Marik's Pov:
When I was sleeping today, I felt that someone has entered my illusionary field around me. First, I thought it might be some blockhead who got trapped here and will die like several others in this mist illusion after a while. Because if you don't have an extreme determination and a very strong will you will never be able to get out of this place, and will die of exhaustion on the infinite loop illusion due to mental breakdown.
Thousands of people has died like this and extremely few were able to achieve it. Yet those who achieved died because of standing in my presence alone, because they lost their determination and will just by looking at me.
It was the first time someone had make it out alive through my infinite loop illusion. That kid had an extraordinary determination as if he knew that he can get out of the illusion easily and there was nothing to worry. He kept walking without any sign of exhaustion and fear of unknown, as if he knew that there was nothing to be afraid of.
Although the time inside my illusion moves faster when compared to outer world. But the illusion still gives a real sense of time passing. It was already 15 days in my illusion when that boy made his way. He had been walking with his strong will for 15 days straight and never showing a sign of wavering on his path.
This really impressed me. It has been so many decades since I was last impressed like this. So, for the last test which was of standing in my presence, I tried to increase the pressure on his will, yet he still remained as unwavering as ever, while facing me and talking calmly.
After becoming an SS rank you can see through several truth and lies just by your intuition alone, yet due to some unknown reason my intuition was not working at him, I was not able to determine if he was saying truth or was lying when he said that he read about me in human records. So, I was even more surprised. This kid really has something special, but I can't pin-point what it is.
So, as to fulfill my promise I opened a gate to his destination, due to my illusion powers the person who go through my gate will find themselves at the place they wanted to go, It can be anywhere in this world. I wonder where that boy has gone, even I don't know about the destinations on the other side afterall. I just hope that boy knew where he wanted to go and will make it back alive.
'That kid was really a strange one'
Marik thought in his mind while sighing after remembering that strange encounter with the human kid. After a while the huge snake put down his head and closed its eyes to sleep again for a few decades waiting for the next person to visit him. Looking forward to more such interesting encounters.
Rio's Pov:
After walking towards the tomb, he was already in front of a huge gate. This gate was very big and seemingly made of iron it was showing signs of being rusted over a very long time. He started to remember everything from the novel about this place.
According to the novel Fade and Kira met Marik on their 6th day of walking through that infinite loop illusion and finally made their way towards the giant snake. Well you might wonder why it took so long for me to reach Marik when Fade and Kira was able to do the same in just 6 days, were they even more strong in their will than me? Nope, it's just that they are both protected by heavenly will and these illusions can't trap the heaven's children for long.
Due to which they were able to reach Marik so easily and so early even Marik himself was dumbfounded by this and was angered because it was the first time that his great illusion was not able to keep someone suffer the loop illusion. His pride as a great illusion master was hurt because of it. But then Kira mediated and was able to recognize the name of Marik.
She is not the main heroine for just being a mere harem member of Fade, she has a strong backing and she had been in presence of history books since childhood because of her father providing her with the best of his abilities. She has been always interested in history and was instantly able to recognize Marik because of her reading about this giant snake in the history books.
Kira Purposely praised Marik's past achievements of trapping the demon army in an eternal illusion due to which, Marik forgave them both and opened a gate for them to reach their destination. Although, Marik seems as a humble snake with a good personality but he takes extreme pride on his strength and achievements and will be pleased easily by praising him.
So, he was impressed from that little praise by Kira and let them both go, just because of this. Unlike me who was being tested by Marik to figure out if I was saying truth or was lying. It's a relief that my True immunity can block such unusual things used on me like the intuition to test me.
If not for this skill I really would have never been able to survive this illusion test. Afterall the heavenly luck will not help me to reach the end and Marik could have seen through my lies if not for this skill. It really was a close call this time, I could have been dead due to a single mistake this time.
But in the end, all of it was resolved without much of a problem occurring in my way. This also proves that the heavenly will is not really an absolute thing, it can be altered to some extent and your fate can be changed by sheer hard-work.
'Now that I think about it Fade and Kira really find this place by mere coincidence or can be said luck'
When Fade and Kira walked in the portal their destination was to get out of this forest and reach academy, but how could the heavenly will let them go without giving any reward for passing this place.
