The Great Hall of Zhero Academy was hushed, the usual hum of student chatter replaced with a tense anticipation that seemed to vibrate against the polished stone floors. Massive stained-glass windows cast slanted shards of multicolored light across the students gathered in their respective classes, illuminating anxious faces and glinting off weapons, bracelets, and accessories. Wads stood among the representatives of Class 1C, his rectangular glasses slightly askew, observing the gathering with his usual analytical detachment. Liora and Reiyell, in their own classes, mirrored his focused expressions from across the hall, their postures relaxed but their eyes sharp.
At the front of the hall, the Grandmaster stepped forward, robes flowing in stately waves, a commanding presence that drew every gaze. The silence deepened. Even the distant sounds of footsteps on the balconies seemed to vanish.
"Students," the Grandmaster began, his voice resonant and rich, carrying effortlessly across the hall. "Today marks the beginning of the Trial of Chambers. Each pair you form will enter a chamber of unknown design. The chambers are vast—millions of floors, countless rooms, and countless treasures await. But take heed: danger lies within. Anomalies, beasts, and tests of wit, skill, and endurance will challenge you. Only those who adapt and survive shall return."
A murmur rippled through the crowd, a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Wads' eyes narrowed slightly as he listened. Millions of floors. Anomalies. Tests. He catalogued every detail in his mind, the gears of strategy already turning.
The Grandmaster continued, gesturing toward a small group of assistants who began distributing sleek, metallic bracelets. Each student stepped forward, and the bracelet snapped around their wrist with a faint click.
"These tracking bracelets," the Grandmaster explained, "will ensure that no student is lost. Should you stray too far, or become separated, the bracelet will guide you—or allow your instructors to locate you. Consider it both a safeguard and a warning: The Chambers do not forgive unpreparedness."
Wads flexed his fingers subtly, feeling the weight of the bracelet. It hummed faintly against his pulse, a reminder of the risks ahead.
"Now," the Grandmaster said, his gaze sweeping across the hall, "your pairings for the first trial are as follows." He raised a hand, and a shimmering scroll materialized midair, each name glowing with a soft, golden light.
Klyden Yurei – Keiya Anastasia Zheka
Ysoria Eldridge – Thaddeus Wynthrope
Yetro Zaikeroli – Ashborne Dunsmore
Liora Vallegoire – Nash Voldemort
Reiyell Georgia Frey Ravenscroft – Wyxro Waxzi
A few other pairings followed, each announced with the same golden illumination. Wads' attention sharpened instantly when he heard his own pairing: Reiyell Georgia Frey Ravenscroft. Their eyes met briefly across the hall. There was no need for words; they both understood the stakes.
"Off you go," the Grandmaster concluded, his robes swirling as he gestured toward the massive double doors at the far end of the hall. "Enter the depths of the Chambers. Survive. Return with your wits, your strength, and your resolve intact."
The doors groaned as they slowly opened, revealing a narrow, spiraling staircase that seemed to descend infinitely into darkness. A faint blue glow emanated from the steps, illuminating the stone walls carved with ancient runes. A thin mist clung to the edges of the stairs, curling like fingers reaching toward the descending students.
Wads' mind raced as he adjusted his grip on the bracelet. Every detail mattered: the way the light reflected off the rune-carved walls, the thickness of the mist, the faint metallic scent that lingered in the air. It wasn't just a trial—it was a map of opportunity, challenge, and discovery.
As the students moved forward, the chamber expanded into a vast cavernous space. Jagged stalactites hung from the ceiling like frozen teeth, and crystalline formations jutted from the floor, refracting the faint light into prismatic bursts. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and faint ozone, and distant sounds echoed—claws scraping, whispers, perhaps even the soft growls of unseen creatures.
Liora and Nash arrived at the entrance to their chamber, their eyes scanning the surroundings. Liora's heterochromatic gaze caught the subtle shimmer of moving shadows, and she instinctively adjusted her stance. Her lightweight sword hung at her hip, ready for immediate use. Nash's fingers twitched near the hilt of his own weapon, and Wads noted the interplay of anticipation and strategy in her posture even from across the distance.
Wads descended with Reiyell, their steps careful, measured. They spoke little, letting the quiet of the chamber absorb their attention. The vastness of the space was intimidating, the floors above and below stretching beyond sight, each layered with potential traps, treasures, and monsters.
"Watch for anomalies," Reiyell murmured softly, her voice almost blending with the echoing cavern. "They're not always obvious. Some test your perception… others, your reaction."
Wads nodded, feeling the weight of the bracelet and the pulse of potential Diety power resonating through it. "Understood. I'll maintain observation and adapt."
The first floor they stepped onto was littered with ancient statues, each carved with meticulous precision, some almost lifelike. Shadows flickered across the stone faces, and Wads' eyes tracked the slightest motion. He could feel Reiyell beside him, moving with the grace of royalty and combat-trained instinct, her presence alone a shield and a warning.
In the distance, Klyden and Keiya entered their chamber. Klyden's sunny grin contrasted sharply with the eerie silence of the vast underground maze, but his eyes betrayed focus, alert for every sound, every shimmer, every anomaly. Keiya moved with precision, her Ember Script lightly glowing at her fingertips, ready to unleash flames or glyphs at a moment's notice.
Wads and Reiyell moved carefully from room to room, descending deeper into the Chamber. Strange markings on the walls suggested traps, while faint footprints hinted at creatures or other challengers. Their eyes scanned constantly, and Wads' analytical mind cataloged patterns and probabilities, already predicting potential outcomes for every step.
Occasionally, faint growls or whispers echoed from unseen corners. Wads tightened his grip on his bracelet, ready to trigger his Diety abilities if necessary. The air grew colder as they advanced, and subtle pulses of energy—probably residual anomalies—brushed against their senses. Each step, each breath was measured, deliberate.
From the top floors above, the faint sound of Klyden's laughter echoed briefly, a reminder that other trials were ongoing. Wads allowed himself a fleeting smile; even in the depths of danger, there was camaraderie. Liora would be facing her own challenges, Klyden his, and he and Reiyell had theirs. Each chamber would test their limits. Each chamber would reveal new strengths and weaknesses.
As they paused near an intersection of cavernous hallways, the glow from the bracelets illuminated intricate glyphs on the floor. Wads knelt briefly, analyzing their pattern. "These aren't just markers," he murmured. "They're a warning… and a guide."
Reiyell nodded, eyes scanning the shadows. "Good. Let's proceed. Carefully, but swiftly."
And so, the Trial of Chambers began, winding deeper into the unknown, a labyrinth of challenges, monsters, treasures, and tests. Each student, paired with another, braced for the unknown, their hearts steady, their minds sharp. The echoes of strategy, power, and determination reverberated through the endless floors, as each pair stepped into the abyss—ready to prove themselves, ready to survive, and ready to claim the prize promised by the Unknown.
The Grandmaster's words lingered in Wads' mind as he descended further, every step a calculated decision: "Survive. Return with your wits, your strength, and your resolve intact."
And so, the chambers swallowed them, the trials had begun, and the unknown stretched infinitely before them.