'Trial of Awakening' Chosen Difficulty - Hard
Trial's Objective: Survive!
As the system signaled the beginning of the trial, a low, ominous rumble echoed across the grassy terrain, steadily growing louder. In the distance, a cluster of trees in the greenland stood witness to the approaching danger, their branches and trunks crumbling as something formidable drew nearer to the challenger's position.
Not wanting to face whatever danger approached, the man swiftly hid behind the largest tree he could find.
Before long, a massive bear emerged from the grasslands. This bear was unlike any he had ever seen, easily twice the size of a normal one. Its fur had a mix of green and brown, making it blend into the grass. Its eyes shone with primal ferocity, and its claws were enormous and razor-sharp, like deadly scimitars ready to strike. This was no ordinary bear; it was a true giant of the grasslands, and Asher realized he was in for the fight of his life.
Savage Woodland Bear has appeared!
'W-What the hell is this thing!'
Survive or defeat the enemy within the allocated time.
00:05:00
00:04:59
Fear gripped Asher's every fiber, his heart pounding like a relentless drumbeat in his chest. Beads of sweat streamed down his forehead, forming a small pool of moisture at his feet. He dared not move a muscle, desperately hoping that the monstrous bear wouldn't sense his presence.
But the bear, with its keen sense of smell, proved to be a formidable tracker. It didn't take long for the massive creature to hone in on his location. In an instant, the bear charged towards the tree where he cowered, its earth-shaking footsteps heralding its approach.
Bam!
Bam!
"Ahhh!"
Boom!
With a deafening roar, the bear's massive claws slashed through the air, obliterating the tree in a single devastating sweep. Asher's instincts kicked in, and he leaped away from the crumbling tree just in the nick of time, narrowly avoiding the lethal strike. His heart continued to race as he realized the dire peril he was in, knowing that escape from this adversary would be no easy feat.
With the echoes of the shattered tree still ringing in his ears, Asher wasted no time. Panic lent wings to his feet as he bolted away from the hulking bear, terror propelling him forward.
Behind him, the bear gave chase with an unrelenting fury. It crashed through the grasslands without a care for the obstacles in its path, like an unstoppable force of nature. Rocks and trees were torn to shred as the bear's sheer power sent them flying in all directions.
Asher's lungs burned with each gasping breath as he pushed himself harder, his life depending on the desperate race for survival. He darted between trees, leaped over rocks, and veered sharply to avoid the bear's swiping claws.
The bear's relentless pursuit left him with a sinking feeling as it steadily gained ground with each powerful stride. The hot, labored breaths of the beast and its thunderous growls grew ominously closer, sending shivers of dread coursing through him. He stole a quick glance at the timer, yearning for even the slightest reward in the form of precious seconds gained.
00:03:26
As the seconds ticked away, escape appeared nearly impossible. The colossal predator bore down on him, driven by insatiable hunger and unbridled aggression. His heart pounded in his chest as he realized that his only chance lay in devising a way to outwit or outmaneuver its chaser before it was too late.
"This ain't gonna work! If I keep runnin' like this, I'm gonna puke my guts out from bein' dead tired. I'm no athlete, man! I'm just a gamer, and these legs ain't built for this kinda action!"
"Why's this big, fat bastard so darn quick? Is this really what they throw at you on the first floor?!"
As the relentless pursuit continued, racing thoughts desperately searching for a way out of this dire situation. He considered his options, but it became painfully clear that running was his only one, even though the bear was gaining on him.
"I've struggled my whole life, scraping by, barely getting a taste of what others enjoy. Is this how it all ends? Chased down by a giant bear in some crazy trial?"
His voice grew more somber as he continued to reflect on his existence. "Maybe... maybe this is what I deserve. Always taking the easy way out, never pushing myself. The one time i actually decided to push myself... Well, here's the price I pay."
But in the depths of his self-critique, a glimmer of insight emerged. He remembered a story he'd once read in one the numerous novels he had read—for some reason this specific quote came to mind:
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'In the stark realization of our own mortality, we discover the warmth of our resilience through the stark contrast they offer. So even in the cold grip of death, the embers of life persist, pushing us to defy it.'
