[ CONGRATULATIONS, ATHERNAL ]
[ YOU HAVE BEEN INVITED TO THE DREAM WORLD BECAUSE YOU HAVE ADVANCED FROM TRIGGER 0 (THE AWAKENED) TO TRIGGER 2 (THE PIONEER TIER) ]
[ WELCOME TO THE DREAM WORLD ]
Jun stands rigid, disbelief twisting his features as he hears the voice in his mind. "Trigger 2?... Impossible... I must be hearing things."
The moment his words end, the infinite void of space shudders with a palpable force. Star Dust scatters, and Jun witnesses the light from nebulae, thousands of light-years away, bending.
Moments later, three titanic Ancient Gates_ as vast as skyscrapers_ breach the horizon and materialize silently before him. They drift slowly between the Star Dust like colossal monoliths.
Each Gate is magnificent, like the entrance to a divine sanctuary, and is carved with massive Totem Architecture. Intricate swirls and knotwork patterns weave across the surface of each gate, glowing with the respective color of the energy they emit.
The Eagle's Gate
This Gate appears to be constructed from Thunder-scorched Stone. At its apex, a massive, carved statue of an Eagle stands, posed as if facing a storm. Intense Molten Gold light flares from the Eagle's eyes, and the entire Gate radiates a potent Golden Energy.
The White Elephant's Gate
The second Gate is built from Glistening Marble. On both sides, grand statues of two White Elephants stand in calm, dignified poses. The Elephant's form conveys a feeling of profound gravity and gentle power. The entire Gate softly pulses with a Warm Silver-White light.
The Crow's Gate
The third Gate is made of stones the color of Twilight Hues. At its crest, a dark Crow, appearing almost like a construct of shadows, rests silently. The Crow's form symbolizes mystery and wisdom. The entire Gate emits a quiet, cold Sapphire-blue light, giving off a chilling sense of reserve.
The grandeur of all three Gates stuns Jun, yet his soul is powerfully drawn to the third_ The Crow's Gate.
DING !
DING !
DING !
[SYSTEM ALERT: AWAKENING IN PROGRESS]
Then, right in front of him, three sharp DING! sounds resonate, and a screen, a blend of pale green and blue, appears.
Jun focuses on the text. At first, the characters are unfamiliar. Then, slowly, they shift, evolving into a script he recognizes, a language familiar to him_ a language he can fully read. The text flows directly into his mind.
[NOTIFICATION]: You have reached Trigger 2: The Pioneer Tier.
Jun's eyes widen. ''Really?''
Advancing a single Trigger is incredibly difficult. Yet, he has leaped from 0 to 2 without even realizing it. He surmises this impossible jump must be the result of his control over the Emotional Core during his recent crisis.
Jun continues reading the rest of the screen.
[STATUS]: Your Phantom Trigger (Adaptor) power is dangerously unstable due to the lack of a fundamental structure. This instability poses a threat to you and your nearby friends.
[SOLUTION]: You must Bind your power to a God's Path. This Path will help you stabilize the volatile state and gain control over your Emotional Core.
[WARNING]: The chosen Path cannot be reversed. It will determine your destiny.
[PLEASE CHOOSE A GATE]:
The Eagle's Gate
The White Elephant's Gate
The Crow's Gate
Jun ignores the throbbing pain in his head and concentrates on the text. The panicked faces of Clara and Edgar flash in his mind. The memory of his unstable tentacles nearly attacking them terrifies him.
"I have to control it. I need control," he whispers. "I won't hurt my friends again!"
His resolve hardens. He prioritizes Control over raw Power.
He starts contemplating his choice among the three Gates. "The Crow's Gate?... Intriguing."
Jun's inner desire leans heavily toward The Crows Gate. He is excited to choose this path.
He takes a step toward the Gate. With every stride, the Star Dust in the space-void dances and illuminates his path.
He reaches The Crow's Gate. It stands silent, concealing a vast secret.
[SYSTEM ALERT]: Do you confirm your choice? PATH: THE CROW'S GATE
[YES/NO]
Jun nods.
Jun: "Confirm!"
At his spoken confirmation, the gigantic Gate floating in space gently descends directly in front of him. Beautiful steps suddenly materialize at the base of the Gate.
Jun takes a final breath, his eyes steady, and ascends the steps one by one toward the entrance.
The moment he steps onto the final stair, the Gate silently splits in two, opening slowly. Jun looks inside but sees only a blinding, pristine white light. He walks forward, one step at a time, and quietly enters the aperture of searing white light.
As he crosses the threshold, the entire cosmic void is enveloped in white, disappearing as if charmed away.
[YOU HAVE FOLLOWED A DEITY]
[SYSTEM ALERT: TRIAL STARTED]
[OBJECTIVE: SELFCONTROL TIER - BEAT THE FEAR]
[TRIAL PENALTY - ETERNAL SLEEP]
Jun reads the final text on the screen and is momentarily terrified by the Trial Penalty.
"Oh my god... Are they serious?"
Jun stands in a foggy forest. His surroundings are shrouded in a thin mist, a dense canopy preventing any sunlight from penetrating.
He feels an unnerving sense of familiarity. Then, the topography and the lingering fog make him remember instantly.
"Th-this place... it can't be..."
Yes, this is the place. It is the forest where two terrifying Monsters cruelly played with him and left him near death.
The moment he remembers, the dreadful memories of that place flash through his mind like bullet wounds. His heartbeat pounds fast and loud. The sheer terror of those monsters gave him lasting trauma. But Jun forces himself to regain control.
He reads the screen carefully. "FEAR?"
Jun immediately understands the Trial's nature.
He gently closes his eyes for a brief moment. The air rushes past him for three seconds. As the air settles, Jun slowly opens his eyes again. His deep violet eyes are now shining brighter than before.
