Ged teleported into a purple room no bigger than the size of a living room.
The walls were slightly translucent, hiding an infinite black void.
He stood in a daze, excited by the magical abilities his 'senior brother' had performed.
"Will I be able to perform similar superhuman abilities?" he wondered.
His train of thought was cut off by the sound of a droning bell that rang throughout the room.
"The first of your three trials will now begin. Follow the instructions on the clay tablet to proceed to the next trial," a voice echoed in his ears.
A clay tablet appeared out of nowhere, floating in the center of the room.
Following the voice's instructions, Ged approached the tablet to study the words carved into it.
As Ged moved closer to study the text, another voice spoke to him in his mind.
"Within this room is the entrance to a false reality known as the Hallway of Demonic Ambition. Reaching the end of the hallway will be your first trial."
"Those who wish to climb mountains must always keep their attention in front of them, never looking up, never looking down. What treads below does not exist, and what treads above will eventually consume you."
"Those with great ambition shall wander the Hallway of Demonic Ambition, never reaching its end, their souls ripped apart by the demons lurking within."
"To successfully reach the exit, one must travel the hallway neither too fast nor too slow. One must find their pace and maintain it the entire way through."
"Lastly, once one decides to enter the hallway, they cannot leave unless they reach the end."
"Choose your path wisely."
Ged learned from the tablet about something called a 'mnemonic.' It explained that by visualizing the inscribed images and mentally reciting them in the intended order, the mnemonic's effect would manifest in reality.
The tablet contained two sets of mnemonics: the first opened a gate to the Hallway of Demonic Ambition, while the second led to the entrance of the church.
Ged considered the requirements of the trial. He had never been one to harbor grand dreams or ambitious thoughts; his only ambition was to make his parents proud.
Without another moment's hesitation, he recited the first mnemonic in his mind.
A familiar black, watery doorway appeared in front of Ged.
Without another thought, he stepped through.
Ged walked out into an infinite black void, not daring to look around. Facing forward, he put one foot in front of the other, taking a single step at a time.
After 10 steps, Ged felt something strange happening to his body. Invisible hands seemed to reach out and steal pieces of his body.
He felt a strange chill as his left leg vanished from his body. There was no blood; his leg was just gone, replaced by a translucent limb that looked more like spirit than flesh.
He didn't dare look down to see what had happened. Despite his left leg becoming weightless, he found he could still move forward. Struggling to maintain his balance, he pressed on with the missing limb.
Clearing his mind and adjusting to the new weight difference, he just barely managed to keep his pace.
20 steps in, the hands had now taken both his feet and hands; only his torso and head were remaining.
The Hallway of Demonic Ambition was eerily quiet, the only sound being the beating of his own heart. He used this rhythm to keep time with his walking pace.
This changed, however, as the invisible hands reached out and grabbed another part of his body.
Holes appeared on the sides of his head, as the hands stole the ears off his head.
With his newfound soul ears, the sound of his heartbeat vanished, replaced by the relaxing sounds of nature. Ged heard birds chirping, the running water of a small stream, and the wind rustling through the trees. These noises calmed him, making it feel as if he were hiking on a nature path.
In the absence of his heartbeat, the relaxing sounds almost caused his stride to falter. Forcing his mind to regain focus, he blocked out the sounds of nature and steadied his steps once more.
Ged was now 30 steps in, and his entire physical body was stolen away by the invisible hands. The only thing left was a floating pair of eyes.
But soon even his eyes were stolen. Ged was now a bare soul, he found his steps much easier to keep his stride.
No longer seeing the black void, he perceived his surroundings with his soul eyes, finding himself walking through a smoky gray fog.
In that gray fog he saw something that surprised him.
He saw himself.
From his soul's eyes, he saw himself walking into the foggy gray void. At first, he observed himself from the side, watching each muscle work to move his feet forward. Over time, this perspective shifted, and he saw himself from the front, the back, and the opposite side, viewing his body from every possible angle.
Every step brought a hundred new perspectives of himself, creating an incredibly dizzying sensation in Ged's mind. As each new perspective appeared, he struggled to keep moving forward. This proved extremely difficult as the concept of 'straight ahead' constantly shifted.
