Days passed slowly and painfully, as more champions arrived to face the daunting path of chains. Like those who came before them, many observed the destruction from the safety of the zone. Those foolish enough to consider themselves special were quickly met with the harsh realities of their situation.

Most champions had mentally resigned themselves to the belief that the task was insurmountable. Some lazily crouched in position while others stared blankly into space as the surrounding monstrosities wreaked havoc. Though their bodies endured constant battering and bruising, and their minds were repeatedly repaired, they had long abandoned hope of survival. To the watching champions, they resembled little more than living corpses.

“I've surpassed two thousand deaths now,” Orion bellowed triumphantly, arms akimbo, head raised toward the skies.

At that exact moment, a spike descended upon the mage, impaling him through his open mouth. The mage swiftly revived and let out another roar, “It's two thousand and one deaths now!” he bellowed, laughing recklessly.

Another spike descended, but the mage casually sidestepped the menacing projectile. He turned to his right, staring at Fi-Fi, who had transformed into a gigantic form matching the titan's size. Covered in a variety of flaming and toxic debris, the slime unleashed a barrage of attacks at the colossus, but the titan easily dodged the onslaught before delivering a devastating blow. Half of Fi-Fi's form exploded into a slurry mess, sending shockwaves rippling across the slime's body.

Struggling to reconstruct its form, Fi-Fi found itself under attack by several miniature titans chipping away at its legs. The titan, meanwhile, approached the slime with powerful strides before delivering another forceful punch. Instantly, waxy rain fell over certain areas of the maze, and the titan shifted its gaze toward another region.

Orion chuckled softly, shaking his head. “I would have loved to study Fi-Fi closely, but alas, that's not possible. What a shame,” he muttered, deftly dodging a series of spikes in quick succession.

Turning his attention elsewhere, a wry smile danced on his lips as he watched Lysa and her companions. Massive bat-like wings extended from the vampire’s back as she actively fed on the harpies and Daphine, while warding off wave after wave of attacks. The women, serving as blood banks, swayed mindlessly to the whims of the bloodthirsty champion. Despite meeting violent ends from time to time, neither of the trio let out a whimper, living and dying as mindless dolls.

Orion averted his gaze from the scene, focusing on Zara instead. “How could someone like her be considered insignificant in other timelines?” he muttered to himself, doubt clouding his eyes.

Among the myriad champions he had observed in the second layer, Zara had one of the fiercest characters and the sturdiest wills he had encountered. Injuries, no matter how gruesome, didn’t faze the feline as she ruthlessly massacred everything within her surroundings. Unlike a berserker who acted without much thought, Zara's attacks were premeditated and equally brutal, often dispatching multiple foes with one precise but devastating strike.

“Perhaps she's different because of her encounter with him,” Orion mused as he lazily dodged another set of spikes.

“Talking about different,” the mage muttered, turning to Slim. The necromancer bore tiny, blackened spots scattered across his bones, and an ominous black mist swirled within his empty eye sockets. Unlike most champions, the necromancer mindlessly roamed around, mumbling inaudible words. The skeleton met its demise constantly at the hands of several monsters, neither fighting back nor evading their assault. However, with each subsequent death, a new spot would appear on Slim’s pale bones.

“Who would have thought I’d get to see something this incredible in this place?" Orion muttered, grinning from ear to ear. “If I had a choice, I’d love to stay here for decades. This is the best environment to test the limits of mind and body.” He suddenly paused, turning toward his right. Every champion within that area had been obliterated by the titan.

“I wonder how he’s holding up in the nihilistic zone?” Orion chuckled as his thoughts wandered. “I’m glad I found him. I’m thoroughly going to enjoy every moment of this,” the mage muttered.

The surrounding spikes suddenly trembled, and the mage’s smile brightened even more. “Thirty seconds is the current level of our progress. How much more can we grow?” he pondered.

An explosion followed, and tremors rocked the entirety of the maze. Most champions willingly allowed themselves to be consumed within the blast instead of suffering from the chaotic aftermath.

Meanwhile, within the nihilistic zone, Scott continued to persevere within the nothingness. He had long forgotten concepts such as sensation, time, sanity, and desires. Like everything else, his memories failed him, devoured by the all-consuming emptiness, leaving only his burning will to survive untainted.

“I’m not going to die here. I’m not going to die here. I’m not going to die here…” Scott's mantra echoed within him, a whispered defiance against the consuming silence of the empty expanse. In the nothingness where even echoes vanished, he clung to his sense of self, refusing to surrender it.

