Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

988  Chapter 988- Caged

He needed to find a way to prevent these two forces from taking each other's lives.

Simon shifted his gaze to the silver-haired man. If Itherion's name struck a chord, Vincent's rang a bell of its own. Although the man didn't have a surname like the other guy, his name was no small deal either.

His thoughts drifted back to a couple of years ago when he was still naive enough to believe in befriending humans. Back then, he had been relentlessly hunted by the Kingdom of Ellesmere—so much so that Adalinda herself had to intervene.

Realising her immense might, one of the rankers had tried to use the reputation of the Adventurers' Association to intimidate her. But to his disappointment, far from being intimidated, she was not even fazed. She was the same haughty, insufferable being that she was.

At that time, she used a name to scare the living daylights out of those rankers. Vincent... the name held a strong meaning after all, it was the name of the president of the Adventurers Association, a behemoth like organization that stretched across the Central Continent.

To be able to command the Adventurers' Association—a group filled with Rankers and powerhouses—was proof of unmatched skill and influence. Also, the very fact that Adalinda considered him to be one of the few people who could talk terms with her proved this point.

Vincent… although the two names could just be a coincidence, Simon felt like that was not the case. The silver-haired man standing before him might be that very same Vincent someone who would create the organisation named as the Adventurers Association later down the history.

"What's with that look?"

Seeing Simon's flavorless reaction, Rothgard tilted his head, a question mark practically hovering over him. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Usually, when he revealed who they are, people would jump out of their skin—either in fear, awe, or outright reverence. But Simon, he barely reacted. His reaction was flimsy at best.

"Do you perhaps not know their names?" Even though he asked, he knew that was not the case. After all, these two names were so famous that even beings from other continents knew their names.

There was no way their neighbor and arch enemies, the demon noble wouldn't know about them.

"It's not like that. I am surprised. But if I have to be truthful… I guess I've never heard of those titles before."

Simon's words hit like a gong in the quiet air. The three humans reacted differently. Vincent narrowed his eyes, suspicious. Itherion raised a brow, intrigued. But the most dramatic reaction came from Rothgard, whose jaw dropped so hard Simon half-expected it to hit the ground.

"You've NEVER heard of their titles?! Itherion Solarion and Vincent, the Conquerors of the Thousand Trials?! You're telling me you don't know about them?!"

Seeing Simon stay silent, it was as if Rothgard's top blew off. It was very comical how he was unable to handle the idea that there existed a Demon Noble—of all beings—who didn't know these two legendary figures from their human race.

Before Vincent or Itherion could stop him, Rothgard launched into an impassioned explanation.

"The Conquerors of the Thousand Trials! Do you even understand what that title signifies? It's not just some empty label—it's a recognition of unparalleled achievement. A title given only to those who succeeded in what was thought impossible"

"The Thousand Trials… it's one of the most infamous Forbidden Grounds in existence. For as long as history has been recorded, it has stood as a challenge to all beings. Countless have attempted it, and countless have failed… that is until these two beat it".

He pointed at Itherion and Vincent beside him.

Simon raised an eyebrow, this was new information. Itherion and Vincent cleared a Forbidden Ground! The concept of the Forbidden Grounds intrigued him after all he too was chosen by one of the Forbidden Grounds and was currently undergoing one of its trials.

Rothgard continued "Those who overcome the Forbidden grounds are granted the Ancient Symbols. Itherion bears the Golden Symbol and Vincent holds the Silver, a proof of their greatness. Billions of beings dream of possessing the Ancient Symbol; however, only a handful few ever managed to become their master. Hence they are called Conquerors"

Simon narrowed his eyes in understanding. Ancient Symbols… it seemed like there was much about the world that he still had to learn.

"As for the other title— The Foolish…" Rothgard's voice dropped slightly becoming sombre "That title isn't something that they deserved. It was a nasty ploy by those angels when they rejected one of the Seraphim's offer to join their scripture".

Simon frowned, from the Memories of the world, he at least understood that joining the scripture meant joining their divine order and gaining the blood of the angels.

An opportunity like that was like a miracle to come by and these two had rejected that? It was no wonder they got stuck with that Title.

That said, it at least said one thing about them, even the ruler of all angels, one of the Seraphim thought so highly of them to want them to join his side.

Simon's eyes flicked toward the two men in question. Itherion's face was calm, almost amused, while Vincent's expression remained as stoic as ever.

"The angels and the rest of the world might make fun of their decision by calling them 'The Foolish'. But to us, it is a symbol of faith and courage. Courage to stand against a Seraphim and forge our own paths"

"Hmph, the world thinks that we humans are unable to reach the realm the angels and the demons could reach with just our meagre strength and bloodline. Guess what, we can reach that realm with our own strength alone. To prove the angels, to prove the world that humans have unlimited potential".

Simon was silent as he heard Rothgard's impassioned speech. As someone who had also climbed his way to his current rank, he understood full well how challenging and arduous the path can be. The hurdles, walls, bottlenecks, overcoming one's limit is never easy.