News spread quickly that as much as it was a threat, the stone statue also presented a tremendous opportunity. People discovered that it was known as the Sacred Statue, rumored to have the power to transform one's deepest fear into an extraordinary ability.
Depending on one's perspective of fear about something, the Sacred Statue would present a challenge and offer the opportunity to undertake the First Trial: Master's Quest.
And that trial was to conquer one's greatest fear to make it his own power.
The entire world plunged into unprecedented chaos, the first of its kind in the entirety of human history.
After several days, some individuals finally succeeded in overcoming their fears and becoming Masters. However, instead of bringing order, these pioneers wreaked even greater havoc, flaunting their newfound abilities like self-proclaimed monarchs.
They would stop at nothing, trampling others beneath their feet until they were satisfied.
Amidst the global turmoil, a young man found himself grappling with a personal crisis in a secluded realm. In a seemingly serene forest, with gentle raindrops sprinkling over the land, he sprinted frantically, as if his very life hung in the balance.
People would think that it was crazy, but that was right, he was being pursued by three flying pufferfish. Their beady eyes fixed on him as if he was the last morsel of food on the land.
He was, of course, Jax. However, he was almost unrecognizable. His facial expression, physical appearance, body frame, and even his demeanor had all undergone a drastic transformation.
As if he had gone through a series of metamorphoses, shedding his old self like a skin, and emerged as a completely new and distinct individual.
After a frantic sprint, he finally reached his destination. It was a cave nestled within the trunk of a gargantuan tree. With a burst of speed, he dashed towards the cave and, as he drew near, launched himself into its depths, rolling multiple times as he landed roughly on the cave floor.
The three flying pufferfish pursuing him halted at the cave's entrance, as if an invisible barrier repelled them. Foiled, they reluctantly turned back, abandoning their chase.
"Phew, thankfully, there are still safe havens in this godforsaken world." Jax exhaled a sigh of relief. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand as his eyes closed in momentary respite.
Still catching his breath, Jax struggled to his feet. His breathing labored and rapid as he fought to reclaim the energy drained from his frantic escape. After a moment, he raised his arms overhead and arched his neck, stretching his tired muscles in a bid to shake off the lingering fatigue.
Jax's tattered and ragged clothing hung from his frame, exposing his chiseled physique, thick muscles, and a smattering of small scars. He appeared to have grown taller, and his entire demeanor had taken on the disciplined air of a seasoned soldier.
But it was his striking new features that would likely render him unrecognizable to those who once knew him — his attractiveness and handsomeness had increased exponentially, transforming him into a virtually unidentifiable version of his former self.
That would have been the case if he'd dressed up a little better and bathed a little bit more.
In any case, it had been a week and a half since his arrival in that forsaken place. And he definitely learned a lot of things in this new world that welcomed him.
If there was a place called hell in the afterlife, then it should be this place.
The thought of him being dead only made more and more sense.
But despite the doubts, he was convinced he still drew breath. After all, the pain he suffered in that place was too excruciating to be mere illusion, and his body's basic functions — the ache of hunger, the sting of wounds, the rhythmic pulse of breathing — all attested to his stubborn vitality.
If death had indeed claimed him, then how could he still endure sensations akin to those of the living?
With a deep sigh, Jax finally turned his attention forward, his eyes locking onto some unseen point as he uttered the words, "Scroll, Lord's Quest."
An ancient scroll radiating a faint, mysterious dark glow suddenly emerged. As it unfolded before him, the scroll revealed the crucial information he had been seeking.
Summoning the Scroll was also one of the things he learned from the past week.
_____________________
[Mission]
• Slay fishes and collect 100 souls or more within the time limit of 30 days.
(Souls collected: 2/100)
(Remaining time: 19D)
_____________________
"Damn, it's already been 11 days, huh?" Seeing his progress, a wry smile twisted Jax's lips as he contemplated, his voice laced with a mix of surprise and self-deprecation.
Jax had never imagained that the fish he needed to slay would prove to be monstrous, lurking beneath the surface with deadly intent. Their presence threatened to claim his life at any instant, rendering caution all but futile.
As such, when he checked out his progress, instead of tracking his kill count, Jax found himself fixated on the countdown — the dwindling number of days he had left to complete his perilous mission.
Jax rubbed the back of his head, his expression tinged with concern as he acknowledged the sluggish pace of his progress. For the first time, seeds of doubt crept in, and he wondered if he truly had what it took to see the mission through to its end.
Well, it couldn't be helped. It was natural for him to feel that way since he needed time to study the new world presented before him as well as his newfound ability.
That said, Jax had spent his first week exploring the uncharted territory, utilizing his newfound ability to separate his soul from his body. As he navigated the unfamiliar landscape in his Soul Form, he gained valuable insights into the capabilities and limitations of his power and its potential applications.
In any case, the place to which he was transported was a mystifying realm known as Fish Mystic Land. It was a name he had gleaned from the Scroll. The island was vast, with borders that stretched far beyond what he had explored thus far. His current location was a dense tropical rainforest, characterized by relentless nighttime rainfall that persisted until late morning.
The true challenge, however, lay elsewhere.
The island was actually home to a bizarre array of monsters, each one more astonishing than the last. In a twist that defied all logic, these creatures were, in fact, various species of fish that had adapted to navigate the air with ease, gliding effortlessly through the atmosphere as if gravity held no sway over them.
Each species of fish possessed a distinct and terrifying ability, making them formidable opponents. Furthermore, some of these fish boasted a Unique Trait, a special characteristic that set them apart from the rest. The three pufferfish that had pursued Jax earlier were a prime example, their unyielding ferocity still fresh in his mind.
The monstrous pufferfish were known as Cute Puffies, a name that belied their formidable nature. Normally, they were roughly the size of a human head, but when threatened, they could inflate to enormous proportions, swelling to the size of a wrecking ball.
And then explode.
So, contrary to what its name suggested, the Cute Puffy was, in reality, a fearsome beast that Jax desperately sought to evade...
A shiver coursed down Jax's spine as he recalled the harrowing encounter when he had narrowly escaped death after making the reckless mistake of trying to touch a Cute Puffy.
''Damn it, just why on earth did the Scroll name it Cute Puffy...?'' Jax muttered under his breath. His face reflected his deep-seated unease. Taking a calming breath, he continued, "Scroll, display the Monster Index."
The beige scroll fluttered closed, only to snap open again a moment later, revealing the desired information in elegant, swirling script.