{Argus's POV}
The lightning hit Argus, and his body, once restored to its peak, immediately began to burn under the relentless assault. His skin darkened, rapidly turning into charred remnants. A sickening scent filled the air, the unmistakable odor of burning flesh. In mere moments, the lightning had scorched his skin, and it wasn't long before it began roasting his muscles and bones, relentlessly pressing deeper into his body.
As the heavenly lightning entered, it ravaged everything in its path, destroying his internal organs. His innate regeneration had already kicked in, desperately trying to repair the damage, but it was barely effective only managing about a quarter of its usual healing capacity. Perhaps it was because the heavenly lightning carried a healing reduction effect, or maybe it was due to Argus's already exhausted state.
The lightning didn't stop there. It probed further, even brushing against his soul. Though the damage there was minimal, it was clear that the soul had not been its primary target. Instead, the real damage was about to begin.
The heavenly lightning completed its initial task of devastating his body, and its true purpose revealed itself. It zeroed in on the three dark purple cores floating within Argus's solar plexus. Without hesitation, the lightning shifted its focus, attacking the cores with far more destructive force than anything Argus had subjected them to earlier. Its goal was clear-not to destroy just two cores, as would normally happen when breaking the heavens' rules, but to obliterate all three entirely.
On the outside, Argus's body continu burn, his charred skin barely containing the fury of the heavens within. His usual stoic expression was gone, replaced by a mask of anger, even with the Sovereign's Apathy skill still active. The unfairness of the situation boiled within him.
The heavenly lightning, which was supposed to be composed of 90% destructive energy and 10% healing energy, now felt like it had turned into 99% destruction and only 1% healing. Almost 100% destruction. And instead of the heavens following the "rule" of only removing two cores to leave him with one, it seemed hellbent on destroying them all. The heavens had shifted the terms of the trial, and Argus was furious at their audacity.
'You want to destroy me?! Like I would let you!'
Thanks to Argus's skill, his concentration ever faltered, even as his body struggled to regenerate under the relentless onslaught of the lightning. He forced his body to repair itself, his muscles trembling as his skin stitched itself back together, only to be burned again by the heavenly force. Argus had already settled into a lotus position, allowing his focus to deepen while the bolts continued raining down from the dark clouds above, each one striking him with unforgiving precision.
Then, without warning, the barrage ceased.
Argus glanced inwardly at his cores. They were covered in mirror-like cracks, but no energy or color seeped from them, unlike during a core upgrade. This meant only one thing-his cores were on the brink of shattering completely. If those cracks filled, he would lose everything.
Just as he began to feel a sense of relief, thinking the tribulation had finally ended, his instincts flared violently.
"What?!"
His gaze shot back to the sky, his eyes widening in disbelief. A new bolt of heavenly lightning was already descending, brighter and more powerful than the last. Argus's anger spiked, his frustration mounting, but he knew there was nothing he could do but endure. The heavens were merciless.
This bolt was nearly twice as powerful as the first. Not only did it target his already fragile cores, but his body as well. The lightning tore through his flesh, bones, and organs, which were already roasted beyond recognition. His charred form had barely held together from the first strike, but this time it felt as though the very fabric of his being was unraveling.
Argus's body convulsed, the pain excruciating, yet his focus remained sharp. He fought back with everything he had, forcing his regeneration to keep up, his very will battling against the force of th
heavens. He couldn't afford to lose.
Argus felt his body on the verge of collapsing, every nerve screaming in agony s the lightning continued its merciless assault. With no other option, he unleashed his trump card.
'Rebirth!'
The moment he activated the skill, his body began to heal at an astonishing speed, even as the heavenly lightning continued to strike him. His charred skin, broken bones, and destroyed organs all mended rapidly. Muscles knitted themselves together, his lungs filled with air once more, and the burnt flesh was restored to pristine condition.
In the blink of an eye, his body was back at its peak, stronger and more resilient than before. His stamina surged back to full capacity, fueling his regeneration further.
