Judgment

[Time's Up...]

The sound of the announcement echoed ominously, silencing the cries and whispers of the participants. From the radiant white light above, the massive entity reappeared, its single glowing eye radiating an aura of dominance, and its three pairs of wings emanating a sense of inescapable authority.

"Congratulations, Challengers..."

The same deep, resounding voice as before reverberated across the area, sending chills down the spines of everyone present. Then, the voice continued.

"There isn't a single exceptional individual in this Trial Zone, but there are plenty of survivors. First, let's see who has failed the trial and will face elimination."

Suddenly, a wave of shimmering red screens appeared before those who had not completed their Trial. Each screen displayed the same ominous words:

[Warning...]

[Warning...]

[You have failed to complete the Trial...]

[Elimination penalty will apply in 10 seconds...]

Gasps filled the air as the condemned stared helplessly at the screens before their eyes, visible only to them. The entity's glowing eye seemed indifferent as the failures began to break down, some screaming about how they needed to kill just one more beast, while others were frozen in silent despair.

After ten seconds passed, the challengers who failed to clear met a gruesome end—their heads exploded violently, leaving behind nothing but silence and the horror etched into the faces of the survivors.

The survivors stood frozen in horror, their eyes darting between the sky and the lifeless bodies of their comrades who had been alive just moments ago. The voice, however, remained unrelenting.

"Elimination is complete. Now, to those who have passed..."

The massive entity's singular eye narrowed, a spark of amusement flickering in its gaze.

"You have proven your worth. As promised, the system will reward you. Each of you may select one reward from the options displayed."

With that, a blue screen appeared before each survivor. All system screen interfaces were private—no one could see another person's screen, not even the massive entity in the sky. Relief flickered across the faces of some survivors as they began to examine their rewards.

But for Jiho, things were different.

A familiar black screen materialized before him, its dark surface radiating an aura of cold detachment. Unlike the glowing menus that appeared for others, this void-like display had become an expected companion. Bold, unyielding text cut through the darkness:

[Your reward will always be randomized...]

Jiho's brows furrowed as a cold sense of dread crept over him. Before he could react, the screen shimmered, and a new message appeared:

[Congratulations! You have obtained the skill: System Codex Lv.1…]

[You can view more skill info in Personal Profile…]

Then, the black screen window disappeared.

"Personal Profile..." As Jiho thought about it, a black screen appeared before his eyes.

[Personal Profile]

Name: Han Jiho

Titles: ??? (Mythic), Trial Survivor (common)

Abilities: [??? Lv.max], [Clear Mind Lv.2], [Combat Mastery Lv.4], [Weapon Mastery Lv.2], [Adaptability Lv.5]

Skills: [System Codex Lv.1], [Energy Harmony Lv.max]

Overall stats: [Strength Lv.5], [Agility Lv.5], [Stamina Lv.8], [Willpower Lv.2], [Aether Lv.0]

As Jiho looked at the changes appearing on his profile, he began to understand more.

Abilities… These are passive skills that cannot be learned using the system's assistance but can only be earned through hard training or acquired through personal effort.

[Combat Mastery Lv.4] and [Weapon Mastery Lv.2] likely came from the previous owner of this body, a gangster.

As for the other abilities, he assumed they were his, but what exactly is [??? Lv.max]?

Also, [Adaptability Lv.5] was quite intriguing. Was this ability related to his capacity to adapt and fit in with everything around him since birth?

Although he didn't fully understand the Titles yet, the skills were abilities he could actively use. At first, his black system didn't register a skill that could enhance his strength and speed using dark energy, but now it had registered a skill called [Energy Harmony Lv.max].

[Energy Harmony Lv.max]

Effect: The skill allows the user to absorb and utilize any form of energy, seamlessly converting it to enhance strength and agility.

It seemed he could absorb any form of energy and enhance his strength and agility. It didn't appear to be limited to just dark energy.

[System Codex Lv.1]

Effect: Automatically stores and organizes information the user encounters, creating a personal database.

After reading the explanation, a smile appeared on Jiho's face. It seemed that, just like the main characters in novels, he could now see his own profile and skills. The system was granting him abilities that were truly practical.

Just as Jiho was about to delve further into his new skills, the massive entity's booming voice echoed once again.

"The next trial begins in 15 minutes..."

Gasps and whispers rippled through the crowd as the weight of the announcement hit them. A mere fifteen minutes to recover from the horrors they had just endured and prepare for another life-threatening ordeal.

The entity's singular eye glowed brighter as it continued, its tone cold and unfeeling.

"Second trial is simple: reach the safe zone… You must run to where the green light shines... You have one hour to arrive at the safe zone… After that, entry will be impossible…"

The words hung in the air like a death sentence, but Jiho remained calm. He didn't need to hear what would happen if they failed, but the entity was merciless in its clarification.

"Once the countdown for the second trial begins, monsters will start roaming and chasing through the city… Those who fail to reach the safe zone within the set time will be hunted…"

As the voice faded away, green light beams appeared all around the city, surrounding the garden where they were currently.

[The second trial will begin in 15 minutes.]

[Time Remaining: 00:14:59...]

…

A planet drifting through the void of space...

On the planet, as usual, stood crumbling structures—remnants of what once was. Behind the door of one building lay something that seemed like another realm: a vast meadow with a darkened sky ablaze with green flames.

At the center of the meadow knelt the beautiful red-haired woman who had sent Jiho to the Erdan planet. Her face was pale with terror, trembling as if awaiting a death sentence.

Suddenly, the sky split apart, and green flames rained down like a torrential storm. And then, it appeared—a single, colossal eye materialized from the heavens.

Even as the green flames descended near her, the woman did not dare move a muscle.

"If you can't even manage something like this, then what's the point of you continuing to exist?" The voice, calm yet carrying an undeniable weight, resonated across the sky, sending a subtle tremor through everything.

"Please… give me one last chance!" she pleaded, her voice raw with desperation. "If I fail again… I'll end it myself!"

"I planted the seed of darkness in him, just as the lord commanded. I planned to keep an eye on him, to follow his every move… But I can't sense it anymore. Ever since the system's first trial began, the link has been severed. I don't even know if he's still alive or—" She stopped herself, fear choking her words.

The massive eye hovered in silence, its gaze unblinking, unreadable. The glowing green flames surrounding it danced higher, casting eerie shadows across the ruined landscape. Despite the woman's tearful plea, it gave no indication of acknowledgment, no answer to her desperate words.

Moments stretched into an unbearable silence. The woman, still trembling, dared not look up. The void seemed to swallow her whole as she waited for judgment.

Finally, a voice boomed, low and resonant, breaking the stillness.

"Let it be… This may just be a fragment of one of us." The words carried an almost indifferent tone, as if speaking to itself rather than to her. "That's maybe why… even though I sense a familiar aura, I do not know. Its presence eludes even my sight."

The flames flickered, casting green and black across the endless void. The eye remained fixed on the woman for another heavy moment.

"As a Key Holder, let this be the last mistake you make… Go to the Omphalos of Creation… Someone is waiting for you there… Your duty is to help them…"

Then, the great eye in the sky vanished. The entire sky became clear once more, just as before.

Though the woman was trembling with fear, the words spoken by the giant eye echoed in her mind. A fragment? Of one of them? Could it be that the one she marked with the seed of darkness was more than she had understood?

The thought chilled her to the bone. Yet, amidst her terror, a faint glimmer of hope flickered.

"Even if it's a mere fragment of one of them… it contains an endless spark of existence…"

Perhaps, just perhaps, he could still survive.

But would he remain the same… or?

End - 14