Aster couldn't remember ever feeling this full in his entire life.
Slow-cooked meats, fragrant fruit pies, fresh vegetables—self-control hadn't crossed his mind.
Gurgle... His stomach rumbled ominously as he lounged on the ground. Part of him considered that maybe he should be prepared somehow, but a food coma was inevitable.
His eyes fluttered shut; he decided not to fight the oncoming darkness. A good night's sleep might be the best preparation he could ask for.
---
Bellchet glared down at the sleeping human, disgust in his gaze. Aster was only just beginning to stir, scratching his face with a satisfied grin before rolling over again.
"It is time, human. I hope you enjoyed wasting the final hours of your pathetic life." His voice boomed, far louder than before.
Aster's eyes shot open, mind disoriented from the harsh awakening. By the time he fully came to, his surroundings had changed.
The first trial had begun.
Aster swung his head around, frantically taking in the new environment. Tall granite walls surrounded him on three sides, with an open path laid out ahead. For the moment, it seemed he was alone.
He exhaled, taking a moment to collect himself and adjust to the sudden change.
Unlike the welcome room, this granite hallway was cold, hard, and relentlessly unwelcoming. The place made time seem to stand still, sending chills down his spine.
Worst of all, Aster had no idea what to do.
He scanned his surroundings again. Everything he'd brought to the welcome room was gone. Even his clothes were the ones provided beforehand.
There was nothing left to do but move forward.
---
After taking a moment to steady himself, Aster finally took a step forward—
> [TRIAL ONE STARTED]
- Name: `Labyrinth`
- Task: `Survive 1 Hour`
- Attempts Remaining: `5`
Aster's eyes widened.
The first trial is just to survive. And I get five attempts? He could barely believe it.
But in that moment, time seemed to resume within the labyrinth. Echoes of movement filled the hall ahead, and the entire structure emitted a low, grinding hum.
Aster became acutely aware of just how much danger he was in.
If his only task was to survive, he doubted he'd stand a chance in a head-on encounter with anything lurking here.
Every sound, every shadow, every breath he took seemed amplified, thundering in his ears. There was no time to falter—he moved forward through the tall granite halls.
Within minutes, he came across his first split path. The hallway branched off perpendicularly, to the left and right. He paused, trying to pinpoint the source of the monstrous echoes, but it was impossible to tell which direction they were coming from.
They're getting louder.
A bead of sweat rolled down his brow.
Trusting his gut, he moved left. Then, doubting himself, he went right, attempting a poor semblance of stealth.
For several minutes, Aster crept through the chalk-colored halls, but no amount of distance seemed to escape the encroaching sounds.
Just as he approached the next junction, he was about to peer around the corner when a grunting noise froze him in place. It came from right around the bend.
He couldn't see it, but whatever it was, it was just feet away.
Turning back wasn't an option; the sounds of creatures behind him had grown deafening, likely just moments away. _Or closer._
There was no choice. Judging from the sound, the beast around the corner had to be at least twice his size. He'd never sneak past it.
I just can't look back. He decided, steeling himself.
Aster kicked off, sprinting down the open hall.
SNORT.
The beast noticed him immediately.
He took four steps, putting distance between himself and the creature. He'd abandoned all attempts at stealth, but strangely, he didn't hear any thundering footsteps following him.
Is it… not chasing me?
His confusion quickly turned to dread. For just a moment, Aster looked over his shoulder—
AUGgggurrglee... He screamed as his body was thrown forward.
He tumbled, skidding to a halt. Red-hot pain tore through his neck.
The agony was like nothing he'd ever felt. His hands clutched at his throat, desperate for air. Blood streamed down his chest.
A spear, or something like it, had pierced his neck, and lodged deep through his flesh.
He lay there convulsing, fingers clawing at the spear. Darkness quickly encroached on his vision. The pain was unbearable, his strength slipping away.
Just like that, Aster Wright died for the second time.
---
Aster's eyes shot open.
Chalk-covered walls. One path forward.
His hands flew to his throat, frantically checking for any sign of the spear. Where it had pierced him, there was only healthy skin, flesh, and bone.
His mind struggled to process it.
I died… again.
This time was different from the first—the memory of that blinding agony replayed in his mind, like a broken record.
His entire body shook.
What was that...?
From sprinting to death, it hadn't even been fifteen seconds.
> [TRIAL ONE RESUMING SOON]
- Name: `Labyrinth`
- Task: `Survive 1 Hour`
- Attempts Remaining: `4`
- Time Remaining: `1 Minute`
The trial was giving him no time to catch his breath.
Am I going to have to experience that again?
Aster thought he'd understood death. He thought that his close calls in the tundra had steeled his nerves, and made him stronger.
He thought he could endure anything thrown at him.
At that moment, he finally understood Bellchet's warning.
In the face of true strength, the only option is death.
> [TRIAL ONE RESUMED]
- Name: `Labyrinth`
- Task: `Survive 1 Hour`
- Attempts Remaining: `4`