Qin Chuan's gaze passed over the five who had just been transformed and settled on the other side of the hall.
There, the fifth Trial Space had yet to dissipate.
Sword Master in the Snow, Evergreen, Water God, Senior Brother En-En, and the others were besieging the "Wailing Banshee" made of data.
Their attacks grew fiercer by the moment. Blades flashed, elemental torrents surged, and the entire space seemed on the verge of being torn apart.
Yet each time the Banshee's projection shattered, it formed again.
Each time it reformed, the Mental Pollution it gave off grew stronger.
"This won't end if we keep going like this!" Sword Master in the Snow cleaved the Banshee in two, but the scattered streams of data swiftly gathered behind him and took shape again.
His breathing had grown ragged. The web of his sword hand had split, and blood ran from it.
"Its power comes from our negative emotions." Evergreen's expression was grim. "The more impatient and angry we get, the stronger it becomes."
They were trapped in a deadlock.
One brute force could not break.
The five members of Peak Squad watched, each with a different expression.
It was like seeing themselves a few minutes ago: just as helpless, just as intent on squandering their power in the crudest way possible.
"Godfather, should we...?" Dawn looked at Qin Chuan, eager to act.
Qin Chuan did not answer. He merely raised his chin toward the five of them.
"Go."
"Show them what it means to be a god."
The five New Gods understood him at once.
This was their second test.
Dawn was the first to vanish.
He stirred no wind and left no afterimage. He simply appeared beside Sword Master in the Snow.
Sword Master in the Snow was about to swing