But by steadying his mind, he just barely managed.
Soon, he reached the 40th step. His perspective broadened, and he now viewed himself from a greater distance.
From this vantage point, he could now glimpse the owners of the invisible hands.
Ten tall, translucent figures, half their faces missing, were tearing apart Ged's various limbs. Using their sharp, nimble fingers, they ground his flesh and bones into the smallest components.
Initially horrified, Ged conjured images of green, grassy hills to calm himself. However, by the 45th step, he grew accustomed to the violent scene, and now different feelings came to mind when he saw the scene.
A temptation arose, urging him to join in, as if ripping apart bodies were an enjoyable, enthralling pastime.
Ged dismissed these thoughts, however, focusing on his parents' expectations, and pressed forward.
On the 49th step, Ged felt his foot touch something different.
The familiar sensation of thick, black water surrounded him as Ged finally walked out of the Hallway of Demonic Ambition.
Ged now found himself in a translucent cube of yellow, a familiar floating clay tablet lay in front of him.
Relief washed over him as he felt up his body to check that it had fully returned. He gave out a long sigh of success, the trial of the Hallway of Demonic Ambition was now behind him.
After a moment's rest, Ged approached the stone tablet to read what was inscribed within it for the next room.
A similar archaic voice played in his head.
"Within this room is the entrance to the second of three trials."
"It is known as the Trial of Life and Death," the voice boomed.
"Those who climb mountains must not fear death. The mountain is indifferent to notions of justice; when and how a person meets their end is beyond their control."
"A disciple of the Church must abandon their desires for life and accept their death. Whether you live or die should not influence how one ascends the slope of the great Mountain."
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
"To those who still cling to their lives and cannot accept death, proceed no further."
"How can they test our acceptance of death?" Ged pondered to himself. The previous hallway had left a profound impact on him, and he began to consider how the next trial might function.
"Can this church... can they simulate our deaths in a manner similar to the first trial?"
A strange thrill coursed through him at the thought of experiencing death.
"This place is incredible! With their magic, and influence, what an absolute blessing to be accepted as a disciple."
Without further hesitation, he recited the mnemonic to enter the second trial, opening the thick, black water portal, which Ged eagerly stepped through.
Ged emerged into a vast, golden ballroom teeming with disciples. Tens of thousands of teenagers, some just as bewildered as him, filled the space. Others, likely there for a while already, chatted freely amongst themselves. A raised platform stood tall on the far end, ensuring an unobstructed view for the entire crowd.
Ged took in the giant room. He tried to walk around, but an invisible force stopped him, confining him to a small box just an arm's length wide.
As more disciples teleported in, filling the empty spaces, Ged realized they were all trapped in similar invisible boxes.
He scanned the faces around him, searching for a familiar one, but with so many people and such limited movement, it felt like a hopeless task.
Some time passed and several rows in front of him a person with blonde hair teleported in. Ged recognized this short golden hair—it was Polka! Relief washed over Ged. He cupped his hands around his mouth and called out, his voice echoing out through the vast ballroom.
"Polka!"
He yelled for a minute straight, but Polka didn't seem to notice him. After some time his shouts started to draw irritated glances from some of his neighbors.
Finally, a shaved-headed neighbor, who until moments ago had been meditating with his eyes closed, snapped. He glared at Ged, his eyes burning with annoyance.
"For the mountain's sake, can you quiet down? How am I supposed to relax with you screaming next to my ear!" A few others around him muttered in agreement, clearly fed up with Ged's persistent calls.
"I'm just trying to get my friend's attention," Ged replied, oblivious to the growing tension. He ignored the irritated looks of his neighbors, continuing to wave and yell towards Polka's direction.
Thirty seconds crawled by, filled only by Ged's shouts and the growing restlessness of his neighbor.
"This is unbearable!" The shaved-headed neighbor exploded, his voice tight with anger. "If this is truly the Hallway of Death, why can't someone be allowed to go and kill this man?"
A ripple of agreement came from his neighbors.
Ged didn't respond immediately to the man's words, instead continuing to yell Polka's name.
