After Edward entered the portal, he saw a world completely different from what he had expected. Suddenly, he noticed that Derek, who had been beside him moments ago, had disappeared. He found himself alone in this strange place, surrounded by a dense, dark forest unlike anything he had ever seen before.
At that moment, he heard a strange voice echoing in his head saying, "Excellent, this is the progress I hoped for. You must reach the end of the tower so I can speak with you. I apologize, but I can't let you continue with your companion because you need to finish the trial before you leave and reach the tenth floor. As for him, he doesn't need it. The trial is currently simple. You're not on any floor, and you have a simple task to complete before you reach the penultimate floor and then see me. Your task is to survive for just one week, and throughout this period, you won't need food or water, so don't worry."
Edward was astonished by this sudden information. He felt a mixture of confusion and concern, but he tried to compose himself. Calmly, he asked the strange voice, "Survive from what?"
The voice replied simply, "Here in this forest where you'll be, there will be a monster. Even if you gathered all your strength, you couldn't scratch it. But this monster is blind. If you make any sound, it will come to you. It will circle the entire forest. And if you stay in one place for more than a day, it will come to you immediately wherever you are, even if you're underground."
Edward took a deep breath, trying to comprehend the dangerous situation he found himself in. He looked around cautiously, attempting to assess his surroundings. The forest was incredibly dense, with giant trees blocking most of the daylight, leaving the place in a perpetual twilight.
Edward began to move slowly and with extreme caution, placing his feet gently on the ground to avoid making any sound that might attract the monster's attention. He realized that every step and every movement could be the difference between life and death.
As the first hours passed, Edward began to familiarize himself more with his surroundings. He noticed that the forest was full of trees with thick trunks, which could provide temporary hiding places. He also found some small caves and cracks in the rocks that could serve as safe havens for short periods.
On the first day, Edward focused on quietly exploring the area around him. He moved slowly, stopping every few minutes to listen for any sign of the monster's presence. At one point, he heard a nearby rustling that made his heart race, but it turned out to be just a small rabbit moving through the grass.
As night fell, Edward found a small shelter under the roots of a massive tree. He spent the night wide awake, listening to the sounds of the forest and trying to distinguish between natural noises and any sound that might indicate the monster's approach. Sleep was impossible under these circumstances, but he used the time to think about his strategy for the coming days.
On the morning of the second day, Edward decided to change his location, remembering the voice's warning about staying in one place for more than a day. He moved cautiously through the forest, using intertwined branches and dense vegetation as cover. By midday, he found a small stream. Although he didn't need to drink, the sound of running water provided him with some psychological comfort and helped him relax a little.
The third day was the most challenging so far. Edward began to feel tired and exhausted from the constant tension and cautious movement. In a moment of carelessness, he stumbled on a tree root and almost fell, causing a faint sound. His heart stopped for a moment, expecting the monster to appear at any second. He remained still for several minutes, barely breathing, waiting. Fortunately, nothing happened. Edward realized he needed to be even more careful, as any small mistake could cost him his life.
On the fourth day, Edward discovered a rocky, rugged area in the forest. He decided to use this terrain to his advantage, carefully climbing the rocks to reach a high point that would allow him to observe the surrounding area. From there, he noticed strange movements in the distant trees, making him realize that the monster was nearby. He watched how the trees moved unnaturally, as if something huge was passing between them without being seen. This sight increased his awareness of the dangerous situation and the importance of staying silent and hidden.
The fifth day brought a new challenge. The sky began to rain heavily, making it more difficult to move quietly. The ground became slippery, and wet leaves made sounds with every step. However, Edward used this opportunity to move with greater freedom, as the sound of rain covered his movements. He used this time to search for better shelter and explore new areas of the forest he had previously been afraid to approach due to the absolute silence.
On the sixth day, Edward began to feel hopeful as the end of the week approached. But this feeling quickly dissipated when he heard a terrifying sound coming from nearby. The monster was just a few meters away from him. Edward stopped moving completely, even holding his breath. He felt terror overtake him as he saw the huge shadow of the monster pass in front of him. It was a moment of intense fear, during which he managed to see part of the monster. It was incredibly huge, its body covered with black scales, and it had sharp claws that dug into the ground with each step. Although the monster was blind, Edward felt that its large ears were constantly moving, picking up the faintest sounds. Minutes that seemed like hours passed before the monster finally moved away.
On the last day, the seventh day, Edward felt a mixture of exhaustion and hope. He had learned a lot about the forest and how to move silently within it. He used everything he had learned to stay hidden, moving between trees and rocks with a skill he didn't possess a week ago. As the final hours approached, his tension increased. Every sound, no matter how small, made him freeze in place. Even the sound of his breathing seemed loud to him in the silence of the forest.
Finally, as the sun set on the seventh day, Edward heard the voice in his head again: "You've succeeded. Well done." He felt a wave of relief wash over him as he realized he had passed this difficult test. Every moment of fear, anticipation, and extreme caution had been worth this moment of victory.
At that moment, the forest began to fade around him, and he felt himself being transported to another place. He found himself in a spacious room, dimly lit. In front of him, he saw a mysterious figure standing in the shadows.
The figure spoke to him, saying, "Welcome, Edward. You have proven your ability to survive and adapt in the most difficult circumstances. These skills will be essential for what's to come."
Edward, still panting from his exhausting experience, asked, "Who are you? And what's happening here?"
The figure answered, "I am the guardian of this tower. What you've been through was a test of your abilities and will. Now, you are ready for the next stage of your journey."
Edward felt a mixture of confusion and curiosity. "What is this next stage? And why am I here? What happened to Derek?"
