Just call me Thor

On the outskirts of the Forest of Truth, Cain remained in place, the countdown on his sphere flashing continuously.

[Countdown: 2 hours 58 minutes 36 seconds]

[Distance: 174.61 miles]

"Mike, maybe you should go ahead," Cain suggested, still needing to wait over ten more minutes before he could move on. "Three hours, nearly 180 miles, that's a huge challenge in itself. If we encounter test machines and get delayed, we'll be eliminated from this training!"

It was a hard-earned opportunity, and it couldn't end before it even started. Cain pointed ahead, earnestly saying, "You go first. I have Windstride Slash, my speed is definitely much faster than yours. Once my penalty time is over, I'll come find you."

Mike hesitated for a moment but finally nodded, "Okay." With that, he stepped forward, his shadow moving with him, dodging the 'attack' of the urine.

"Don't forget to watch out for the machines!" Cain reminded.

"Got it." Mike's figure disappeared into the jungle.

What Cain didn't know was that the rules of the Forest of Truth were quite special. Here, if one could gain the approval of a residual will and successfully harvest a relic, the relic would carry you directly across the entire Forest of Truth!

In other words, the 180-mile cross-country distance was not the ultimate test for the students. The real challenge was the awakened residual wills, the relics that needed to be conquered.

"Looking at it this way, the appearance of the machines is actually another form of selection."

Mike recalled the rules, the purpose of the entire exercise becoming clear in his mind.

To complete the exercise, one must traverse the Forest of Truth. Within the Forest, if a residual will is awakened, test machines appear, keeping the student in place, waiting for the next challenge.

However, the deeper one goes into the Forest of Truth, the stronger the residual wills become. The higher the tier of the relic, the more difficult it is to gain its approval!

The relationship between residual wills and supreme being seeds is one of mutual selection.

Residual wills want to choose more potential supreme being seeds, and supreme being seeds want more powerful relics. This means that the stronger one's talent, the further they can progress within the Forest of Truth!

Cain, with only a D-tier talent, was extremely lucky to awaken a residual will on the outskirts.

A C-tier talent Battle General once spent three days and nights in the Forest of Truth without awakening any residual will.

Thinking this, Mike glanced back.

"Huh, is that a long sword appearing next to Cain?"

"Not bad, if it gets approved, it would be a handy weapon."

Withdrawing his gaze, Mike continued forward. Behind him, a dozen pieces of equipment floated silently in mid-air, following Mike.

For each additional piece of equipment, Mike would bow slightly towards it, both as a thanks and an apology.

Thank you for your recognition. But sorry, I need to go deeper.

These pieces of equipment just followed Mike, neither too close nor too far, maintaining a fixed distance. Their presence was obscured by a shadow, invisible to others.

...

Not far from Mike, on the outskirts of the Forest of Truth, Jessica looked serious, gazing ahead, while a canary perched on her shoulder, preening its feathers.

"My grandfather said the Forest of Truth is a very special place. If you're not honest after entering, we might not have much at home, but we have plenty of poisonous things," she warned.

The canary instantly petrified, trembling all over, each feather screaming fear.

"Okay, I'm just teasing you, stay calm, nothing will happen. This is the safest place for all of humanity, I didn't expect the exercise to bring us here."

"I wonder how Mike and the others are doing."

After speaking, Jessica began taking items out of her storage space, neatly arranging them on the ground: flowers, candles, fruits, and other offerings.

After setting everything up, Jessica stepped back a few paces, her expression solemn.

"Jessica Morrow, descendant of the Morrow family, has come to visit the ancestors..."

Beneath her feet, this part of the forest buried forty-six members of the Morrow family, including two Battle Chiefs, seven Battle Generals, and thirty-seven Battle Soldiers. All forty-six names were engraved on the Morrow family's monument.

For the Morrow family, the Forest of Truth held special significance. Jessica's primary mission on this trip was not to harvest relics, but to honor her ancestors.

"Terraon Grandfather, my grandfather asked me to bring you a message. He said he's close to reaching Battle Lord level, feeling the signs of a breakthrough more and more clearly..."

"My father says he misses you too. He still remembers when you took him hunting in the forest as a child..."

"....."

As Jessica reminisced, deep in the Forest of Truth, several objects buried in the soil were awakened, emitting different glows.

Jessica, on the outskirts, felt a connection and looked forward, "Is this... calling me over?"

