The aftermath of the gnoll assault left everyone in a jumbled mix of fatigue and relief. For a long, drawn-out moment, no one spoke. Bodies—both gnoll and human—littered the smooth coliseum floor, and the tang of blood hung thick in the still air. Despite the carnage, there was a new undercurrent among the survivors: they had weathered another storm, and unlike the first battle, fewer of their own lay still.
Elijah Merrows couldn’t ignore the flashes of notifications hovering at the corner of his vision, but all that felt secondary to the very real, very human cries of the wounded. For the second time in a handful of hours, triage zones popped up along the courtyard edges—spotty, improvised, but essential. Lauren, her eyes puffy from tears, worked her Recovery Sigil on a severely slashed coworker, while Harold’s Purification Light flickered in calm pulses around another. A half-dozen people huddled nearby, waiting to be treated or offering shaky help where they could.
Elijah wiped sweat from his brow, ignoring the dull throb in his side. “Check if we have any critical injuries,” he said to a cluster of exhausted volunteers. “If it’s just minor, let’s keep them stable until Lauren and Harold can get to them.”
He spotted Sandra Lewis kneeling by Misha, who’d taken an axe to the arm. Sandra applied pressure with a piece of cloth cut from a dead gnoll’s ragged tunic. Blood seeped through, but it wasn’t gushing. “Hang in there,” Sandra urged, voice steady. “Lauren will be here soon.”
Misha nodded, grimacing. “I’m… I’m okay, just… it hurts.”
A few steps away, Gideon Pierce stood, panting, balancing on that improvised crutch of his. Next to him, a battered coworker gripped an equally battered gnoll spear. Gideon gave the man an approving nod. “Keep that close. We don’t know if there’s a third wave coming soon or if we have time to breathe.”
Elijah couldn’t help scanning the coliseum walls again. The star-flecked sky overhead remained calm for now. “The System said something about distributing experience,” he murmured as he joined Gideon. “I definitely leveled up. You?”
Gideon nodded. “Level one. Hardly a cause for celebration, but it’s something.”
From the corner of his eye, Elijah saw Vince Anders approach. The younger man’s hair was matted to his forehead, and scorch marks singed the front of his shirt—likely from some magical feedback or near-miss. Still, Vince’s eyes held a shaky excitement. “I hit level one too,” he said, exhaling a ragged laugh. “This is so messed up, but… I feel stronger.”
Gideon placed a reassuring hand on Vince’s shoulder. “Use that. We have to keep each other alive.”
A hush fell over them as they noticed movement at the puzzle platform. Slowly, a faint glow had begun swirling again in the carved floor etchings—similar to the effect from before, but more vibrant.
“Hey,” came Nora’s voice from behind them. She, too, was blood-spattered but largely unhurt. “The puzzle thing is lighting up again. Maybe we can make progress now that so many people have leveled?”
Elijah glanced around at the wounded. “We should check that out, but let’s make sure no one’s about to keel over.”
A few minutes of hurried organization followed. Lauren and Harold continued their healing rotation. Sandra was busy directing the able-bodied staff to gather leftover gnoll weapons that looked sturdier than random salvage. Brittany tried to sing, voice trembling, but the gentle hum of her Fortifying Song seemed to help calm shattered nerves.
Finally, with the situation as stable as it could be, Elijah, Gideon, Nora, and Vince carefully approached the puzzle platform at the same time. A couple of curious onlookers trailed behind, hoping for answers or new breakthroughs.
The platform glowed in rhythmic pulses, each spiral of runes bright enough to illuminate their faces in the otherwise dim coliseum. As Elijah stepped onto it, he braced for some abrupt shift or a disembodied voice. Gideon gingerly followed, supporting himself with his crutch. Nora and Vince exchanged tense looks, then joined them on the stone circle.
The swirling runes reacted immediately, rising like ghostly ribbons around each of the four. A ring of symbols formed overhead, rotating in perfect synchronization. Elijah’s interface flickered:
Puzzle Sequence Initiated. Attempt #2
Conditions: At least four participants. Party average level ≥ 1
He read the lines aloud, ignoring how Gideon’s eyes narrowed in skepticism. At least it’s acknowledging we meet some requirements now, Elijah thought.
