Pushing aside some overhanging leaves, he stood atop the dome-shaped woven branches, noticing new details.
Each strand sprouted smaller twigs, and at the very peak, several converged upwards, their tips adorned with young, vibrant leaves that formed a small umbrella about half a meter above his head.
"Black and shiny..." he muttered, picking up a leaf and marveling at its unusual coloring.
Scattered across the uppermost branches, bursts of color bloomed – vibrant flowers defying the tree's dark theme.
From his elevated vantage point, Elias could survey the vast expanse around him. The area surrounding the giant tree stood highest in the landscape.
He looked back towards his arrival point – a seemingly endless sea of grassland.
Sparse, stunted trees dotted the landscape, barely visible amidst the towering grass.
Far in the distance, a dense forest materialized, backed by the silhouette of rolling hills and towering mountains.
Turning his gaze in the opposite direction, Elias spotted a large, crystal-clear lake teeming with animals gathered to drink at its edge.
Large boulders of various sizes were scattered around the shoreline, contrasting sharply with the grassy expanse on the opposite side, where a vibrant pine forest flourished.
Elias scanned the vast expanse from his perch atop the tree. No human footprints marred the pristine landscape.
He watched for a long time, observing the surrounding area teeming with life. Animals scurried about, some chasing prey, others fleeing pursuers.
In the distance, a pack of wild wolves stalked their quarry across the sprawling grassland.
But as their prey neared the giant tree, the wolves inexplica hesitated, stopping abruptly at the edge of the tall grass.
They retreated back into the dense undergrowth, seemingly repelled by an invisible barrier.
This scene repeated itself several times, solidifying Elias's suspicion. Something about the area around the tree deterred these wild animals from approaching.
Elias sank down onto the woven platform at the top of the tree, his back resting against the massive central trunk.
He gazed out at the wondrous landscape, his mind reeling from the strange beauty of the tree itself.
"Black as shadows, yet gleaming with an inner light..." he murmured, tracing the texture of a leaf with his fingers.
"And these vibrant flowers, these fruits..." he continued, his voice laced with awe. The tree defied logic, a contradiction of darkness and brilliance, barrenness and life.
Elias paused, his gaze drifting upwards towards the expansive sky.
The sky was painted in a vibrant shade of blue, adorned with fluffy white clouds that drifted lazily across the canvas.
The sun beamed down, its warmth enveloping the landscape, yet it did not bring with it the oppressive heat of a scorching day. Instead, the air was refreshingly cool, invigorating the senses.
A gentle breeze whispered through the leaves, carrying a soft, caressing touch.
The cool air was strangely soothing, slowly coaxing Elias into a state of drowsiness.
Lulled by the calming sensation, he eventually succumbed to sleep, finding himself nestled comfortably beneath the cool shade of the dark, leafy canopy.
"Shadow... Bloom," Elias mumbled in his sleep, his voice barely a whisper. His consciousness slowly faded, drifting into a deeper slumber. With a level 0 physical body and average stats, fatigue had claimed him much faster than usual.
*****
The shrill ring of the alarm clock jolted Rena awake. Groaning, she reached over and silenced the insistent beeping.
A gentle knock on the door interrupted the morning silence. "Rena?" a teenage girl's voice called out.
"Yeah, I'm up," Rena mumbled, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She shuffled towards the door and unlocked it. "Come in, Mia, I just need to shower first."
Mia stepped inside, shaking her head at the state of the room. "Rena, Rena," she muttered, gesturing at the scattered books and photos.
Nearly half an hour later, Rena emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her hair.
"Rena, you're a girl! Why do you wake up so late?" Mia teased.
Rena simply grinned and headed for the wardrobe. "Messy?" she replied, holding back laughter. "It looks perfectly neat already."
"Yeah, thanks Princess," Mia said sarcastically, gesturing at the tidied room.
"So, what kept you up all night? You look like a hurricane went through here."
"Hurricane? More like a helpful fairy!" Rena countered, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "But seriously, thanks for tidying up."
"Don't get cheeky," Mia chuckled. "Just promise you'll get up earlier tomorrow. We almost overslept thanks to you."
Rena grabbed Mia's hand and pulled her off the bed. "Come on, sleepyhead. Let's go, or we will be late."
"Late because of your long shower, you mean?" Mia grumbled good-naturedly as she took Rena's hand.
They locked their dorm room and headed downstairs. The dorm was quiet, except for the dorm guard, Ms. Marie, enjoying her morning snacks in the lobby.
"Oh, Rena and Mia, off to school already?" she asked, noticing them on the stairs.
"Yes, Ms. Marie," Mia replied. "Rena had a bit of a marathon shower this morning."
