Chapter 28 – This Is No Ordinary Matter
On the second floor of the Tower, inside a pitch-black room, Iyas floated as if suspended in an endless, cold void. No ground beneath his feet, no walls surrounding him… only a black silence devouring everything.
Suddenly, a glowing notification appeared before his eyes:
System:
> Welcome, brave adventurer who dares to challenge the impossible.
Ahead of you are three distinct trials.
The difficulty of each trial will adjust according to your abilities and level…
The system's screen began to scan his body with a cold, eerie light.
System:
> Analyzing the challenger's capabilities…
Iyas muttered to himself in astonishment:
"Three trials!? …This is going to take a while. Lucky for me, Selin prepared plenty of food… but Saman warned me about these floors. Each level has its difficulty rating: Easy, Hard, Nightmare, Death, Impossible… the difference is like land and sea."
The system chimed with a metallic tone:
System:
> Analysis complete.
Results are as follows:
Trial One: Hard
Arena: Ruins at the bottom of a lake.
Objective: Courage + Recklessness = Death / Recklessness + Intelligence = Survival.
Note: "Only those who endure the hell of pain understand the truth of life."
Duration: Unlimited.
Trial Two: Hard
Arena: ?
Objective: ?
Note: ?
Duration: ?
Penalty: ?
Trial Three: Nightmare
Arena: ?
Objective: ?
Note: ?
Duration: ?
Penalty: ?
Note: Rewards will be determined after all trials are completed.
Iyas smiled nervously and whispered:
"Clearly, I'm about to dive into hell…"
Before he could comprehend further, a circle of light engulfed him, instantly transporting him to the first trial.
---
Scene: Poseidon Palace
Iyas found himself standing in a silent garden inside a strange palace. The night here felt heavier than any night he had known. Dim lights hesitated between the trees, as if afraid to reveal more than they should.
The palace loomed before him… towering, its walls cracked as though hiding secrets buried for centuries. Around it, a massive magical barrier shimmered like water, yet black waves slammed against it silently, as if the entire lake sought to swallow him.
The silence was terrifying. No life, no death—only a heavy anticipation… as though something in the shadows was watching him.
The system chimed again:
System:
> Welcome to Poseidon Palace.
Your mission: Reach the royal chamber.
Iyas's pulse quickened as he forced a tense smile. He pressed a hand to his chest to steady his heart, then took his first step forward… and the scene swallowed him instantly.
---
Scene: The South
The scene shifts away from the Tower, to the South, where colossal factories line the horizon, the roar of machines filling the air. Robots, armor, and weapons of all kinds are manufactured here.
At the heart of this chaos, "Reem"—the public secretary of the Sage leaders—sat before media cameras. Live broadcasts filled markets, factories, and even gaming screens.
Reem smiled calmly, her voice confident:
"We are continually evolving to enhance our nation's security. We all know the Tower is the ultimate protector… but inside and outside its walls? You are responsible for yourself. Your strength today ensures your safety tomorrow."
Voices around her rose, interactive screens displaying a 3D image of a new robot.
"Allow me to introduce our next revolution: RMJ1, the first generation of our advanced engineering!"
The crowd erupted with excitement as Reem continued energetically:
"This robot has two main features:
1. It can be worn as defensive armor, boosting your power and granting unparalleled protection.
2. It can be your training partner… even your mentor! It analyzes your abilities, attacks you with extraordinary force using rare, high-grade crystals to recharge itself, then provides advice to improve your skills."
She concluded with a formal smile:
"All this—and more—will soon be available, though in limited quantities."
The screens went dark, and the streets of the South echoed with cheers:
"Leader Reem! Leader Reem!"
Yet Reem, as soon as the broadcast ended, let out a bored sigh and muttered:
"Ugh… I hate these formal speeches."
She raised her hands and exclaimed childishly:
"Ahhh… I'm bored! I wish something fun would happen now…"
As if fate answered, a sudden call rang on her screen. She smiled wickedly and laughed:
"Hahaha! Finally… someone to vent my boredom on."
A man appeared on the screen—dark-skinned, jet-black hair styled upwards, a neat beard—but what drew the eye most were his piercing blue eyes, sharp as the cold sky.
Reem teased playfully:
"How are you, dear Shahoo?"
Shahoo remained serious, his voice steady:
"Have you finished your speech?"
Reem sighed coldly:
"Yes, and it was mind-numbingly dull."
Shahoo said in a military tone:
"It's alright. It's over now."
Reem retorted with childish annoyance:
"You say that while lounging on your chair, yet I suffer through speeches and hard work!"
She lowered her eyes, muttering softly:
"Wish you'd help me… Commander."
Shahoo, coldly:
"You know well… true leaders do not reveal their faces to the public."
His tone shifted suddenly to a whisper:
"What about our plans to seize the West?"
Reem grinned slyly:
"We are well-prepared. RMJ1 is just the beginning…"
Then she burst out laughing, like a mad jester.
Shahoo returned a mysterious smile:
"I'm very eager to see what will happen next."
The call ended, leaving the room in heavy silence.
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End of Chapter 28