Jessica didn't move immediately. Only after paying respects to the forty-six Morrow ancestors did she start walking heavily towards the deeper parts of the Forest of Truth, searching for the relic calling her.

The canary on her shoulder still trembled. Not because of Jessica's earlier threat, but because it could sense that somewhere in this forest, a terrifying presence was nearby—a presence so fearsome that it made the soul shudder.

...

Deep in the Forest of Truth.

"Shadow Nine, can you still hold on?" Mike asked.

Behind him, the sky was darkened, as if obscured by clouds. Tens of thousands of pieces of equipment floated in the air, following Mike, unwilling to leave.

Among these pieces of equipment, many were relics of Battle Chiefs, and there were even relics of Battle Lords!

One of them was a half-arrow, rusty all over, yet capable of emitting an extremely sharp edge. Even a Battle Chief would feel pain in their eyes and tear up if they stared too long.

[An arrow shot by a Battle Chief in his dying moments, which killed two demon race Battle Lords]

These were relics almost at the Battle Lord tier, and even Shadow Nine found it difficult to conceal them. These relics, bearing the residual wills of human heroes and transformed by [Morpheus]'s rules, had greatly increased in strength.

In other words, Shadow Nine's efforts to conceal Battle Lord tier equipment were akin to hiding a Battle Lord's movements! And such equipment, following Mike, numbered as many as nine!

"Kid, you're making quite a stir," Shadow Nine's voice strained. "The previous two guys didn't have your capacity."

"Oh?" Mike keenly caught a piece of information—when the previous two supreme beings entered the Forest of Truth, was Shadow Nine also by their side?

"What was their situation like then?"

"Is now really the time to discuss this?" Shadow Nine almost wanted to jump out and shake Mike awake.

"Nine pieces of Battle Lord tier equipment, and you've barely walked one-tenth of the distance... by the time you reach the deepest part, I'm afraid the entire forest's residual wills will come to life!"

Shadow Nine was startled by his own guess. If such a commotion really broke out, he alone would definitely not be able to conceal it for long!

Just this forest alone buried over a hundred Battle Lords! By then, Mike's identity would be at risk of exposure.

Shadow Nine couldn't just seal the memories of everyone in the forest!

Moreover, the Forest of Truth was a special place. Those demon gods from the Abyssal Plane, even when making love, keep their attention on this place!

As for calling for reinforcements, that seemed like a viable plan.

Shadow Four, Five, Six, and Seven, indeed four Battle Lords were guarding the Forest of Truth.

But, before Thor gained Battle Lord tier strength, apart from the three supreme beings and the four including Shadow Nine, no one else could know Mike's true identity!

The growth experiences of the previous two supreme beings were the same. Without Battle Lord tier strength, any potential exposure of their identity would bring fatal consequences!

The first time Ares appeared on the frontline, a demon god from the Abyssal Plane came in person, sparing no expense, almost to the point of madness, all to try to kill Ares directly!

Shadow Seven had once suggested wanting to take a look at Thor. Shadow Five immediately snapped back.

If you go, you'll die! Killed by some big shot hidden in the shadows!

And Shadow Five's words, spoken in the presence of four Battle Lords, went unchallenged. They knew that not only did Shadow Nine have the capability to do such things, but he would actually do them!

Shadow Nine not only accompanied the rise of Supreme Being [Morpheus] but also protected the growth of [Ares] and [Apollo]. The blood of the powerful he had on his hands was more than the four combined!

He was not some kindly neighborly grandfather, but a ruthless executioner, a nightmare for his enemies!

Shadow Nine spoke again, "Kid, if you want to continue deeper, you'd better move at full speed."

"Even if all the Battle Lord's residual wills are awakened, I can cover you fully for 3 minutes!"

"Three minutes, enough for you to pick one."

After hearing Shadow Nine's words, Mike paused for a moment. "That's the only way."

If he continued to delay, Shadow Nine's consumption would only increase, and in the end, he might not even last a minute!

Better to take advantage of Shadow Nine's remaining strength, push through in one go, and make a quick decision!

Mike took a deep breath, put on his Lone Wolf mask, bowed in salute, and said solemnly, "Then I'll begin."

The next second, he left an afterimage in place and rushed towards the depths of the Forest of Truth!

Swipe—

Startled birds scattered in all directions, countless residual wills were awakened simultaneously, and, unbidden, joined Mike's procession, forming a torrent of steel!

Above in the clear sky, the situation was visible for miles, yet still only one white cloud floated there.

He was still watching.