Inspired by these words that came to mind, he realized that even as the 'cold grip of death' was within reach, there was still a 'glimmer of hope', as long as he pushed himself to 'defy' his fate, then the 'embers of his life' could still persists past this challenge. He had to seize that chance, however slim it might be, and do whatever it took to survive. It was a turning point in his desperate struggle against the pursuing bear.
With the bear closing in and no clear escape, Asher noticed a rocky outcrop in the distance. His desperate mind latched onto an idea. He sprinted toward it, his heart racing, and reached the rocks just in the nick of time.
As the bear lunged forward with a mighty roar, Asher scrambled up the rocks. The bear's enormous claws struck the stone, shattering it into pieces but missing him by mere inches. The shockwaves from the impact knocked the man off balance, sending him tumbling down the steep.
His body battered and bruised, he crawled into a narrow crevice between the rocks. The bear, frustrated and unable to reach him, paced angrily above. The seconds on the timer continued to count down without stop.
With every ounce of willpower, Asher focused on slowing his breathing, making himself as small as possible within the crevice. But with the bear's relentless fury, even the crevice in the rocks proved no sanctuary. The man's heart sank as the bear's mighty paws shattered the remaining stone barrier, sending shards flying.
Realizing there was no place left to hide, panic surged through him. But then, in the midst of the chaos, he spotted a nearby thicket of thorny bushes. With no other options, he crawled toward it, praying the bear would lose sight of him in the dense foliage.
The bear, enraged and disoriented by his maneuvers, roared in frustration as it searched for its prey. The seconds ticked away relentlessly, and the man nestled deeper into the thicket, his skin punctured by thorns, every muscle aching.
As the timer reached its final moments, the bear's massive head swung inches from the thicket, its hot breath causing the man's heart to pound even harder. The bear's keen eyes scanned the area, and for a fleeting second, it seemed as if his fate was sealed.
The thorny bushes proved no match for the massive predator. As the bear's massive paw tore through the underbrush with ease.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl, and the seconds on the timer dwindled down to the very last. In the agonizingly tense moment, the bear's claw was a split second away from making contact, when suddenly, with a deafening tick, the timer reached its very last moment.
00:00:02]
00:00:01
00:00:00
You have survived the allocated time!
In an instant, the world around blurred, and an otherworldly surge of energy. His senses reeled as he found himself transported from the jaws of death to safety. He stood in a dimly lit chamber, battered and trembling, his pants soiled from the extreme stress and fear.
You have completed the 'Trial of Awakening' first trial!
"I-I really did it...?"
"I really survived against that thing?"
Clearance will provide points, these points can be used in the 'Tower of Awakening' store after clearing the second floor's trial. Additional points can be earned if you display outcomes past the required clear condition.
You have earned '100 points' for clearing the first floor.
For clearing the first floor of the trial, you will be rewarded with a 'Unique Skill' based on the class you select.
[Please select your class:
Warrior
Mage
Rogue
Cleric
Archer
Paladin
Sorcerer
Bard
Druid
Monk
Ranger
Necromancer
Alchemist
Barbarian
Warlock
Enchanter
Knight
Elementalist
Trickster
Illusionist
...]
Asher's heart continued to race as the holographic interface prompted him to select his class. He had just survived a life-threatening encounter with a giant bear, previously he couldn't properly question all of the expected events that had occurred but those very inquiries started to gnawed at his mind like an itch he couldn't scratch. The place he found himself in was rife with mysteries, and now he had to make a choice that would determine his path in the enigmatic realm he now found himself in.
He stared at the holographic interface, pondering his choice carefully. This was a crucial decision that would shape the course of his journey through the enigmatic Tower of Awakening.
He fixed his gaze upon the luminous interface, each option beckoning him with promises of fantastical power. Each class seemed more fantastical than the last, some of them he had no idea what they entailed. The list stretched before him, seemingly infinite in its possibilities, It was like being in a video game, but the stakes were all too real.
As Asher's eyes traversed the extensive roster of classes, his heart settled upon one that had always held a special place in his soul: the Necromancer.
"There's no need to search any further, it's obvious as heck! I'm gonna be a Necromancer!"
You have selected the 'Necromancer' Class!
Providing 'Asher Gray' with the best suited 'Unique Skill'...
Congratulations! You have acquire the Unique Skill 'Animate Guardian'!
"Animate Guardian?"
As Asher questioned the unique skill's name, a sudden prompt appeared, providing the skill's details.
"WHAT THE...?!"