Vince licked his lips. “Okay, so what do we do?”
Nora responded in a hushed voice. “I don’t know. The shapes last time were meaningless. We need a clue.”
As though in answer, the ribbons of light coalesced into four sets of swirling glyphs, each rotating around one participant. Elijah gawked at the runic circle floating in front of him—eight symbols, all different, shifting in and out of focus. One resembled a bow, another a stylized arrow, another a leaping figure… The rest were more abstract, like geometric patterns.
He heard Vince suck in a breath. “Same for me, but with some lightning bolt shapes. And… I think that’s a circuit board design? Hard to tell.”
Nora’s ring displayed wind-like curves, and Gideon’s ring showed something akin to a shield and spear. Each ring faintly glowed in a specific hue—Elijah’s a pale greenish-blue, Vince’s crackling electric blue, Nora’s soft teal, Gideon’s a deep bronze.
“Try touching one of them,” Gideon suggested, wincing as he shifted his weight.
Elijah hesitated, then reached a hand toward the symbol resembling an arrow. The instant his fingertip made contact with the swirling light, it sank into the ring as though submerging into water. A slight hum resonated in his ears, and lines of text scrolled across his interface:
You have chosen the Bow Sigil. Synchronization…
Success. Three Sigils remain.
A slight jolt pulsed through him, not painful, more like a subtle shock that left his fingers tingling. Vince similarly prodded a stylized lightning symbol. “Arc Sigil,” he murmured. “It says ‘Synchronization’—holy crap.” He nearly fell back as a crackle of energy danced over his arms, subsiding into a faint glow around his hands.
Nora and Gideon exchanged wary looks, then they, too, reached out. Nora pressed a swirling wind shape, Gideon a spear-like glyph. The floating runes flashed with bright intensity and reconfigured themselves, aligning over the circle in neat patterns.
Sigils Chosen. Puzzle Sequence Stage Two Unlocked.
The stone circle underfoot rumbled, and the faint reflection of starlight overhead swirled into the platform. A moment later, all four participants vanished from sight. The onlookers gasped, stumbling back. One of them—the custodian Oscar—let out a startled cry. “They… disappeared!”
Elijah felt like he’d blinked and everything had changed. Gone was the coliseum’s open air. Instead, he found himself, Gideon, Nora, and Vince in a smaller, enclosed chamber. Its curved walls were carved with the same swirling motifs, but they flickered with subdued light, illuminating a path lined with tall, arching columns. At the far end, a single door stood shut, inscribed with runes.
Nora touched her forehead. “Are we… inside the puzzle somehow? A pocket dimension?”
Elijah had no idea. “Could be. Or maybe a hidden chamber in the coliseum. Let’s see if we can get out or find some answers.”
Gideon limped forward, carefully checking the floor for traps. The sense of tension was thick enough to taste. “Watch for hostiles. The System might test us in here.”
As if on cue, the runes along the walls shimmered, and ghostly shapes began to detach—two forms, roughly the size and shape of humans, but featureless and composed of golden light. Each brandished a faint outline of a weapon: one had a sword and shield, the other a long spear. They slid across the floor in silence.
Vince cursed under his breath, electricity sparking at his fingertips. “Of course. Guardians or something.”
Without a word, Gideon planted his crutch aside, gritted his teeth, and conjured the spectral spear that had served him well in the last fight. Nora lifted her salvaged blade, swirling wind around it, while Elijah raised his ethereal bow. Vince’s hands crackled with fresh arcs of energy.
The sword-and-shield guardian advanced on Gideon and Nora, while the spear guardian lunged straight for Elijah. He only managed a split-second to aim, loosing a quick arrow of light. The arrow struck the guardian’s chest, causing a bright spark, but the construct only paused for a heartbeat before sliding closer. It gave no indication of pain or hesitation.
Gideon slammed his spear into the shield-bearing guardian. Their weapons clashed with a flash of golden sparks. Nora darted to the side, slashing at the creature’s flank, wind swirling at her feet. Her blade met no physical body—just that luminous shape. It let out a resonant hum, like a chime, and reeled, but didn’t fall.
