"Hello? What do you mean, dumb? I just asked if I'll go back to the beginning if I stop to rest in the middle of the challenge."
Dehji then replied, "And that's exactly why I asked if you're dumb. What would be the point of leaving you stranded for two days in a desert if you could stop and sleep whenever you wanted?"
"Hmm, I get it. It doesn't make much sense if I think about it now.
"Good, looks like you're not dumb all the time."
"Thanks- Hey!"
Dehji then left the room, and Gen went after him. The two went towards the kitchen, and when they got there, they prepared something to eat.
They then sat down, and Gen asked, "Dehji, those two times I came inside the challenge, I saw a black dot far away. I spent a whole day walking, and I couldn't reach it. That's what I need to reach, right?"
"Maybe. I wonder why you waste your time asking me about the challenge. If I could tell you anything, I would have done it by now."
"Well, it doesn't hurt to try."
"Well, I guess you're right, but let me ask you something, Gen."
"What is it?"
"I wanted to know more about why you are going through this challenge. Could you continue what you said last time?"
"Hmm? Sure. I'm looking for something that can help me get my essence back."
"Gen, that's not the reason I'm talking about."
"It's not? But that's the only-"
Gen then got silent for a few seconds, staring into nothingness, and then suddenly, his eyes changed to a golden color.
Gen then focused his eyes on dehji and said, "I already told you I need to save my brother."
"I remember, but could you specify so I know if the essence here can help you?"
"... All right, but I can't go into details. The only thing I can tell you is that he has a mortal wound. It's a type of injury that would take months to recover from, so no ordinary doctor could save him."
"I see, but if it's a mortal wound, how come he's still alive?"
"Dehji, I told you I can't go into details. Now tell me, do you think the essence here can help me?"
"... it might, but it won't be that simple."
"What do you mean?"
"There's no use thinking about it now. If you get through the challenge, I'll explain it to you."
"Okay. Well, it's time for me to go."
Gen's eyes then turned back to the color of sand, and Gen asked, "Will the essence here be able to help me get my other essence back?"
Raja then said, "What do you mean other? Do you have another essence besides the one you lost?"
"No."
"Then why did you say 'other'?"
"I ... don't know. Maybe I was already counting on the essence here."
"... Okay. You'd better go to sleep, Gen. Tomorrow, you'll have to enter the ruin again, and even though you were resting there, it's not the same as sleeping, especially having a bed like that in your room."
"Hmm, true. I guess I'll go then."
Gen then started to get up and suddenly said, "Ah! I almost forgot. Dehji, from what I've noticed, every time I enter the ruin, the time I have to stay inside it increases, right?"
"Yes, you're right."
"So that means tomorrow I'll have to spend three days inside?"
"No, not three days. You'll have to stay four days in there."
"Four days?!"
"Yes. The time increases, but it doesn't increase in days. It just doubles."
"It doubles?! So you mean that after spending four days there, I'll have to spend eight days, and then sixteen, and so on?"
"That's right."
"But if it goes like that, it'll get to the point where I won't be able to carry enough supplies to survive."
"Yes, that's right. I told you, Gen, everyone else who went through the challenge died. They all got to a point where they couldn't survive long enough in the desert."
"... Well, then, I just need to get to the black spot before I reach my limit."
"Will you make it? There have been others who said the same thing and ended up the same way as always. Dead."
"That's the difference, Dehji. I have no choice. I have to make it.", as he said this, Gen's eyes quickly glowed gold and then returned to normal.
He then said, "I better get going. Good night."
After Gen left the kitchen, Dehji continued to sit, thinking, 'Will he make it? So many people have tried, but none can even come close to the essence. After all, it is not easy to understand a conceptual essence ... as a last resort, I'll find a way to get him out of here. Even if he doesn't get this essence, I'm sure he will find other opportunities. It's not his time to die yet.'
...
Gen woke up the other day and, as usual, went towards the kitchen to eat breakfast.
As usual, Dehji was there eating, and upon seeing him, Gen said, "Good morning, Dehji."
"Good morning, Gen."
"How much time do I have?"
"About an hour."
"Ok.", Gen then ate quickly and finished packing everything he would need to spend the four days in the desert.
Dehji then turned to him and asked, "Ready?"
"Yes."
The two then walked through the door and just then Dehji started to leave and said, "Good luck."
"Thank you."
He then walked back into the hall and closed the door.
Being alone, Gen then thought, 'I'd better start walking. I still have to find the black spot. I wonder if I can get to it in four days.'
He then went in the same direction as always and, after a few hours, again found the black spot.
He then started going in its direction, and after almost a day of walking, stopping only to eat, he decided to take a longer break and rest a bit, but this time, he chose not to sleep and kept his eyes fixed on the black dot.
While resting, Gen thought, 'I have spent a whole day walking, and I haven't seen any sign that I am getting any closer. It looks like the dot is further away than I expected. I'd better keep going before I get mentally exhausted.'
Gen then got up and headed towards the black dot again.
Another day had passed, and Gen looked at the black dot and thought, 'It still looks the same, how strange.'
He then continued for another day, and when he looked again, he thought, 'Still the same ...'
He then continued on his way, and after a few more hours, as he walked through the desert, he began to feel dizzy. He kept walking and suddenly stumbled and fell into the sand.
Gen tried to get up, but he was too dizzy and just lay there on the sand, waiting for the dizziness to pass.
He then thought, 'I must have been walking for almost four days towards this spot, and I still haven't got closer. All the way here, I've seen nothing but sand, no plants, no shade, nothing, just sand here and there. I seem to be on a never-ending path, destined to walk this desert until I die, but I regret to inform you, challenge, you will have to do much more than this if you want to kill me.'
The dizziness then passed, and Gen got up to continue his journey. He looked around and soon found the black dot.
He then started to go towards it again, but after a few steps, Gen thought, 'How strange? It looks like the dot is getting closer. I could have sworn that before I fell, it was the same distance away as always. Did I miss it because I was dizzy? Well, at least I've made some progress, but if it's going to take me almost four days to get close to it, I don't see myself getting there in less than a month.'
Gen then continued walking toward the point until Dehji appeared at his side and said, "The four days have passed. Are we going back, or do you want to stick around?"
"You need to come up with another joke, Dehji. This one's getting old."
"You think so? I'll think of something different to tell you next time."
The two then walked through the door, and Gen headed straight for the bathroom.
He took a quick shower and as he came out he threw himself on the bed, Dehji was in the room because he wanted to talk a little with him, but Gen fell asleep instantly when he laid down on the bed.
Seeing this, Dehji thought, 'Looks like he's reaching his limit. He will probably make it through the eight days, but sixteen will be too much for him. Well, let's hope he can find the essence during the eight days. Otherwise, I'll have to stop him before he kills himself.'
Dehji then stood up and started to leave the room, and as he reached the door, he looked back at Gen, who was completely blacked out on the bed, and then said, "Good luck tomorrow, Gen. Unfortunately, it's your last attempt."