This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange-Chapter 604: Mercury on the Mind

The world dissolved into blinding radiance. For a moment, Kain existed only as consciousness—no body, no senses, just pure awareness adrift in a sea of light. Then, with a jolt that sent phantom pain shooting through limbs he couldn't feel, reality reassembled itself.

Kain gasped as solid ground formed beneath his feet. His vision cleared to reveal an endless expanse of polished black stone stretching in all directions, its surface so flawless it reflected the starless void above like a dark mirror. The air hummed with latent energy, prickling against his skin like static before a storm.

The others materialized around him in staggered intervals—Serena first, her silver hair catching the strange ambient light, then Cassian and the white-eyed girl, followed by the Eastern Continent trio. The Holy Son appeared last, his golden robes shimmering into existence as if woven from sunlight itself.

A resonant chime echoed through the void.

[First test commences]

Kain couldn't help but note that although similar, the voice of the relic was slightly different from what he had grown accustomed to—indicating that he and Serena truly had likely been transported to another relic. Maybe they were even on another continent right now.

Before anyone could react, the mirrored floor rippled. From its surface rose eight identical obsidian pedestals, each positioned before one of them. Atop each pedestal sat a shallow basin filled with mercury-like liquid that swirled despite the absence of wind.

The Holy Son exhaled sharply—the first break in his composure Kain had witnessed. "Ah. So this is how it begins."

Kain approached his pedestal cautiously. The liquid stilled as he neared, its surface resolving into a perfect mirror. But instead of his own reflection, the image shifted—

—and showed himself standing in a desolate violet-tinged world. Only this version of himself was one he hoped to never see again—cold violet eyes of a predator, dark harsh veins that stood starkly against the pale translucent skin.

Undeniably a monster but…himself

A familiar voice whispered from the basin: "You cannot outrun me or suppress me using external help forever. I am what you will become when all else fails."

Cassian's sudden curse snapped Kain's attention away. The prince was backing away from his pedestal, his sword drawn and shaking. "This is sacrilege!"

The Eastern delegates fared no better—the scarred man had dropped to his knees, while the younger girl clutched her head as if struck while murmuring a word Kain felt could be translated to 'father'.

Clearly not everyone saw visions of themselves.

Only the white-eyed girl, Serena and the Holy Son remained still, their expressions unreadable as they stared into their respective basins.

The chamber pulsed.

[Step forward or step aside.]

[The unworthy will be culled.]

The Holy Son smiled—not his usual serene expression, but something sharper, hungrier. "Finally," he murmured, "a trial worthy of revelation."

And without hesitation, he plunged his head into the mercury.

Kain watched as the Holy Son's bright gold hair, the only feature on his head still visible, quickly took on a metallic silver colour as though all of the colour had been drained from him. After a brief tension of muscles, his body quickly relaxed as his consciousness was brought elsewhere.

The others hesitated only a moment before following suit—Lady Zhao, composure regained, was the next to follow with a feigned calmness. freēwēbnovel.com

Not to be outdone, Cassian quickly followed suit, sticking his head into the basin with a slight grimace he couldn't completely restrain.

Seeing the leaders of each respective side take the plunge for themselves, soon everyone stuck their heads in.

Similar to the Holy Son, all of their heads or at least what was exposed of it, turned into what resembled metal statues.

'No turning back now,' Kain thought. He steeled himself and leaned toward the basin.

The liquid was colder than he expected, and not nearly as thick as it appeared. It was more like dipping his head into cold air than a tangible liquid. The moment his head broke the surface, the world tilted violently. His vision blurred, his stomach lurched, and then—

—darkness.

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When Kain's senses returned, he stood in a featureless void. No walls, no ceiling, no ground beneath his feet—just infinite blackness pressing in from all sides. And standing before him, arms crossed and smirking, was himself.

The other Kain looked exactly as he had in the vision—pale violet skin threaded with pulsing veins, eyes glowing a eerie purple. His smile was all teeth.

"Took you long enough," the monster drawled.

Kain didn't hesitate. He summoned his spear from his space ring and lunged, aiming straight for the thing's heart.

The weapon passed through its chest like mist.

The monster laughed—a sound like shattering glass. "Really? That's your play?" It gestured around the void. "No contracts here, Kain. No weapons—not real ones anyway. Not even your real body. Just your mind." It tapped its temple. "And me."

Kain attacked again. And again. Each strike met empty air, each thrust dissolved into nothing. The other him didn't even bother dodging; it just stood there, grinning wider with every failed attempt.

Finally, panting, Kain lowered his spear. 'Fighting isn't the answer.'

The monster's grin turned knowing. "Figured it out, have you?"

Kain didn't reply. Not that it cared.

"Took you long enough," His double sighed. "But then again, you always were slow on the uptake." It stepped closer, its voice dropping to a whisper. "Tell me, hero—what do you think this trial wants from you?"

Kain's grip tightened on his spear. "To reject you. Destroy you"

The monster threw back its head and laughed. "Oh, that's rich. Reject me? Destroy me? I am you." It spread its arms. "Every ruthless calculation, every suppressed rage, every drop of ambition you pretend doesn't exist—that's me."

The words hit like physical blows. Kain wanted to argue, to deny it, but—

He couldn't help but think of the various actions he's taken in the past. Both in reality and in the trial relic showing him alternative realities. He knew he was not as good as he always thought himself to be.

Even in reality, he has long justified the use and sacrifice of people he doesn't perceive as belonging to his inner circle.

After all, Ferrin, the very first person Kain had tested the awakening sigils on, was a normal and good person—yet Kain had justified experimenting on him, knowing that there was a very real possibility of it harming him. All because he'd prefer for Ferrin, a stranger at the time, to die, rather than Gabriel whom he felt responsible for.

The monster saw his hesitation and came so close that their noses almost touched. It leaned in, breath cold against his ear. "We are already one. You should just accept me."

Kain's breath caught. 'Accept this... thing?'