Meanwhile, Elijah fired a second arrow at the spear guardian. It knocked the arrow aside with a deft twist of its weapon—like a trained fighter. Vince seized the opening, stepping around to fling a bolt of electricity. Lightning danced across the guardian’s form, drawing out a flickering shudder. The golden figure wavered, as if losing cohesion.
“Go!” Vince shouted, charging another bolt. Elijah took aim again, focusing on how the construct’s form rippled at the chest. Another shot sank in, tearing a gap in the flickering light. The guardian’s spear raised overhead, but before it could strike, it abruptly dissolved with a sound like shattering glass. Bits of luminous dust drifted to the floor, vanishing on contact.
Nora and Gideon still battled the second guardian. It blocked Gideon’s spear thrust with an immaculate shield technique. Nora weaved behind it, wind swirling around her blade. “We’ll flank it!” she called. She feinted high, causing the guardian to raise its shield. Gideon capitalized, driving his spear into its unprotected flank. With a flash, the guardian staggered. Then Nora completed her slash, severing its sword arm. The guardian collapsed in a shower of fading light.
A rush of relief washed over Elijah, followed by a faint stirring in the System interface:
Minor Experience Gained.
Synchronization Essence: 2%
He glanced at the others. “Anyone see that ‘Synchronization Essence’ prompt?”
Vince nodded, brow furrowed. “Yeah, 2%. Could be some bar we need to fill?”
Gideon steadied himself against a pillar, catching his breath. “Likely. We take out guardians, gain essence, maybe open that door.” He pointed to the sealed door at the far end of the chamber. Its runes glowed faintly, a swirl of text unreadable to Elijah’s Identify skill, which only returned a message stating Puzzle Lock: Inactive.
“Let’s keep moving,” Nora said, wiping her brow. She wasn’t badly hurt, just winded. “The others are going to freak out if we’re gone too long.”
They advanced. Sure enough, another pair of guardians materialized near the next set of columns. The fight played out similarly: swift, precise movements on the guardians’ part, a deadly calm on Gideon’s and Nora’s, and a supportive ranged barrage from Elijah and Vince. With each guardian vanquished, the intangible bar in their vision ticked up another point or two. Gradually, the swirling lines on the chamber walls intensified in brightness.
When they destroyed the sixth pair of guardians, Elijah exhaled in relief. The entire corridor felt like it was thrumming with energy. His legs ached from the repeated fights, but no injuries so far, thanks to their synergy—Gideon’s front-line sturdiness, Nora’s flanking maneuvers, Vince’s ranged magic blasts, and Elijah’s steady arrow support.
Finally, the door at the corridor’s end gave a soft chime:
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
Puzzle Lock Active. Synchronization Essence at 95%. Final Guardian Required.
“That’s probably behind that door,” Vince deduced, panting. “One more fight, maybe a boss?”
Nora pressed her lips together. “We can handle it, right? Let’s see if we can rest for a minute first.”
They found a spot near a pillar to catch their breath. Gideon gingerly probed the bandage around his thigh. Blood seeped, but not heavily. Elijah felt for him—Gideon had pushed himself hard, especially with that injury. Yet the man gave no complaint.
“How’s the leg?” Elijah asked softly.
“It’s… stings like hell, but I can still fight.” Gideon rolled his shoulders, wincing. “Better to press on and finish this, rather than risk more time in here. No idea if a next wave is hitting the others outside.”
Nora nodded. “Right. Let’s get it done, then.”
Vince gulped and summoned sparks around his palms. “Ready when you are.”
They approached the door. As Elijah placed a hand against the runic surface, a wave of heat rippled through his arm. The door shifted inward, revealing a circular chamber wreathed in soft, golden light. Unlike the corridor, which felt ancient and solemn, this chamber had an almost regal quality: tall pillars carved with intricate patterns, a domed ceiling where constellations flickered in strange shapes.
In the center floated a single humanoid guardian, larger than the others and draped in ghostly armor. It held a glowing spear in one hand and a radiant shield in the other. Its helmeted head turned toward them with preternatural calm. The four of them spread out in a semicircle, weapons ready.
Without warning, the guardian streaked forward, crossing half the chamber in a blink. Gideon braced with a grunt, thrusting his spear. Their weapons collided in a dazzling flash. The guardian’s shield came around swiftly, bashing Gideon in the ribs. He staggered, nearly toppling.