As days turned into months since the trial's inception, the number of spectators had swelled to an outrageous number. The maze itself had expanded multiple times to accommodate the influx, its pathways shifting and twisting to welcome new arrivals. Converging areas before the stairs allowed champions, once invisible to each other, to intersect now easily.

What was once a barren expanse had transformed into a makeshift town, its structures crafted from stone and mud. Though resources were scant, the champions felt neither hunger nor fatigue, bound by the peculiar laws of the area. In this realm where death was impossible, disputes remained unresolved, for battles could only continue endlessly, devoid of victors.

Ninety-nine percent of newcomers opted to linger in the nameless town, seeking clues or strategies to conquer the trial. The activation of the system’s window only upon the descent of all group members added to their confusion regarding the trial's specifics.

Occasionally, bold groups arrived, brimming with confidence in their superiority over the suffering champions. While they acknowledged the titan's strength, they believed their arsenal was sufficient to triumph where others had faltered.

Unsurprisingly, the inhabitants of the town made no effort to dissuade these ambitious groups. They watched in silence as the newcomers descended into the depths, knowing all too well that despair and regret would inevitably follow.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

On a particular day, several groups arrived at the second layer, their confusion palpable. The environment starkly contrasted with their expectations, especially following the solitude of the first layer. Soon, thunderous roars and explosions reverberated through the air, accompanied by muffled screams and chilling echoes of rattling chains.

Several champions who had been residing in the town for months stepped forward to brief the newcomers about their situation. They outlined the effects in the area while explaining the responsibilities of each group.

“So, that’s the gist of it,” a champion said before gesturing towards the stairs. “I wouldn’t recommend venturing down there, but you’re free to make your own choices.”

The champion's expression shifted to a sly grin as he pointed out a slightly crowded structure a few meters away. “If you're up for some entertainment, you can place bets on who you think would last the longest at any given time. Just remember, the only currency accepted here is elemental shards. So, be...”

He suddenly paused, his features contorting in horror.

A canine approached the staircase. The champion cleared his throat and called out to them, “You might want to reconsider that,” he cautioned.

The canine halted in its tracks, turning towards the orc. The orc instinctively took a step back as he met the canine’s bloodthirsty gaze. Yet, what truly unnerved him was the glistening golden light emanating from the canine's right eye.

If any member of the original hound extermination crew had been present, they would have instantly recognized the canine. While known as the hero of Nuta, his infamy as the dreaded Varkham Hound was even more notorious.

Thmaz redirected his attention towards his party members. “Wait here,” he instructed. “I'll be back. I've finally found them.”

“Um, Sir Thmaz,” the canine paused, meeting Thmaz’s intense gaze. “I understand. We wish you good luck, sir,” he said, bowing solemnly.

Thmaz nodded in acknowledgment before refocusing on the maze. From his vantage point, he observed Zara engaged in ruthless combat with wave after wave of miniature titans. Nearby, Slim continued his mindless perambulation, but the necromancer’s bones had darkened, and mist spewed wantonly from his skull. Despite the canine's thorough scrutiny, the source of his hatred eluded him, causing thick veins to distort his features.

“Those who seek the light shall not be abandoned, so I will forever tread the path to salvation! O’ keeper of light, heed my plea, grant me strength to vanquish the darkness before me,” Thmaz muttered softly.

Radiant golden light enveloped his sword as he approached the stairs with powerful strides that shifted into a sprint.

Several champions quivered, their minds filled with different thoughts, yet united in the understanding that anyone who provoked the canine would meet a violent end.

Thmaz surged forward like a bullet, disregarding the holographic system messages cluttering his mind.

His sole focus was driving his sword into Zara’s neck. With a murderous gleam contorting his visage, the canine closed in on Zara's blind spot. The sword aimed for her neck, and Thmaz anticipated the scent of fresh blood and the sound of punctured flesh amidst screams. However, Zara swiftly readjusted her position, effortlessly evading the sneak attack and launching a nonchalant counter, leaving Thmaz dumbfounded.

The canine smirked to himself. What’s with that slow attack supposed to achieve?

Zara’s seemingly lethargic fist landed on the canine’s jaw, and it exploded into a gory mess. The feline seized the canine by the neck before he could scream, ruthlessly severing his throat. Then, she used his skull to repeatedly bash against a nearby spike until it exploded, instantly killing the duo.

