I Got A Title: Lord Of The Time!
Chapter 84: Riddles Challenge — 3

Chapter 84: Riddles Challenge — 3

Unfortunately, the local mechanism worked extremely slowly, so the group had to endure until it extended the transparent blue platform forward again.

When the new section of the platform appeared, where everyone could stand calmly, the group began to wait for a new riddle from the mechanism, while observing the spiked wall, which was moving toward them at an ordinary human pace!

"We’ve got about five minutes before that spiked wall reaches us and pushes us straight down..." Egro warned slowly, watching the approaching wall with some concern.

Royal looked at the other end of the corridor and realized it wasn’t that far away. And if necessary, he could jump to it using his skill.

But that was his last resort.

"For now, we wait for the fifth riddle. The previous four, although with some mistakes, we still managed to solve. It’s quite possible we’ll solve the fifth one too," he told everyone, patiently waiting for the rough mechanical voice.

And a few seconds later, in the large corridor, he heard that voice again, which announced:

[Fifth riddle: "Not everyone has it, only the chosen ones receive it. It helps one discern truths in life, but also leads to detachment. One can live with it naturally, like birds with feathers." — what is it?]

When everyone heard the riddle, they were instantly confused — it was many times more difficult than the others!

Royal sighed and thought:

"If in the previous ones, we had multiple answers to choose from, now — even guessing what it could be is an extremely difficult task..."

He looked at the other end and felt a nagging desire to reach it as soon as possible. Only, that wasn’t the way the system intended — through answering riddles. But by using his own powers and skill to simply jump across and land on the other side.

"But can it really be done that easily? This mechanism is clearly not simple. If I just jump, will it let me go so easily?"

Royal shook his head and sighed.

"In any case, it’s better to try to solve the riddle first. If nothing works — that will be my plan B."

Silia thought for a moment and suggested:

"Maybe — it’s awareness. Not everyone has it. It helps observe, discern, decide, and more, but it also leads to detachment, since not everyone is ready to accept such people."

Aran smirked and objected:

"Are aware people really "chosen"? It’s a good option, but something seems to be missing... Maybe the mechanism meant enlightenment? Enlightened people are extremely unique individuals who can combine everything at once, yet show nothing. They truly can be considered "chosen". And their detachment doesn’t affect them — they live with it peacefully."

Silia nodded and agreed.

"It could definitely be enlightenment. But we shouldn’t dismiss awareness either."

"Of course," Aran smiled slightly.

"Does anyone else have any other suggestions?"

Egro shrugged and proposed:

"Let’s say — spirituality."

Aran raised an eyebrow and said:

"Well, yeah. Enlightenment and spirituality are almost the same. Spirituality is just more accessible to "ordinary people" than enlightenment."

"But it still fits," Egro smirked.

Aran laughed and nodded.

"Of course, of course. I just enjoy having these kinds of discussions with people."

Royal listened to the five of them, then decided to check the spiked wall — and was surprised!

It was very close!

A few minutes and it would be over for them!

"Those three answers should be enough. I’ll start telling them to the mechanism," he quickly told everyone, then shouted loudly:

"Awareness!"

Silence fell, which seemed to last an eternity.

Then the rough mechanical voice replied:

[Answer: "Awareness" — incorrect. You have only two attempts left.]

Royal clenched his fist and continued in a quiet voice:

"Spirituality..."

Once again, tense silence followed, which was then broken by the mechanical voice:

[Answer: "Spirituality" — incorrect. You have only one attempt left.]

Egro smiled awkwardly and shrugged.

Royal sighed and looked at the spiked wall, now just a few dozen meters away — in a minute, it could reach their group!

He looked upward and said seriously:

"Enlightenment!"

Silence.

Tense silence fell.

Everyone watched the top anxiously — except Lin. With a strange unease in his heart, he looked at the spiked wall.

"This feeling... something’s about to happen," he looked at the edge of the blue platform and the edge of the corridor ahead, determining that he could jump across them.

