagerly.

The lively girl charged ahead, as if nothing could stop her with her powerful talent.

As she entered the room, Bishop Ferens produced a crystal ball.

That thing should be able to show what was happening in the dream.

The crystal ball emitted a huge beam of light, projecting onto a white wall.

Wasn’t this just a projector?

‘Selina complained inwardly.’

Soon, images appeared on the white screen.

Nicole’s attire was different from before she went in.

She wore a set of lightweight armor.

Selina recognized it as standard Church equipment—Vika had shown it to her before.

Nicole was surrounded by mist, and as the mist gradually dissipated, a figure identical to her emerged.

If there was any difference, the fake had lifeless eyes and a blank expression.

Nicole’s expression was a mix of tension and nervousness.

From their expressions, it was easy to tell which was real.

The moment the fake appeared, she raised her sword and charged at Nicole.

Nicole instinctively stepped back, blocking with her own blade.

Even though all attributes were the same, Nicole felt the strike was incredibly heavy.

She retreated while defending, barely managing to evade the attacks.

Some of the techniques were even more refined than her own.

Nicole realized she couldn’t stay so passive; she had to turn defense into offense.

But the fake also knew her thoughts.

For a while, they were locked in a stalemate.

Gradually, Nicole regained her rhythm, stopped being nervous, and after some effort, she finally stopped being purely defensive.

Just as everyone thought she would break through and turn the tables, The fake suddenly unleashed a finishing move.

Nicole was struck down in one blow.

“Wasn’t it said the two sides have equal abilities? What’s going on?”

Nick asked anxiously.

Bishop Ferens said coldly, “Your opponent learns all the techniques you’ve mastered—including those you’ve only half-learned. Incomplete techniques are executed in their complete form. So everyone participating next should recall if they have any half-learned moves.”

Everyone broke into a cold sweat.

Even that genius had failed—could they really succeed?

Nicole emerged from the room pale-faced, but she still smiled playfully at Nick.

“I lost. Don’t you lose too.”

Nick frowned slightly.

If nothing special happened, he was next.

Soon, his figure appeared on the screen.

He held a long spear and faced his counterpart.

Within an hour, he won by a narrow margin.

When he came out, he glanced at Nicole.

“Don’t get cocky. I’ll catch up next time!”

Nicole said puffing, but the smile at the corner of her mouth didn’t stop.

Nick’s performance gave everyone hope.

If they conserved stamina and advantages, maybe they could take down their copies.

But the following results were not just disappointing—they were disastrous.

No one else won except Nick.

They all lost to themselves.

The last one was Selina.

Everyone’s eyes were on her.

In theory, she was the most likely besides Nick to break through.

Based on her recent performance, Vika also thought it wouldn’t be hard for her to surpass her limits.

Her insight was probably the highest among this group—there was no reason she should lose.

Selina’s expression turned grim.

Some instinct told her she most likely couldn’t pass the test.

But there was no turning back now.

She lay inside the capsule and soon fell asleep.

Outside the room, everyone stared at the screen.

They saw Selina’s figure, wearing a modified nun’s habit.

The same style as the Sin-Redeeming Sister—maximum flexibility.

In one hand a long sword, in the other a short blade—a rather uncommon weapon combination.

As the mist cleared, her fake should appear.

But when they saw the figure in the mist, a question mark popped into everyone’s mind.

Who was that?

Why didn’t it look like Selina?

Shouldn’t it be her copy?

Selina stared at the familiar figure and was certain she wouldn’t pass this trial.

Top-tier equipment from the server rankings.

It was a full set of legendary black-gold armor, and the weapon was a jet-black spear.

The Spear of Darkness—Si Lan.

Her black hair was tied back, her face beautiful—it had taken her three hours to customize.

As for strength…

At least at the level of a ninth-tier.

Whether it was an illusion or not, Selina felt the copy seemed to smile.

Regardless, she was done for…