Nora lunged to distract the guardian, only to be met with a quick riposte from the spear. She raised her sword just in time, sparks flying as the blade impacted that radiant tip. Vince hurled a crackling lightning bolt, striking the guardian’s back, but the golden armor seemed to disperse much of the force.
Elijah circled, heart hammering. He pulled back his bowstring, conjuring an arrow. This time, he tried focusing on the guardian’s center mass, precisely where an exposed glow pulsed. The arrow hissed across the chamber. The guardian twisted, half-evading, so the arrow caught the edge of its shoulder piece. The resulting spark barely slowed it down.
“Focus on one spot!” Elijah shouted. “We have to crack that armor.”
Gideon, regaining his footing, nodded and moved in again. Nora flanked to the right. Vince unleashed a continuous flurry of smaller lightning arcs, trying to corral the guardian’s movements. It moved with uncanny grace, shield blocking Gideon’s thrust, spear warding off Nora’s attacks, occasionally twisting aside from Vince’s strikes.
Elijah fired another arrow, then another, each time aiming for the same area. On the fifth shot, the armor plating flickered, cracks forming in the golden light. The guardian’s posture changed—almost as if acknowledging a threat. It spun in a blur, the spear coming around in a punishing sweep that hammered Gideon’s spear aside and clipped Gideon’s wounded thigh.
“Gah!” Gideon gasped, dropping to a knee. Blood oozed through his bandage. A second strike came down, aimed at Gideon’s head. But Nora lunged in with a gale of wind swirling around her arms, parrying the spear a hair’s breadth from Gideon’s skull.
“Elijah, get him out of there!” Nora cried, her voice strained as she tried to hold the guardian’s spear in a lock.
Elijah sprinted forward, heedless of the danger. He grabbed Gideon by the shoulder, hauling him back. Vince capitalized on the opening, launching a full surge of electricity into the guardian’s back. The chamber reverberated with the thunderous crackle, and the guardian’s form flickered. Pieces of the golden armor shattered like broken glass, leaving the luminous figure partially exposed.
Sensing the advantage, Elijah lined up another shot. “Nora, left!” he shouted. She dropped low and rolled aside, letting him see a clear path. The guardian raised its shield too slowly—Elijah’s arrow struck the open wound in its chest. A blinding flash flared. The guardian staggered, shield falling from its grip. Another arrow from Elijah, another bolt from Vince, and the guardian collapsed in a burst of radiant fragments.
As the shattered remnants dissolved, a choir-like hum echoed in the domed chamber. The runes around the walls glowed fiercely, then dimmed.
Final Guardian Defeated. Synchronization Essence at 100%.
Puzzle Sequence Stage Two Complete.
All four staggered, hearts pounding, battered but victorious. A wave of warmth rippled through their bodies. Elijah’s interface presented a swirl of text:
Name: Elijah Merrows
Race: [Human – Level 1]
Class: Strider (Basic)
Experience: 70% → 90% (approx.)
New Title Earned: [Seeker of Light]
Effects: Minor bonus when fighting energy-based constructs
Elijah heard Vince exclaim, “Whoa, I got a title. ‘Thunder’s Initiate.’ This is insane.”
Nora let out a shaky laugh, helping Gideon stay upright. “We need to get him patched up. That was too close.”
In the center of the room, where the guardian had stood, a small platform rose from the floor. On it lay four faintly glowing orbs, each a distinct color—greenish-blue, electric blue, teal, and bronze. They pulsed in time with the runes underfoot.
“Probably a reward,” Elijah guessed. “Let’s see.”
Nora guided Gideon closer, though he was pale and sweating. Each of them picked up the orb that matched their hue. Upon contact, the orb dissolved into a swirl of energy that sank into their skin. Elijah’s entire arm tingled, and text flitted across his vision:
You have obtained: Bow Sigil (Minor).
- Increases ranged accuracy by a small amount.
- Allows synergy with allied Sigils.
Vince whooped quietly. “Arc Sigil—plus some small lightning bonus. I’ll take it.”
Gideon grunted, reading a similar message. “Spear Sigil. Might help with damage or synergy in a group.” He tried to mask the grimace of pain, but it was evident he needed urgent care.
