The next room turned out to be the outside. He found himself on the top of a staircase leading to open grassland. The sun shone brightly above and when he looked up, he could see he stood at the bottom of a tower. A tower made of gray stone reaching into the sky and beyond. It seemed to have no ending.
But all of this was subtly wrong. The landscape was flat and the grassland didn't even have wind, everything was quiet and every blade of grass was the same. Slowly he walked down the stairs. Feeling vulnerable being naked.
What exactly was he being tested on?
The grass looked real, felt real under his feet, but otherwise he could see nothing but flat expanse all the way to the horizon.
"This is an illusion." he said. It was obvious and badly done. This looked more like something out of a computer program.
Maybe that was it, maybe he was in the Matrix or something?
But apparently his words were some queue as suddenly a light flashed a few dozen meters in front of him and a rabbit literally "spawned" out of nowhere.
A flash of light and viola, a bunny was born.
Magic.
"Now what?" he murmured, his eyes trained on the creature, while taking in his surroundings.
The bunny looked around, spotted him and its eyes turned red. With huge jumps it charged towards Aaron.
It squeaked and jumped at his face, but Aaron was always ready.
He caught the bundle of white fur with both hands easily.
Aaron stared into the bunnies face, sharp teeth snarled and snapped at him, its haunches scraping at his arms.
"Fucking killer bunny?" He said, but its claws hurt and Aaron had no patience for this.
He would not be stopped by a bloody bunny. He grabbed the things neck and broke it with an audible crunch.
Then he slammed it into the ground and stomped on its head for good measure.
The bunny broke into light and dissipated. Just turning into motes of light.
Okay, more points to this being a video game.
"Victory, Choose your reward." an ethereal female voice said.
When Aaron looked up, he could see a floating ball of light had come from out of nowhere and it displayed 3 options in front of him. The choices were suspended at chest height in floating bubbles of light.
Leather clothes on the left, they looked crude and the purple leather it was made out of was like nothing he had ever seen before. Food and Water in the Middle, at least he guessed it was that. The food looked like something similar to hardtack with a waterskin? Problem was the hardtack was purple as well. He really hoped that was not a trend.
The last option apparently was a knife. A gleaming silver thorn with wicked jagged edges.
"The knife." he said.
"You have to grab it to claim your reward." the female voice said with mirth.
Aaron blinked.
"Are you a robot as well? Like Golem?" he asked, while carefully grabbing the knife out of the light bubble.
As soon as his hands had grabbed the Knife all bubbles popped and the other two options vanished into thin air.
"No" the voice said in disgust. "I am a spirit and should you prevail in your tests, I will answer your questions.
Good luck."
Then the ball of light vanished as miraculously as it had come.
It, she, was replaced with a flash of light.
A small dog stared at him, growling and snarling, showing him its teeth. Aaron had never had a pet, but this dog looked almost too cute. Sadly it was obvious what was required here.
'This is not real, its the Hall of Illusions remember.' He tried to tell himself while he grabbed the knife.
It was as long as a combat knife, sharp and with wicked jagged edges.
"Sorry doggo." he said as he crouched slightly, bend his knees and waited for the dog to attack.
The mutt jumped him and it was quite a bit faster and stronger than the rabbit. But he was armed this time and stabbed the dog in the chest without hesitation. With a sharp cut he found the yelping dogs heart and it too burst into motes of light.
Once again it was replaced by the light ball that floated in front of him.
"Victory, Choose your reward." it said once more.
"You sure you are no robot?" he said with a smirk and looked at his options. They were pretty much the same. Clothes, a bit sturdier looking this time. Food and drink, a bit more palatable looking as well and a short sword, or gladius? He could not tell.
Without hesitation he chose the leather clothes when the female "Spirit" as she called herself did not answer.
Quickly Aaron put on the leather clothes, when they fell out of the sky. He hurried up in case another monster would spawn immediately.
The clothes fit him perfectly and at least he was not naked anymore. Yay, progress.
The leather was a bit scratchy, but he would survive it and it was better than wearing nothing. Hell it would probably be good enough to face off against a knife, as thick and hard as the leather was.
Another flash and a big dog, maybe even a wolf stared at Aaron.
Yeah, this was some sort of combat test, where his own choices and ability would determine his score.
It was a game world after all. The Matrix had Aaron, no doubt in his mind as he locked eyes with the canine.
It had sharp teeth and he really did not want to get between them, even in his new shiny leather armor.
"What the fuck is this shit, animal death match?" he grumbled, but did not lose concentration.
The wolfs ears leaned back and its snarl was louder before it circled Aaron and then jumped.
Aaron ducked smoothly, lashing out with his dagger and scored a hit in its side.
The wolf was too big to just catch it and kill it instantly. Well, he could do it, but not without the beast having a chance to eat his face and he wanted to avoid that if possible, even if this was all just an illusion or game.
