In a jungle densely packed with towering trees, their thick leaves forming a canopy that blocked all light but a few rays of sunlight from peeking through.
The jungle was eerily silent as if there were no animals or anything in this jungle. The jungle was creepy and strange.
When suddenly the creepy silence of the forest was disturbed as a boy suddenly appeared out of thin air.
One moment there was nothing and just the next moment there was a boy standing there as if he had always been there.
The boy was just stood there looking around him in confusion. His face was filled with fury. The boy was none other than Alden.
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"F*ck, I need to focus," I slapped my cheek as I said that. The memory of my father's expression before I was sent here was fresh in my mind. Every time I remembered his face filled with concern I felt anger boil inside me.
I clenched my fist involuntarily as my heart thumped with rage.
' I need to calme down ' I thought as I took some deep breath as I regained my calm, not thinking about that anymore.
I tried to look around me just to distract myself when suddenly a translucent blue screen popped in front of my eyes as a sound soon followed. The sound seemed detached and robotic.It was the sound of system.
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[WELCOME TO THE AWAKENING TRIAL CHALLENGER]
[TRIAL TYPE—INDIVIDUAL TRIAL]
[TRIAL GOAL—????????????????]
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"What the heck is with trial goal?" I couldn't help but yell when I looked at my trial goal.
I tried to recall any information from novel but even I didn't know much about trial.
Even when protagonist was undergoing his trial his goal was explained at the very beginning of trial so what's up with mine.
''What kind of trial hides its goal? How am I supposed to complete the trial if I don't even know the trial goal?'' I muttered nervousness creeping into my voice. I clenched my fists, trying to suppress my unease.
The screen shone ominously before vanishing as another screen popped up in it's place.
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[CHOOSE YOUR WEAPON]
1.SWORD
2.SPEAR
3.BOW
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I looked at option as there were only three.I soon chose the sword, as it was the only weapon I had experience with. I looked at the sword. It was just a plain sword it's cold blade shining a bit. I swung it a few times to check it's balance.
It was a well balanced sword and light enough to wield comfortablly. I quickly sheathed the sword at my side.
After I was done choosing the weapon, the screen was vanished before being replaced with another window showing my detailed information.
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[STATUS]
Name - Alden Draven
Mana Core - UNAWAKENED
Potential - ???
Mana Tome - The Eclipse Codex
Stats- (click to expand)
Skills (click to expand)
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I saw a blue screen floating in front of me as it showed my information. It only showed basic information and skills. This was my status screen which I will be able check whenever I wanted.
I couldn't help but frown as I scanned my status window. "First the trial goal, and now this?" I muttered in confusion as I looked at my potential, also filled with some question marks.
I soon tried to calm myself as being nervous won't change anything. But I couldn't help as unease started creeping in.
I tried to distract myself with something else so I tried to focus on my stats, and soon the window was expanded as I could see my stats in detail.
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[STATS]
STR - 13
AGI - 11
INT - 20
VIT - 14
END - 10
Luck-20
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I instinctively understood the meaning and use of each stat. Strength, agility, vitality,endurance and luck were self-explanatory.
Intelligence, however was different it represented something more as it represented the size of my mana pool.
It was similar to the status window in the games I played and many novels I read in my previous life.
The special ability and soul ability section of my status was blank, as that would only be awakened after awakening, and that too only if I am lucky and complete the hidden quest to increase my chances.
Next, I opened my Skills tab, expecting it to be empty, but I was wrong as there was one skill there.
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[Skills]
- Spirit Eyes (Dormant)
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Looking at the skill I couldn't help but remember Ellara.This skill was proof that I am not alone in this world.
As I saw this, I finally understood how she had transferred her soul ability to me.
She didn't give it to me as a soul ability but somehow converted it into a transferrable skill.
I didn't know how she did it as there was no mention of changing soul ability into a transferrable skill but it seems it needs some hidden conditions to activate as it is currently in dormant state.
I took a deep breath, trying to process everything I'd just seen.
But before I could gather my thoughts, a rustling sound cut through interrupting the silence, drawing my attention
I quickly turned my head towards the direction of sound as I saw a gigantic creature emerge from there.
My body suddenly tensed up and my heart beat wildly as I saw a massive tortoise the size of an elephant walking towards me, its pace slow, but due to its huge size, it was closing the distance quickly.
Its whole body was covered in a shell made up of some metal, as it seemed to shine like one. The shell had many spikes on it.
The ground was shaking with each of its steps.
Shit, shit, shit..." I cursed under my breath my hand instinctively going to the hilt of my sword. I looked at the sword at my waist and then at the tortoise and again at my sword and started running in the opposite direction.
"No way in hell am I fighting that thing." I muttered as I ran.
The tortoise soon saw me running as he let out a thunderous roar as my instinct screamed at me to move.
I quickly stepped to the side, and soon a spike flew past me, slightly grazing my arms 'Thankfully, the injury wasn't so deep.' i thought as I looked at my arms.
"You've got to be kidding me, it can shoot spikes too?" I spoke as I ran zigzagging in trees without even looking back.
But I soon understood the pattern: it seems the beast could only release one spike per minute. I used that gap to increase the distance between us.
Even though the beast was slow, it was relentless in chasing me. It seemed like I was in its territory as there were no other animals here.
As I was just busy running for my life, I soon heard a new sound different from the roars of tortoises. It was the sound of metals clashing as if someone was fighting nearby.
"What the hell is that sound?" I muttered as I changed my direction, heading straight toward the noise. If there was someone anyone I could get help from.
Just as I reached the source of the voice, I saw seven people standing near the corpses of some beasts. Their sword painted with fresh blood of beasts.The people wore steel armour and looked like knights from some mediaeval story.
They were guarding a luxurious carriage adorned with a strange runes probably carrying someone important. I felt a strange pull but I ignored it.
The moment I arrived, the people turned their heads in my direction their movements seemed a bit unnatural as I felt my body shiver as they started studying me with confusion and suspicion.
"PLEASE, HELP ME," I spoke as I started running in their direction, but my mind was racing thinking about their identity.
Their confusion soon turned to alarm as they saw a massive tortoise emerging from behind me.
"Huh, it's just a Novice rank beast." The man standing at the very front of the group stepped forward as he looked at the tortoise his expression was calm but deadly, he vanished as soon as the word left his mouth as he reappeared in front of the tortoise.
I barely had time to notice the movement before he appeared in front of the beast and swung his sword in a single, fluid motion.
His sword was covered in a slight blue colour as the tortoise was split in two, its massive body collapsing to the ground with a deafening thud.
I couldn't help but be surprised by the turn of events as my eyes widened, but I soon regained my calm.
'Who are they?' I thought as I couldn't comprehend the situation.
The world of trial is just a virtual world separate from the real world, and no person can interfere within the trial, so that must mean these people were related to my trial goal somehow.
As I was thinking about their identity, the man who slayed the tortoise turned around in a swift motion before pointing his sword in my direction as he asked, "Who are you?" His voice cold and commanding.
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Hello Author here,
Thank you for reading!
Alden's journey is only just beginning, and the trials ahead will test him in ways he never expected. What do you think will happen next?
Don't forget to leave your thoughts in the comments.