Bolu nodded in agreement as Mark broached the topic. "Alright," Bolu began, the weathered lines on his face deepening in contemplation. "You've likely hit thresholds by now, being Level Ten and all. Have you noticed any changes?"

Anya piped up, a gleam in her emerald eyes. "I sure have! Hit a couple of thresholds myself today. Some new... interesting things I can do now."

Elara nodded in agreement, her dark gaze fixed on Mark. "Same here. Though the abilities are more subtle compared to Anya's flashiness."

Mark nodded, careful not to divulge too much. "Yes, I've reached thresholds within a few stats," he replied, purposely keeping his tone vague. "It granted me some abilities."

Bolu and the others leaned in, intrigued. Anya's emerald eyes narrowed with sharp interest, while Elara's gaze darkened with a hint of wariness. Mark offered no further details, enjoying the shift in dynamic.

Instead, he shifted to safer ground. "At Level Ten, it seems we gain access to class options," he explained, "but it was locked, and I believe the class options would close after the quest ends”. And there's still much to learn about mana pathways and nodes within our bodies. I haven't quite figured out their purpose yet." He paused, then told them all he had discovered during his mana experiment, it could help a lot of people.

As they discussed matters of mana and nodes, Mark's curiosity about patrons grew. "What about patrons?" he inquired. A hush fell over the room, a subtle tension tightening the air.

Bolu shook his head solemnly. "We can't reveal our patrons' identities. It's for our safety, as enemies of our patrons and their faction could target us within their trial and after." He held Mark's gaze. "But discussing patrons in general is fair game, given their role in cosmic trials."

Mark furrowed his brow. "But how were you contacted if we've all been here since the beginning?"

Catherine spoke up, her voice a thin line against the silence. "Before we landed in the field, we were taken to a separate location and communicated with our patrons." She swallowed, the movement visible against the pale skin of her throat. "They urged us to level up quickly and warned of an impending attack within 24 hours."

Mark's heart hammered in his chest. Catherine's words, though quiet, resonated like thunder. He caught a flicker of something on her face, a shadow of fear mirroring his own. Was there more she wasn't saying?

"An attack?" Mark forced his voice steady, the word tasting of ash in his mouth.

A cold realization washed over Mark. As Catherine spoke of an impending attack, a forgotten memory flickered to life in his mind. Back in the goblin lair, amidst the chaos of the battle, the chieftain – Nam – had bellowed something about an attack." Fear had been his sole focus then, pushing that information to the back of his mind. Now, with Catherine's words as a catalyst, the memory snapped into place.

Elara, with her silent intensity, seemed to catch the shift in his expression. Her dark eyes narrowed, a silent question hanging in the air. Mark cleared his throat, the sudden urgency making his voice raspy.

"There might be… something else," he began hesitantly. "Back in the goblin lair, the goblin chieftain - Nam - he mentioned attacking a settlement." He recounted the details, the average goblin level hovering around ten, with Nam himself a formidable Level 25. He spoke of the other goblins, their levels ranging from 1 to 20.

A heavy silence descended upon the room. The implications hung thick in the air. If an attack was truly coming, with goblins of such high levels, the unprepared inhabitants of the safe zone wouldn't stand a chance. A wave of despair washed over Mark. Was this entire trial a sham? Were they all just unwitting pawns, destined for slaughter?

His voice turned grim as he voiced the horrifying thought. "How can they expect us to survive that? Most people here haven't even leveled up. This whole thing… is it just a way to kill us all?"

Bolu cleared his throat, his voice firm despite the tremor that ran through it. "There's much we don't know," he admitted. "But fretting won't solve anything. I'll call for a meeting in the square, near the safe zone interface. We need to gather everyone and share this information. Mark, you should join us."

With that, Bolu rose, a grim determination etched on his face. The others followed suit, the initial curiosity in their eyes replaced by a steely resolve. Mark knew, with chilling certainty, that everything had just changed. The trial had taken a dangerous turn, and the very survival of everyone in the safe zone hung in the balance.

The tension crackled in the air as they made their way towards the central square. With each step, the weight of the impending attack pressed down on Mark. Bolu wasted no time. With a determined glint in his eyes, he accessed safe zone interface, the structure at the center of the safe zone, and sent a system-wide message.

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Slowly, people began to trickle in, drawn by the unexpected summons. Nervous murmurs rippled through the crowd, punctuated by the occasional panicked shout demanding answers. Mark lingered at the edge of the crowd, observing the diverse collection of individuals.He noticed groups beginning to form.

A man, clad in gleaming armor and wielding a magnificent sword, stood at the center of a group of around fifty people. Bolu met his gaze, a silent nod passing between them. Another group, huddled together, their faces reflecting a mix of fear and calculation. Others still shuffled in, some pale and drawn, their clothes rumpled as if they hadn't left their rooms since arriving. A stark reminder that twenty-four hours wasn't enough time for everyone to adapt to this brutal new reality.