Nora inspected the teal swirl around her fingers. “Wind Sigil. Says it can amplify movement speed for short bursts. This might stack with my wind skills.”
As they absorbed the orbs, the chamber’s walls trembled, runes fading from bright to a gentle glow. Before they could do more, the entire space flickered, and in the blink of an eye, they found themselves standing back on the puzzle platform in the main coliseum, exactly where they’d been whisked away.
A chorus of startled gasps and shouts erupted as the rest of the survivors saw them reappear. Elijah nearly stumbled from the disorientation, bracing himself to avoid toppling Gideon. Nora panted, scanning the courtyard. It was exactly as they’d left it—injured staff resting, volunteer guards near the gate, bodies of gnolls still strewn about. Oscar ran over, eyes wide.
“You were gone for, like, ten minutes,” he exclaimed. “We didn’t know what happened.”
“Felt much longer than that to us,” Elijah muttered. “We had to fight more guardians… inside some weird sub-dimension.”
Gideon waved a dismissive hand, sweat beading on his brow. “We got… new Sigils, might help. Don’t know if that advanced the puzzle enough to open the door.”
As if in response, a distant thunk echoed through the coliseum, and the massive stone gate shifted. Dust crumbled from the top, runes lighting up in a slow spiral. The watchers gaped.
“Does that mean we can leave?” Vince asked, hope bright in his eyes.
Sandra came over, relief obvious as she took in Elijah, Gideon, Vince, and Nora alive and relatively intact. “Are you all right?”
Nora nodded, though her voice was tight. “We’re okay, mostly. Gideon’s injury got worse. He needs healing.”
Lauren hurried forward, kneeling beside Gideon. “Let me help.” Her Recovery Sigil glimmered across the wound. Gideon exhaled as the pain ebbed, color returning to his face.
Elijah looked past them to the giant gate. “Do we check if it’s really unlocked?”
Sandra exchanged a look with Gideon, then with Elijah. “We should. But carefully. Could be more surprises.”
Vince shuddered. “I’ve had enough ‘surprises’ for one day.”
A small scouting party formed: Elijah, Nora, Vince, Sandra—Gideon included himself but was overruled by both Lauren and Harold, who insisted he rest and let the Sigil’s healing finish its work. He finally relented, though clearly reluctant to sit out.
The four approached the gate, joined by a handful of able-bodied survivors armed with gnoll spears and hound claw-blades. The runes shimmered as Elijah neared. A faint pulse seemed to beckon them forward.
Reaching out, he ran his fingers over the stone. A ripple of light arced across the gate, and the heavy slabs parted, revealing a wide corridor leading out of the coliseum. Dim torchlight lined the passage. Some kind of ramp twisted downward, vanishing into darkness beyond.
Nora exhaled slowly. “Feels like we’re leaving the tutorial’s first stage.”
Sandra glanced over her shoulder at the battered group behind them—people lying in triage, those who could still fight, the traumatized who clung to hope that the nightmare would end. She looked back at Elijah. “We can’t leave them behind. We all go together, or not at all.”
Elijah nodded. “Agreed. We need to gather supplies, get the wounded stable, and head out carefully. If the next area’s anything like what we’ve seen so far, it won’t be a cakewalk.”
Sandra gestured to the passage. “Let’s at least check for immediate threats.”
Vince took a step inside, conjuring a small ball of crackling light to illuminate the darkness. It revealed smooth, ancient stone walls with swirling patterns echoing the rest of the coliseum’s design. Water dripped somewhere, creating a faint echo. No signs of lurking monsters—yet.
Sandra pulled back. “I say we regroup fully, gather the dead for any last rites, salvage what we can, then attempt to move. Maybe in half an hour?”
Elijah couldn’t help a tiny, grim smile. “We’re starting to sound like an actual expedition team.”
Nora didn’t smile. “Expedition implies we chose to be here.”
They returned to the main courtyard, where Gideon was now on his feet, testing his leg. He still favored it slightly, but the pain had eased. Lauren’s worried glance lingered until he confirmed he was fine. Harold and Brittany had done their part too, ensuring the severely wounded were as stabilized as possible. Of the 93 they’d started with after the second wave, no additional lives had been lost in that short interim, though a few hovered on the edge of consciousness.
