Much like his previous unsettling transportation to the trial's ground, Asher's world suddenly dissolved into a disorienting blur. A dizzying sensation gripped him as reality shifted. When the tumultuous chaos in his mind began to settle, Asher's eyes widened in astonishment at the shocking transformation of his once-familiar room. Instead of returning to the sanctuary of his own closed-off space, he found himself in a nightmarish sight, with a gaping hole in the wall exposing the relentless outside world.
The room lay in ruins, strewn with debris and wreckage, as if it had been ravaged by some unseen force. Staring in disbelief, Asher ventured closer to the jagged breach in the wall, only to be met with a heart-pounding revelation. The devastation that unfolded beyond was not limited to his own home. The entire cityscape, had been reduced to a wasteland of crumbling buildings and shattered streets.
The magnitude of the catastrophe struck him like a thunderbolt. Something cataclysmic had transpired on Earth, and it was far from a triviality to dismiss.
Let's proceed and survey the outside," Asher commanded, his guardian obediently shadowing his every move as they ventured beyond the confines of the refuge. The journey through the desolate streets proved difficult, with scattered debris from decimated buildings obstructing their path. Asher's keen eyes discerned a haunting sight: a trail of dried bloodstains, remnants of the wounded and perhaps even the deceased, though strangely, there were no lifeless bodies to be found, only the grim testimony of their existence.
"What could have transpired here?" Asher wondered aloud, his voice tinged with a mixture of dread and curiosity.
Continuing to tread cautiously, he soon found himself in a place that felt oddly familiar—the last location he had visited before being transported to the Tower of Awakening: the 24/7 gas station. Unlike the surrounding structures that lay in ruins, the gas station had endured the cataclysm to some extent. Though the gas pumps were destroyed, and the building itself bore scars of the devastation, it still stood resolute. Asher's mind wondered of potential survivors that might have taken refuge inside, prompting him to take a closer look.
As Asher cautiously stepped into the gas station, the atmosphere inside was a stark contrast to the desolation that reigned outside. The dim, flickering fluorescent lights overhead cast an eerie glow across the scene. The shelves, now partially barren, held remnants of what had once been a well-stocked. Empty snack bags lay scattered on the floor, their contents long since pilfered by desperate hands. The coolers that had once hummed with the promise of refreshing drinks now stood silent, their glass doors cracked and shattered. A few shattered bottles and cans lay near them.
Asher's footsteps echoed through the silence as he ventured deeper into the store, his eyes scanning for any sign of life. The air carried a faint odor of gasoline and burnt debris.
As he continued to explore, his heart raced with uncertainty.
"Doesn't seem like there's anyone here"
Crack
"Huh?" Asher's senses heightened as a sharp, distinctive sound of shattered glass underfoot pierced the eerie silence, jolting him into a state of alertness.
"Is anyone here?!" he called out, his voice tinged with a hope.
...
The response was nothing but a heavy, oppressive silence that seemed to swallow his words. Undeterred, Asher made a quick decision. He commanded his guardian to investigate the source of the noise while he moved cautiously toward the location, ready to confront whatever or whoever might be hiding there.
"Hello?" Asher's voice echoed once more, reverberating through the desolate gas station as he inched closer to uncover the enigmatic sound. Suddenly, an unexpected and piercing scream pierced the air, a sound that sent shook him. The scream was not that of a beast, but rather, it was a cry that seemed to emanate from a woman.
Without hesitation, Asher rushed towards the source of the disturbance. As he reached his guardian, Asher he was greeted by a surprising sight. Hidden behind the desk, cowering in the shadows, was a young woman, likely a student.
Her eyes, wide with fear, met Asher's as they locked onto each other, and in that tense moment, time seemed to stand still. This chance encounter amidst the wreckage and chaos of the world felt like something more than mere coincidence.
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Asher's memory sparked recognition; she was the same cashier who had silently accepted his payment during one of his prior visits to the gas station. It was as if fate had granted him an opportunity to repay the favor she had once bestowed upon him.
With measured steps, Asher approached the frightened young woman and knelt down, placing himself at her eye level. His voice was gentle, laced with genuine concern as he asked, "Are you okay?"
With trembling hesitation, she slowly nodded, though the remnants of fear still clung to her face like a shadow.
"Do you know what happened here?" Asher inquired, his voice laced with urgency.