He focuses his violet gaze, extending his senses into the dark depths of the forest.
He feels the presence of a monster. He taps into his Soul Essence, concentrating his Vitality in his legs.
He summons two tentacles, cloaked in the blackness of the Phantom's Shadow, from his coccyx. He touches the ground with both tentacles, bending his knees. He gathers all his strength, confirms the monster's location, and then powerfully straightens his curved tentacles. Using the combined power of his tentacles and his charged legs, he executes a high-speed dash forward.
The force propels him like a bullet train. Soon, he reaches the monster's location.
Jun slams the brakes, halting his dash just as he reaches the monster.
As he expected, the Gaunt Monster stands before him. Jun has not forgotten the monster's terrifying appearance since their last encounter.
"Yo!... Long time no see, you son of a bitch."
Jun raises an eyebrow slightly, narrows his eyes, and curls his lips into a sneer.
He is no longer the tearful, terrified boy he once was.
Now, his eyes hold confidence and the desire for vengeance. However, the residual fear from his trauma still lingers.
His Phantom's Shadow tentacles immediately thrust upward into the air, preparing to strike the Gaunt Monster.
The Gaunt Monster, alerted by Jun's voice, turns its face toward the sound. It stares at Jun's tentacles with its enormous white eyes.
Based on Jun's previous guess, the Gaunt Monster is blind, but it seems capable of sensing hostility.
The monsters terrifying mouth, filled with sharp, shark-like teeth, slowly opens.
When Jun sees the monster's maw full of frightening pointed teeth, his horrific memory of being devoured resurfaces.
His trauma tries to consume him again. Even with sufficient confidence to confront the Gaunt Monster, he struggles against the overwhelming, ingrained fear.
Then, a deep, dark, and earth-shaking roar explodes from the monster's terrifying mouth. The sound seems to echo throughout the entire forest.
"GROOOOAAAAARRRRR!"
Jun is momentarily stunned by the monster's monstrous roar. But he immediately overcomes the trauma-induced fear, regaining his consciousness.
The moment he snaps back, the Gaunt Monster is sprinting toward him.
Jun battles the panic and fear mixing in his mind, struggling to maintain focus and fight the dread within his inner spirit. Externally, Jun prepares to counter the charging Gaunt Monster.
"Come at me, you bastard... I'm not afraid of you anymore!"
Jun's two Phantom's Shadow tentacles lash out through the air one after another, and faint gray energy lights flicker from their sharp tips.
The Gaunt Monster leaps at him, swinging its massive, sharp claws
"SWISH_ CRACK!"
Jun defends with his left tentacle and simultaneously plunges his right tentacle into the monster's side.
"GRRAAHH!" The Monster roars in pain.
At that moment...
[NOTIFICATION]: TRIAL COMPLETED - SELFCONTROL MASTERED
[REWARD]: Your Phantom's Shadow has Leveled Up.
Jun smiles. The fear completely vanishes from his eyes, replaced by pure confidence and a surge of new power.
Jun has successfully passed the Trial of Fear.
Then, everything around him disappears, and he finally wakes up in the outside world.
Jun slowly opens his eyes. His blurry vision slowly clears.
The first face he sees is Clara's. Her face is so close to his that Jun is startled and blushes.
Clara, one of the most beautiful women from the Nadian Empire's Magic Academy, is leaning over him.
She has soft, pale, and elegant skin. Her long, dark hair is tied in a ponytail, which she has gathered and dropped over her left shoulder.
Her eyes are a striking pale blue, perfectly round like pearl orbs, giving her a lovely and endearing look.
Her physique is compact and slender, with graceful proportions, framed by a delicate, oval face.
She wears a deep violet, long-sleeved outer garment. An intricate, laced corset system with gold buttons crosses the chest of the shirt, tightly cinching her slender waist. Underneath, she wears a simple white cotton undershirt. On her wrists, she wears brass and glass Mana Gauges.
She wears a very short, mini-length brown skirt with multiple layers of ruffles at the hem. A white petticoat or under-layer underneath makes the skirt Fluffy. She wears knee-high leather boots.
Around her neck, a small Brass Compass hangs on a delicate chain.
Jun's sudden panic is purely from Clara's overwhelming beauty and proximity. She shouts with joyful relief, calling out to Makus and the others.
"He... he's awake! Makus... Edgar..."
Makus is the first to arrive, rushing over, deeply worried about the Trial's penalty.
Makus: "Boy... are you alright?"
Edgar and Knox immediately follow, assessing Jun's condition.
Edgar: "The boy... you passed the Trial. Well done."
Clara smiles, nodding in support of Edgar's words.
Jun slowly turns his body and pushes himself up.
Jun: "More than alright, Mr. Volkan. I feel stronger than I've ever felt."
He speaks with absolute confidence.
At that moment...
"Knock... Knock..."
Someone knocks on the door to Knox's house. Knox exits the basement to answer it, and Makus follows him.
Knox: "Who is it, please?"
Door Knocker: "The Watchers' HQ. We request aid."
Makus immediately hears the voice and pulls the door wide open.
Makus: "It's you, kid... Did they send only you?"
Standing at the door is a beautiful young woman in her early 20s with short, golden, boy-cut hair.
The young woman frowns slightly but replies sweetly with a subtle smile. However, a vein noticeably throbs in her temple.
"You old fossil, Makus... I'm a Librarian. I'm significantly higher ranked than you are, you know."
Knox hears her statement and is stunned into disbelief.
Knox: "Makus... this girl is a Librarian?"
Makus: "That's right, Old man Knox... This spunky brat is a Librarian. She's at Trigger 8."
Knox's eyes widen in extreme astonishment.
Knox: "Trigger 8!... At her age?... Oh God."