The beast was bleeding now, but the cut to its side was shallow. It backed off a bit and circled him, then ran around and jumped him once more. But Aaron kept it in his sight and stepped out of the way.
He kicked the wolf with his new leather boots in the face and then charged and sank his wicked blade into its chest.
The beast snarled and snapped at him, but was too dazed too find more than the leather of one of his arm protectors.
Aaron sliced through the beasts flesh with all his might, pushing it to the ground until it too burst into motes of light.
Breathing heavily and slightly giddy from adrenaline he sat down in the grass, which was now splattered with blood, just like his clothes.
"Victory, Choose your reward." the female voice said once again.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
But he ignored it and caught his breath.
"What good is food if I don't have the time to eat it." he growled and stared at what looked like ham sandwiches.
"You have 10 minutes to choose a reward." the female voice said.
"Great, so I have to win another fight to just eat? Can you give me a timer or something, or is the Matrix not capable of such a feat?"
The female voice snorted cutely and a timer appeared above the rewards.
"Ah, there we go, honey. Thank you."
"Rude human." the spirit said.
Aaron sat there until there were only 30 seconds left and grabbed the sandwiches out of the air. He placed them and the paper bag they came from behind him and stepped forward, ready for another fight.
The next beast was a wildcat. A big thing, maybe a puma? It was vicious and it left quite a few claw marks on Aaron before he managed to kill it.
He started to tire while he ate his sandwiches, trying not to touch them with his bloody hands as he did so.
The rewards this time were a spear, armor which looked like an ancient breastplate and roasted meat of some kind.
Idly he drank from the water skin and wondered how he was even tired, thirsty and hungry if this all was an illusion.
But when he asked the spirit did not answer with anything more than a "Hmph."
He chose the spear, even though he had 0 experience with it and looked towards his next opponent.
It was a small humanoid? With green skin and crooked yellow teeth and yellow eyes. It was armed with a toothpick of a dagger, but it looked at Aaron with malice and cunning.
"A goblin?" he asked nobody in particular and leveled the spear at the thing.
He inched closer and stabbed at the green thing. But it easily dodged and snarled at him in amusement over his clumsy attempts. It even jumped on top of the spear with all its weight, trying to snap it in half.
Quickly he withdrew the spear, scowling and stabbing once again.
But the goblin was way too agile and evaded easily.
Aaron had expected this and let the spear fall to the ground while he drew his dagger.
When the goblin was in range he jabbed it with the glinting blade, but it evaded easily. Oh this one would be a challenge.
Aaron was forced to dodge the toothpick of a dagger himself and they danced around each other.
Aaron was really glad he had some training with knifes and a bit experience stabbing people as well.
The goblin snarled and jabbed. But Aaron had the bigger range and it had to dodge more often than not.
With one step he inched closer to the goblin, a quick jab with the knife got it to duck and he followed up with a quick leg kick.
It caught the tiny goblin in the chest. Aaron stepped in afterwards, his gleaming dagger coming down. But the goblin evaded again, desperately trying to stick his dagger into Aaron to make him back off.
With a quick move he grabbed the things arm and raised the humanoid off its feet.
Then he gutted it like the animal it was.
The goblin spluttered and snarled as its green blood splattered against Aaron’s armor. Its yellow eyes widening in panic as it died and burst into motes of light once again.
Aaron breathed deeply and tried to banish the panicked, painful expression from the goblin out of his mind.
This was no different than anyone else he had killed. In a sense this test was perfect for him. Killing was his specialty after all.
With a deep breath he centered himself and banished the goblins pain into the void.
He chose the armor as reward this time, gleaming metal arm and leg protectors that he could use as offensive weapons as well. Still he waited the ten minutes, calming his breath for the next fight.
The next beast was some sort of dog goblin? He forgot what it was called. It was stronger and bigger than the goblin, but not as fast and died even quicker than its cousin before it.
Aaron had no remorse anymore for these creatures. It was obviously they or him and he would always choose himself.
It wasn't that he liked life, or this new reality. But anything was better than the pain of dying.
That much he remembered.
He did not see a reason to switch weapons and picked another armor piece, a metal chest plate that was easily strapped over his leather chest. Wearing this ancient armor made him feel strange. Like a Knight or something.
He was always on the lookout for some ranged weapons, but all he had seen were some throwing knifes and he had no experience with those.
When the light flashed the next time, Aaron froze.
Because his next enemy was human, like him.
The man was tall, blonde and handsome. He wore cobbled together armor pieces like Aaron did and was armed with a sword.
But the man was clearly injured, he was holding his left side and red blood had soaked the pants at his left leg as well.
"Seriously? PvP?" Aaron said and leveled his spear at the man.
The blonde man was equally surprised and raised his sword.
"Hello there stranger, might I inquire for your assistance?" he said in something that almost sounded British?
"I warn you, I am a knight of Seroxa and no easy foe."
