The Calm Before

[Time Remaining: 00:03:18...]

[Time Remaining: 00:03:17...]

[Time Remaining: 00:03:16...]

The countdown on the black screen window continued ticking down, second by second.

Jiho could faintly hear distant noises, but he couldn't focus on them. The side effects of overusing [Energy Harmony] weighed heavily on him, compounding the wounds he had sustained during the battle. Even reaching the safe zone, which wasn't far away, felt like an exhausting ordeal.

A small group of people inside the safe zone stared at Jiho as if they had just seen a ghost. The battle had been so intense that they had barely been able to breathe the entire time. Now, they watched him in stunned silence, struggling to process what they had just witnessed.

Some of the braver ones had tried to rush out to help him. However, the green barrier surrounding the safe zone blocked everything. It was an impenetrable shield—no attacks from the outside could penetrate it, and those inside couldn't step out.

Because of this, when the fight ended, most of them could do nothing but shout at Jiho, urging him to hurry inside before it was too late.

Jiho staggered forward, every step a struggle against the sharp, throbbing pain that consumed his body. His vision swam in and out of focus as the last of the adrenaline began to wear off, leaving him exhausted, weak, and barely able to keep his footing. The pain from his injuries felt like a constant fire burning through his limbs.

The safe zone was a welcome sight. The glowing green barrier, a protective shield from external threats, was a constant reminder of the safety it promised, even if Jiho knew better than to let his guard down completely. As he approached, the few remaining survivors inside the safe zone looked at him, their expressions a mixture of awe and disbelief.

One by one, their gazes shifted from Jiho's battered figure to the entrance, then back to him. Some whispered among themselves, unsure whether to approach or keep their distance. Jiho could hear fragments of their conversations—words like "What if he's a thug?" and "How did he survive all that?"

His body swayed, and for a moment, he thought he might collapse before he reached the barrier. But then, a hand gripped his arm, steadying him. It was one of the survivors—a man with a scar running down his face, his expression hard but grateful.

"You made it," the man said, his voice low but filled with respect. "We were all... hoping you'd make it."

Jiho gave a weak nod. "I didn't have much choice."

Inside the safe zone, others began to gather, their eyes filled with the same mix of awe and fear. They were not used to seeing someone who had faced such monsters and lived to tell the tale. Jiho's mind swirled as they stared at him, too silent for comfort. What were they thinking? Were they looking at him as a hero, or were they already starting to wonder if he was too dangerous to be trusted?

He dragged himself forward, step by step, until he reached a building in the middle of the safe zone. Leaning his back against the wall, he sank to the ground.

Right now, there was only one wish in his mind—to let everything go.

But the battle wasn't over yet. Wasn't this only the second Trial? His mind repeated that thought like a mantra, trying to focus on something other than the pain that threatened to overwhelm him.

His body felt heavy, but the small victory tasted bittersweet. He was alive, but at what cost? His mind returned to the monsters, to the destruction. Why was this happening? he wondered. What does the system want?

A gentle voice interrupted his thoughts. "You're bleeding," the girl said, her soft features filled with concern. Her warm eyes lingered on Jiho, worry etched into her delicate face. "Let me help you."

Jiho stared at the girl for a moment before giving her a slight nod. Normally, he would have refused, but right now, he truly needed help.

With a simple hand gesture, green light began to glow from the girl's fingertips. Almost instantly, the plants growing near the building expanded rapidly, their vines reaching out and wrapping around Jiho's body.

A wave of warmth and coolness intertwined, spreading through him. The pain from his wounds gradually faded, and bit by bit, his drained energy returned. The sensation was indescribable—something beyond words.

The girl, now visibly exhausted, lowered her hand.

"Thank you…"

Jiho expressed his gratitude. From the looks of it, this ability was her skill. Based on his experience, most skills had some kind of aftermath effect, which explained why she seemed so drained.

The girl responded with a smile, as if she had known him for a long time, and prepared to speak.

But suddenly, loud shouts rang out. People rushed toward the edge of the green barrier, causing both Jiho and the girl to stop talking. Like the others, they moved forward to see what was happening.