But Rebirth came with its limits. While his physical body had been completely restored, his cores, soul, and mental strength remained damaged. The three dark purple cores in his solar plexus still carried deep cracks, their mirror-like surfaces dangerously close to shattering. His soul, though recovering slightly, was still fragile. And mentally, the toll of enduring such immense pain weighed heavily on him.
Still, Argus knew it was enough. His restored body bought him more time. The heavenly lightning, though relentless, would now take longer to tear through his internal organs and bones. His peak stamina provided a much-needed buffer, allowing him to hold out.
As his skin began to blacken and burn once again, Argus gritted his teeth, enduring the torment. He had no choice but to survive-this tribulation was far from over.
Argus had lost track of time, unable to gauge how many minutes or hours had passed since the second wave of heavenly lightning struck him. His body was once again charred, but the damage was less severe than during the first wave, thanks to his Rebirth skill and regained stamina.
His soul, though slightly injured, was not in immediate danger. However, his three cores were in critical condition. The once solid dark purple surfaces were now riddled with cracks and chips, a clear sign that they were close to shattering. If they did break apart, he would be reduced to a mortal with no chance of further cultivation.
Argus released a sigh of relief, momentarily feeling hopeful. He prepared to stand when his intuition flared with a deafening urgency. Every hair on his body stood on end, warning him of another incoming wave of tribulation—one that would be twice as powerful as the second wave.
Despite the overwhelming danger, Argus's expression remained cold and unyielding. His gaze, icy and resolute, was fixed not just on the falling lightning but on the very essence of the heavenly tribulation. His heterochromatic eyes, one black and one red, shone with a chilling intensity.
"Do your best to kill me! And if I! Argus Orpheus! Survive! I will one day make you submit to my will!
In that moment, Argus realized that this was not merely a trial but a tribulation meant to erase his existence. His anger surged as he grappled with the injustice of it all. The heavens had cast him into this hellish trial not just to test him but to annihilate him completely. With his resolve hardened and fury blazing in his eyes, Argus prepared to face the next wave with anger.
After his defiant oath, Argus felt the tribulation's power surge dramatically, as if it had been insulted by a mere mortal. In an instant, he was enveloped by a torrent of searing lightning. The deafening roar of thunder, while immense, failed to drown out his words as they echoed through the forest, reverberating as if reaching the heavens themselves.
The third wave of heavenly lightning struck with overwhelming force, targeting every aspect of Argus. His body, soul, and cores.
The third wave of heavenly lightning struck with devastating intensity. Argus's body was engulfed in a searing blaze, his skin blackened and split open, muscles reduced to smoldering ruins, and bones feeling as if they were being shattered under the immense force.
His soul, previously resilient, was now battered and flickering under the relentless assault, its essence strained to the brink. The three cores, once radiating with vibrant energy, were heavily cracked and splintered. Chunks of their structure crumbled away, and their light dimmed under the continuous barrage, threatening to shatter entirely.
Argus could only use his Physique's Rebirth skill once a month, so he couldn't restore his body to its peak. His mind, repeatedly pushed to its limits, was on the verge of exhaustion. The only force sustaining him was his seething anger toward the heavens.
'Endure!'
Argus commanded himself through the agony.
'You can do it!'
'Survive!'
'Survive!'
The word "survive" echoed like a mantra in his mind, fueling his will to keep going. He had lost track of time, consumed entirely by the struggle to endure.
Finally, the heavenly lightning ceased. The dark clouds above began to disperse, and the world slowly returned to calm. Yet, Argus remained anchored to his resolve, focused solely to survive.
Suddenly, a translucent magic circle materialized, and a Demi-Human Wolf emerged from it. Without hesitation, she embraced Argus tightly and began to weep.
"Master! It's over now! You survived!"
The hug stirred Argus from his intense focus. A weary smile crept across his face.
"I survived..."
"Yes, Master, you survived. You can rest now. I'll take care of you."
Argus nodded, his eyes growing heavy.
"L-leave... This place immediately."
Argus said as he drifted into sleep, the weight of his exhaustion finally lifted.