Luca's point of view
A mysterious chamber emits a light whose source is invisible.
The wall of the room is covered with a thin layer of creepers.
A closer look reveals tiny mushrooms stuck together, in every conceivable color and shape.
As a result of the vegetation present, the atmosphere is heavy and humid.
What's more, there are a few rodents on the ground, making the place even more unwelcoming.
"No doubt about it, I'm at the second test".
As I approached the center of the room, the door through which I had entered disappeared from view. Giving way to vegetation.
Without even giving me time to understand what's going on, a sweet scent tickles my nostrils.
"T-that smell..."
Turning around, I discover a carefully decorated table, adorned with fabrics worthy of 5-star restaurants.
In the center sits a dish I know all too well exists.
"L-le curry massaman"
Originally from Thailand, this dish is distinguished mainly by its creamy, spicy sauce.
Generally accompanied by meat, potatoes and cashew nuts.
Its unique flavor subtly blends spices such as cinnamon, cloves and cardamom, with a touch of heat from the chili pepper.
I still remember that this delicious dish offers a rich and exotic taste experience, taking my taste buds on a journey to the delights of Thai cuisine.
Yet right next to it was an envelope just as presentable as the table.
Unfolding it to see the contents, it says: "do not eat this curry".
I suspected as much
Just as in the first test, there's a mark indicating the aptitude you need to adopt in order to move on to the next test.
If you don't obey, you're sure to get stuck or even die.
In fact, this dish in front of me conceals a deadly poison that would instantly kill anyone who dared to taste it.
At the time, this idea came to me as I was quietly enjoying my curry. But now, that same curry will be the cause of my death.
The key to passing this test and moving on to the next is simply to abstain for 1 month.
But that's easier said than done.
Candidates don't know how long they'll stay.
What's more, starvation will eat away at them bit by bit, forcing some to give in within the first few hours.
Each individual will see his or her favorite dish carefully placed on the table.
And worst of all, other side dishes will be added as time goes by.
Because of this ordeal, only a quarter will pass.
Having learned a lesson from his previous experience about the importance of sticking to what's written, protagonist Kim decided to look for another solution.
So, to appease his hunger, he first opted for mushrooms. However, Kim quickly abandoned this option, finding that the taste worsened with every bite.
He then resolved to catch with difficulty the rodents moving around the room, and roasted them over candles for food.
He continued at this pace until the end of the second test.
For my part, I don't have to force myself, because in this sanctuary, starvation is never a real threat, even if we are deprived of all the food already in our stomachs.
The hunger we feel is an illusion, caused by the dish offered to us as a test.
So, to get through this ordeal, all we have to do is wait until time runs out and this sensation disappears on its own, without us needing to give in to the temptation to consume anything.
"It's a good thing the system has the time".
If I have any sense of time, it's been 5 minutes since I walked through the door.
"This could be a long one"
* * *
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William's point of view
"Let's think, there should be a way up there".
After returning to square one I'm forced to change my method of approach.
Let's assume it was Luca who designed this test.
As far as I know, Luca has always loved anything to do with thinking, so I imagine there should be a trick.
Scanning the room I find nothing unusual, except that the door I came in through has disappeared.
There are only two things in the room: a rope and a sign.
"W-wait for the sign!"
Approaching it, I reread what's written with more attention than before.
"Climb without stopping to access the second test"
"But of course!"
I've completed all the stages so far, except the one where I should avoid stopping to climb.
Reflecting on my strategy, I realized that this was a crucial point I hadn't yet considered.
As I climbed the rope, I took regular breaks every 10 minutes.
This approach was aimed at saving my endurance to avoid exhaustion and reduce the risk of falling.
If my guess is correct, how long would it take me to reach the second event?
I don't know.
What's more, my hands still bore the scars of previous injuries.
If I let go of the rope again, I risked not only my progress, but also my safety.
The possibility of an uncontrolled fall haunted me.
"What do I do?"
What if I increased my endurance?
Given that the event stipulates that you don't stop once you've started, it's best to build up my stamina so that I can be confident of reaching the summit.
Let's open the profile
{Profile}
Name : William
Clan : Fari
Age : 8
Chance : 2/10
Agility : 5
Dexterity : 1
Strength: 4
Mana: 0
Skill : co-author
Star: none
I deduce that strength is also linked to my stamina.
"Without further ado, let's get started"
* * *
Luca's point of view
"Five more minutes"
I've been waiting for the end of the second test for over twenty-nine days now, and I've still got five minutes left.
I never thought sitting around doing nothing could be so tiring.
"But that's not the worst part."