A quick use of his "identify" spell revealed a sobering truth. Roughly seventy percent of the crowd remained at Level 1, the rest scattered between Level 2 and 5. Fear gnawed at Mark. Were they truly expected to fight against such odds?

Bolu stepped forward, his voice ringing out over the growing din. "I had hoped those who ventured out hunting would be here," he began, "but we don't have that luxury. We need to talk about an impending attack on the safe zone, before the quest timer ends."

He went on to explain what Mark had revealed about the goblins – their numbers, their ferocity, their leader's alarming power. The man with the sword scoffed. "Why should we believe this… Mark, was it? Prove it!"

Bolu's jaw clenched, but his voice remained steady. "You can choose not to believe him," he countered, "and simply wait for what comes. Or you can prepare.

We have confirmation of an attack of some kind beyond Mark's testimony, but it's classified."

His words sparked a wave of panic. Some faces contorted in terror, tears welling in their eyes. The horrifying arrival in the safe zone was still fresh in their minds. Catherine, her voice sharp with urgency, cut through the rising hysteria.

Catherine, ever the voice of reason, stepped forward. "Crying won't solve anything!" she barked, her voice sharp. "Those of you who were afraid have had plenty of warnings to form teams and level up! Now stop your blubbering and prepare to face the consequences of your inaction!"

Mark, having analyzed the situation, felt compelled to speak. He stepped forward, raising his hand for quiet. "This trial," he declared, his voice firm, "isn't designed to kill us. Based on my experience so far, the challenges are brutal, yes, but meant to push us to our limit."

Chorus of questions erupted: "Who are you?" "How can you be so sure?" Bolu intervened, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Use your identify spell," he instructed the crowd.

An unsettling silence descended as everyone complied.

Mark took a deep breath. "I've been thrown into life-or-death situations constantly," he began, "forced to level up. But I've noticed a pattern. The trial pushes you to your limit, but it doesn't outright kill you. I believe the same holds true here."

Bolu took over, barking out orders. "Everyone, equip yourselves with any armor you have. Gather any potions you possess and distribute them evenly. Share your resources!"

Mark willed out the twenty or so cards he had managed to gather on the way to the safe zone. He handed them to Bolu, a silent contribution to the communal effort.

Across the square, Bolu approached a group and asked for the cards they had. Their initial hesitation melted away in the face of the impending threat. They agreed to share their wares, acknowledging the desperate situation.

A tense energy gripped the square. Bolu's directives had sparked a flurry of activity as the unprepared inhabitants scrambled to armor themselves and share resources. Whispers of fear and doubt buzzed like a swarm of angry insects, a stark contrast to the artificial tranquility that usually held sway in the safe zone.

Mark watched the chaos unfold, his heart pounding against his ribs. He knew that time was their most precious resource but waiting felt like torture. Bolu, understanding this, instructed everyone to remain in the square. The quest timer, a constant reminder of their impending doom, continued its relentless countdown.

With every passing minute, the air grew heavier. Mark found himself constantly casting Identify, scanning the perimeter of the safe zone as if he could somehow see the goblin threat lurking just beyond their sight.

Then, as the timer ticked down to its final hour, a sense of dread washed over him. He heard a ding. Simultaneously, a notification flashed on his interface:

Quest Time (1 hour).

Quest updated: Survive the horde.

Attack Details:

Your group in the safe zone will face an attack in the next few minutes.

The attack will be from Goblins (5200).

The goblins will attack in waves:

Wave 1 (15 minutes): Level 1-3 goblins.

Wave 2 (15 minutes): Level 3-8 goblins.

Wave 3 (15 minutes): Level 8-15 goblins.

Wave 4 (15 minutes): All the Goblins left and Goblin Chieftain Nam.

You have been granted a way out: Full experience will be granted per kill regardless of contribution towards the kill.

Prepare yourselves. Survive or die.

Here's the revised scene, incorporating the excitement for the fight with Nam:

The message hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of the brutal reality they now faced. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, followed by a wave of murmurs that quickly escalated into panicked shouts. Fear, etched on every face, painted a grim picture of their situation.

Mark, however, felt a flicker of resolve amidst the encroaching despair. The notification mentioned a "way out" and an increased leveling rate. Perhaps, just perhaps, there was a chance for survival after all. But first, they had to endure the coming onslaught. He scanned the faces around him, gauging their reactions. Would they crumble in the face of overwhelming odds, or would they rise to the challenge and fight for their lives? The answer would shape their fate.

While others panicked, Mark's determination burned brighter than ever. Fear had no place in this fight. He squared his shoulders, a fierce light blazing in his eyes. A twisted smile touched his lips – under the pressure of a desperate survival situation, a wave of excitement coursed through him. The chance to face Nam again was both terrifying and exhilarating.