But it would require a lot of strength.

In any case, they now had to wait for the mechanism’s response.

A loud, rough mechanical voice echoed through the corridor:

[Answer: "Enlightenment" — incorrect. You have no attempts left.]

[Since you have no attempts left. Activating special mode: "Total Annihilation".]

Everyone was surprised and didn’t immediately process the mechanism’s response. But then they heard metallic screeches and clanks behind them, and turned to look.

They saw that the ordinary spiked wall had transformed into a wall filled with various sharp blades. They were so sharp they reflected light clearly!

But that wasn’t as shocking as the fact that the wall’s speed had increased fivefold!

It was now moving toward the group at the speed of a regular car!

"I-is this... the end?" Yulan looked at the wall advancing toward them and asked the others.

But no one answered her.

Suddenly, from behind them, a great amount of bright golden light appeared.

Everyone looked back and saw Royal using his skill and, with a running start, jumping to the other side!

Aran laughed.

"Ha-ha-ha! I knew someone would try something like this..."

Silia frowned and said:

"With your power, you could’ve tried to throw us to the other side..."

When Royal’s skill deactivated and his golden light aura disappeared, he looked ahead down the corridor and shouted:

"Come on, hurry after me! There are pirates here!" he ran forward, swinging his golden two-handed sword in all directions.

"..."

Silia sighed and said to Lin:

"Lin, you can get us all to the other side... You’re faster than any of us."

Lin looked at his sister and just snorted.

"Get ready," he said, and instantly used his skill!

Slow Motion Perception!

The wall with all the sharp edges suddenly slowed down!

"Activating the skill feels easier now... and everything here feels so natural... Upgrading the skill to level two clearly boosted not only the skill itself but also my sensations..." Lin smiled and muttered:

"This is quite convenient..."

Lin looked at the four human bodies he had to throw across to the other side and sighed.

He first approached Yulan and grabbed her by the legs, since her body was the lightest of the four.

Lin approached the edge of the transparent blue platform and began spinning while holding Yulan by the legs!

A few seconds later, because of Lin’s great strength, he quickly spun Yulan!

Suddenly, he let go!

If there had been no slow-motion field here, Yulan would’ve flown and landed on the other side of the corridor due to inertia. But unfortunately, due to the slow-motion effect, she just hung in the air, moving at a minimal speed.

"One done," he smiled and then approached Silia.

"I could leave her here, but she’ll still be useful..." he grabbed the beautiful girl by the legs and, like with Yulan, approached the edge of the transparent blue platform and began spinning!

Then he let go!

Silia also hung in the air, like Yulan!

"Ha-ha," Lin chuckled and moved to Egro.

He also grabbed him by the legs, but with more care than he did the two girls. He walked to the edge of the platform and started spinning!

Letting go by the legs, Egro, like the two girls before him — hung in the air!

The scene began to look even more comical.

"About five seconds left..." Lin quickly approached Aran and, not caring about his head, dragged him by the legs!

Coming to the platform’s edge, he spun and threw him!

And at that moment, he himself ran and jumped, grabbing all four bodies at once!

His skill wore off!

Whoosh!

The five people looked around and realized — they were flying toward the other side of the platform!

Lin looked around, not understanding what was happening!

"Damn," Silia realized she wasn’t going to reach the other side of the corridor completely, so she raised her hand and tried to grab the edge.

Aran did the same.

Egro and Yulan safely landed on the other side, and Lin was lying on Silia’s back — she was holding onto the edge with both hands!

"Lin... get off me..." Silia muttered.

Lin quickly regained focus and got up, then helped her and Aran climb up.

"Whew. Not bad, my prince," Aran smiled at Lin.

Lin snorted and looked at the wall with all kinds of sharp objects — instead of stopping, it continued moving forward!

"No time to rest! Run!" Silia shouted and ran ahead!

Everyone followed her!