The Control Room of the Crystal Tower Dungeon, saturated with the presence of highly dense mana, was bustling with activity. Professors and faculty members looked at Aiden as though he had emerged from a legend. Swamped with handling the entire Academy, he rarely had time for smaller matters, so he was not surprised by their reactions. The whispers began almost immediately as he entered the room.

"Hey, Elara, do my eyes deceive me? Is that Vice Chancellor Aiden?" questioned Talia Stormsong at the central table, her eyes wide with wonder. Her silver hair and emerald robes shimmered in the candlelight.

"Indeed, that’s Vice Chancellor Aiden. Whether your vision is clear or not, please refrain from casting any spells," replied Elara Moon, serene in her deep blue robes, appearing as if she had stepped out of a mythic tapestry—a standard most mysticals aspired to but rarely met.

"Relax, Elara, I’m not casting anything," Talia assured, adjusting her seat, her fingers twirling an enchanted ring that was leaking mana.

Ignoring their discussion, Aiden greeted the other professors at the smaller tables and made his way to the central stone platform.

"You're finally here, sir," greeted Alaric Thorne with an enthusiastic wave, his voice bubbling with energy. His signature flamboyant yellow robes shimmered with each movement, causing Aiden a slight headache. Alaric's black and silver hair was perfectly styled, and his yellow eyes still held the same playful mischief from his student days.

How the time had moved…

Aiden responded with a nod, "So, what was the emergency?" Catching the amusement in Alaric's eyes, he already guessed it was not urgent.

"It's nothing too serious but might affect your plans. Please, take a seat beside us," Alaric motioned to an unoccupied chair near the main table.

As Aiden settled into the chair on Alaric's right, his attention was drawn to the vacant seat opposite.

"Professor Roderick couldn’t return from his errand in time," Elera Moon, seated next to Aiden, explained. That was typical of Roderick; perhaps a serious conversation was overdue with the chronic drunkard.

Beside the empty seat was the man overseeing the Disciplinary Department, Cassian Holt. The blonde man’s sharp blue gaze scrutinized Aiden. His surprise at Aiden's presence was evident, yet he received only a polite nod from the Vice Chancellor.

It felt unusual seeing Cassian flanked by two empty chairs. The Mission Hall's head professor was attending a strategic meeting with the Kingdom's military, and the Prison Warden, Dorian Locke, was preoccupied with his typical antics.

Equipped with advanced holographic technology and the mainframe of Academy's armband, they observed the monthly contribution competition live while savoring the Academy's finest cuisine.

Yet, aside from Talia, no one partook of their drink, given the formality of the event. All eyes were fixed on potential students they might sponsor or be sponsoring.

At the smaller tables, numerous professors communicated via armband before discreetly signaling to the dungeon personnel present. Currently, all eyes converged on a young man with amethyst hair who walked away from the assessment device, a coy smile concealed behind his fan.

This was the essence of the Contribution Points Competition before the opening of the school. When desirable students emerged, professors would silently negotiate among themselves and record their choices on encrypted messages. These would be delivered to the student, who would then get a chance to be mentored personally by the professor on their subject.

Unless a prospect was exceptionally gifted and matched an instructor’s style perfectly, other professors would gracefully withdraw. However, intense competition ensued for top-tier talents like the obsidians.

Unlike others, Aiden couldn’t manage to mentor even one. Only a partial sponsorship was all he could handle, as he had to try to handle the whole obsidian batch; any personal mentorship would merely be a distraction from his main job.

The competition proceeded, and a few more exceptional students were identified. But none of the hidden professors were present yet. The professors below were evidently in a tense situation after the last candidate, especially since a less influential instructor had secured a promising talent.

After handling some files from a faculty member, Professor Alaric turned toward Aiden. "Sir, we have an interesting situation," he said, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and curiosity.

"What seems to be the problem, Alaric?" Aiden inquired after glancing at the man.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Alaric leaned in, lowering his voice, but everyone at the table could hear him. "There's a level 0 participant inside the artificial dungeon."

Aiden's eyes widened slightly. "Who got that lucky?"

Alaric adjusted the armband on his wrist, manipulating the controls. A new screen flickered to life, revealing an image of a boy sprawled on the ground with hands behind his head.

"It's the boy you partially sponsored," Alaric informed.

"Oh, Nova is level zero? Hmm, that's interesting" The Vice Chancellor squinted at the screen. "What's he doing now? At level zero, he should be gaining skills quickly, right?" A thoughtful look crossed the Vice Chancellor's face.

