As the remnants of the trial's chaos faded, the remaining Invited found themselves standing in a place unlike any they had known.
They were no longer in the familiar confines of the gray stone arena. This was something entirely new.
Ryan was the first to break the silence. His voice cut through the confusion.
"Everyone," he said, his eyes scanning the horizon. "This... this is the Second Floor."
The others turned to him, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and realization. The landscape around them was a vivid tapestry of elemental energies, each zone pulsating with its own distinct aura.
The Fire Zone smoldered in the distance, its heatwaves visible even from afar. The Water Zone's tranquil lakes reflected the sky above, a stark contrast to the roaring waterfalls.
The Earth Zone's towering canyons stood as silent sentinels, and the Air Zone's floating platforms promised a test of agility. Lightning crackled ominously in its designated zone, while the Ice Zone shimmered with a cold, inviting beauty.
The Invited, still reeling from the abrupt transition, gathered their wits. They had survived the trial by the skin of their teeth, but this was a new beginning. And now, all of their wounds have already healed.
The Second Floor was their next challenge. By the looks of it, it will be a series of elemental trials that would push them to their limits, again.
"We're on the second floor already? Just like that?" Liam asked, his face contorting in a grimace.
"Yes," Ryan replied again.
"And how do you know?" This time it was Sophia who asked. Her eyes fixed on Ryan with skepticism. She began to suspect Ryan after everything he had done.
Ryan sighed. "I just know," he answered wearily. He was too exhausted from the combat before to bother making up a reason.
Then he looked at Ethan, the only one still standing. Now that the dire situation seemed to have ended, he decided to retract the Shadow Behemoth back into a space within his mind.
Ethan glanced around in all directions, trying to understand what was truly around him.
His gaze swept across the vast expanse of the Second Floor. The elemental zones stretched out before him, each pulsing with its own unique energy.
He took a moment, trying to piece together the rules of this new world. He admitted that this Floor is beautiful, but definitely swarmed with danger as well.
The air was thick with the power of the elements, and the ground beneath his feet felt charged with some kind of magical energy.
As he stood there, lost in thought, he noticed Irene struggling to rise. Without hesitation, Ethan moved to her side then extended a hand and helped her to her feet.
"Are you alright?" Ethan asked.
Irene nodded, steadying herself with Ethan's support. "Yes, thanks to you," she replied, her voice regaining strength.
"Where should we go now?" Liam, the young boy asked.
"Lets just look for a place to rest," Ryan said.
Hidden from view, unknown eyes watched the group of Invited with keen interest. From a concealed vantage point, the silent observers the newly arrived challengers.
The watchers were shrouded in mystery. His presence unseen while he observing them, noting the group.
To him, the Invited were not just participants in a trial; they are his feast. A grin split the observer's face knowing that another batch of food is already here.
After confirming the new arrivals, which consist of 7 people, the observer dissapeared into white mist and then gone.
Ethan's mind is in confusion and concern as they started to ventured further into the Second Floor. The abrupt end to their battle with Claudia left him questioning the nature of his control over her.
He didn't know how to figure that one out now that Claudia is already gone from his sight.
As they walked, the landscape around them shifted, the elemental energies of the Second Floor pulsating with life. The group kept a watchful eye out for a safe haven to rest and gather their thoughts.
Finally, they stumbled upon a serene clearing, sheltered by towering trees whose leaves shimmered with a soft, golden light. The air here was calm, untouched by the elemental chaos that ruled the rest of the floor. It was a perfect place for the Invited to rest their tired bodies and troubled minds.
Ethan helped Irene settle down against a tree, her breathing steady but her face still pale from the exertion. He then sat beside her, his gaze lost in the distance.
The group remained silent, each lost in their own thoughts. As night began to fall, the clearing was bathed in a gentle twilight. The Invited settled in, finding comfort in the quiet. Tomorrow, they would continue their journey, but for now, they would rest.
In the deep of the night, Ethan's mind wandered into the realm of dreams. Here, the whispers of the past and the echoes of long-forgotten epochs mingled with the fabric of his subconscious.
Ethan found himself in a strange library. Its architecture a blend of every culture from unknown timeline and world.
The shelves were laden with dusty tomes, their pages filled with the voices of those who had walked these halls before him.
'What is this?'
Ethan reached out, his fingers tracing the ancient scripts. Bu noting happen cause all of this is just a dream. At least for now. Ethan somehow manage to know it.
Suddenly, his mind was filled with chronicles spoke of civilizations risen and fallen within its walls. They whispered secrets of its purpose, of trials designed not to punish but to elevate.
He didn't understand the knowlegde, he just feel it.
The dream shifted, and Ethan stood in the midst of a grand coliseum, the ghosts of ancient masters demonstrating their mastery. They moved with a grace and incredible power. Their techniques is like a dance of combat and sorcery.
But again, Ethan only manage to feel it. Feeling that it is incredible technique without being able to practicing it.
Then he remember a word from his Rune that he had never understood.
'Aspirant...'
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