Outside the barrier…

A group of six people was sprinting toward the safe zone.

Chasing them—shadow beasts.

The desperate survivors ran for their lives, but the shadow beasts were faster.

In the end, two of them were caught and killed, while the remaining four barely made it inside the barrier, collapsing with severe injuries.

The girl glanced at the wounded group before turning to Jiho with a curious look.

"You know… I think people like you are the strangest ones here."

Jiho's gaze, however, remained fixed on the floating black screen window in front of him.

"…Why do you say that?"

[Time Remaining: 00:00:28...]

"Just look around… Most people struggle just to take down a single shadow beast. But you—" Kalyira's voice carried a mix of curiosity and disbelief. "It wasn't just the shadow beasts—you even fought your way through four goblins surrounding you and still won. Same goes for the guy I met during the First Trial… he also killed so many shadow beasts alone that I couldn't even count."

Jiho had been focused on the countdown, but her last words caught his interest.

Someone had killed so many shadow beasts that they couldn't even be counted?

Just who in the First Trial had been that powerful?

Even for him, without using [Energy Harmony], taking down a shadow beast was a tough fight. At most, he could kill six to ten before reaching his limit.

…Oh. Right.

The number of kills didn't matter.

Jiho had almost forgotten—his system didn't follow the normal rules. Unlike others, his black system always randomized trial rewards.

He didn't need to compete with anyone.

"I just got lucky," Jiho replied calmly. "Shadow beasts are too fast… If there had been more of them just now, I wouldn't have made it out alive."

He then glanced at the girl. "You can call me Jiho. What about you?"

"I'm Kalyira... from Valora country... just like you," Kalyira said with a smile, addressing the man before her—his rough appearance contrasting with his polite demeanor.

"Hmm..." Jiho didn't think much of it. He simply nodded in response.

This world was divided into three nations—Auralis, Valora, and Lunara. Each had its own unique language. Compared to his homeland, this place felt far smaller in scale.

[Time's Up…]

A sharp chime echoed through the sky.

Blinding white light poured down from above, and just like before—

A massive entity descended.

"Congratulations, challengers…"

The sound of the voice, coming from nowhere and everywhere at once, was massive—imposing. It seemed to fill the space, touching every corner of the safe zone. The survivors stiffened, their eyes wide with anticipation.

"You are all impressive and worthy to become part of these trials," the entity continued, its tone both ominous and grand. "You've proven yourselves in battle, and now you stand at the threshold of something much greater…"

"But be warned—the trials are not over. This world you find yourselves in… it is no longer governed by science. Everything you once knew, every rule you held to be true, is meaningless. This world now operates under the control of the system. And until the ten consecutive trials are completed, your reality is bound to its…"

A heavy silence fell over the group. Jiho's mind spun, the weight of the words crashing over him. He glanced outside the barrier, remembering how the world had shifted around him the moment they arrived. The shift from midnight to afternoon, the weather changing without warning—was this the system's doing? Was this what the entity meant?

"And now, the Third Trial has already begun…" The voice rang out once again. "Stay in the safe zone until the morning. The outside world is no longer safe. The monsters will roam throughout the night. You are free to leave the zone, but be warned: you will be leaving the protection it offers. Choose wisely…"

As the massive entity finished its announcement, a strange sense of stillness took over the space. The voice faded away, but its words lingered in the air like a haunting echo.

"Could the Third Trial really be this simple…?"

In the silence that followed, everyone found themselves fixated on the same question.

Did they really just have to stay inside the safe zone until dawn?

If that were true… then this wasn't a Trial anymore.

It felt more like they were being given time to rest.

The air grew tense as the entity's voice echoed once more, cutting through the quiet reverence of the safe zone.

"Now, challengers, allow me to introduce you to a crucial aspect of your journey…" The entity's tone shifted slightly, carrying an air of importance. "You will have access to the System Shop… This is where your survival will be influenced by the choices you make…"

Everyone, except Jiho, stared at the blue screen that appeared before their eyes… Its surface rippled, revealing a menu full of various options… Everyone could see strange symbols, icons of weapons, potions, armor, and mysterious tools… Some of the icons were grayed out, others glowing with a faint gold hue.