Aaron shrugged, but did not lower his spear.
"I don't even know if all of this is real, so why should I not kill you?"
"A Hall of Illusions indeed. Such wicked sorcery deserves to be banished."
"Hey wait, you know something about all of this?"
The mans eyes narrowed and he looked at him in suspicion.
"You do not know the Tower of Emnu? Where are you from?"
Aaron blinked, his frown deepening.
"I am from Earth, where are you from?"
"Asperia. I know of no place that would call itself dirt. Your people must be primitive and uneducated if you do not know the Tower. Alas it is a curse to be chosen, few ever escape the fiends clutches. But I will not be hindered by the likes of you." The man said and walked closer to Aaron with a confident gait.
"Yeah, figures I have to kill you." Aaron said with a shrug and threw his spear at the man.
The knight was surprised by the quick action and barely dodged with his injured leg. It was injured, to confirm that was the purpose of the spear in the first place. Drawing his dagger Aaron charged at the man.
The sword lashed out, but Aaron just stopped before he was in reach and kicked the man in the shins after the blade had passed. The knight yelped and stumbled, having to put his weight on his injured leg.
Aaron did not hesitate and charged, grabbing the mans sword arm, pushing it away while he slit the knights throat.
It was a quick and easy cut, but deep enough to cut the artery, like he had done quite a few times before.
The Knight gasped wide eyed, blood flooding out of the mans throat.
With desperate energy he tried to stab Aaron with his sword, but he kept his sword arm at bay and just stabbed him again, the blade piercing the throat almost until it came out on the other side.
The knight fell to his knees and then sagged to the ground. He was dead. No doubt.
His eyes were glassy, but unlike everyone else he did not disappear or burst into motes of light.
"Victory, Choose your reward yourself." the female voice said formally.
Aaron looked at the floating light displaying a timer only this time. 15 minutes.
"So what, you want me to loot this man? How much can I take?"
"To the victor the spoils. You may take everything or nothing." she said evenly.
"Hmmm, well sorry if I displeased you, little spirit. But better him than me."
"A lowly creature such as you could never displease or please me." the female voice said haughtily.
"Sure that’s why you have been pouting the entire time."
"Hmph." was the only answer and Aaron grinned at the light, before he searched the mans body.
But he had nothing on him besides a water skin with what tasted like wine, making it a wine skin? And his weapon and armor.
He upgraded his own armor a bit, but few things were useful. The only thing really was a chain-mail shirt and a better belt.
Aaron sighed when he was done.
How long had he been here? Only a few hours right? But it felt much, much longer.
"How many tests are there?" he asked wearily.
"As many as you can withstand." the female voice said with some glee.
"Great." Aaron said and sat down.
This was all pure madness. He was going crazy, or maybe it was this new world that was crazy. He did not know.
For a few long minutes he just sat there, with his eyes closed before he got up again and drew the sword he had taken from the knight.
"Oh well lets get this over with."
He fought one enemy after the other, most humanoid now. Most of them armed or with some special abilities. One could send weak fireballs, something he was very, very jealous of. Another female squid thing could send ice shards from her tentacles at him. They were surprisingly homing and definitively magical.
Aaron was exhausted, but he overcame them one after another. The food was slowly replaced by medicines and potions that kept him alive, rested and full of energy, while he upgraded or switched armors.
The decision to take the first thing that looked like a health potion saved his life almost instantly and Aaron stared in baffled surprise as his injuries faded when he drank the potion.
Sadly no firearms were given as choice and all he got in the end was a better dagger, something that was enchanted?
Because this long gleaming length of steel left behind burning wounds and pierced armor easily.
Every victory was harder to achieve than the last and some fights took ages. Aaron was wounded and healed over and over again using the magical potions he got as rewards. It was all mad and he simply let loose.
He killed and killed and killed.
He lost himself in the game, the simple choices, the pain, the fighting and the feeling of killing an enemy that wanted you dead. It was exhilarating. But the longer the fights took, the more difficult and challenging they became, the less room for error there was.
Aaron’s supply of potions dwindled especially against the magic wielding enemies, or those with ranged capabilities.
He was still confident until a far bigger flash appeared and he looked up at the giant werewolf in front of him.
It was more than 3 meters tall, its wolf head snarling. Red eyes flashed with malice and intelligence, its fur was dark and its claws sharp like swords. It stood on its back legs and sniffed the air once before it snarled at him.
Aaron could not help himself and despaired.
The thing was twice his size and had wicked sharp claws. Its range was insane, even farther than his spear and it snapped every blade that he tried to block with in half.
The wounds his enchanted sword or dagger could inflict on its tough hide were healed in seconds as the beast claws, snapped and bit at him.
"How is this fair." he cried just before the beast crunched down on his arm, severing it.
With terror and unbelievable pain he watched the beast eat his arm, while a giant paw pinned him to the ground.
Then the beast bit his head off.