Chapter 8: The Colosseum of Fate
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The air is thick with tension. The Tower, with its myriad floors, is beginning to feel less like a game and more like a battleground. Every player, every step, every action is monitored by unseen forces. I sit in the shadows, watching it all unfold.
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MC's Perspective
I stand before the large display in my control room, eyes fixed on the Tower's progress. The numbers keep shifting — players climbing, monsters evolving, hidden classes being unlocked. The system continues to feed me information, each moment marking another step closer to chaos.
System Assistant:
"Administrator, the progress of the global player base is accelerating. Over 60% have reached Floor 10, with increasing numbers advancing beyond it."
I don't respond immediately. I'm watching the players — each one a potential threat or asset. Isabel, one of the players I've been keeping an eye on, is advancing at a rapid pace. She's already reached Floor 12 and is about to face her first major trial. I track her movements, a silent observer in the vast network of the Tower.
The countdown to the first monster wave looms ever closer. The monsters are no longer confined to the lower floors. Soon, they will spread across the entire Tower. And with them, the true chaos will begin.
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Inside the Tower — Isabel's Perspective
The gates of the colosseum creak open, and I step into the arena. The massive structure looms over me, its walls adorned with intricate carvings of battles and victories long past. The air is thick with the scent of dust and the echoes of past trials. My heart pounds in my chest, but I can't afford to be afraid. I've come too far for that.
The announcer's voice booms across the colosseum, echoing off the stone walls.
"Warriors, welcome to the Colosseum of Fate! Here, you will face your greatest trials. Survive, and you may unlock a hidden class — a class that can change the very course of your journey."
Hidden class. That's why I'm here. The power, the strength to reach new heights. I need it if I'm going to survive the coming waves. I know the risk, but it's a risk I'm willing to take.
I glance at the other players around me — some with the same fire in their eyes, others with fear. But there's no time for hesitation.
The first trial begins.
The ground shakes beneath me as the gates on the opposite side of the arena swing open. From the shadows emerges a monstrous beast — a massive, armored creature with claws the size of my greatsword. Its eyes burn with a primal hunger, and the crowd roars in excitement.
The beast charges, its massive form barreling toward me with terrifying speed. I stand my ground, meeting it head-on. I'm not just a warrior anymore. I've trained for this moment. My greatsword feels like an extension of my own body as I swing it, narrowly avoiding the creature's claws.
The battle is fierce. The beast is strong, faster than I expected. It fights with an intelligence I haven't encountered before. Every strike I land, it counters. Every move I make, it adapts. This isn't just a test of strength; it's a test of strategy.
But I've faced worse. I've trained for this.
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MC's Perspective
I watch closely as Isabel faces the monster. Her form is precise, her movements calculated. She's strong, but this isn't a mere test of power. I can see it — the hidden potential within her. She's not just a warrior. She's something more. The way she handles herself in the arena, the way she adapts to the creature's attacks — I'm watching the birth of something great.
I pull up her profile on the system interface, tracking her every move, analyzing her performance. It's only a matter of time before she reaches her true potential.
System Assistant:
"Administrator, Isabel is progressing through the trial successfully. The hidden class will unlock after the trial's completion."
The countdown to the monster wave continues, but for now, my focus is on Isabel. She's about to become one of the few who will unlock a hidden class. The Dark Knight class is an incredible reward — dark power, strength, and the ability to wield shadows. She'll need it for the battles ahead.
I lean back in my chair, fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest. The Tower is becoming unpredictable, and the players are changing with it. Every day brings new developments, new challenges, and hidden opportunities.
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Inside the Tower — The Final Blow
Isabel's breath comes in ragged gasps as she faces the beast, her body battered but unbroken. The creature's movements have slowed, its energy draining. She sees her opening — a gap in its defenses, a single point of weakness. Without hesitation, she charges forward, her greatsword raised high.
In a single, powerful strike, she drives the sword into the beast's chest. The creature roars in pain before crumbling into dust, vanishing in a flash of light.
The crowd erupts into applause, but I barely hear them. My focus is on the system window that appears before Isabel.
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The Hidden Class Unlocks
System Assistant:
"Congratulations, Isabel. You have unlocked the Hidden Class: Dark Knight."
Isabel stands still for a moment, absorbing the information. The power within her surges as her class transformation begins. The Dark Knight — a class born from darkness and strength. A perfect fit for her.
Her eyes gleam with newfound determination. The colosseum's trials are just the beginning.
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MC's Perspective
I watch as Isabel's class transformation takes place. The Dark Knight. It's one of the rarest hidden classes, and only the strongest survive the trials to unlock it. I knew she had the potential. Now, I can only wait to see how far she'll go.
The world outside is changing, and the Tower's trials are becoming more intense with every passing day. Isabel is ready for the upcoming storm. But others are rising, too. The global stage is set, and the first monster wave is only days away.
I take one last look at the countdown — 19 days, 8 hours. The storm is coming, and when it does, it will test every player to their breaking point.
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End of Chapter 8