The voice continued, "The System Shop is a tool at your disposal… Through completing trials, defeating monsters, and uncovering hidden trials, you will earn points… These points will be used to purchase items, from basic supplies to rare and powerful artifacts…"

"The shop will remain open throughout your trials, but certain items may only be available for a limited time. Items that are rarer or more powerful may be offered in exchange for more points, and you may only have one chance to purchase them…"

The voice ceased, and the massive entity vanished once again.

As Jiho stood there, the voices of the others murmured around him, lost in the excitement of their newfound opportunities. But Jiho's attention remained fixed on the black screen in front of him, the eerie glow of the window standing in stark contrast to the vibrant blue screens around him.

The words that flashed on his screen were different from theirs.

[Access Denied: Shop Unavailable...]

Jiho's eyes narrowed as another message appeared.

[Your system has been altered. The Shop has been replaced with the Lottery System. Rewards will now be granted at random.]

[The Lottery System can be used once for every two completed Trials.]

[Remaining Lottery Uses: 1]

[Personal Trials will now be generated.]

He already had suspected that his system, the black system, was far from normal. He wasn't like the others, not by a long shot. The black system had always been different.

Despite his frustration, Jiho moved to another window that appeared before him—a list of [Personal Trial]. It was marked with a small (!), indicating something important. His eyes swept across the screen. Only one [Personal Trial] was available at the moment, but its description sent a shiver down his spine.

Personal Trial: "Echo of the Vengeful Spirit"

Objective: Find the soul of a fallen challenger within the Third Trial. Their soul is trapped in an endless loop of torment. End their suffering and devour their soul.

Reward: Lost Horizon

Failure Penalty: Loss of fragmented memories.

Jiho frowned as he read the [Personal Trial] that appeared on his black window.

"Find the Soul of a Fallen Challenger."

Where was he supposed to find something like that?

More importantly—the massive entity had already instructed them to stay inside the safe zone for the night.

If he left now to search for the soul, there was no doubt he'd be walking straight into danger.

But the failure penalty wasn't something he could take lightly.

[Loss of Fragmented Memories.]

Losing insignificant memories wasn't a problem. But if he forgot something important, what then?

"…I'll think about the [Personal Trial] later. First, I need to check my Second Trial reward."

[Congratulations! You have obtained: Void Pouch.]

A small pouch materialized in midair before him, making Jiho pause in surprise.

So, his system could grant him items too? He hadn't expected that.

"You got an item?" Kalyira asked, noticing the pouch appear in front of him.

Jiho simply nodded, not eager to explain everything. If he started detailing his system now, he doubted the conversation would end before morning.

Still, he was curious about this reward.

[Void Pouch]

Effect: A bottomless pouch that stores anything without limit.

…Anything? With no limit?

Even Jiho found that a bit ridiculous. But one thing was certain—he wouldn't have to worry about storage problems anymore.

"What's your plan?" Kalyira suddenly asked, snapping him out of his thoughts. "I'm thinking about joining the Valora group. Their leader was the one who helped you when you first entered the safe zone… but I'm still unsure."

"…I haven't decided yet." Jiho shook his head, thoughts tangled in his mind.

"You should come with me," Kalyira suggested. "It's better to have a group than to be alone."

"I can't go with you right now… But thank you for the offer."

Jiho let out a small sigh. He still had the quest from his system. If he ended up leaving the safe zone, he didn't want to drag her into danger.

Kalyira studied him for a moment before nodding.

"Alright… Suit yourself."

With that, she turned and walked toward the distant group of survivors.

Jiho watched her leave, then stepped back into the shadows beneath a nearby building.

Since the trial would only begin at night, his priority now was resting and recovering his strength.

Letting out a slow breath, he leaned against the wall, closed his eyes—

And drifted into silence.

End – 17