The Trial

The label above the newcomers’ heads read 2nd Player Group. The leader’s eyes scanned the first group, noting the tension etched across their faces. Every muscle stiff, every breath measured.

“Ah! We’re not here to harm anyone,” he said quickly, hands raised. His voice trembled slightly with the nervous energy of approaching strangers. “We saw light and tried to get closer. Sorry if we startled anyone.”

Some of the first group froze, eyes widening. Were these strangers dangerous? Skin-walkers? Worse? Slowly, relief washed over them as they realized the newcomers mirrored themselves—players trapped in the same trial, hearts pounding in unison.

Arjun cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “It’s alright. Let’s introduce ourselves properly. I’m Arjun—”

Names trickled out, tentative at first, then more confident. Lisha and Ivy sat together, huddled, watching the newcomers’ gestures and expressions. Mei and her friends began forming small, cautious bonds with the 2PG, exchanging stories of previous trials, near-deaths, and lessons learned.

Hana muttered under her breath, “How can he just casually let them mingle like that?”

“Maybe… new allies can help us,” Mei whispered, forcing herself to see a silver lining amidst the tension.

Lisha, however, remained focused, eyes scanning constantly. Blessings. Skills. Weaknesses. Possible threats. How to survive. Her mind raced faster than her heartbeat, calculating probabilities and contingencies with unnerving precision.

Abruptly, a blue panel materialized before them, glowing faintly in the dim air. The light reflected in every player’s eyes, causing quick glints of surprise, fear, and curiosity.

[Ari Systems are here to show your physical and mental status. Your blessings, given by the 4 constellations and 3 ultimate beings, can be found here.]

Players followed instructions carefully. Some blessings were passive, others offensive, a few defensive. Rare ones combined multiple attributes. Some couldn’t use theirs yet—but observing and mentally noting the abilities of others became its own subtle training.

[You have ten minutes before the trial begins… PREPARE YOURSELVES.]

Lisha exhaled slowly, grounding herself in the fleeting calm. Ten minutes… enough to feel the weight of it, not enough to waste.

“How are we supposed to train in ten minutes?” Rosette’s voice quivered, betraying both anxiety and frustration.

The groups tested their abilities cautiously. Arjun paired with Isuki, executing controlled strikes and movements. Others sparred in small corners, tense and bruised. Mira moved silently between them, healing cuts and scrapes, her hands glowing faintly. Every motion carried a heartbeat of fear, yet a pulse of understanding—the trial was as much mental as it was physical.

[All players, get into position. You will fight your opponents.]

Suddenly, the ground shuddered. Walls of dense bushes erupted around them with a crackle, leaves scraping together in a metallic whisper. Above, the open sky stretched wide, sun bleaching the edges of shadows that shifted unnaturally across the maze below. Panic clawed at their spines.

Lisha’s gaze swept across the chaos. Calculating, precise. “Form groups. Felix, take charge. Everyone else, stay alert. We move strategically.”

[Find the exit within 3 hours. If failed, you will lose your life.]

Lose our life… The words echoed in her mind. She had failed before, yes—but survived. The memory of failure, still raw, tingled like frost against her spine.

“The others are scattered! How do we find them!?” Jina’s voice cracked, eyes wide as she tried to spot classmates lost among towering foliage.

“Use your first skill,” Lisha instructed, voice steady, anchoring the fear around them.

“How?”

“Blast it in all directions. The walls will respond. They’ll find us.”

“That’s dangerous! What if the bushes close back? Or they get hurt?”

“…They’ll have to keep up,” Lisha said tersely, her eyes hard and unwavering.

“You’re heartless!”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she replied dryly, scanning the maze for the smallest movements of enemies.

Jina obeyed, blasting through the center. Sparks of light cut through shadow, walls of green curling and twisting as her power forced a path.

Mei and Lisha moved cautiously, each step measured.

“I hope we reach it quickly… just two strikes an—Mei! Let me go!” Lisha shouted, urgency spiking her voice.

“You’re too slow!” Mei barked, frustration and fear twisting her tone.

“You said we needed to move fast! Let me handle the running, you sloth!” Lisha shot back, breathing hard.

Mei forced herself forward, knees burning. She’s right… pushing too hard risks injury… but we don’t have a choice.

A rustle to Lisha’s left caught her eye. Instinctively, she grabbed a branch and sliced it across Mei’s hand.

