I Was The Only Omega In The Beast World-Chapter 68: CP: Truth Trial

But before Alex could defend himself, Boulder spoke up.

"Saintess Amber," the second said slowly.

"With respect... I also examined the salt. With my earth-sense. I detected no corruption, no shadow, nothing but pure preservation magic."

Amber whirled on him. "Your earth-sense is not the same as spiritual sight—"

"But it IS attuned to corruption," Boulder interrupted, unusually firm. "It’s literally my job to detect threats to the tribe. And I’m telling you—this salt is clean."

"Boulder is right," one of the older advisors added—the scarred female from yesterday. "I examined it too. There’s no darkness."

Amber’s perfect composure cracked—just for a second, fury flashing across her face.

Then she smoothed it away, turning back to the tribe with a sad expression.

"Perhaps I was mistaken," she said softly. "Perhaps my concern for the tribe made me too cautious. I apologize."

[SHE’S BACKING DOWN BUT NOT APOLOGIZING TO YOU! Classic Manipulation! ]

"Apology accepted," Granite said. "Let’s continue. The fertility grain?"

A designated planter—an elderly bear with dirt permanently under his nails—took the box of seeds.

"I’ll plant these in test soil," he explained.

"Rocky mountain earth, poor nutrients, the kind of ground where normal crops struggle. If these seeds grow as promised, we’ll see results within days."

He planted three seeds in a shallow stone trough filled with the poorest soil they could find—almost pure rock dust.

Then he watered them carefully and stepped back.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then—slowly, impossibly—tiny green shoots began to emerge from the soil.

The tribe gasped.

Within minutes, the shoots had grown several inches, their leaves unfurling with obvious health despite the terrible growing conditions.

"By the ancestors," the planter breathed. "This is... this is incredible. These seeds are—they’re DESIGNED for harsh conditions. They’ll grow anywhere. ANYWHERE."

Excited chatter erupted—the implications were huge. If they could grow nutrient-dense crops in mountain soil, their food security would increase exponentially.

Amber stepped forward again.

"May I—"

"No," Granite said flatly. "You may not. You ’sensed darkness’ in the last demonstration and were proven wrong. Boulder will examine the plants."

Amber’s face flushed, but she stepped back.

Boulder knelt beside the trough, placing his hands on the soil, his expression focused.

"Clean," he announced after a moment. "Pure growth magic. No corruption, no shadow, no harm. These seeds are exactly what the stranger claimed."

The tribe cheered.

Alex felt some of the tension in his chest ease.

[TWO DOWN, ONE TO GO! The honeycomb kit is the big one—if that works, you’re golden!]

Granite lifted the beautiful carved box containing the honeycomb regeneration kit.

"This," he said, his voice carrying a weight of hope that made Alex’s chest ache, "is what could change everything. A sustainable source of crystal sweet syrup. Our own hive. Our own future."

He opened the box carefully.

The queen bee hovered in her stasis field—glowing softly, perfectly preserved, waiting to begin her colony.

The tribe leaned forward as one, straining to see.

"The instructions," Granite read aloud from the scroll, "say to place the queen in a prepared hive structure with specific flowers and water sources.

" Within three days, she’ll begin producing workers. Within one season, we’ll have our first harvest."

"One season," Boulder repeated, awed. "We could have crystal sweet syrup by autumn."

"If it works," Amber interjected quickly. "If the queen survives. If she’s not corrupted—"

"Enough, Saintess," Granite said, and there was steel in his voice now. "You’ve questioned every demonstration. You’ve been proven wrong every time. Unless you have EVIDENCE—actual, tangible evidence—of corruption, your objections are noted and dismissed."

Amber’s face went black with fury.

But she stepped back, lips pressed into a thin line.

Granite turned to Alex.

"These gifts," he said quietly. "They’re real. Functional. Exactly as you promised. Boulder—begin preparing a hive structure for the queen."

" Planter—continue monitoring the fertility grain. And someone store the preservation salt in the sacred cave until we determine how best to distribute it."