At one point, the table that was once stocked only with curry now features a variety of dishes, including all my favorites.
You can't imagine the amount of saliva I hold back from succumbing.
Although I'm aware that I won't starve to death, it's still painful to endure.
Just as I was absorbed in my thoughts, the vegetation leaning against the wall began to move slowly, revealing a door on which was inscribed the number three.
"At last!" I declared, wiping away the saliva that was beginning to run down my mouth.
"But first I have to clear the table."
Among the system's functionalities is the inventory, which allows me to store objects in a dimensional space.
Carefully, I transfer all the dishes into the inventory one by one, being careful not to touch them for fear of poisoning myself, as they contain poison.
It would be stupid of me if I died drinking the river water with my hands or something.
So I use a fork to put them in the inventory.
You're probably asking me what I'm going to use all this poisoned food for ? Well, you'll see.
* * *
"...98, 99, 100 !"
Now 100 squat
"1, 2, 3..."
I've lost count of the number of days I've devoted to training my body, investing time and energy in intense physical exercise.
Despite my efforts, I'm astonished to note that, despite my overwhelming fatigue, at no time have I felt the need to eat anything to recharge my batteries.
This strange sensation raises questions in my mind.
Does the environment of this particular room have an effect on my appetite? Or maybe it's something else, something more deeply rooted in the workings of my body and mind?
Whatever the reason, this experience has brought me an unexpected benefit: a significant increase in my stamina.
{Profile}
Name : William
Clan : Fari
Age : 8
Chance : 2/10
Agility: 9 (+4)
Dexterity: 5 (+4)
Strength: 24 (+20)
Mana: 0
Skill : co-author
Star: none
"...56, 57, why is it glowing?"
When I was doing my squats a reddish light appears from the sign.
Curious, I approach cautiously to see if there's any change.
"W-why now!?"
"As one person has reached the third trial, participants still on the first trial will have one hour to clear it. Otherwise, the consequence will be the death penalty."
The death penalty!? This announcement hits me like a thunderclap, sowing panic and uncertainty in my mind.
But what disturbs me most is this information about a person who has reached the third trial.
Does this mean I'm not alone in this desperate situation? Are there other souls in search of survival, struggling against the same obstacles as me?
If so, it suggests that there are two more trials awaiting me after this one.
But to what end?
I have no time to waste pondering these existential questions.
If what they say is true, I've only got an hour to climb to the second trial, or face certain death.
Despite my determination to climb up this rope, I'm constantly reminded of reality by the throbbing pain in my injured hands.
"What should I do?"
Even after two consecutive days of relentless effort, my wounds refuse to heal.
"This is my last chance."
If I fall again, only death awaits me
"Too bad!" I declared resolutely, putting aside my fears and pain to concentrate on the climb ahead.
I grasp the rope firmly with both hands, feeling every ounce of strength remaining in me converge towards this single goal: to climb that rope to the summit.
Despite the fatigue beginning to weigh on my shoulders and the persistent pain in my still bruised hands, I cling to the rope with determination, refusing to let fear or pain stop me.
After ten minutes of frantic climbing, I feel a marked improvement on my previous performance.
I climb at a faster pace, my muscles responding with renewed vigor, and my endurance seems intact.
Amazed by this sudden increase in my abilities, I push even harder, ignoring the pain signals in my hands.
As I continue to climb the rope with increasing intensity, I notice a glow in the distance.
"That's strange," I murmur, surprised by how quickly I reach this point.
Compared to my previous attempt, when I spent over two hours struggling against every centimetre of rope, this time I seem to arrive in barely 1 hour.
Yet, despite my rapid progress, I don't have the luxury of dwelling on this observation.
The threat of the death penalty still hangs over me, reminding me that every second counts in this race against time for survival.
Finally, I reach the top and my eyes rest on a door bearing the number 2, a door that represents the key to my imminent salvation.
But to my dismay, my feet refuse to move, frozen by sudden and unexpected exhaustion.
"Shit, not now!"
I've already exhausted all my energy to get this far, and now, at the crucial moment, my body betrays me.
Faced with this desperate dilemma, I'm forced to adapt to the situation.
I drop to the ground in despair and start to move forward on my knees, my hands taking over where my legs have failed.
Every movement is a struggle against pain and exhaustion, but I refuse to give in.
Finally, after a Herculean effort, I step through the door, greeted by damp vegetation and the promise of an even greater ordeal ahead.
When I finally feel safe, I let my exhausted body collapse to the ground, grateful to have overcome this new challenge, but aware that the hardest part is yet to come.