A/N: i decided to give 3 chapters today.
Suddenly, as if he hadn't just uttered his grim declaration, Dreamer casually lifted his arm, signaling the children to be silent. His demeanor was light, almost playful, but there was an unmistakable undercurrent of authority in his presence.
"Now that we've got everything explained, let's get down to business," he began, his voice echoing through the vast and surreal realm.
"As you may know, the reason no elder, caretaker, or teacher from your faction arrived with you is that it's impossible to return to this place once you leave it for the first time.
"The reason for this phenomenon? Completely unknown. As for me, the humble overseer of this little affair? This body you see before you is nothing but an incarnation—a direct manifestation of my supreme control over my Talent and Soul.
"Now, as per the request of the Soaring Phoenix Guild, a trial will take place. It's called the Awakening Trials, and yes, I know—the name lacks originality."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing.
"This trial will determine your starting rank. How, you ask? Simple, really. We cultists—er, I mean, your benevolent overseers—have discovered a very efficient way to create geniuses. And surprise, surprise, it's through life-and-death situations!
"So, here's how it will work: I'll throw each of you into a trial tailored specifically for you. Since there are 3,508 of you here, let's cut the number down a bit. How about… 1,000 survivors? Yes, that's perfect. The first trial will continue until only 1,000 of you remain. The rest? Well, their fate will be decided by chance—or rather, by how quickly they're ripped apart, cooked, and devoured by demons. Hehehe."
The Realm went silent for a moment. Then chaos erupted.
"WHAT? YOU—"
"HOW CAN YOU—"
"HELP! MOM! HELP!"
"TO HELL WITH THIS, I'M LEAVING!"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The cacophony of screams and curses was deafening. Even words these young souls didn't know they could utter burst forth in a stream of panic and rage. Some tried to bargain with Dreamer, while others simply fell to their knees, overwhelmed by despair.
In contrast, a handful of children remained eerily calm. Whether out of shock, acceptance, or sheer arrogance, they stood motionless. A few even began scribbling down the colorful curses they overheard, as if preparing for some future use.
Among the crowd, Asmodeus stood as calm as a still lake. His expression betrayed no emotion, but his mind raced as he processed the information.
"Are we not just one-year-olds? And isn't the Soaring Phoenix Guild supposed to be an orthodox faction? I would have understood if this was the work of cultists using such barbaric methods to create geniuses, but our guild? Have they finally begun defecting to the side of darkness? And here I thought I'd be the one to orchestrate its downfall someday..."
His musings were abruptly cut short as Dreamer unleashed a wave of pressure, silencing the Realm with the overwhelming aura of his incarnation.
"Haha! Truly refreshing," Dreamer said, his mask unable to hide the grin in his voice. "Oh, the nostalgia. I acted just like you kids did during my trials. Of course, back in my cult days, the original number was 10,000, and only a hundred survived. The rest? Well, they died horribly.
"Anyway, you have two hours to get your act together—plan, cry, whatever you need to do before the trials begin. Oh, and I nearly forgot! There will be ten trials in total. The first three will be solo, the next three player-versus-player, and the next three team-versus-team. The final trial? A battle against a powerful demon for the remaining survivors. Exciting, right?"
The children remained frozen, their minds struggling to process what they had just heard.
"Since I'm feeling generous," Dreamer continued, "I'll give you a little heads-up. The terrain of the first trial will reflect your greatest fear. It could be a graveyard filled with millions of snakes, an endless storm of bombs, or something else entirely. And yes, it's real. You will die the moment you give up on living, whether by getting killed, surrendering, or even taking your own life.
"Now, some of you might think you're fearless. If that's the case, let me assure you—you're wrong. Unless you have a Talent specifically tied to being fearless, there's something you fear. And for those rare cases where someone truly lacks fear? Well, I'll personally kill you. So, if you can't fear, I suggest you force yourself to feel it."
Dreamer's words sent a chill through the Realm. Even the bravest among the children felt their resolve waver.
Asmodeus, however, was more amused than afraid.
"Is this a trial or some twisted version of the Starving Games?" he wondered, his mind spinning. "I'm not even sure if this man is following orders or doing this purely for his own amusement. After all, these cultists worshiped the previous me. They're all insane enough to rival a certain mustached maniac in their acts of terror."
Despite his calm demeanor, a faint smile tugged at his lips. "Fear, huh?" he thought. "How ironic. As a former demon, fear is an emotion I can't feel unless I want to. Should I choose to fear something for the sake of this trial? Darkness? Corruption? Or… women?"
Dreamer surveyed the group, clearly reveling in their reactions. His eyes gleamed with delight as he watched panic, determination, and resignation flicker across the children's faces. "Well then, children," he said, his voice smooth yet foreboding. "Let's see what you're truly made of. I'll see you all on the other side—assuming you survive!"
With a snap of his fingers, the Realm began to shift. The ground cracked, and the air shimmered as countless glowing portals materialized, each one pulsating with an ominous energy.
One by one, the children were drawn into the portals, their bodies vanishing into the unknown. Asmodeus stood still, staring at the portal before him. For the first time in a long while, he felt something stir deep within him.
Anticipation.
"The Awakening Trials, huh?" he muttered to himself, stepping forward. "Let's see how far I can push this weak body."
The Realm fell silent as the last of the children disappeared, leaving Dreamer alone in the void. Beneath his mask, his smile widened.
"Let the games begin."
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