Seven days later, the final day of the trial. The atmosphere at the base was more calm and friendlier than it had been a week ago when Rodhlann's death had caused some fear among everyone, except for the brother and sister duo and Jeanne, who were a little more indifferent.
Like Kalen, the three of them would go out during the day to hunt some Abyssal creatures, while the others stayed behind to defend the base. At night they would return to rest, and the next day they would go out again.
This went on until the evening of the last day.
If the 30 days were accurate, then there were only a few hours, or even less than an hour, left before everyone could return.
Although everyone was mostly quiet, there was one person who was completely worried.
"Where the hell are you?"
Elisabeth paced as she waited in the center of the base, watching every tunnel entrance for Kalen.
He had not returned by this time, so Elisabeth had no idea if he was still alive or lost somewhere in the endless vastness of the cavern.
As the minutes passed, the time grew closer, and her fears grew.
"I swear, if you don't arrive, I will never forgive you..."
Elisabeth began to plan ways to take Kalen down if he didn't arrive; after all, it was her test and her life on Urasis that was in jeopardy.
Talika approached Elisabeth when she saw her so worried.
"Do you think he will come?"
Elisabeth looked at Talika and then back at the tunnels.
"He has to"
Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, Elisabeth saw something at the bottom of a tunnel to her left. Turning to get a better look, her heart almost stopped when she saw Kalen slowly walking towards her.
She didn't think twice and started to run towards him.
"Damn you, I thought you'd never get here"
Kalen stopped as Elisabeth and Talika arrived in front of him and shrugged.
"Thanks for your concern"
Talika looked at him and he looked at her.
"Hi"
Finding out that someone you knew wasn't the person you thought they were, was a difficult thing. Talika had had a week to think things over, and she still didn't know how to deal with Kalen.
And she still didn't know about his dark side. Anyway, Kalen wasn't worried about Talika anymore, there was little time left and he probably wouldn't see her again for a while.
She greeted him and, after making sure he was all right, left them to join the others.
Elisabeth looked at Kalen from head to toe and couldn't help but sigh.
"What have you been doing all this time? You're a mess"
Kalen's remaining clothes were even more torn than they had been after the elemental explosion and could hardly be called clothing.
His skin was stained with a combination of dirt, dust, and dried blood. And the smell he gave off was anything but pleasant.
For this reason, Elisabeth tried not to get too close to him.
Kalen had become so used to her scent that he had actually overlooked it, and when he smelled her armpit, a sour expression appeared on his face.
'I could use a shower... maybe more than one'
Then he looked at Elisabeth and then at the group.
"Anything new?"
Elisabeth also looked at the group talking around the campfire in the middle of the base.
"All has been quiet...there have been a few attacks but nothing more"
Kalen started to stretch his arms as he yawned.
"I see"
He hunted the abyssal creature's day after day, and though he had his moments of rest, it wasn't really safe to sleep soundly in the tunnels. So, he only had short, shallow rests.
He couldn't wait to sleep in a real bed... but compared to the others, it would certainly take him longer to regain the peace and comfort of society.
His escape had been too abrupt, and surely, he was in for a good punishment.
'Nothing I can't take'
The two began to approach the group and when they saw him, they greeted each other. Donovan stood and went to greet him but regretted it once he was within a meter of him.
"Ugh... Where have you been, a dung pit?"
Donovan covered his nose and walked a few meters away. Kalen scowled at him and then at Elisabeth.
"It's not that bad... is it?"
Elisabeth, who was a good distance away, just smiled, not knowing what to say.
"It is"
Putting aside the subject of his body odor, Donovan began to ask him what he had been up to the last few days.
Kalen answered perfunctorily, not really wanting to talk. He had gradually calmed down as he had explored the tunnels, resolving himself in his mind.
He had also consumed a large amount of life crystals, so it had been a fruitful few days.
Still, no matter how many he consumed, he noticed no change in himself. He had lost count, but it must have been a little over a hundred.
Though they were all small and, Kalen guessed, of poor quality.
At one point Kalen looked in another direction and saw Jaume Che leaning against a wall away from the group. Elisabeth noticed that Kalen was looking at Jaume and began to explain what had happened to the young man in the last few days.