Seeing that Ged still didn't acknowledge his frustrations, the shaved head boy's face contorted in frustration. "You're so lucky we are separated by this invisible wall."
"You think I wouldn't kill you?" The shaved boy gave a deep look at Ged, veins of frustration visible on his face.
"No." Ged replied flatly.
"No?" The shaved headed boy laughed.
"You think I haven't killed someone before?" An evil smile appeared on his face.
Ged heard the violent words from the boy in front of him, the green grassy hills flooded his mind. In an instant the provocation vanished and the boy was viewed differently within Ged's mind. When Ged looked at the boy he didn't see the seething rage that he displayed; instead he saw a kind and peaceful monk, who was seated in the lotus position with his hands in the 'ohm' position.
"Why would such a peaceful and kind looking person want to kill someone? I think you are lying to me." Ged spoke unconvinced of the boy's violent intentions.
A bizarre look flickered across the boy's face. Peaceful? Kind? He couldn't tell what was going on in Ged's brain. He looked at Ged dumbfounded by the words he was saying.
"Are you dumb? You'll see what this kind—" The boy's threat was cut short as Polka, finally spotting Ged, erupted in a flurry of waves and excited shouts.
"Polka!" Ged's voice echoed much louder than before. Waving his arms in response to Polka's shouts.
The shaved headed boy tried to further provoke Ged with insults, but his words fell on deaf ears.
Ged and Polka then had a conversation of gestures.
"Are you alright?" Ged asked Polka using a series of hand gestures.
Polka responded with her own hand gestures. "Yes, I'm fine."
She then pointed to the right of her.
Ged squinted to see what she was pointing at, but further down he saw the familiar portly shape of Pim.
He breathed a sigh of relief, giving the double thumbs up and a smile to Polka.
After a short conversation of hand gesturing, Polka and Ged got tired of communicating.
Polka had turned her attention to her neighbors, and Ged was now no longer standing, seated down cross legged like his neighbors.
"Praise Mount Existence. He stopped," said one of Ged's neighbors as he let out a sigh of relief.
The shaved-headed boy had given up on his insults. Though he still cast threatening glances from time to time, he eventually ignored Ged and closed his eyes to relax.
Finally, the last disciple teleported into the room, and the stage in the front lit up while a droning bell rang through the ballroom.
A black ocean door appeared on stage as a group of seven people with cloth covering their faces arrived. Six of them sported the similar red robes of the senior disciples who Ged met at the church entrance, while the person in the front wore a sleeveless t-shirt and pink shorts.
The disciples grew quiet in the presence of the people on the stage.
The man in front had a frame of rippling muscles, he appeared much larger than the red robed disciples near him.
"The holy Mahavadha enters to address the new disciples," one of the six red-robed individuals spoke out, while the other five bowed their heads in respect to the man before them.
"Please greet the Mahavadha and pay your respects," the red-robed man continued, addressing the crowd of disciples in front of him.
"Welcome, Mahavadha," the disciples responded in unison, bowing their heads in a similar fashion.
With a swift motion of his arm, the Mahavadha's veil vanished, revealing his face to the audience. He had wizened features, with silky white hair and a long beard, and his figure emanated an overpowering sense of authority and power.
"Well done in passing through the Hallway of Demonic Ambition." The Mahavadha void boomed, his voice echoing throughout the ears of all who were present.
"I will be overseeing your next trial."
"Let me emphasize again that this is the trial of life and death."
"If you do not want to die today, I will give you an opportunity to leave."
He paused momentarily, and the second mnemonic appeared in front of all the disciples, allowing them to escape to the church entrance.
"In the eyes of the mountain, we are but lambs to slaughter, like a lamb at the mercy of a wolf. We are at the mercy of the great and all-encompassing Mount Existence."
"One must understand that death is just one of the many guarantees of life; it is not something we can run away from, only delay until eventuality."
"Most people cling to their lives as precious, fearing that one day the hand of death will send them to an early grave. These individuals are blind to the truth: the difference between dying today and dying tomorrow is akin to comparing the sizes of two tiny grains of sand."