The young woman, still gripped by confusion and fear, stammered in response, "N-No... I... I don't know."
"How long have you been hiding here?" Asher pressed for answers, his concern deepening.
"O-Only 1 day," she replied, her voice quivering with uncertainty.
"1 day?! Did this whole situation unfold in just 1 day?" Asher couldn't conceal his astonishment.
"I-I don't know, I've only returned a day ago" she muttered, her eyes darting around the desolation as if searching for answers that remained elusive.
"Returned? Have you also been transported to the Tower of Awakening?"
The young woman nodded in confirmation, her voice filled with dread as she revealed, "Mhm. When I failed the second trial, I was transported back here. When I arrived, the city was destroyed by m-monsters."
The weight of the revelation hung heavily in the air, and Asher's mind raced to connect the dots. It became increasingly apparent that this catastrophic situation had unfolded almost simultaneously with his entry into the Tower of Awakening. In the real world, he had spent just a little over two days inside the tower, which meant that this cataclysm had occurred two days ago.
His gaze shifted back to the young woman, and a deep sense of concern washed over him. She had failed the second trial, and Asher couldn't help but grasp the grim reality that had befallen her. The second trial had likely led her to face these vile goblins, and he could only imagine the psychological trauma she must have endured. The sensation of being impaled by arrows, slashed by cruel blades, and the leering eyes of vile goblins as they orchestrated her virtual massacre—such an experience could leave deep emotional scars.
Thankfully, Asher understood that failing trials before reaching the fifth floor of the tower wouldn't result in real-world death. It was more like an advanced VR simulation, with the participants returning to Earth without any physical harm. Still, he couldn't help but empathize with the torment she must have endured during her trial and the haunting memories that would linger long after.
"Have you tried venturing outside?" Asher asked, concern etching his features.
She shook her head, her voice trembling with fear. "I can't! Monsters are all around! I-I'll die if I go out there."
Asher considered her situation, his mind racing for a solution. "Since you've completed the first trial, you must have received your class and skill. Can't you use your acquired skill to fend them off?"
Once again, she shook her head, her expression filled with helplessness. "I can't... My class isn't used for combat."
"A support class?" Asher inquired, trying to understand the nature of her abilities.
She shook her head once more, her voice barely above a whisper. "No, a production class. I took the Enchantress class."
The mention of the Enchantress class left Asher intrigued and somewhat puzzled. It was the first time he had heard of such a class, and he couldn't immediately discern its utility. However, given her description of it as a production class, he surmised that it likely involved the enhancement or enchantment of items in some way. The mysteries of the Tower of Awakening and its trials seemed to run deeper than he had initially imagined, and he realized that he had much more to learn about this enigmatic place.
"What's your name?" Asher inquired gently.
"I'm Sarah," she replied, her voice soft and apprehensive.
"Pleasure to meet you, Sarah. My name is Asher," he offered, attempting to bring a sense of comfort and trust to their conversation.
"Mhm..." Sarah murmured, still overwhelmed by the circumstances.
"How about you come with me? There's most likely a settlement somewhere. Let's go find it together, yes? Don't worry, I'll make sure to protect you," Asher reassured her, his voice filled with determination as he thumped his chest in a display of unwavering confidence.
Sarah looked up at Asher, her eyes reflecting a glimmer of hope amid the desolation. Slowly, a hesitant smile touched her lips as she nodded in agreement, recognizing that this unexpected alliance might be her best chance of survival in this perilous new world.
Asher extended his hand as a gesture of camaraderie, and Sarah, with a newfound sense of trust, took his hand and rose from her seated position. She dusted off her clothes, the act symbolizing her readiness to face the unknown alongside Asher.
As she tidied herself up, Asher's curiosity got the better of him. He wondered if his inspection skill, which had proven useful in examining creatures within the Tower of Awakening, would work on humans as well. Intrigued, he decided to test it. Focusing his thoughts, he attempted to use his inspection skill on Sarah, hoping to gain some insight into her abilities or condition.
To his disappointment, a window did materialize, but only leaving him with more questions than answers. It seemed that the rules governing the Tower of Awakening and its inhabitants were complex and elusive, concealing many secrets that would require further exploration.
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"Alright, then. Let's head out," Asher said with determination.
With a resolute nod, she responded with a simple "Mm!" As they left the gas station behind,