"Well, he did gain skills levels quite fast due to his zeroth level, but after his first artificial death, he's just relaxing for an hour. That's live footage from the competition," Alaric said, breaking the silence.

"What?" the Vice Chancellor exclaimed. Aiden squinted at the screen, and pointed out the obvious. "He's asleep."

"Yeah, that's the issue. The boy has one more chance before he's disqualified, but he's not using it. We don't know if you have any plans regarding the boy. So you were informed."

The Vice Chancellor frowned. "Give him a little incentive. We need him to level up as much as possible."

"Oh, why is that?" Alaric asked.

"Don't you know his skills?"

"Yes, they're space-related. The others are non-attuned. So?" Alaric's confusion was evident; while space manipulation was challenging, it didn't seem to warrant such urgency.

"Watch and you will see," Aiden said, his tone also mysterious.

Alaric sighed as if just acquiescing to the demand of old fogies.

"Is that all?" Aiden asked as he started to leave.

"Well, Professor Thaddeus wanted the boy for his sponsorship."

"Huh? That weaselly man?" Aiden turned, contemplating the implications. "He sure knows how to spot a diamond in the rough. But tell him to mind his own business," He said dismissively as he turned to leave. "Nova's not up for grabs."

Alaric's eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief as he nodded, clearly imagining the unfolding drama that would result from the decision. "Understood, Vice Chancellor."

❖ ❖ ❖

I was lost in the similar nightmare, shadows closing in around me in a dark forest with twisted trees. Their gnarled branches seemed to reach out like skeletal hands, grasping at the air as I stumbled through the underbrush. Crimson eyes followed my every move, burning with a malevolent hunger, but this time claws reached out to strike me, tearing through my clothes and grazing my skin.

Panic surged through me, my heart pounding in my chest as I ran for what felt like an eternity, my breath ragged and my muscles screaming in protest.

The forest seemed to close in tighter, the oppressive darkness swallowing me whole. The whispers of unseen creatures filled my ears, their words unintelligible yet filled with menace. Just as I felt the claws graze my back, a ringing sound echoed in the forest, cutting through the cacophony. I jolted awake, gasping for breath, my body drenched in cold sweat.

As the quest screen appeared, I frowned at the new details.

2nd Quest — The Trial of Skills

Survive, Thrive, Kill.

Finale Rush: Get 1.5X Rewards for the killing in the last 5 hours.

Ends in 04:39:12 Minutes.

Tokens Secured: 1

Kills: 25

No way was I ready to get back into that hellhole. I looked at the updated quest and then ignored it, my mind replaying the horrors of my last battle. Images of fierce battles flashed before my eyes: blood, sweat, and the unrelenting drive to survive. Each kill had been a desperate act, each victory a moment of grim satisfaction overshadowed by the fear of what came next. And at the end, all I gained was skills and some mental trauma.

The dark forest loomed in the distance, its presence a constant reminder of the nightmares I couldn't escape. The twisted trees and their haunting shadows seemed even more threatening in the aftermath of my dream. I shook off the remnants of my nightmare, trying to ground myself in the present. Instead, I took a moment to observe my surroundings.

The plains stretching out in the opposite direction from the forest were dotted with occasional rocks, their surfaces worn smooth by time and weather. The grass, tall and whispering in the gentle breeze, offered a stark contrast to the suffocating forest. The horizon was a faint, wavering line, shimmering with the promise of the unknown. I wondered what lay beyond it, feeling curious. Rather than going back to sleep, I let my mind wander.

Did this dungeon have an edge? What if I traveled far enough—would I hit an invisible wall, or would everything taper off into the void? But what if there was no edge? What if this dungeon extended infinitely, a loop of challenges and trials designed to keep someone trapped forever?

As I pondered the possibilities, a bird landed nearby.

[ Starchaser Lvl. 1 ]

Its feathers were a mesmerizing blend of iridescent blues and deep purples, catching the dim light and reflecting it with a metallic sheen. The bird was about the size of a raven, but with a more elegant, streamlined body.

It hopped around, pecking at the ground, and then, with a sudden burst of energy, it spread its wings and took off. The feathers fanned out like a fan of shimmering jewels, catching the light and creating a dazzling display. It soared gracefully into the air, circling above me once before heading toward the horizon. I watched it with a pang of envy, admiring its freedom.

The bird's flight stirred something within me. The way it moved through the air with such confidence and ease was a stark contrast to my own uncertainty. It reminded me of the days before I found myself trapped in this dungeon, days filled with open skies and endless possibilities. The weight of my situation felt heavier, yet that simple act of flight reignited a spark of hope.