Following what must have already been two thousand people on their side of the building alone, the three entered the official Box. Following the crowd through a narrowing corridor, they were then separated by groups of officials in white suits.

“An individual test?”

Zexus did as he was bid, heading off to his assigned room. In spite of what the official had said however, Lavenna remained with him. Whether that was a mistake on the official’s part or not, he was not going to argue.

Stepping through a door like many others around him, what greeted him on the other side was not another cubic space, but rather a spiral staircase that ran up and down to unseen ends. When the door closed behind him with a bang, a screen on the wall notified him of its presence with a beep.

“Welcome to the Ascendant program. Before your official induction into the Black Box, you will need to pass this short evaluation.” A man appeared on the screen, one that was clearly shaven with a long scar running through the bridge of his nose and below his eyes. His red hair and almond-shaped eyes gave away his identity as someone from the Great Isles, specifically the Isle of Dawn. Compared to Juno, he seemed much more professional and committed to his role.

“Your physical stats, intelligence, and Soul strength will be the primary traits for evaluation, and will play a large part in determining your following ranking. That said, this first test is rather simple.” As he spoke, a holographic model was conjured next to him on the screen, showing a tight cylindrical space containing a spiral staircase that went on endlessly. “Do your best to reach the end. The use of Egos and other equipment is forbidden. Everything else is fair game. Breaching this rule will result in immediate disqualification, as will failing to reach an end. May Summer bless you, participant.”

The screen turned off following the briefing, leaving the two alone.

“No Egos? They’re really playing fair for the less wealthy, huh?” Lavenna remarked. “I’m guessing the guy’s being cryptic on purpose. Figuring out how to proceed is probably the ‘intelligence’ test, and then actually getting to the end is the ‘physical’ part.”

“Agreed.” Peering over the unguarded edge, there was no bottom in sight, only an endless abyss. On the other hand, the way up was illuminated by light streaming down from the assumed peak of the staircase.

“The ‘end’. Not specifically the top or bottom.” Zexus pondered aloud, trying the handle on the door but finding it locked. “I assume the idea is that both paths will lead to the finish line and we simply have to make a choice.”

“Well, climbing up is gonna be way more tiring than running down.” Lavenna said, hopping off his shoulder and looking around herself. “They probably put the light up there to make it seem more inviting.”

“‘Follow the light’.” Zexus recited what he knew to be a common phrase used by many religions throughout the four continents. Even when the Gods they served directly contrasted with one another, many Churches still held to this belief. “Going up might be a trap since this is Athena we’re talking about.”

“But if the end really is up there, then doubling back will be a pain.” The Kitsune countered. “I mean, it’s totally your decision since I won’t be the one walking.”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Zexus began his move downwards. “I don’t mind the exercise. Both paths have merits, so I will choose the one that satiates my curiosity. Besides, there’s no specified time limit, so failure should only be when one forfeits or is deemed unsuitable.”

“Alrighty then. Love the optimism. You’re totally gonna get disqualified here.” Lavenna hopped back onto him, jumping from the opposing stairs without an ounce of fear or hesitation. The masked man exaggeratedly tilted his body when she landed soundlessly on his shoulder. It earned him a smack from her tail and an adorable huff. “Stop with the fat jokes. I’ll strangle you.”

Walking for a long while down a continuously deteriorating stairwell, Zexus counted that he had descended no less than ten thousand steps in the darkness before he finally hit bottom. Tapping his foot against the moist ground, he could hear the sound of water dropping nearby.

“Creeeeeeepy…” Lavenna remarked, hidden in his backpack. “We really should’ve brought a non-Ego dependent light. There’s not gonna be some weird monster down here, right?”

*UGUHGHUG*

Zexus’ head snapped back just in time to see a pair of crimson orbs rise from the ground.

“I just had to think about it…sorry~.” For the most part, the Kitsune sounded sincere. Zexus accepted it, but did not dwell on it as he focused on his sudden adversary.

Seemingly out of nowhere with the inhuman moans, a foul stench had crept up on his acute senses. The eyes in the dark swayed, closing the gap between them as the rattle of bones and strange squelching noises rebounded against the walls. Processing all of this information, it only took a second for the masked man to identify his foe.

“It’s a zombie.”

“Oh good. At least it’s just a weakling.” The Kitsune remarked. “Heavens….It definitely smells like a Reekolg’s backside. Please kill it quickly. My nose…not gonna last long…”

While the spirit beast whined, Zexus was already on the move, recounting the information he had on the undead as he did. Although they were durable, able to survive even without limbs and the majority of their body, their head was an exception they could not live without. Besides that, they were also slow and often unstable, courtesy of their rotting muscles and missing body parts. Thus, they were not all that dangerous, at least in a physical fight. There was still the risk of being infected by whatever diseases and viruses they carried, but in this case, his mask would protect him from such dangers.

Stepping forward with caution, he closed the distance and pulled back his fist. All the while his mind processed the distance and his ears were on guard for any signs of a trap. When the crimson orbs looked to be within arm’s reach, he did not hesitate to strike the undead between its eyes.

*Crack*

The zombie disappeared then. The stench, the moans, the eyes - the monster had vanished like a puff of smoke.

“An illusion? No…I felt my fist connect.” The masked man turned his head, wary of potential danger. Juno’s lessons were deeply ingrained in his mind, one of them being that many combatants are most vulnerable right after a victory. In this particular instance however, his caution appeared to be unwarranted, as nothing else followed. “Is that it?”

At least, that was what he thought until a dark grey glow in the near distance caught his eye, specifically in the direction the zombie’s head had flown. It was small, and seemed to be buried under something. Moving over to the light, Zexus lifted what felt to be a piece of log, the wood wet and covered in moss. Unveiled beneath was an object about the size of a chicken egg and the appearance of a skull with blackened bones.

“The zombie’s Ego?”

Egos, the physical personifications of the world brought about by the gathering of mana. They granted those who could wield them often supernatural powers including but not limited to abilities such as conjuring fireballs, hardening skin to stone, and summoning creatures from other worlds as familiars. These manifestations of nature could be found in all places of the world, from the most pleasant of forests and plains to the most hostile volcanoes and ocean depths. Living, dead, inanimate or even non-physical, they took on the characteristics of all three dimensions, and even some outside of it. The undead was no exception.

As soon as he picked up the cold item, the glow surrounding the Ego diminished. Zexus expected as much, and promptly stored the Ego away through the small opening in his backpack. At the same time, a door creaked open a good ten metres behind him, filling the darkened space with a stream of light. It seemed he had passed with relative ease. On the other hand, Lavenna had taken a rather heavy hit.

“I think I’m gonna throw up…I promise I’ll thank you later. If I don’t die.”

“Good for you.”

“...Fuck you. Don’t talk to me right now. Need…concentration…”