As the battlefield grew silent and the sounds of destruction faded into the distance, the three stood in the center of the desolate arena, panting heavily. Their hearts still raced with adrenaline, and the weight of victory hung heavily on their shoulders. Before any of them could speak, the mysterious voice returned, echoing through the air with its familiar enigmatic tone.
"Congratulations, challengers. You have successfully completed the first trial of the Arena of the Sand Gods."
Suddenly, a flash of light appeared above them, forming a glowing screen in the sky. On the screen were bold letters and numbers, showing their names and scores:
Points Earned:
Morpheus: 225
Rosemar: 110
Isaac: 100
Morpheus studied the numbers carefully, his face clouded with confusion. "What do these points mean?" he asked, staring at the glowing screen.
The mysterious voice responded in its monotonous tone:
"The points you earned are rewards for your performance in the trial. You can use them through your control panel. In the panel, you will find an icon labeled 'Shop,' where you can purchase rare or ordinary items to aid you in the upcoming trials."
Rosemar's interest piqued. "Rare items? What kind of items?" she asked, but the voice ignored her question and continued:
"After every successful trial, the team is granted one day of rest. Use your time wisely."
Isaac interrupted with notable excitement. "Wait a moment! Why did Morpheus get more points than us?"
The voice paused briefly before answering:
"Morpheus eliminated 225 creatures during the trial."
Everyone turned to look at Morpheus, stunned. Even Morpheus himself seemed surprised but quickly regained his composure. He lowered his head slightly, his mind racing.
"225 creatures?" he murmured to himself, then continued thinking:
"If the mysterious voice considers those beings mere creatures... that means it doesn't see them as an intelligent race or independent beings. But they were intelligent—they had weapons, tools..."
Doubt began creeping into his mind. What was the true purpose of these trials? And why were they presented as if they were just a game?
He glanced at his teammates. Isaac appeared frustrated and confused, while Rosemar was deep in thought. He decided to keep his suspicions to himself, at least for now.
"The points are just the beginning," he thought. "It seems this game is far more complicated than it appears."
After the trial, the group settled in a shaded area to rest. While Rosemar and Isaac debated how best to spend their points, Morpheus silently opened the shop menu.
The shop's inventory was incredible, offering everything an adventurer might need in this strange realm:
Camping Supplies: Tents, lights, even cooking gear.
Weapons and Armor: Ranging from ancient swords to advanced, glowing tech armor.
Food and Drink: To replenish energy and restore strength.
Healing Potions: Available in various grades, from quick remedies to powerful elixirs.
But one item caught Morpheus's attention:
"Miracle Elixir"
The name alone was enough to make him stop scrolling. He read the description below:
"A rare elixir capable of healing deep spiritual wounds and restoring balance to the aether. Perfect for those who have pushed their limits to the brink."
Morpheus instinctively placed a hand on his chest, where the pain from burning part of his aetherial core still lingered. The core was the source of his power, and though he had hidden his weakness from the others, he knew he wouldn't survive another trial in his current state.
"180 points... Damn it," he muttered, staring at his balance. Buying the elixir would leave him with only 45 points.
"But I have no choice. I don't know how hard the next trial will be."
The Purchase
Morpheus pressed the purchase button, expecting the elixir to materialize in front of him or fall from the sky like a mythical reward. Instead, a small, glowing portal appeared before him, its aura shimmering in deep violet hues.
"What is this?" he muttered, as Rosemar and Isaac looked on in astonishment.
From the portal emerged a small vial filled with a luminous blue liquid that seemed to pulse with life. Morpheus cautiously took the vial, studying it closely.
"Are you sure about drinking that?" Isaac asked, his concern evident.
"If I don't, I won't survive the next trial," Morpheus replied firmly.
He uncorked the vial slowly and took a sip. The taste was unbearably bitter, like a mixture of ash and bile, but he downed it all without hesitation.
At first, he felt nothing but a faint chill coursing through his body. Then, without warning, he dropped to his knees, hands pressing into the ground.
"Morpheus?!" Rosemar shouted, rushing toward him.
"Stay back!" he yelled, his voice trembling with pain.
His body began to convulse violently, and a guttural scream escaped his lips. The pain was excruciating, as if his burned aetherial core was being reignited from within. It was a sensation unlike any physical wound—a forceful reshaping of his very soul.
"This... is unbearable!" he gasped, his voice hoarse as waves of energy surged through his broken core.
Rosemar and Isaac could only watch helplessly, frozen by the intensity of the moment.
After what felt like an eternity, the screaming stopped. Morpheus collapsed onto the ground, his breathing ragged.
"Morpheus! Are you alright?" Isaac asked, rushing to his side.
Slowly, Morpheus raised his head. For a brief moment, his eyes glowed with an otherworldly blend of black and violet before returning to their usual state.
"I'm... fine now," he whispered, his voice weak but steady.
He placed a hand over his chest, where his aetherial core resided, and felt a surge of newfound strength. The core, once scorched and fractured, was now whole and powerful—perhaps even more so than before.
"The elixir... it worked," he said quietly, before allowing himself a moment of rest.
As he lay there, Morpheus realized the price he had paid in points was nothing compared to what he might have paid with his life. The next trial loomed ahead, and he knew he would need every ounce of his restored strength to face it