As one Mountain Splitter Axe after another merged into the second-level Mountain Splitter Axe, the weight of the axe in Waldo’s hand had increased by about thirty kilograms, now weighing a hefty sixty kilograms.

Holding it felt very heavy, and it would be difficult for an average trial participant to use. However, for Waldo, it was surprisingly easy, as if the axe was an extension of his own body.

"Finally, it’s done!" Waldo exhaled deeply, feeling good. At this moment, the surface of his Mountain Splitter Axe was entwined with a crimson glow, giving off an extremely sharp aura. Just one glance at it felt like being stared down by a fierce tiger.

Waldo gripped the axe tightly and then snorted coldly. With a forceful swing, the axe cleaved through the air, causing the very void in front of him to seem to tremble as if it were about to split in half.

"The Mountain Splitter Axe, oh Mountain Splitter Axe, if I could really collect all the primary pseudo Mountain Splitter Axes and forge the true Mountain Splitter Axe, could I split a whole Franklin with one swing?" Waldo mused eagerly. However, he knew that this goal was still far off and decided not to dwell on it for the moment.

Feeling the terrifying power contained in the Mountain Splitter Axe, Waldo’s eyes shone brightly. "I feel like I have become one with the axe," he thought. "It’s a peculiar sensation, as if the axe has become a part of my body. If I were to describe my current state, it would be... unity of man and tool."

Holding the Mountain Splitter Axe, Waldo entered a special state. It felt right, as if he and the axe were naturally one entity. "Yes, unity of man and tool!" he affirmed. "Why do I feel this way? Is it because I created the axe in its current form, merging each axe together?" This was a new sensation for Waldo, and he found it fascinating.

Of course, what prevailed were excitement and joy. The state of unity between man and tool is quite rare. Once achieved, Waldo could wield the Mountain Splitter Axe even more effectively, and his combat power would significantly increase!

"Using the Mountain Splitter Axe now, my combat power might just break through five hundred! And my total combat power could reach eleven hundred!" Waldo’s eyes blazed with fierce fire. Eleven hundred combat power! That was certainly enough to overwhelmingly crush the stone people!

Soon after, in the palace of the rulers, energy surged like tumultuous tides. Waves of energy, like massive sea waves, rolled outward in successive layers. "Come on!" A light shout, like thunder, echoed throughout the palace, reverberating back and forth.

A figure, like an arrow, vanished from the spot and dashed straight forward! Mid-charge, less than fifty meters from the stone person, he leaped fiercely into the air. A massive Mountain Splitter Axe suddenly cleaved through the sky!

Boom! It struck like thunder, carrying divine might, akin to a meteor falling, terrifyingly formidable! This huge axe directly hit the stone person. The stone person tried to resist, but its long sword was as flimsy as paper. Its body, known for strong defense, crumbled like tofu under Waldo’s Mountain Splitter Axe...

In an instant, the sword broke, and the stone person was split in two, exploding into a cloud of small stones scattering in the air. Truly reduced to ashes. In front of the eleven hundred combat power of Waldo, the formidable stone person stood no chance! Such is the terror of eleven hundred combat power! Compared to when he first entered the chessboard world, Waldo’s strength had increased tenfold!

"Hahaha! Is this the terror of eleven hundred combat power?"

"You know, the combat power of these stone people is actually quite high, around five to six hundred, with even more astonishing defensive power. One could say, in the current chessboard world, no one can stand against the stone people!" Waldo licked his crimson tongue with relish.

"Sadly, even such a powerful stone person was killed in one strike by me!" Waldo felt excited and proud in his heart.

...

"Dead! So powerful! The captain’s speed and strength have reached a terrifying level! Did I even miss the action, and the fight is over just like that?"

"Too powerful, the captain’s six hundred base combat power, plus the enhancement from the Mountain Splitter Axe, broke through a thousand! Just one strike, and the stone person was annihilated!"

"Amazing!"

"So terrifying!"

"With the captain here, in this trial of the chessboard world, we basically have no suspense left, do we?"

Mallin and Wade, siblings watching from a distance, saw Waldo rush out and then explode in an incredibly short time, instantly killing the stone person. They were both excited and exhilarated! So powerful! The strength that Waldo displayed truly shocked them. The strong and oppressive force was unmistakably clear!

Wade’s pale cheeks flushed red, half happy and half worried, said: "The captain killed the stone person, it’s good in the depths of the palace, but I wonder if there are other puppets or stone people?"

"Or have we already completed the first task, and the system will announce it next?" Mallin smiled and said: "Probably not."

"The stone person was already strong enough, if even this isn’t the strongest puppet, it really shouldn’t be. The system announcement should be coming soon, right?"

...

Just as Mallin finished speaking, in the chessboard world, next to the ear of every surviving trial participant, the system’s announcement tone sounded. "The system is going to announce? What’s the matter, hasn’t it been a week yet? Why suddenly announce?" Some trial participants were drinking wine while greasily munching on barbecue, living happily like immortals. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Suddenly, they heard the distinctive ding-dong sound of the system. At first, they didn’t react. Then, after mumbling a few indistinct words, they quickly put down their barbecue and wine. They entered the public chat, waiting for the system’s announcement.

...

"Today’s events are really numerous. First, Waldo sells a large amount of supplies, then his combat power surges by a hundred and fifty points. Now, the system is suddenly making an announcement. Is something big about to happen?"

A female trial participant glanced at a male trial participant groaning and begging for mercy on the ground, a hint of impatience flashing in her narrow, grey eyes. With the gleam of a cold light, a small green sword blossomed and flickered across his neck in an instant.

Pfft!

The male trial participant didn’t have time to react, and his head silently and unexpectedly slid off. Then, the female participant hurriedly entered the public chat screen. Like the other participants, she waited with a mix of anticipation and unease. For some reason, she had a feeling of a looming storm, like a building tension before a heavy downpour.