Sphinx looked at her and asked, "Is that your final answer?"
Bisky exhaled slowly and replied seriously, "Yes."
"Then so be it."
Bisky held a small mirror, looking left and right, then let out a miserable wail.
"Ahhh, forehead wrinkles, crow's feet, laugh lines... I really didn't expect to see you all again."
After Sphinx's curse took effect, Bisky, who struggled with anxiety about her appearance, found it impossible not to complain.
However, when she transformed back into her strong form and felt the power filling her whole body, she thought it was worth it.
"Hmph, if worst comes to worst, I'll let 'Magical Beautician Miss Cookie' pamper me hard for two months, and take some 'Nitro Rice'—that should definitely get rid of these wrinkles."
Bisky crossed her arms and pouted unhappily.
She had made this plan as soon as she heard the question.
After all, her Nen ability was born from the desire to stay forever young, and now she was finally using it properly.
It was just that for the next two months, she wouldn't be able to keep her usual pretty, youthful face, which made her feel frustrated and distressed.
While Bisky was grumbling on this side in a way fitting her age, Sphinx's questioning had already moved on to Germain.
The time it stared at Germain was noticeably longer than when it looked at Morel or Bisky, causing everyone to look over in surprise.
After a long pause, it sighed, "My ability cannot affect you. You possess an incredibly powerful 'Blessing,' like a gatekeeper."
"I can neither see your past nor change your present. But I still have to ask the questions, and you must answer. Otherwise, I will not let you pass."
Germain adjusted his triangular hat and nodded, "I understand."
He and the gatekeeper belonged to the same rank, so Sphinx's ability couldn't affect him, just like how a lower dimension can barely influence a higher one.
Sphinx thought for a moment, his vertical pupils narrowing as he asked, "If you had the chance to live your life over again, would you still choose to come to the Dark Continent?"
"Of course."
For Germain, that was not a difficult question at all.
No matter how many times that night replayed in his mind, or how many different choices he had made over the past two years, there was only one certainty — he would still come to the Dark Continent.
Sphinx was silent for a while, then said, "I have one more question, but you don't have to answer it... What is your name?"
"Germain."
"Germain... I'll remember your name."
"I'm done answering," Germain said.
One of Sphinx's front paws rose and pointed toward the door at the back of the courtyard, which was slowly opening.
"You may pass."
Germain and his group carefully walked around the massive Sphinx resting there and passed through the courtyard gate.
Rarely did Sphinx stand upright like this.
He turned his head to watch their backs disappear around the corner.
Since he was created and placed here as a gatekeeper, this was the first time he had seen a human like Germain.
Even the most gifted man... what was his name again?
Ah... Don Freecss...
Even he was not as strong as the man now before him.
Sphinx was curious to see how Germain would perform next, but sadly, he had to remain here and would not get the chance to witness it.
He hoped Germain would not be like Don Freecss, who left and never returned for hundreds of years.
Countless travelers had passed through, but the Sphinx truly remembered only two names—Germain and Don Freecss.
It might have recognized others, but never kept them in its heart.
Germain and his group walked through the Sphinx's courtyard.
Morel was injured and had to be supported by Germain as they moved forward.
Germain felt sorry for this.
But Germain didn't mind at all.
Among companions, helping and supporting each other was only natural.
They passed through a wide, straight alley and soon arrived at the deepest part of the Boundary Gate—also the final checkpoint.
This place was terrifyingly vast; one could not see the end of the alley to the left or right.
Only ahead stood a wall known as the Wall of Sighs.
Before their eyes rose a gate far larger than the outermost gate, towering high into the sky.
This grand and majestic gate seemed to connect the earth and heavens.
Its color was a deep blue, almost black.
On both sides surged powerful upward currents of water, roaring fiercely.
Spray flew everywhere, and droplets fell like rain onto the group.
In front of the Deep Sea Gate stood a stone throne, slightly larger than a human palace chair.
A massive magical beast sat there with eyes closed.
"The divine apostle guarding the Deep Sea Gate," it was said, "witness to countless lives and deaths, to decay and ruin, yet it remained loyal, never leaving its post."
"Since long, long ago, the will of the deep sea has been its will."
As if sensing the group's approach, the guardian slowly opened its crimson eyes.
It lowered its huge body slowly.
Its slimy tentacles, like sea serpents, twisted in front of them.
Two black bat wings stretched out behind it like armor, shielding its back.
"Things have been quite lively lately."
The gatekeeper's voice roared like thunder.
Though it clearly wasn't speaking human language, everyone could understand its meaning.
"Humans keep coming, one group after another."
"Just the day before yesterday, a group was sent off, and today, another group arrives."
It glanced at Germain, its eyes narrowing slightly before looking away.
Germain and the others exchanged glances and quickly realized that the group just sent off was indeed the one led by Beyond.
Beyond's party had clearly passed through and already departed.
"I can let you pass, and even arrange for a guide to help you cross the ocean. But first, you must face the final test I have set."
"Now, two of you step forward, while the others stay behind."
There was no objection this time.
Germain and Bisky stepped forward, while Shizuku and the injured Morel retreated to the back.
The gatekeeper first looked at Bisky, narrowing its eyes.
A huge mass of tentacles writhed together, twisting into a spiral shape, then slammed onto the ground with a loud thud.
As the tentacles spread open like blossoming petals, Bisky saw a demi-human monster suddenly revealed behind them.
The creature had the head of a great white shark, but its torso and limbs resembled a human's—only much larger, nearly three meters tall.
It grinned widely, revealing sharp, saw-like teeth.
Sticky saliva dripped between the teeth, and its small black pupils were filled with ravenous hunger.
Bisky could feel its aura and Nen, stronger than her own…
Clearly, it was a champion-level monster.
The gatekeeper's voice echoed from above:
"I created a demi-human stronger than you. It can only exist for ten minutes."
Its tentacles pointed like spears at Bisky, pressing down with intense pressure:
"If you can withstand its attack for ten minutes, then you win."
"Withstand ten minutes?"
Bisky shifted back into her strong form and took one of the opening stances of the Shingen-ryu Style.
With one hand extended forward, she stepped into a bow stance, lowering her body.
She twisted her neck, making a cracking sound.
"Don't underestimate me… This demi-human is just right. You see, you are my final hammer strike to forge myself."
The Shark-Man didn't speak.
It moved fiercely toward Bisky.
The Gatekeeper ignored Bisky's declaration and quickly turned to Germain.
"As for you, I cannot create an opponent worthy of you…
Since that's the case, then it's been a while…"
Boom—
Amidst a tremendous rumbling, the Gatekeeper slowly rose from its stone chair.
Its body seemed fused to the chair, and as it stood, it tore off a large chunk of shattered stone.
Its massive four-toed feet landed in front of Germain.
Thick layers of heavy scales covered its bulky flesh, and the stench of the deep sea radiated from its entire body.
It looked down at Germain, who wasn't even as big as one of its toes, but there was no trace of underestimating him.
"I'll move my hand after a long time."
"It's been so long since I've encountered a monster that could match me."
"You still have ten minutes, and if you can stand again, then you and that woman will have won.
I will let all of you pass and allow the guide to lead the way."
The Gatekeeper extended its claw.
Strange swirling waves formed in the air.
It reached inside and soon pulled out a trident, slightly taller than itself.
It swung the weapon in the air, stirring up a fierce wind.
Then, the uneven trident, covered with countless barnacles, pointed directly at Germain.
Drops of water dripped down, enough to swallow him whole.
Germain showed no fear.
He just glanced around and said, "Let's change the location.
I don't want to fight you here; it would affect my companions."
*******
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