“This item will take you into an illusion trial where your true strength will be tested against the strongest opponent within you. Who or what you will face will vary, depending on your level of strength and your understanding of the meaning of strength.” Elysia put a sheet of rune paper on the table, then handed one to Erina.

“I want to try it. Allow me to try it.” Erina held the rune paper with burning determination.

“This rune will be effective for double use. So, everyone will get a turn. Mio, take it and start your trial with Erina.” Elysia gave her order, and Mio immediately picked up the rune paper on the table.

“I am ready.” Mio glanced at Erina, conveying her full readiness with a confident look.

“Please lean back in a comfortable position, then close your eyes and channel your spiritual power onto the paper in your hand. Your consciousness will be taken somewhere for a trial. Please pass all the tests and you will know about your true power, including your limits. ” Elysia conveyed her instructions.

Erina and Mio followed the instructions without hesitation. As soon as they channeled their spiritual power into the paper in their hands, their consciousness immediately left their bodies and entered the illusion realm within the rune paper.

“???” Erina found herself in a dark realm shrouded in fog.

The whole place gradually turned into a majestic golden throne room. Plain gold flags hung on various sides of the room, a long golden carpet stretched out on the floor as if waiting for someone to arrive, and golden twinkles shone brightly with a warm glow.

However, the place felt so empty and lonely.

*Tap* *Tap* *Tap*

The sound of footsteps came closer. A graceful lady with golden eyes and deep brown hair came to the throne from the side entrance. She was clad in an elegant and graceful gold dress, gold hair ornaments, and gold gloves.

“!?” Erina widened her eyes when she saw the mature version of herself just sitting on the throne, staring at her with cold eyes.

“Kneel before me.” A cold yet authoritative voice echoed throughout the room, forcing Erina to kneel down.

Yet, Erina tried her best not to submit without knowing anything. She struggled to stay on her feet, but a sudden pressure forced her to kneel.

“Who are you? Were you part of Elysia’s trial?” Erina gritted her teeth and asked. She was upset because she lost the power struggle in her first test.

“I am you, the existence of your dreams. An entity without ability flaws like you. I am the embodiment of your deep desire, something you have long buried. An opportunity has come to manifest my form to meet you. Minamoto Erina, you are truly a disappointment.” The mature Erina rested her cheek against her hand.

“Do you think you are perfect? ​​Disappointing? You expect too much of what I don’t even know.” Erina tried her best to stand up.

“I’m not done talking. Get down on your knees.” The mature Erina forced Erina to kneel once more. She then got up from her throne and approached Erina.

“You still have too many flaws. You don’t deserve to meet me and challenge me in the state you are in.” The mature Erina put her hand on Erina’s cheek.

“!?” Erina widened her eyes as she realized she was slowly turning into a golden statue.

“Wait! If I’m not worthy to face my trial, can you tell me my flaws?” Erina immediately called out to ask with some nervousness and uneasiness.

“You want me to feed you with a golden spoon? Why don’t you try to find out for yourself?” The mature Erina raised her eyebrows.

She then considered a few things and sighed. “The one who made me manifest might want you to see me, your deep desire of dreams. Well, I’ll tell you a little bit so you can prepare yourself before seeing me next time.”

The mature Erina stood up, letting Erina, who was already half a golden statue, remain on the floor kneeling.

“You treat your strongest power as a curse instead of embracing it. You are a perfection seeker, but you can’t start at the top since you’re at the bottom. You can’t reach someone at peak just because you have a good relationship with her.

Ask her to release your ability seal. Let your power get out of control and tame it to the best of your ability. You have almost no experience because you gave up so long ago. Ask yourself again about all your confusion and find the answer in your subconscious. You can come to me again when you’re not so pathetic anymore.” The mature Erina said what she needed to say to Erina.

“!!!” Erin widened her eyes. She could interpret all that enlightenment.

Unfortunately, the mature Erina suddenly snapped her finger, turning Erina completely into a golden statue.

*cracks*

Erina’s golden statue cracked and turned into gold powder. The mature Erina then turned around and walked away back to her throne.

