The second trial had opened ten secret realms in total, while the trial grounds housed seven Despairers. Statistically speaking, each realm held a significant chance of encountering one of these Despairers.　　As an agile, lithe male figure came into view, the phrase "Mechanical Heart" echoed silently in the minds of every witness.　　His right arm appeared to be entirely a mechanical prosthesis, or perhaps a mechanical cuff encircling his limb, gleaming with a metallic sheen.　　A massive mechanical tail, resembling a scorpion's venomous sting, emanated a bone-chilling glint. The rest of his form was concealed beneath a wide-sleeved robe, concealing any further peculiarities.　　Observing the crowd that had gathered yet seeing no one attempt to enter the magic circle and seize the treasure upon the altar, the Mechanical Heart, without so much as a probing gesture, sat directly upon the ground. Simultaneously, he produced a complex metallic sphere for exami

　　Robin paused, noticing the puzzled looks on the others' faces, and began to explain further.　　"Well, according to the text, our Endless World is actually a conceptual realm known as the Third Dimension. This conceptual world comprises three dimensions: length, width, and height. What restricts beings from higher dimensions from entering our world is the passage of time, while spatial boundaries prevent lower-dimensional creatures from entering our Third-Dimensional Conceptual World."　　"Creatures from different dimensions perceive space and time differently. Though they may inhabit the same region, they cannot influence one another. Incidentally, some exceptionally gifted Sealing Masters occasionally encounter beings from other dimensions in dreams or hallucinatory realms."　　Lafey, Grimm, the Yoric siblings, and Binson stared at Robin, utterly dumbfounded.　　Such profound wizardry knowledge was utterly unheard of to them. This delved into the realms o

　　Late into the night three days later, a hazy moonlight bathed the land.　　In the secret realm where Grimm resided, aside from a few minor skirmishes, many wizard apprentices had grown utterly frustrated with the place and left in disappointment. Only about a dozen remained gathered within the realm at this hour.　　Grimm silently observed the void worm within the realm, now reduced to less than one per cent of its original size. He gave a quiet nod to Lafey, Yoric, and the others beside him. Then, carrying large quantities of stones, branches, and other materials, the group charged directly into the confinement magic array, heading straight for the altar at its centre.　　Simultaneously, the Mechanical Heart outside the array abruptly opened its eyes, uttering a cold, disdainful snort. "Hmph! So there are finally some wizard apprentices capable of overcoming the guardians within?"　　With a flash, it too charged into the array without hesitation.　　

　　Several days later.　　That day, as a surge of magical energy swept across the entire trial ground, seven enormous, eerie totem pillars slowly rose from the ground at the very centre of the trial ground map. These pillars stood over ten metres tall and were three to four metres thick, seemingly containing some special energy.　　Seven Despairers—Undying, Twisted, Golden-Eyed, Sun's Child, Enchantress, Mechanical Heart, and Ghost Thief—had apparently known this was the site of the third secret realm's opening and had gathered here long before.　　The Sun's Child radiated astonishing flames and heat, appearing the most arrogant and domineering of the seven. Surprisingly, this Sun's Child was a strikingly alluring beauty, clad in scant clothing that barely covered her modesty. It seemed ordinary garments had long been reduced to ashes by the flames and heat emanating from her body.　　The Sun's Child shot a glance at Bibilyanna. Their previous clashes had fost

　　The Ghost Thief's form materialised once more, emerging from a tree trunk over ten metres to Grimm's right, appearing and vanishing with ghostly agility.　　Grimm remained unmoved. A blazing fireball transformed into a fiery bird, darting nimbly towards the Ghost Thief. Moments later, a thunderous boom echoed as waves of flame scattered.　　"Right then, I'm done playing with you. Best leave it to those chaps to decide."　　The Ghost Thief's figure materialised again, this time on a steep cliff slope some forty metres in front of Grimm. With a look of resignation, he suddenly bellowed towards the distant sky: "The Pale Mask has appeared here..."　　The Ghost Thief's voice, emitted at a specific frequency, carried clearly to the other Despairers at least a thousand metres away.　　Grimm's expression darkened. He had no idea what this Ghost Thief was up to, but an instinctive sense of danger made him summon his wind elemental bats without a second though