"Living or dying—it truly isn't a matter worth pondering." The Mahavadha shrugged, as if what he was saying were a simple truth everyone should have long understood.
"To those who do not understand what I am saying, today I will help you grasp this concept, and in place of the holy Mountain I will take the place as your slaughterer"
The Mahavadha's voice carried a cold, callous weight as he concluded his address, chilling the bones of many disciples who heard it.
Ged sucked in a deep breath, his mind spinning in a frenzy as he began to comprehend the Mahavadha's cruel words.
Those already wavering about the trial were quick to leave, reciting the second mnemonic. Sending hundreds in droves to the entrance, many no longer wanting to involve themselves with the antics of this bizarre and terrifying church.
Those who stayed behind fell into three groups. The first group didn't fully grasp the heartless nature of the Mahavadha's speech; they held mocking and derisive expressions, unconvinced of the seriousness of his words. The second group consisted of individuals with egos the size of galaxies, convinced their destinies were too significant to consider the possibility of dying. The third group, the most scarce of all, accepted his words as truth, awaiting their fate quietly and without reservation.
Three nearby disciples belonging to Ged's first group began to discuss the Mahavadha's words after the initial shock of the address wore off.
"Take the place as our slaughterer?" One mocked, chuckling to himself.
"Did he just imply that he plans to slaughter every person in this room? Absolute nonsense! I don't believe it," a second smugly chimed in, shaking his head. "If this church spends every fifty years massacring its disciples, surely someone would have leaked such a thing to the public."
"Yeah, don't we need our lives to work as disciples? Something clearly doesn't add up here," a third retorted.
"You see, this is all just part of their test, similar to that strange first hallway," the first one added. "I've heard of other religions doing something similar; these kinds of threats usually end up being tests of faith, not anything too serious."
The other two nodded in agreement.
Seeing that the vast majority of the disciples remained in their spots, the Mahavadha raised an incredulous eyebrow and let out a soft sigh.
He gestured to one of the red-robed members on stage, who was holding two ornate swords. One of the swords floated gently toward him.
With the sword in hand, he took a step forward, somehow appearing in front of one of the disciples at the front of the crowd. Picking him up by the arm, he took another step and returned to the stage.
As he moved, chatter erupted in the crowd, but the Mahavadha raised his hand, silencing their murmurs. Once there was sufficient silence, he posed a question to the disciple he had brought on stage, loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Have you accepted your death?"
The disciple's face tensed with nervousness. Standing before tens of thousands of onlookers and sharing the stage with the domineering Mahavadha, he found it difficult to respond immediately. The Mahavadha waited patiently, not rushing him, as silence washed over the crowd in anticipation.
"Y-Yes, Mahavadha," the disciple stammered, uncertainty creeping into his voice. It was clear he wasn't sure of his own answer.
"Good. Stretch out your neck for me," the Mahavadha responded nonchalantly, unsheathing his ornate sword. He polished the blade with his hand, causing it to shimmer under the bright lights that illuminated the golden ballroom.
The disciple's eyes widened at the sight of the sword, a chill running through him. His instincts screamed for him to flee, but he was frozen in place, unable to move. His gaze locked onto the Mahavadha's expectant eyes, and, with great reluctance, he bowed his head slightly in compliance.
Unsatisfied with the angle, the Mahavadha gently placed a hand on the back of the disciple's neck, pushing him down, bending him at the waist until he was perpendicular to the floor.
Without a word, the Mahavadha raised the sword high above his head and brought it down with a swift, precise motion.
The blade made no sound, yet the disciple's head fell cleanly, his lifeless body crumpling onto the stage. His death was instant.
The crowd fell into stunned silence, their eyes wide with disbelief and horror as they stared at the corpse lying at the Mahavadha's feet.
He repeated his opening words to the crowd.
"I will once again emphasize that this is the trial of life and death."
"I will give you one final opportunity to leave."
"If you don't want to die, I suggest you take it."
"From here on, there will be no further mercy."
He glared at the crowd, his expression akin to that of an arbiter of death, his sword shimmering with a golden-blue glow, unmarred by a single drop of blood.