“You don’t deserve to be me. If only I could take over and influence you, that would be so much the better. Unfortunately, I’m just an illusory projection of your deep desire of dreams.” The mature Erina muttered as her entire existence slowly vanished like an illusion blown by the wind.

The illusory realm then collapsed, and Erina’s consciousness was thrown back into her body.

*Gasp!*

Erina gasped and opened her eyes. She was panting and broke into a cold sweat.

“Welcome back. Hmm, that’s really fast, Erina. It hasn’t even been two minutes. So, how about your trial?” Elysia greeted Erina, somewhat surprised.

“I failed, Ellie. I died.” Erina looked at her hands. They were shaking, and she felt cold. She felt a death just now.

“Is that so? That’s fine. You only need to go beyond your weakness and break through your limit if you want to try to reach the greater height.” Elysia tried to reassure Erina. She had expected this result because she knew Erina wasn’t ready to meet a subconscious heart demon.

“I finally understand, Ellie. I need some time alone to question all my confusion one more time and find out the answer.” Erina lowered her head slightly.

“Take your time.” Elisa just nodded.

“Ellie, can you take off your ability seal you put on me?” Erina glanced at Elysia.

“Your golden touch will be out of control again. It might be even worse than when your ability first awakened. Why do you want that all of a sudden?” Elysia blinked her eyes in confusion. She didn’t know who Erina met in that trial. Still, she could see another light of determination shining in Erina’s eyes.

“It’s a part of me. I want to make amends with my own ability and try to know more about myself. That is my treasured power, not a curse.” Erina expressed her determined intention.

“If you’ve made up your mind. Is that okay, Sir Kenji, Sir Mitsuzuka? Erina wants to deal with her weakness and needs some isolation time. You need to look after her and help her get through it all.” Elysia asked permission from Erina’s parents.

“If Erina has already decided, then feel free to do so.” Kenji nodded slightly.

“It will be fine. Erina will be in indoor cultivation until she masters her own ability then. We will arrange everything.” Mitsuzuka rubbed her head. He again needed to avoid turning into a lump of gold by avoiding Erina.

Elysia glanced at Mio, who was still on trial, then did something to a little seal on Erina’s body. She let the energy flow in Erina’s body return to normal without interference.

“!!!” Erina felt the energy flows throughout her body, suddenly rushing. It was like a rushing stream from a newly opened dam door.

The rune paper in Erina’s hand suddenly turned gold, along with her gloves. It then spread to her dress and sofa. Everything turned to gold and shocked everyone.

“!!!” Kenji stood up immediately, and Mitsuzuka jumped while carrying Mio to avoid the golden transformation.

“See, it’s getting very out of control and dangerous. You’d better isolate yourself in this penthouse. Uhm, it’s closed indoor cultivation. Are you sure you want to leave it like this?” Elysia ignored the golden transformation even though it had already turned her dress into gold. However, her body was not affected by Erina’s ability after all.

“Yes, I’ve decided.” Erina took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She then got up and sat on the carpet.

The carpet was slowly turning gold, but it didn’t affect the floor yet. Erina tried to stay calm and control her golden touch from going wild.

“…” Elysia carefully took the golden rune paper from Erina’s hand before handing it to Kenji. “You want to try to face a trial of the strongest enemy within you?”

“All right. Let me try to go beyond my limits by facing my trial.” Kenji received the gold paper and did as Elysia had previously instructed.

“Well, what about me?” Mitsuzuka pointed at his face and then put Mio back on the sofa.

“You need to wait for Mio to finish first. The rune paper can be used twice.” Elysia smiled faintly in reply. She then glanced at Erina. This trial’s lite version had a significant impact on Erina, apparently.

“Well then.” Mitsuzuka then sat back down and waited for his turn. He wanted to know who or what he would face in his trial later.

That night, Erina’s core family members got a chance to face their trial. Even though it was the lite version, only Erina failed to pass the tests.

Mio barely beat her heart demon, but she succeeded nonetheless.

Erina felt like a failure, but she strengthened her will to become stronger. The first thing she had to do was embrace her own power.

She finally knew why she wanted to reach Elysia at all costs… It was because she was the perfection seeker and found perfection in Elysia.

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