"He doesn't talk to anyone, it's as if he's lost in himself... I don't understand what's going on in his head, but we can't help him"
Elisabeth had tried to talk to him countless times, but to no avail.
Jaume would just eat and sleep and then sit there all day with a blank, distant look on his face.
Kalen didn't think much of it either, although he had his doubts, surely Jaume's test was to kill Zayne or something like that. Which was just crazy, because unlike him, who had to kill Rodhlann, Jaume had to kill someone many times stronger than him.
Jaume had probably disappeared into the cave that day to look for Zayne, and had been with him all the time, waiting for an opportunity that finally came his way.
A bit away from Jaume, the brother and sister duo and Jeanne were talking quietly. He didn't really have anything to talk to them about, maybe Liam for giving Rodhlann a crush to disable him, but he didn't really feel like talking to him.
Suddenly the room began to distort and exactly ten white scrolls appeared in front of each of the survivors, startling them.
Kalen took his own scroll and opened it without hesitation, as did everyone else.
[Congratulations on completing the first test of Urasis]
[You have worked hard to complete your own tests, so you will be rewarded]
Just like the first scroll they had received upon arrival, this one contained a faint description for all of them.
But what was important was what was to come.
[Kalen Nohak, you have successfully completed your three tests]
[You will receive the greatest possible reward]
[Congratulations]
It was short and to the point, but more importantly, it was what Kalen had hoped for.
He killed Rodhlann.
He kept Talika safe.
And he finally found the golden firefly alive... even if it later died to save him.
He had completed his trials, but somehow there was a bittersweet feeling inside him.
As he struggled to complete them... there were many variables that ultimately helped him complete them.
And he didn't like that at all. He couldn't control almost anything, he killed Rodhlann because he found the firefly in the monster's body and that's why he survived, and they helped him to incapacitate him.
So even though he had completed his trials, Kalen felt as if he had done nothing.
He didn't know if he would ever receive a second invitation to Urasis' second test. But if he did, he swore it would be nothing like this one.
Clearing his mind, Kalen finished reading the scroll.
[Now, challenger, the gates of the new world open before you]
[You are worthy to enter Urasis, the world of salvation]
Everyone had different reactions, some were happy, others cried because this nightmare was over.
Kalen just... resigned himself and closed the scroll, releasing it into the air.
Strangely, the scroll floated and soon the air distorted and a black portal appeared in front of him.
Kalen looked at Elisabeth who was still reading the scroll.
"Hey"
Elisabeth looked at him when she heard her name being called.
"What?"
Kalen took one last look around the cave and the group before looking back at Elisabeth.
"Remember our deal"
Elisabeth sighed and nodded.
"Yes, yes... I owe you a favor"
Kalen nodded and passed through the black portal without a second glance.
In an instant, the place he was in changed completely and he found himself in a small, dark, and desolate room.
Ignoring everything around him, Kalen called up his information and a black window with white letters appeared in front of him.
[Name: Kalen Nohak]
[Rank: Challenger]
[Trait: Hunter]
His rank and trait remained the same, but Kalen smiled when he saw that something new had appeared on the screen.
'Finally…'
[Trait Ability: Energy manipulator]
Kalen's smile widened.
'Energy Manipulator... doesn't sound bad'
Even though he wasn't sure, Kalen had an idea that his skill was going to be related to the elements. But in comparison it seemed to be related to energies.
But he still didn't know what his ability did, so Kalen read on.
[Description: You control the energies...]
Suddenly the screen disappeared, preventing Kalen from reading any further, and he felt his center of gravity drop.
He tried to move his legs, but they were paralyzed, and even his arms seemed as heavy as stones.
Kalen fell to the ground, groaning from the blows he felt all over his body.
Turning his head, he saw 5 hooded figures holding him down, while another appeared in front of him.
'Well... fuck'
A woman dressed in black with her face covered, raised her arm and a holographic screen appeared over his smartwatch.
"Target secured"
There was a long silence, then a woman's voice behind the call.
"Bring him in"
Kalen smiled wryly and didn't try to resist... not that he could.
"Good to see you again"
Then he looked at the woman in front of him, who silently returned his gaze.
"Especially you, Captain"