"The desire to live, the pursuit of power, the longing for eternal life—all are delusions..."
"This is the trial of life, and also the trial of letting go..."
Upon hearing that voice, Akaseki instinctively understood what this stage would test.
This "illusion" would recreate the life he had been most unwilling to let go of, then blur his rational awareness of the trial... In that moment, Akaseki would not think on the premise that he was undergoing a test. Instead, he would fully relive that scene!
Once he understood this, Akaseki's consciousness blurred for a moment. He seemed to become "Hong Yan" again, returning to the operating room...
But this time was different. Even though his awareness that he was undergoing a test had been blurred... never mind his hippocampus—even his hypothalamus remained perfectly intact, untouched by the takeover.
As far as Akaseki was concerned, he was merely immersed in an utterly ridiculous story!
And just then...
"Trial taker, thou mayest save the person before thee with half thy remaining lifespan. Art thou willing?"
The mysterious voice rang out in the operating room.
Akaseki: ...
Though Akaseki could not realize he was undergoing a trial at that moment...
"Willing, my ass!" Immersed in the story once more, Akaseki laughed in anger.
The Desire Gate: ...
In an instant, the illusion collapsed, and Akaseki returned to the Desire Gate.
His awareness recovered at the same time. Akaseki understood that he was undergoing a trial, and that he had already passed its second stage...
This stage could be called easy, but it could also be called difficult!
It recreated the moment when the trial taker had most wanted to save a life, then offered them a chance to save that person with their own life. If they clung to that desire, they