Thmaz’s companions watched the incredulous scene with mouths agape. Everything had transpired so swiftly, but the most shocking aspect was Zara’s casual demeanor in dispatching their leader.

Once more, the lights descended, and Thmaz resurrected. However, at that precise moment, a fist squarely struck the champion's face, obliterating half of it as he hurtled toward a wall. Within seconds, several spikes impaled the canine's corpse, burying him deep into the ground.

Again, the canine revived, and this time, he instinctively took a step back to brace for the impending assault while scanning his surroundings vigorously.

“Show yourself…” a boot landed on the champion's skull, sending him crashing face-first to the ground, but not instantly killing him.

What’s happening? What sort of sorcery is this? Thmaz pondered, struggling to rise.

Zara landed a couple of meters away from the champion, causing Thmaz to reel instantly, his eyes bulging in surprise. Bloody, ghoulish apparitions and an array of weapons, formed from blood, hovered above the brawler. Moreover, the feline’s skin was coated in a burning crimson hue, emitting visible steam that seemed to distort the surrounding air.

“He told me this day would come,” Zara muttered, her voice clear yet terrifying. “I never expected it would come so soon.”

Thmaz struggled to speak through fits of coughing blood. “What are you?” he managed to gasp out.

Zara, with boldness, declared, “Your tormentor. This place was becoming dull. Thank you for livening it up.” She accompanied her words with a cruel smile.

With a swing of her arm, hundreds of bloody projectiles hurtled toward the canine, shredding him to pieces instantly. Zara turned slightly to her right, fixing her gaze on the spot where Thmaz would inevitably revive. As she waited, Orion's voice suddenly filled her ears.

“Is he a friend of yours?” he asked, a giggle in his voice.

“Something like that,” Zara replied, her smile still cruel. “Are you still keeping count of your deaths?”

“Of course,” Orion declared proudly. “I wouldn't stop just because it's reached three hundred thousand.” Then, shifting the topic, the mage asked, “How are you feeling?”

Zara briefly glanced toward where the mage lay, locking eyes with his smiling face. “I've never felt better,” she declared.

In an instant, she lunged towards the reviving Thmaz, swiftly decapitating him as he returned to life.

Meanwhile, Orion lay softly on the corpse of a miniature titan. “Who would have thought she'd be so close to achieving a rule of absolute? Surely, they weren't nobodies in other timelines,” he mused.

Glancing towards Slim, the necromancer's bones were as dark as obsidian. Corpses around him neither revived nor decomposed, and most of the monsters in his vicinity fled upon spotting him. It fell upon the titan to eliminate the necromancer, a task it carried out with brutal efficiency.

Orion lowered his gaze, observing his trembling fingers. “An aura of death so thick even I am afraid,” he muttered, his excitement uncontainable. “I'm envious. They are growing immensely, but I can't seem to experience the same.”

Orion sighed softly, shaking his head in disbelief. “There’s no way I was incompetent in the other timelines. I should have figured out a way to communicate with myself by now. Surely, I can’t be the first variant to be aware of multiple timelines,” he pondered aloud, ignoring the cacophony of screams and explosions around him.

The spikes continued descending, but within six feet of reaching the mage, they altered their trajectory.

“Assuming I am the only one in the know, then one of my variants should have reached the point of no return already. But I wouldn’t be here if they did…” The mage suddenly giggled as a thought filled his mind. “We’re either having so much fun across the timeline or we have all deduced it isn’t worth it to cross that hallmark yet. Assuming every variant becomes one with the one who crosses that point, it only means that our knowledge would be even more incredible when that happens.”

Orion squirmed at the thought, barely holding himself from giggling like an excited lover. He managed to rein in his emotions before casting a glance toward the spot Scott disappeared.

“How long are you going to leave us waiting for you, huh? You’re going to miss all the action,” he muttered.

A devastating scream suddenly rocked the area, and Orion sighed softly. Massive explosions followed, once again extinguishing all life within the maze. The current record had risen to five minutes.

Meanwhile, within the nihilistic zone, Scott remained in the same state with no changes. He continued roaring in his mind, declaring his will to live with all his might. Unbeknownst to the eldritch knight, his form had long deteriorated, and only the mask of the eldritch knight, the war hammer of the mad god, and the item he summoned before being banished remained. Unlike before, however, faint flashes of yellow stirred on the mask.