Rena winked at Mia. "But Mia wanted to wait for me anyway," she said playfully.
Ms. Marie chuckled, shaking her head. "Hurry along, you two. Don't want to miss your classes."
With that, Rena and Mia hurried out of the dorm, setting off towards their nearby school.
***
The classroom buzzed with nervous energy. Every student sat ramrod straight in their assigned seats, eyes fixed on the young man standing behind the teacher's desk. \
Daniel, one of Starfield Academy's youngest instructors, was notorious for his strict demeanor and demanding curriculum.
Today, however, his gaze lingered on several empty chairs. "Hmm," he muttered, "Five students late."
Starfield Academy, a prestigious high school nestled in Sky Haven, catered to students from elite backgrounds or those with exceptional achievements securing coveted scholarships.
Daniel's expertise lay in a specialized course: Survival Ethics. His reputation for discipline preceded him, sending shivers down the students' spines whenever he entered the room.
Just as he was about to begin, the classroom door flew open. Two girls, breathless and flustered, scrambled to reach their seats.
"Do you two have any idea what time it is?" Daniel inquired, his voice laced with a hint of disapproval.
Rena, the first to reach her chair, flashed a bright smile despite her hurried arrival. Holding up her hand to reveal a holographic projection of a digital watch, she chimed, "Five minutes and forty seconds past seven a.m., sir."
"And at what time does this class typically begin?" he countered, raising an eyebrow.
"And what time does class typically start?" he countered, his gaze unwavering.
"Seven o'clock sharp," Rena rattled off, ignoring the withering looks from Mia beside her. "Though, you usually enter the classroom, take five minutes to settle in with some pleasantries, and then another thirty before launching into the actual lesson."
Mia gaped at Rena's audacious answer, silently pleading with the heavens for mercy. "We apologize, Professor," Mia blurted out, bowing deeply in fear of his wrath.
Daniel shook his head, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes.
"Alright, Mia," he conceded, "we'll let you off the hook this time. But try not to make a habit of it."
Reaching for a remote, he activated a holographic projector. A 3D image materialized in the air before them, depicting a planet adorned with two moons. The words "WORLD OF ARCADIA" loomed large above it.
A hush fell over the class as the captivating display held their attention. Whispers began to erupt, students puzzled by their teacher's unorthodox introduction. This "World of Arcadia" – wasn't that the hotly anticipated new game everyone was buzzing about?
"As you're all undoubtedly aware," Daniel's voice cut through the murmurs, "this image represents..."
He paused, his gaze landing on Rena, who was swiveling in her seat, eyes darting around in confusion.
"Rena," he inquired, "what do you see?"
Rena leaned towards Mia, a bewildered frown etched on her face. "Just a picture of a planet," she whispered. "What else could it be?"
"Rena, don't forget to visit my office after class," Daniel instructed, a hint of exasperation lingering in his voice, likely from a student's earlier behavior.
He addressed the class, "Ladies and gentlemen, this image in front of you should be familiar. Perhaps some of you have even delved deeper into its details."
Daniel paused for a moment, his gaze lingering on the tightly shut classroom door. With a sigh, he called out, "Samuel, Joshua, Antonio! Get in here! Don't loiter by the door!"
The door, however, stood wide open. Three teenage boys shuffled in, eyes downcast, towards their empty seats. Daniel let out a frustrated chuckle and sighed.
"For the next four months," he continued, his voice regaining its authority, "as a final assessment for your entire academic journey here, all subjects, with a particular focus on ethics and survival, will be conducted within a virtual world – precisely, the one depicted in this image." He scanned the faces of his students, gauging their reactions.
"This morning, each of you will undergo a scan to ensure compatibility with the new equipment. Now, consider yourselves fortunate."
"Thirty of you, along with thirty participants from Starfield colleges and universities, will be included in the beta testing program for Boundless Horizons."
"Additionally, one hundred general registrants and ten students from various schools worldwide will also be participating." He pressed a button on the remote, deactivating the holographic display.
A male student erupted from his seat, excitement bubbling over. "This is amazing! We get to play a game, right, sir?" The entire class turned to stare at him.
"Josh," a student named Sam, seated beside the excited boy, tugged on his shirt to silence him. "Sit down."
Daniel held his gaze on Joshua and Samuel, seated at the back.
"You should be thrilled," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. This is a free opportunity to play a game everyone is buzzing about."
He sobered slightly. "However, remember this – your beta test access is part of your final exam. Every action you take within the game will be monitored by the teaching staff, school board members, and even national and international defense institutions."
The students' previously jubilant expressions quickly dimmed.
"Now, you may all be dismissed. Please head to the research and development lab and form a queue. Professor Tanaka awaits you there."