Alex was stunned for a while, staring at the glyph. He tried once more to take a look at the next glyph and the same thing happened.
Without needing to process the glyph's meaning, it presented its interpretation clearly to him as though it was written in his birth language.
Alex was overjoyed at the new development as he had never experienced this phenomenon with the grade 1 glyphs. They only gave him a meaning close to its interpretation, unlike the direct understanding from the grade 2 glyphs.
"It seems that the Grade 1 glyphs were underdeveloped, unable to fully manifest their meaning. Hence, they could not appear as clearly in my mind."
Understanding that he had suddenly gained mastery of the grade 2 glyphs, Alex calmed himself down and began to track down the glyph indicating the tunnel of Ascension.
And with the aid of this new mastery, he quickly found it. Walking briskly towards the higher floor his steps were bubbly with the vision of mastering the grade 3 and possibly higher grade glyphs on the higher floor.
The feeling of growth was intoxicating to him.
However, at that moment high above the clouds, the crimson mist-cloaked figure had a stunned look on his face.
Unable to understand how that illiterate challenger could so easily obtain complete mastery of grade-two glyphs.
He was shocked much like how a teacher in preschool suddenly discovered the pupils in her classroom had gone from reading the alphabet to reading simple sentences overnight.
Although the labyrinth is within the Tower of Babel, the core of all languages in the Myriad realms. Thereby making it fundamentally easier to understand languages here. It still makes no sense.
These glyphs were by no means an ordinary language from any civilization. But they were the most primitive form of the language of power- Soul speak, a long-lost tongue of the primordial era of the myriad realms.
"It seems these glyphs would pose no challenge to this one any more, seeing how readily the glyphs had given up their core to him."
The shadow was somewhat torn in his mind as someone who could so easily master the entry-level knowledge of the glyphs was by no means an ordinary soul.
He was bound to become a unique force to be reckoned with in the myriad realms.
"Should I just give him a clear pass to complete the first phase of the trial or maintain the trial's reputation for brutality by upping the difficulty?"
He was divided between giving up his pride and letting this challenger through or keeping to his mission and raising the bar of difficulty. Looking behind him he thought for a moment longer remembering his ultimate goal.
After a while he had finished mulling over the decision and cleared his mind, he took a deep breath and then extended his hand out once again towards the clouds.
And once again a long slit appeared on his palm and a single drop of 'blood' the size of a tennis ball gathered on the surface. Releasing a fear-inducing aura and dropping down towards the clouds. Moving towards the clouds below with a heart-stopping appearance.
The black 'blood' was so revolting towards the clouds that the ever-present clouds fled from the area, clearing the view below and revealing a massive tower the size of a planet.
It was glaringly incomplete with a conical shape wide at the bottom and pointed towards the top. Floating within a massive space between what looked like the boundary between the heavens and the mortal realm it was an impressive sight.
Watching as the drop of blood steadily dropped down from the clouds heading towards the tower below at a speed that defied natural laws the figure looked determined and with a stern gaze peered at the tower.
"Let me watch how you perform now that I've raised the overall difficulty of the Labrinth."
The next moment the blood drop reached the tower and like a tiny pin dropped into the ocean. There was no effect whatsoever.
However, down at the entrance to the second floor of the trial realm, the darkness that had just appeared on this floor rippled violently as though a flame had lit up within it, suddenly picking up its speed and devouring relentlessly.
Meanwhile, within the Ascension corridor leading to the 3rd floor, Alex felt a sudden rush of Goose's flesh run through his body, his soul vibrating in panic. He knew immediately that something was very wrong. It was so serious that his soul which had been unshaken since he started navigating the passageways was trembling in a panic.
A feeling he had not felt since he had lost Sara within phase two of the trial of determination all his senses both natural and spiritual were urging him to get out of the labyrinth as soon as he possibly could.
Picking up his pace Alex speedily climbed up rushing to the next floor of the labyrinth with all of his strength.
Alex ran like his life depended on it without holding back any strength he made his way up, escaping to the second floor.
Unknown to him, darkness rushed forward covering and engulfing the entirety of the space leaving nothing behind. Rushing to cover everything on the entire floor.
Alex finally left the ascension corridor and walked briskly towards the tunnel before him searching for the glyph to begin rapid decryption.
However, the moment he saw the glyph he was stunned by the complexity of it. The previous glyphs were as simple as three-letter words or simple sentences.
But this one was simply a painting that could be translated into complex prose dealing with abstract concepts.
Wondering what to do next he decided to attempt the old method of memorising the glyph and investigate the result of the corridor.
A sudden gust of wind blew right into his face wiping every single thought from his mind clean.
The darkness was drawing ever closer by the minute.