"A human?"

A massive voice thundered through the gorge as Grotha, the ancient giant with the braided orange beard, slowly opened his eyes.

"When was the last time we had one of those?"

Gritha, the other giant, opened his eyes as well before letting out a hearty laugh.

"A crafty one at that."

"GROFAFAFAFAFAFA!"

Their laughter shook the very air.

To them, I was no more than an ant standing before two mountains and just the shockwaves alone were enough to make me lose my footing.

Somehow managing to not fall through the shockwaves, I activated [[Insight]] as two status windows showcasing their details appeared before my eyes.

════〔 STATUS 〕═════

▸ Name: ⟦ Grotha Fafluagh ⟧

▸ Talent: ⟦ Warrior’s Grit ⟧

▸ Core: ⟦ Tier 1 Awakened (Suppressed) ⟧

▸ Note: ⟦ One of the last Ancient Giants carrying the ancient bloodline. Born with an overwhelming physique, he and his twin are the exact opposite of you, whose body is as fragile as glass. He admires courage above all else, so do not get on his bad side as one flick of his finger is enough to send you to oblivion. ⟧

══════════════════

▸ Name: ⟦ Gritha Fafluagh ⟧

▸ Talent: ⟦ Calm Mind ⟧

▸ Core: ⟦ Tier 1 Awakened (Suppressed) ⟧

▸ Note: ⟦ One of the last Ancient Giants carrying the ancient bloodline. Born with an overwhelming physique, he and his twin are the exact opposite of you, whose body is as fragile as glass. He values politeness and intelligence, so do not get on his bad side either as one flick of his finger is enough to send you to oblivion. ⟧

══════════════════

So even their strength is suppressed to match my own.

I noted it silently.

Not that it made much of a difference.

Ancient Giants naturally possessed overwhelming physical strength. Even at the same rank, they were among the worst opponents I could possibly face with my H-Rank physique.

As the two giants looked down at me with curiosity, a wide smile spread across my face.

"Oh, Ancient Gatekeepers of the Path, bearers of the purest bloodline of the noble Ancient Giants..."

"Please accept the humble meal I have prepared for you and grant me passage through the Path, so that I may prove my qualifications as a warrior."

I spoke loudly enough for the two of them to hear.

In my last life, I had to waste a few days to convince them to open the door even after waking them up but Insight had proven useful once again and already told me what each of them valued.

Grotha grinned broadly.

"A warrior!"

He roared, his booming laughter echoing throughout the gorge.

Gritha simply smiled.

"And a polite one as well."

The two giants looked down at the countless chunks of meat I had prepared for them before bursting into laughter once more.

"GROFAFAFAFAFAFA!"

"Although your offering is far too small to satisfy our appetite..." Grotha chuckled. "Who are we to stand in the way of one who aspires to become a true warrior?"

With those words, the two giants straightened before placing their enormous hands upon the golden doors. With a deafening rumble, they slowly pushed them open together.

"The trial awaiting you beyond these doors will test not only your strength..." Gritha spoke calmly. "But also your heart and your mind."

"The path ahead is not an easy one to walk and yet should you reach its end... The rewards shall be beyond your imagination."

As the doors slowly parted, an endless darkness was revealed beyond them. Only a single golden sigil shone faintly at the center of the chamber.

"So tell us, Challenger..." Grotha’s booming voice echoed once more. "Are you prepared to walk this path and prove your qualifications..."

"Even if it means losing yourself?"

By now, the doors had opened completely. I looked at Grotha and then at Gritha as a faint smirk spread across my face.

"I am."

The moment those words left my mouth, a violent torrent of suction erupted from within the temple, dragging me toward the darkness.

I offered no resistance and instead allowed the current to carry me forward. The instant I crossed the threshold, the two giants released the doors as with another earth-shaking rumble, they slowly began to close.

"We wish you fortune on your journey, Challenger."

Just before the doors sealed shut completely, I heard the ancient giants’ voices wishing me luck before an endless darkness greeted me.

***

The darkness seemed endless as I walked toward the only source of light, a single sigil glowing brightly in the distance.

This walk itself was part of the trial.

I never slowed. Nor did I turn back.

After what felt like several minutes, I finally reached the sigil and placed my hand upon it without hesitation.

Immediately, a brilliant burst of light erupted, swallowing me whole as countless status windows appeared before my eyes.

[YOU HAVE INITIATED THE TRIAL OF QUALIFICATION]

[YOUR SOUL IS BEING JUDGED]

[APPROPRIATE PROJECTION FOUND]

[INITIALIZING THE TRUE TRIAL...]

[Trial of The Path Beyond Strength Has Began]

The words disappeared as quickly as they had appeared. When I opened my eyes again... I found myself in a completely different world.

Although I had completed this trial in my previous life as well, I was a completely different person back then.

So I was certain...

This trial would be different.

True to my thought, unlike the desert in my last life, a dense jungle greeted me, illuminated by the blazing sun overhead.

Something about the place felt weird.

My gaze swept across the surroundings before settling on a lone figure standing some distance away. It wore a martial artist’s robe and stood motionless before a massive boulder, staring at it as though the two shared a blood feud.

And then, without any warning... it threw a single punch. The boulder offered no resistance whatsoever as it shattered into countless fragments.

Only then did the figure slowly turn toward me.

"Pwaaak... pwak pwak. A human?"

It was a chicken.

A ridiculously muscular damn chicken and for some reasons, it was looking at me with unmistakable amusement before it started walking towards me.