He paused.

"The stranger has proven her word is good," he announced to the tribe. "Tomorrow, we will discuss terms for trading the Bronze Stone."

The tribe erupted in cheers—relief, excitement, hope flooding the clearing.

Alex felt his knees wobble slightly.

They’d done it.

Passed the tests.

Proven themselves.

Now they just had to—

Amber’s voice cut through the celebration like a knife.

"Chief Granite!" she called out, moving to the center of the clearing with dramatic flair.

"Before we proceed with trade negotiations, I must invoke my right as Saintess to demand one final test!"

The cheering died.

Granite’s expression hardened. "Saintess—"

"The ancient laws are clear," Amber interrupted, turning to address the tribe directly.

"When trading sacred artifacts, the Saintess may demand a spiritual trial to ensure the worthiness of the trader. It’s tradition. It’s LAW."

[OH NO. OH NO NO NO. THIS IS BAD!]

Murmurs spread through the crowd—uncertain, conflicted.

The scarred advisor leaned toward Granite, whispering urgently.

Granite’s jaw clenched.

"The Saintess is... technically correct," he said slowly, clearly hating every word. "The old laws do allow for a spiritual trial in matters of sacred trade."

"What kind of trial?" Alex asked, keeping his voice steady despite the dread pooling in his stomach.

Amber’s smile was triumphant.

"A trial of truth," she said. "You claim your mission is noble. That you seek the artifacts to return home, to protect your family. But how do we know you’re not lying? How do we know you won’t sell the stones to the highest bidder once you have all seven?"

She stepped closer to Alex, her cognac eyes burning with malicious satisfaction.

"I propose a truth trial," she announced.

"You and I both drink sacred truth water—water blessed by the ancestors that compels honesty. Then we answer questions before the tribe. If you’re truly sincere, you have nothing to fear. But if you’re lying..."

She left the threat hanging.

[HOST, THIS IS DANGEROUS! Truth water doesn’t just compel honesty—it can reveal EVERYTHING! Your whole backstory, the system, the fact that you’re from another world—]

Alex’s mind raced.

If he refused, the tribe would think he was hiding something.

If he accepted and the truth water revealed too much, they might think he was dangerous, otherworldly, a threat.

Either way, Amber had trapped him perfectly.

"I..." Alex started.

Granite held up a hand.

"The trial is the Saintess’s right to invoke," he said heavily. "But it requires the consent of both parties. Stranger, you may refuse—though refusal would..."

He paused. "Would raise questions about your sincerity."

"Exactly," Amber said sweetly. "So what will it be, honored guest? Will you prove your truth? Or will you reveal yourself as a liar?"

The tribe waited.

Silent.

Watching.

And Alex stood in the center of it all, pregnant and exhausted and so, so tired of playing these games.

But he looked at Naga—whose eyes said I’ll fight them all if you want to run.

And at Leo—whose expression said Whatever you choose, I’m with you.

And at the three divine stones in his pouch—proof of how far they’d already come.

One truth trial standing between him and the Bronze Stone.

Alex took a deep breath.

Then he looked Amber directly in the eyes.

"I accept," he said clearly. "Let’s do your truth trial."

[HOST, ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?!]

"No," Alex thought back. "But I don’t have a choice. So let’s make it count."

Amber’s smile widened—victorious, cruel.

"Excellent," she purred. "Let’s see what truths the ancestors reveal."

And as the tribe began preparations for the trial, Alex felt the weight of everything he’d kept hidden pressing against his chest like a stone.

This was going to get messy. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Very, very messy.

But there was no turning back now.

[CRITICAL QUEST ALERT: "The Truth Trial"

Objective: Survive questioning under truth water without revealing TOO much

Difficulty: EXTREME

Stakes: Bronze Stone, tribal trust, possibly your life

Complications: Amber wants to destroy you, truth water reveals EVERYTHING

Success Probability: CALCULATING...]

[...HOST, I REALLY HOPE YOU HAVE A PLAN.]