Dark Forest Assessment Camp.
A call was made to the person in charge, Lan Changhua.
"This is Lan Changhua," he answered. "Who is this?"
"This is Li Lisheng from the Dark Forest Risk Assessment Team," said a man's urgent voice on the other end of the line. "This is an emergency, so I'll be brief.
The unknown new dimension that our team was previously responsible for evaluating is currently registered as the 'Dark Forest' domain. Previously, based on the conventional benchmark, we made a relatively conservative estimate of the danger levels. However, with the in-depth analysis and data interpretation of some abnormal situations, as time passes, judgment might also need to adopt the vision of development…"
You call this brief? What kind of long story would it be then? Lan Changhua complained in his heart.
"In short, based on the results of our continuous monitoring of the Dark Forest just now, many of the data values have found extremely abnormal fluctuations."
Lan Changhua immediately tensed. "What do you mean?"
"It means that on the basis of the new readings available, it may be necessary for us to upgrade our position on the dangers of Dark Forest."
"What did you say!?"
Lan Changhua broke out a cold sweat at once.
This was no laughing matter. The risk rating of a dimensional space was a very important job. A high or low estimate could cause major losses.
"What the hell is wrong with you people?" asked Lan Changhua, his temper flaring.
Logically speaking, such a thing was impossible. Modern technology for evaluating the risk of dimensional spaces was already relatively mature. Over the years, there had never been a mistake in the evaluation and prediction. No one had thought that they might be wrong.
"Because something we've never seen before has happened in the Dark Forest," Li Lisheng said from the other end of the line. "Based on the unusual data we've just observed, our team is guessing that a new dimensional portal has opened in the dimension of the Dark Forest.
The various energy readings in that new dimension are much higher. It might have pulled up the overall level of the Dark Forest. We are now reassessing the danger levels…"
"A new dimensional space… opened up in the dimensional space?" Lan Changhua was also stunned.
'Where is it?'
Moreover, he felt that such a thing was unheard of. He had never heard of such a precedent in history.
"Speed up the assessment. I want the results by today… no, by two hours."
By the time Lan Changhua hung up, he was on his feet.
"Something happened?" Cen Haibo asked.
"An unexpected situation. The danger levels for Dark Forest may have to be turned up." Lan Changhua was already dialing a new number. "We need to pull out everyone who's already gone in."
Cen Haibo stared at the surveillance footage sent back by the Mechanical Spirit beside him for a moment and suddenly asked, "Did you notice where that young man called You Chu went?"
"He'll be fine. We have two sentries following him…"
Lan Changhua turned to look at the screen as he spoke, then froze.
He suddenly realized that You Chu had somehow disappeared from their screens.
…
You Chu stood in the empty palace. A figure appeared out of thin air not far in front of him.
A masked man with black cloth covering most of his face was wearing an ancient battle robe. The back of his hand, which was stretched out from his sleeve, reflected the pattern of the circular shield emblem.
It was identical to the design of the medallion on the wall, and certainly identical to the one painted on the hilt of Moonlight's sword.
You Chu was naturally puzzled.
'Coincidence?'
Or was this palace hidden deep in the jungle somehow connected to Moonlight's background?
It was certainly not impossible.
Light Swordsman, Moonlight was an initial character he had extracted from the game system that came with the transmigration. From experience, many initial characters in games had a history behind them.
The masked man who suddenly appeared on the other side said, "After so many years, the trial has finally been activated… Then, test subject, let me test your ability."
Seeing that the other party was about to fight, You Chu quickly interrupted, "Wait a minute. What trial? Who are you?"
"I am an afterimage sealed here," the masked man explained calmly. "I have no memory to answer your question.
I have only one mission, to test the person who triggered this trial—your ability.
If you pass the trial, the item sealed here will become your reward."
You Chu understood.
In other words, the person in front of him was not a real person at all. He was just a checkpoint NPC.
The palace he was in now was a trial set up by someone, perhaps many years ago or even someone from another dimension.
However, judging from the badge that was exactly the same as the one on the hilt of the Moonlight's sword, these people's origins were probably related to Moonlight.
It was even more daring to speculate that it was possible that he had triggered the trial because he had brought Moonlight here. Perhaps if anyone else had come here, nothing would have happened.
When Moonlight touched the door panel, the palace door opened automatically, as if it could verify this theory.
You Chu looked at Moonlight. "Do you know what this is about?"
Moonlight shook her little head.
You Chu thought for a moment and asked, "Does this badge on your sword and your own background ring a bell?"
Moonlight thought for a moment, then shook her little head again.
"Ok then."
You Chu's gaze returned to the masked man in front of him.
"Then the trial begins."
The arm inside the masked man's robe swept gently, and a card appeared in front of him.
"Summon the 'Acid Worm'!"
An oversized worm appeared from the summoning circle. It writhed and darted toward Moonlight, its open mouth spitting a stream of corrosive acid.
Moonlight drew her sword and dodged the acid. She strode forward and slashed at the worm.
However, just as her sword was about to land, a diagram array opened under the worm. A transparent multi-horned barrier appeared above the worm's head. Moonlight's sword struck the defensive diagram array with a clang and she was bounced away by the recoil.
"Your spell spirit just triggered the trap plate [Reflective Shield] set up in the Main Hall," the masked man said.
[Reflective Shield]
[Trap/Effect: Will receive an attack rebound.]
You Chu frowned.
'There's actually a trap?'
However, he had not seen the masked man set any traps since he entered, which meant that this was a trap that had been set in the hall earlier.
Was this part of the trial?
Moonlight did a beautiful backflip and regained her footing.
At the same time, the Bull Axe King temporarily abandoned the large bundle of spears on his back. Under You Chu's command, he swung his axe and tried to charge. However, he bumped into the acid that the worm spat out again and had to roll to the side to avoid it.
Normally speaking, for a Bronze-level Summoner, summoning one spell spirit at the same time was already the limit. It was very difficult for a Bronze-level mental strength to maintain the existence of two spell spirits at the same time.
However, You Chu's situation was special. The summoning state of Moonlight did not require the master's mental strength, so he could summon the Bul Axe King to fight outside of Moonlight.
Compared to ordinary Bronze-level Summoner, You Chu was already far ahead of his peers in terms of being able to control two spell spirits at the same time.
However…
"Summon the 'Desert Scorpion'."
As soon as the masked man finished speaking, another summoning array opened. A poisonous scorpion with a fiery red shell crawled out of the array and glared fiercely in You Chu's direction.
You Chu looked at him warily.
He actually summoned a second spell spirit…
Then logically speaking, it seemed that this masked man was at least a Silver-level Summoner.
Normally speaking, only Summoners could summon two spell spirits at the same time.
'Except cheats.'
But the masked man wasn't finished.
He raised his arms high, and the wide sleeves slid down his withered, thin arms.
"Sacrifice the Level 1 spell spirit, Desert Scorpion, and the Level 1 spell spirit, Acid Worm!
Release the souls of two spell spirits, inscribe the circuit of the soul—
"—Spirit-carved summoning!!!"
You Chu: "!?"