The trials were never meant to be simple tests. They were the foundation for survival, a brutal necessity forced upon the Earthlings by the system.
Through these trials, they could gain Meta Essence, the very lifeblood that fueled growth and strength in the Main World.
Without it, they would remain stagnant—helpless prey for the countless horrors that lurked beyond the safety of the village walls.
It was why so many had thrown themselves into the hunt with reckless abandon, why they had endured fear, pain, and exhaustion just to secure their share of Meta Essence.
Survival wasn't just about living through the trial—it was about being strong enough to live after it ended.
But now, all of that effort hung by a thread tied not just to individual performance, but to the collective effort of every Earthling in the trial zone.
The realization struck like a hammer, shattering the fragile pride of those who thought they had secured their futures.
Some cursed loudly, furious at the thought that their fate could be dictated by strangers too weak or too scared to fight.
Others slumped against trees, faces pale with shock, hands trembling as they envisioned the monsters they had fought so hard to kill flooding into the village and the world beyond.
The collective result would decide not just personal success, but the survival of all.
Then, the system's voice rang out once more, cold and unwavering.
[System Announcement: Village Trial Score Rate - 50.00001%]
The number hung in the air, frozen in time, as everyone's breath caught in their throats.
50%...
For a split second, fear gripped every heart. It was too close, a razor-thin margin between survival and disaster.
Some were already preparing for the worst—until their eyes registered the rest of the number.
50.00001%
A margin so narrow it might as well have been fate's cruel joke.
Relief crashed through the village like a wave, with some collapsing in laughter, others crying openly, and more than a few just standing in stunned silence, their minds too overwhelmed to process the narrow escape.
High above the chaos, Oliver stood on the roof of one of the cabins, arms crossed, letting out a slow, measured breath. He had passed.
The first trial was over.
He felt a small weight lift from his chest.
But that fleeting moment of relief was followed by curiosity.
His performance—the hidden trial, the excessive hunting—it was time to see how all of it measured up.
With a mental command, Oliver opened his status screen, ready to face the judgment of the system.
[Personal Evaluation Complete.]
[Name: Oliver Lancaster]
[Class: Abyssal Warlord (SSS-Class)]
[Contribution Score: 98.7%]
[Ranking: #1]
[Overall Efficiency: Unparalleled]
[Reawrd: +500 Meta essence]
[Special Note: The system acknowledges the overwhelming display of force exhibited. Future trial structures may be adjusted accordingly.]
Oliver's lips curled into a faint smile. Exactly as expected.
There was no surprise at seeing his rank—first place was where he belonged—but the 98.7% contribution made his brow lift slightly.
"That high?"
He was certain the number of monsters he hunted, while excessive, wasn't nearly enough to warrant almost the entire contribution score for the village.
There was only one explanation—the Lich.
His mind replayed the brutal encounter, the sheer power the creature wielded, and the absurd difficulty of the hidden trial.
Whatever that Lich was, it was far from ordinary.
If killing it gave him such a ridiculous chunk of the village's survival score, then that monster must have been a keystone.
A linchpin of the entire trial itself.
Oliver's curiosity flared. What exactly was that creature? Why was it so important?
Before he could dig further into his thoughts, a soft chime rang in his ears—a system notification appearing at the corner of his vision.
[System Notification: Your deeds have transcended expectations. You have achieved an S-Grade evaluation for both the Main Trial and the Hidden Trial. The spoils of your conquest await in your inventory.]
Without hesitation, Oliver opened his inventory.
He would leave the lich matter for later.
Whatever was waiting for him, he was ready to claim it.
Oliver's inventory opened with a faint shimmer, and three distinct items stood out, resting in their compartments.
The first was a heavy leather sack, tied shut with a simple cord. With a thought, Oliver examined it—the system's display confirmed its contents:
[100 Gold Coins – Standard Currency of the Main World.]
Wealth. A good start.
The second item was far more intriguing—a deep crimson gem, no larger than his thumb, yet radiating a faint pulse, almost like a heartbeat.
Information flowed into Oliver's mind as he focused on it.
[Crimson Heartstone – Artifact.] Crafted by the legendary mage, Archmage Solvane, this gem temporarily boosts the Meta Essence capacity of any Awakened at Adept rank or lower, forcibly raising their effective rank for a limited duration.
Caution: Using this gem beyond Adept rank will result in backlash and permanent damage. Single-use item.
Oliver's smile widened slightly. It all made sense now—the Lich's overwhelming power in a Rank 1 Trial was abnormal.
The Crimson Hearthstone had been its trump card, forcibly boosting its strength far beyond what should have been possible.
It looked like the system had given him a watered-down version. But he didn't mind.
"Thank you for the gift, old bones," Oliver muttered, tucking the gem away. "I'll make much better use of it."
He then looked at the third item.
It was the most mysterious—a rune, its surface swirling with dark purple mist, its shape jagged and alien. When Oliver tried to inspect it, all he saw were:
[???]
[Classification: ???]
[Requirements: ???]
Even the system refused to explain its purpose.
Oliver's eyes narrowed, but instead of frustration, curiosity took root.
A secret left behind by the Lich? This might end up being even more valuable than the Heartstone.
Before he could ponder further, the system's voice rang out once again, clear and authoritative:
[System Announcement: The First Trial has officially concluded. All participants will now be ejected from the designated Trial Zone. Prepare for transfer.]
The air itself trembled, and cracks began to form in the sky, spiderwebbing outwards until the very fabric of the special zone began to unravel.
The protective barriers shimmered one final time before dissolving into motes of light, the once orderly cabins following suit—collapsing into nothingness like sand washing away in the tide.
Within moments, the Earthlings found themselves standing not in the structured, monitored clearing of the Trial Zone, but in a wild, untamed forest.
The trees seemed darker, the air thicker, and the very ground seemed alive—the Main World, raw and unfiltered.
The oppressive presence of nature untamed was overwhelming to many.
Oliver, however, took a calm breath and turned away from the earthlings still adjusting to their new reality.
Without a word, he stepped forward, leaving them behind.
His adventure had only just begun.