Suddenly, strange fluctuations happened in the portal and they were led to this tomb to collect the rewards for themselves. Really a great coincidence isn't it?
Rio sighed in his mind and looked at the huge words written above the iron gate. These words were written in some ancient language which he didn't knew but since he had read the novel, he knew that it meant "The Tomb of Wishes".
Kira was able to figure this out because knew of these ancient languages and stuffs. Her talent in history is even greater than her talent in being an excellent mage. She really is a walking book of history with so much knowledge.
'Tsk, that Fade really got a gem by his side. Well nothing can be done about that'
It's not like, I want to get involved with that girl. She is also a disaster magnet and will get in several disasters and Fade will save her life every time she gets stuck in these disasters. I don't have that much energy to spend on saving someone, not to mention, I am extremely selfish to the core. For the only purpose of getting these ancient texts translated, I can't waste so much time building a relation with her.
'Let's leave these things for later and do what I came here for'
After sorting out everything, Rio walked towards the gate and gave it a light push. The gate opened without much effort. There was a long corridor behind the gate. As Rio entered the corridor the huge gate closed behind him by itself, but Rio was not surprised by this, because he knew this is just a mere mechanism of that gate.
After walking continuously in that long corridor, Rio finally reached its end. There was a huge hall at the end, and a beautiful lake was present at the middle of this hall. Looking at the Right side of the Lake a Grave was present there. Rio walked towards the grave and observed it for a while. A thought came to his mind:
'So, this is the grave of the greatest Magician Ivan of all time. Such Irony'
It was said that Ivan was the greatest magician recorded in history and was capable of destroying continents with a mere spell. He was one of the few people who had reached the peak of SS grade and were already qualified to breakthrough the limit and reach a new realm.
Yet the great bottleneck hindered his way to ascension and he failed to ascend, which lead him to his death like every other person's who tried the same before him. In the end he used his last magic to create a separate dimension for his grave. This dimension was extremely well hidden and only by passing the test of Marik can be entered.
Ivan and Marik has been friends from a very long time and were like real brothers to each other. Marik has been protecting his brothers grave since decades. He really deserves the title of the great holy beast for his unwavering loyalty to his long dead friend.
This lake is the true lake of Wishes, it was condensed by the magic power and essences that escaped Ivan after his death and is capable of fulfilling 5 wishes at most. All this was written on the huge stone placed near Ivan's grave in the ancient language. Of course, Rio can't read it but he just knew about it because Kira translated it for Fade in the novel.
The lake in the outside world is just a fake one, this lake right here is the true lake of wishes. It can fulfill your wishes in accordance to the world laws. Although, it has several restrictions on it, but this lake is a real treasure.
'But the problem is that one person can only get one wish and that wish can't be too ridiculous like asking for immortality or something, it can only be under the scope of SS rank'
Right now, this lake hasn't been used by anyone yet and still have all its 5 wishes intact. So, there won't be a problem even if I make a wish here. Afterall I can't do any harm to this place. This Place is made up of the essence of an SS rank individual. It can only be destroyed by someone who himself is an SS rank, only if he was able to pass through Marik first.
When Fade and Kira used this lake, they both asked for advancement in their knowledge or strength as a mage. Fade got what he wanted because heavenly luck helped him and his fire magic was evolved into the High rank one. Giving a huge boost to his strength. After which he was capable of defeating a D rank while still being an E rank himself.
Kira got the advancement in her knowledge about history and other magical phenomenon's from the memory of the great mage Ivan. Leading her to become even better in her understanding of different magical phenomenon's.
'I wonder what will be the reward for me. Afterall you can only choose knowledge or strength and the rest will depend on the lake; reward will be random and can be anything.'
Rio walked toward the lake and concentrated his mind to wish for strength, since he already has the knowledge of future from the novel, he doesn't need that for now and strength is more important for him at this time. If he didn't increase his strength as soon as possible Fade will catch up to him very quickly.
'I wish for strength!'
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Author's Note:- This is a poll, what do you want Rio to get.
1. A Sword- [Leads to the end of this adventure. Will focus on the academy more.]
2. A Skill- [Will lead to a new journey after the next events.]
3. Increase in Swordsmanship- [will lead to the way of interacting the other characters.]
Tell me in the comments about your opinion. Story will be based on your opinion, be careful to choose what you like about the story. Thank you for your support.