Chapter 1: Trial
"An achievement that can't be reached by many truths can be achieved by a single lie; Though I asked help from many people with absolute truths, help is not available, that is why I lied to you. I am sorry, please save these ignorant people". After saying those words, she disappeared.
One month ago, a new intern was assigned to my project. She looked beautiful and many eyes fell on her when there's a chance. But to their bad luck teaching her about project came to my hand because I am youngest in the project after the intern. But to my demise, I didn't know how to make her fall for me. I simply didn't make a move towards her. I treated her how I treated other female colleagues.
One week ago, she proposed to me. I accepted without any hesitation because I liked her. Today is my birthday, she told me that she had a surprise for me and asked me to wait in my bedroom. She came in, blindfolded me with her hands and walked me to the hall.
"Do you want me to open?", she asked.
"Yes"
"Are you sure that you are ready?"
"Yes", I didn't even feel anything strange in those questions.
When she removed her hands, I don't know what I felt. I was in some forest. When I saw her, she looked more mature than normally she did. She looked at me sadly and said those words.
***
Now in the present, before I organized my thoughts, a screen appeared in front of me.
"Clear this trial dimension, exit portal will open"
"Please select the trial difficulty
EASY
NORMAL
HARD
IMPOSSIBLE"
To be honest I didn't play many games. But in the games, I played I always chose easy mode. My intuition screamed at me to select Easy. Unknown situation, unknown place, the scenario looked like some sort of fantasy novel.
"The hell with the being novel's mc, I want to live a simple life", I didn't want to bet my life on this scenario, I simply chose easy.
"Survive 10 days", the screen closed. One wooden spear, one wooden shield and one plastic water bottle dropped out of nowhere.
After picking those, I explored the surroundings, nothing seemed abnormal.
"When a person pushed to edge of desperation, he can do miracles", like this my nonexistent intuition screaming at me as night approached. As I had no other choice, I followed my gut feeling. I climbed one of the tallest trees near me and carefully sat on its highest stable branch.
At the middle of the night, I heard unrecognizable cries of many animals. As the cries narrowed near me, I swallowed my saliva silently. Suddenly a big shadow the size of a lion moved, and the voices silenced. There was no struggle. For a brief second, I stopped breathing.
I didn't know when I was asleep. I was woken by scorching sunlight which intruded gaps of leaves. There were no living activities below except some dead animal bodies.
I saw eaten carcasses of three wolves like animals and a deer. I carefully explored the surroundings, there was nothing. I contemplated for a few minutes.
'Fire may cause some unforeseen events. Heck, I don't even know how to start a fire without a matchstick or lighter', I cut the remaining meat from the deer and ate it raw. I didn't take any extra because its smell may attract some dangers. Again, I climbed the tree as night approached.
This routine continued for 10 days. Finally, the familiar screen appeared again. And my surroundings changed to an empty white room.
"Congratulations for clearing trial dimension. 10 achievement points earned (AP). As the basic reward of clearing trial, one core will be awakened, you can buy traits with AP, one-time discounted AP store will be available. Be warned traits offered here can only obtained by clearing trial dimension or some rare special occasions."
"Awakening core, please bear the pain for success". As the process started, a tearing pain came across all over the body. I cried, screamed. I didn't know how long but after a while a soothing sensation reached every in of my body. I smelled bad. But nothing waited for me.
"Please select the traits.", a big list shown in front of me, but everything blurred except which available for me.
FIRE ELEMENT BODY -1 AP
WATER ELEMENT BODY -1 AP
EARTH ELEMENT BODY -1 AP
WIND ELEMENT BODY -1 AP
LIGHT ELEMENT BODY -1 AP
DARK ELEMENT BODY -1 AP
LIGHTNING ELEMENT BODY -1 AP
SPACE ELEMENT BODY -2 AP
TIME ELEMENT BODY -2AP
SPACE-TIME BODY -4 AP
ALL ELEMENT BODY -5 AP
SUPERHUMAN BODY -2 AP
...
IMPERCEPTIBLE SOUL -3 AP
PURE SOUL - 7 AP
IMPERCEPTIBLE- PURE SOUL -9 AP
I bought IMPERCEPTIBLE- PURE SOUL. I thought obtaining traits was less painful than awakening the core. But it changed something i couldn't pinpoint.
"One-time discounted AP store is opening."
There are weapons, skills, tools, potions, potion formulas etc. As usual the only things available to me are shown. In the weapons section I found an interesting part that weapons also have skills. I moved to the skills section and made my choice without moving to the next.
SPACE POCKET (5 cubic meter) -1 AP (99.99% discount)
SPACE- TIME POCKET (1 cubic meter) -1AP (99.99% discount)
There were many amazing skills, but I considered these two as essential. I chose the SPACE- TIME POCKET. After I selected, a portal opened in front of me and through that I left the white room.