Elijah took a deep breath, addressing the group. “We think the gate is open. The puzzle must’ve been the key. There’s no telling if or when another wave of monsters will come. I suggest we move before the System decides to throw more at us.”
Murmurs of uncertainty spread through the crowd. Some dreaded stepping into more unknown dangers. Others voiced relief at no longer being trapped. After a quick consensus, they agreed: better to press on.
Meanwhile, a solemn process began—saying goodbye to the dead. The bodies of colleagues who’d fallen to hellhounds or gnolls were gently laid in a corner. With limited time, they could only arrange a hasty memorial of sorts. Gideon bowed his head, face grim. Several others did the same. Soft sobs mingled with the hush.
Elijah felt a pang of guilt that the once-ordinary Monday had devolved into this. He wanted to assure them that everything would be okay, but he wasn’t sure that was true. Instead, he offered a moment of silence, wishing he could promise safety.
“Let’s not forget why we’re doing this,” Sandra eventually said, voice carrying gently. “We want to survive. For them, and for ourselves. So we can tell their families they fought bravely. And so we can prevent more loss.”
A subdued nod passed through the group. With that unspoken vow, the survivors gathered their meager belongings, secured the best weapons they could craft or salvage, and mustered any courage left.
Elijah and Gideon led from the front, supported by Sandra, Nora, and Vince. One by one, they filed through the towering gate, leaving the bloodstained coliseum behind. The corridor descended, torchlight revealing rough-hewn steps. A damp, mineral scent replaced the coppery tang of spilled blood.
They advanced in tense formation, Elijah’s bow drawn, Gideon’s spear glinting. Vince conjured a faint glow, revealing more swirling patterns on the walls, though these designs felt different—like half-formed shapes lacking definition. Nora’s wind magic fluttered around her ankles, ready to respond if something leapt out.
No immediate threat emerged. Instead, the corridor opened into a wide, cavernous space. Stalactites dripped water into shallow pools, and luminescent crystals jutted from rocky walls, casting soft light. It felt almost tranquil. Far off, another gateway loomed, carved with motifs of plants and animals.
The group paused, taking in the strange underground vista. Some let out sighs of relief. Others shifted anxiously, expecting hidden predators. Elijah stepped forward, crouching near a glowing crystal. He placed a hand on its surface, feeling a faint hum of energy. At the edge of his vision, Identify gave a simple readout: Low-Grade Luminescent Crystal.
A quiet voice from behind startled him: “Should we gather them? They might be valuable.” It was Misha, the coworker whose arm had been sliced. She looked weak but mobile.
Elijah nodded slowly. “Might be worth trying once we know it’s safe.”
Sandra scanned the space. “We should find a defensible position. Somewhere we can camp, rest, figure out our next move.”
Gideon gripped his spear. “Agreed. Let’s see if we can spot a place that’s not too exposed.” His expression was stern yet calmer. He seemed more at ease with a structured plan.
Nora brushed a hand over the crystal-lit wall, thoughtful. “Feels like we’re in the ‘next level’ of this tutorial. If it’s anything like the coliseum, we’ll have challenges to overcome.”
A hush settled over them. Indeed, the System had said this was a survival scenario with unknown stages. And if they wanted to keep pushing forward—toward either an exit or deeper integration—they had no choice but to press on.
Standing at the threshold of this subterranean expanse, Elijah couldn’t help feeling a glimmer of hope through the fatigue. They’d banded together, found synergy in dire battles, and unlocked a new path. As horrifying as it was, they were learning, adapting, and somehow staying alive.
He closed his eyes for a brief moment, remembering the mosaic of faces left behind. Friends, colleagues, and total strangers, forced to rely on each other under mortal threat. That synergy they’d built in the puzzle test—he suspected it would be crucial in the trials ahead.
“All right,” Elijah murmured, opening his eyes and gripping his bow tighter. “Let’s find a safe spot to regroup. Then we plan how to tackle whatever else is waiting for us.”
The quiet shuffle of footsteps followed as the survivors ventured deeper, crystals reflecting in anxious eyes. And so began the next phase of their harrowing journey under the System’s watchful domain—where every step forward might unveil monstrous foes, hidden puzzles, or a promise of the elusive power needed to protect each other, no matter what nightmares lay ahead.