“This might hurt!” Lisha warned, voice urgent.

Mei gasped, blood trickling. Pain surged sharply—then power coursed through her veins. She froze briefly, understanding hitting her like a bolt: this unlocks my skill.

“Yes. Focus. Use it,” Lisha commanded.

“No time for questions. Fight,” she added, eyes flicking toward the distant center.

The boss appeared: a Venus flytrap-like abomination, stem thick as stone, roots sprawling like living snakes. Its eyes glowed faintly, scanning them with a predatory awareness.

“First skill, Dancing Waves. Chop the roots,” Lisha ordered, voice slicing through the tension like a blade.

Mei summoned her blood, forming twin blades. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, adrenaline sharpening her senses. The first strike severed a root—the creature shrieked, violent energy surging back through the air.

Explosive flowers launched from the abomination. One hit Mei, throwing her backward, pain flaring across her body.

“UGH—LISHA, THIS IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DO ALONE!”

“I’ve got the rest! Focus on the roots!” Lisha shouted, unwavering, eyes calculating every movement.

Mei pressed on, severing two more roots. The final one—the heart—revealed a soft, vulnerable spot. She climbed, feeling the texture under her fingers, and peeled away the protective layer. A single strike and the creature shrieked, thrashing violently, then collapsed.

“Stop!” Lisha’s voice rang through the maze, firm and commanding.

“What? That’s it?” Mei panted, chest heaving.

“Plants die when their life support is gone. Simple as that.”

The ground shook again, wind gusting, whipping leaves into their faces. The abomination shriveled, bones snapping audibly, leaving only dry husks.

“What a grandma,” Lisha muttered, brushing herself off.

“Now we leave,” Mei said, steadying herself.

“Do you even know where to go?” asked Lisha.

“…Nope,” replied Mei .

"Stup-"

Meanwhile, Nina and Arjun led the boys, their strategic eyes noting positions, hazards, and possible ambush points.

“What happened to Jina?” Nina asked quietly, concern flickering in her expression.

“She cleared the path for Mei and Lisha,” Ivy explained. “Without her, we wouldn’t have regrouped.”

“Why the center?”

“Dunno,” Lisha thought, scanning the exit.

“Maybe a final boss,” Elara muttered, skeptical.

“Or she just wanted the level-up, using Mei as backup,” Elara added with a wink.

“Pf-ft… or maybe Lisha’s just slow,” Hana whispered, shaking her head.

The rest fought, unaware of the intricacies around them. Slowly, the exit revealed itself, monsters disintegrating into dust. Relief flooded the air, mixed with exhaustion and unsteady laughter.

Nina carried Jina, pausing to glance back.

“How much time?”

[30 seconds]

“MEI! 30 SECONDS! HURRY!” Sora’s voice rang, slicing through their fatigue.

Mei leapt forward, every motion stretched to the limit. Two seconds remained as they crossed the threshold, breathless, hearts pounding in tandem.

Ivy tapped both lightly on their heads, eliciting a frustrated, yet exhausted laugh from Mei.

“That was intense,” one whispered.

“Yeah,” Ava replied, smiling faintly despite sweat and dirt.

They shared brief stories of the fight, trying to steady themselves while the world around the maze seemed to sigh in quiet.

Nearby, two 2PG players noticed the Japanese players mid-trial.

“Eh? Still going?” Varun asked.

“Maybe just started,” Arjun replied, eyes narrowing at the obstacles.

“Should we help?”

“Only if the system allows… but probably not. Let’s just watch,” Varun decided, summoning the rest.

Meanwhile, Sora called out to Mei, voice calm but curious across the river wall.

“How did you and Lisha take down that boss?”

“Cut the roots… that’s it. Honestly, looked like a grandma in a coffin,” Mei replied, exhaling slowly, muscles shaking.

“Anyway, how are you feeling?”

“Good. Mira healed me—it wasn’t bad,” Mei said, glancing at Sora.

“You’re really strong,” Sora admitted, her eyes wide with quiet admiration.

“Really?”

“Yeah… I envy you, bro,” Sora added, a soft smile flickering across her face.

They chatted quietly, voices mingling with the faint rustle of leaves and distant echoes, as 2PG finished their trial. 1PG sent Mira and Ezra to check on them, ensuring no one was left behind.

{Ooo.. interesting ain't it???} -------.

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