27 November 2975

It felt as if the torch didn't illuminate the under-path but the darkness harnessed the light.

Finding no other way to escape the ruins, Brock was left with no choice but to go down the staircase. Things wouldn't be that creepy if he could use his cosmium but even cosmium had no effects in this ruin. Brock took step by step trying to not lose his mind. The stairs weren't particularly sloppy or slippery.

But the test already taught him an invaluable lesson.

The greatest types of dangers come from the most unexpected sources.

Brock's head was clouded with thoughts, questions he couldn't find the answer to.

Why there are so deadly tests in the exams? Is this set by the council..or perhaps someone plotted this? Don't the lives of warriors who want to serve by putting themselves on the line have no value at all?

Brock couldn't control his mind despite trying his best and was lost in thoughts.

Until he almost fell, tripping into something.

"The hell is that.."

Brock managed his balance back and got mentally prepared to get into the worst kind of traps possible.

But...it wasn't a trap...neither a clue..nor something that he could expect. It was the fate of people who got stuck here.

A mutilated body..or something that lost the status to be called body.

Brock kind of flinched to find it there. Not that it was the first time he had seen something gore in this Nightingale exam. But the thoughts that annihilated his mind made him forget what could come in front of him. A body, sliced up to bits, scattered organs...but ironically no blood!

Surely that didn't seem like a good omen.

Brock gulped, took a breath, and started again. After all, there was no way out. Dying in a ruined cell is no better than getting killed by something or someone.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Though the abominable scene did one help, out of fear or outrage or maybe caution, Brock now couldn't help but think of the present, forgetting the urge to analyze what had happened or what could happen.

And finally, after ten more minutes, which felt like ages, he reached the end. A gate. Perhaps an ancient-looking gate that gave off the chills of both mystery and horror. But neither did the gate would budge an inch by pushing nor there were any handles.

"Another brain game I bet. Whatever. Free IQ test exams for me."

Brock again started analyzing. The metallic gate had carvings of men, women, animals, and other things that felt like nothing like any known creature to him.

"If only the nerd was with us. Freak had knowledge but lacked power. And when he finally had that..he decided to get killed."

Swinging the torch left to right, his right hand touched something. A torch holder?

Brock put the torch there and the gate started to creak open.

He got himself dumbfounded. Talking big about Iq when he lacked common sense. At least none saw him. But finally, the next scene answered his questions, reminding him of his purpose and he now regretted nothing at all.

A golden orb was taking its position over a majestic cushion on a 4 feet tall Nordic pillar.

Brock paced toward it..the shallow muddy road was taking him there under the dim light which only enlightened the road not the chasm beside it.

But the golden orb had its luminescence, a spectacularly bright one.

The nonplussed Brock wouldn't have gotten back to his sense, if not..the ice-cold small palms didn't hold his feet.

Brock thrusted his legs to get rid of it only to find out it was not a thing at all.

He was the focus of a hundred if not a thousand eyes. Eyes that lacked sclera, eyes that were filled with only large red iris, eyes that may not be able tosee properly in daylight or dark

BUT EYES THAT COULD SENSE BLOOD AND THE EYES OF A CREATURE WHO CRAVED FOR ONLY BLOOD.