The guardian replied, "Everything will become clear in due time. What you need to do now is prepare for greater challenges. The tower hides deep secrets, and you are now part of something bigger than you can imagine. As for Derek, he is safe, undergoing his own journey."
With these words, the room began to fade, and Edward felt himself being transported again. This time, he found himself in another room in the tower, higher than where he had started. The room was completely different from the dark forest where he had spent the past days. The walls were adorned with strange symbols and ancient writings he couldn't understand. In the center of the room, there was a circular platform with an old book on it.
Edward approached the book cautiously, remembering the lessons of caution he had learned in the forest. When he touched the book, he felt a strange energy coursing through him. He slowly opened the book to find its pages filled with texts and images of strange creatures and worlds he had never seen before.
Suddenly, he heard a voice coming from the book itself: "Edward, you have reached the next stage of your journey. This book is your guide to the worlds you will face in the upper floors of the tower. Each page holds a secret, and each secret will help you face the coming challenges."
Edward, still affected by his experience in the forest, asked, "Will the coming challenges be like what I faced in the forest?"
The voice answered, "Each challenge will be different, Edward. What you faced in the forest was a test of your ability to survive and adapt. The coming challenges will test other aspects of your personality and abilities. You will face puzzles that challenge your mind, moral situations that test your values, and perhaps even battles that test your courage."
Edward took a deep breath, ready for what was to come. "How do I prepare for these challenges?"
"Study the book carefully," the voice replied. "In it, you will find keys to understanding the worlds you will visit. And always remember the lessons you learned in the forest: patience, vigilance, and the ability to adapt."
With these words, the room began to change. The walls started to move and transform, and Edward felt himself being pulled into a new world. Before he disappeared completely, he quickly grabbed the book, knowing it would be his essential tool in his upcoming journey.
He found himself in a strange world, filled with colors he had never seen before and intertwining geometric shapes that defied the logic of physics. This was the first challenge in the series of challenges awaiting him in the upper floors of the tower.
Edward realized that his true journey had just begun. Everything he had been through so far was merely preparation for what was to come. With the book in his hand and the lessons he had learned in his mind, he began to take his first steps in this new world, ready to face any challenge that came his way.
And so, Edward's real adventure in the mysterious tower began, with each floor holding a new challenge and a new secret waiting to be uncovered. He knew the road would be long and difficult, but he was determined to press on, no matter what obstacles lay ahead, until he reached the top of the tower and uncovered the full truth behind his presence there.
As Edward stood in this new, bizarre world, he couldn't help but reflect on his harrowing experience in the forest. Every moment of those seven days was etched into his memory: the constant fear, the perpetual vigilance, and the need for absolute silence. He remembered how he could feel the monster's heavy breaths in the air, even when he couldn't see it.
Now, standing in this new room, he began to realize that everything he had gone through had a purpose. Every challenge he faced, every moment of fear he overcame, was preparing him for something bigger. He felt a new strength coursing through his veins, a strength he had gained from his harsh experience.
Edward looked around the new room. It was entirely different from the dark forest where he had spent the past days. The walls were adorned with strange symbols and ancient writings he couldn't understand. In the center of the room was a circular platform with an old book resting on it.
He approached the book cautiously, the lessons of caution from the forest still fresh in his mind. As he touched the book, he felt a strange energy surge through his body. Slowly opening it, he found its pages filled with texts and images of strange creatures and worlds he had never seen before.
Suddenly, a voice emanated from the book itself: "Edward, you have reached the next stage of your journey. This book is your guide to the worlds you will face in the upper floors of the tower. Each page holds a secret, and each secret will help you face the coming challenges."
Edward, still reeling from his forest experience, asked, "Will the coming challenges be like what I faced in the forest?"
The voice answered, "Each challenge will be different, Edward. What you faced in the forest was a test of your ability to survive and adapt. The coming challenges will test other aspects of your personality and abilities. You will face puzzles that challenge your mind, moral situations that test your values, and perhaps even battles that test your courage."
Edward took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. "How do I prepare for these challenges?"
"Study the book carefully," the voice replied. "In it, you will find keys to understanding the worlds you will visit. And always remember the lessons you learned in the forest: patience, vigilance, and the ability to adapt."
As Edward stood there, absorbing this new information and preparing himself for the challenges ahead, he realized that his journey through the tower was far from over. In fact, it had only just begun. The mysterious book in his hands held secrets that would guide him through the upcoming trials, each one testing a different aspect of his character and abilities.
The room around him continued to shift and change, the walls moving in impossible ways, creating new patterns and shapes with every passing moment. Edward knew that he would need to adapt quickly to this ever-changing environment, just as he had adapted to the dangers of the forest.
With determination in his eyes and the book clutched tightly to his chest, Edward took his first steps into this new, fantastical world. He was ready to face whatever challenges the tower had in store for him, armed with the hard-won wisdom from his forest ordeal and the promise of guidance from the mysterious book.
As he ventured deeper into this strange new floor of the tower, Edward couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead. What kind of puzzles would he need to solve? What moral dilemmas would he face? And what battles, both physical and mental, would he need to fight?
But even as these questions swirled in his mind, Edward felt a sense of excitement building within him. He had survived the forest, outwitted a terrifying monster, and proven his resilience. Now, he was ready to prove himself in new ways, to unlock the secrets of the tower, and perhaps, to discover the true purpose behind his presence in this mysterious place.
With each step, the world around him continued to shift and change, presenting new wonders and potential dangers. But Edward was no longer the same person who had entered the tower. He was stronger, more adaptable, and ready to face whatever lay ahead.
And so, his journey continued, into the unknown depths of the tower, with the promise of new challenges, new discoveries, and perhaps, answers to the many questions that still lingered in his mind. The adventure was far from over; in fact, it had only just begun.