Within a chamber of endless grass field beneath a sky too blue to be real, a boy with black hair and crimson eyes walked calmly.

He wore a blindfold over his eyes. But his step didn't falter.

It had been a few minutes since Alden started his trial and he had already started hearing noises inside his head.

Deceptive and distorted voice, trying to tempt him to open the blindfold.

"Don't trust him…"

"Please—run—"

"Open your blindfold."

"It's all fake."

The whispers were growing louder as he walked forward. They weren't yelling. They weren't mocking.

Instead… they just sounded broken.

But Alden didn't stop nor did he remove the blindfold.

Just then—

His [Spirit Domain] picked up a movement as a smirk appeared on his face.

Got you, fucker.

His body moved before his mind did.

In one smooth motion, his Sword of Chaos materialized in his hand, the blade already twisting mid-motion into a long black spear.

Without turning or saying a word, he stabbed it backward.

The steel met flesh with a sickening ease. Alden could smell the blood in the air.

<Ding>

[You have defeated the Guardian of Deception]

[Trial of Deception Cleared]

A system notification buzzed in his mind.

He exhaled slowly and pulled the blindfold down.

On the ground behind him was the same frog which had claimed to be a true warrior with honour.

The same one who had spoken of honor, discipline and ancient codes.

His stomach had a large gaping hole and his hand held a curved dagger, laced with a glowing green liquid.

A single drop fell from its edge and burned straight through the grass like acid.

A true warrior never attacks from behind? Bullshit.

Alden hadn't trusted the frog from the beginning. Especially after that dramatic talk about "honor."

Then came the system notification. A fake trial name designed to lower his guard.

He didn't know how… but the frog even masked the system notification under an illusion.

But unfortunately for the poor frog, illusions didn't work on him.

His [Eyes of Supreme] with [Voidheart], nullified almost all kinds of illusions.

So, he saw through the little trick it played.

Still, he played along. He just wanted it to be easy.

He could have fought it… and clashed blades to show strength. But that would have been wasted effort.

Instead, he decided to lure the so-called, [Guardian of Deception] into a trap of his own. Before finishing him off at the perfect moment.

So, he nodded when it spoke of honor. Tied the blindfold like a good little participant. Even walked a few steps waiting for the knife to come.

And gave it a blade instead.

Alden tilted his head slightly, his voice almost playful. "How was my gift, sir warrior?"

The frog's eyes twitched, its face twisting in pain and disbelief. "How? How did you know?"

Alden paused for one moment.

His expression was neutral, chin tilted up as if he was pondering something ancient and wise.

In truth?

He was just thinking of what kind of bullshit to say.

Didn't take long before a slow smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"You see…" he said, his voice taking on that overly serious tone that made fun of people without them realizing it, "real warriors don't talk about honor. They show it through their actions."

The frog blinked once before its body stilled. It has died.

Alden didn't care.

He would probably be resurrected again.

Instead he exhaled once then looked up—

All around him, floating orbs of light shimmered in the air.

Dozens or maybe even hundreds of them. They floated above the ground peacefully.

The whispers from before hadn't come from the frog.

They weren't an illusion by the trial.

They were echoes—remnants of souls who had walked this same path and never made it out.

Challengers who had believed in the words. Who had let their guard down and died blind.

His [Eyes of Supreme] had seen them the moment he entered.

A trial of "honor"? With that many dead?

That was the moment Alden stopped believing the frog's performance.

He wasn't sure why he hadn't seen such souls in the previous chamber.

Maybe it has something to do with the way they died.

… Or maybe they are left here to keep things fair for the challengers.

Either way, there was nothing he could do for them.

The souls were probably bound here until someone, someday, completed the trial.

So he didn't offer any hollow promises. No grand words of comfort. He simply turned his back to the lights and walked away.

He was going to complete the trial.

__

Finally, Alden reached the pillar of light at the center of the field.

Up close, it was even brighter than he had expected.

He hadn't received any key after clearing the trial. And there was no door in sight.

Which left only one possibility: The pillar itself was the entrance to the next chamber.

…Right?

He reached out with one hand.

The pillar pulsed softly, like a heartbeat.

As his hands passed through it, he felt a shift. Not heat. Not cold. Just… movement. As if he had dipped his hand in a water stream.

Alden narrowed his eyes.

Guess I'll find out the hard way.

He stepped forward. The instant his foot crossed the light, the world shifted.

The colours vanished as everything distorted in his vision.

For half a second, Alden felt like he was falling sideways and standing still at the same time.

Then—silence.

When the world settled, he found himself standing on a large circular platform of black stone, floating in a void of endless grey.

He turned his head slowly, scanning.

What the hell is that?

His body froze.

People.

Hundreds of them, lined up at the far edge of the platform like statues. Heads bowed, shoulders slumped and arms limp at their sides.

Women. The elderly. There was even a child.

All of them eerily still. Not breathing. Not blinking. Not alive but not entirely dead either.

"Welcome to my performance, new challenger."

A voice echoed before Alden could say anything as a movement caught his eyes.

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