The Hidden Path

[Time Remaining: 24:59:55]

[Area Limit: Sector 8]

[Objective: Escape the current sector before time runs out...]

[ERROR]

[ERROR]

[You cannot receive any clues...]

Jiho looked at the floating windows in front of him and couldn't help but smile. Around him, the Challengers were murmuring, staring at the clues they had received.

For him, such things were no longer surprising. Since this wasn't the first time, he didn't feel as amazed as before. Isn't his black system different from others?

Even though the trials were identical, everything else seemed vastly different. From choosing rewards to even the seemingly trivial things, like the Ranking List Kalyira mentioned. Although he didn't know where this black system originated, it was undoubtedly connected to the black ring symbol on his index finger.

Jiho decided to set aside time to investigate further when the opportunity arose.

For now, he pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the ever-changing metropolis before his eyes. They had reached a four-way intersection, surrounded by roads stretching in unknown directions. Above them, a colossal entity loomed, covering the entire sky, overseeing everything below with an oppressive presence.

A few challengers were exchanging the clues they each obtained with others, while others seemed to have finally found a moment to rest, appearing tired and exhausted. With 24 hours at their disposal, most weren't in a hurry, choosing instead to recover their strength. Even though a terrifying monster was expected to appear, no one seemed particularly worried—there were simply too many people gathered in one place.

Then, as Jiho observed the scene before him, a thought struck him like a spark in the dark.

"The Lost Horizon…"

His eyes widened as he suddenly recalled the black compass tucked away in his pocket—an item he had nearly forgotten. Without hesitation, he reached inside and pulled it out.

The needle inside shifted erratically, pointing in different directions just as before, its movement unpredictable. However, with time still left, he decided to test it.

"I want to find a way to get out of here..."

Jiho glanced briefly at Kalyira, who seemed focused on the screen beside him, then thought to himself. He held the compass up in his hand, watching it intently without blinking. Yet, just like before, the compass remained still, its secrets locked away.

The unexpected situation left him feeling frustrated. This was not what he wanted… He too wished to escape from this place. Yet, why was there no effect?

"Is it... because this isn't really what I want?" he thought to himself, as questions began to rise in his mind.

"First, I need to focus and clear my mind…" With that thought, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes slowly, and stood still, concentrating deeply.

[Calm Mind] – The ability to maintain composure and clarity of thought, even in high-pressure situations, reducing the effects of fear, panic, and mental disruption.

At first, the sounds around him were loud and overwhelming, but as his mind became calmer, the noise faded into silence. His thoughts seemed to distance from the sounds, and all he could hear was the beat of his own heart.

"What… do I really want?"

"Is it the fastest way out of here…?"

"No… What I truly want is… to become stronger, like the main characters from the novels I've read… So I can return to the people I love… And to learn everything about the answers hidden behind this vast world…"

"Show me the way to become stronger…"

After making his decision, Jiho slowly opened his eyes. At that moment, some people were looking at him curiously, as though they were seeing a madman. Among them was Kalyira.

Jiho understood their thoughts. Who wouldn't think someone standing in the middle of the street with their eyes closed was crazy? However, he didn't care about how others viewed him. His focus was solely on the compass in front of him.

Currently, the black needle, which had been rotating in all directions, was gradually slowing down and pointing steadily toward the west.

"So, I was right about what I thought…"

"Hey… Are you okay?"

The sudden voice of Kalyira snapped Jiho back to reality, breaking his concentration on the compass.

"I'm fine… I was just testing something… and now it's done."

"Hmm... if it's done, then it's done. But what clue did you find… I don't even understand mine..."

"I was thinking of heading west... Would you like to join me?" Jiho asked, looking at Kalyira. He had already decided to follow the direction the black compass pointed to, and he didn't want to leave her behind. Over the difficult times they'd faced together, he had come to feel a camaraderie with her, like an old friend.

"Why… Did you find some clue or something?" Kalyira asked suddenly, looking at Jiho instead of the screen.

"Just go with it..." Jiho replied.

The two of them remained silent for a few moments. Then, Kalyira's voice broke the silence again.

"Alright, let's go... I'll follow you. Maybe we can help each other out along the way."

Jiho nodded, holding the black compass in his hand, and led the way forward.

Kalyira fell into step beside him, her eyes eagerly staring at the blue screen in front of her as they moved together. The maze stretched endlessly before them, its towering buildings shifting slightly as if alive.

Along the way, Jiho's eyes were fixed on the black compass, watching as the needle remained locked in the west direction. The air around them grew heavier, a faint mist rolling in from the cracks in the walls.

Every so often, they would pass by other challengers—some sitting in groups, whispering over their clues, others cautiously scouting ahead. Some had the look of desperation in their eyes, while others were clearly scheming.

"Think we should mess with them?" Kalyira asked playfully, nudging Jiho with her elbow. "You know, throw them off course?"

"Do I look like the type to do that?"

She raised an eyebrow. "I mean… yes?"

Jiho smiled, knowing that Kalyira was teasing him. With his current body resembling that of a gangster, it was normal for others to see him that way. However, since this was something that couldn't be changed, he didn't bother giving it much thought.

Just as they were talking, they turned a corner and saw someone unexpected—the same mysterious man they had both seen the previous night.

The moment their eyes met, Jiho felt a sharp chill creep up his spine. It wasn't just the way the man stood, unmoving, in the middle of the narrow pathway. It was his presence—an overwhelming, suffocating aura that pressed down on Jiho like a weight.

His eyes were empty, like a bottomless abyss. There was no recognition, no emotion—only an eerie stillness that sent warning bells ringing in Jiho's head.

Then, the man moved.

Kalyira stiffened beside him, her casual demeanor vanishing in an instant. Jiho could feel it too. The man wasn't just strong. He was dangerous.

For a brief moment, time seemed to stretch. The man's gaze lingered on them, his expression unreadable. Then, without a word, he turned and walked past them, his movements as soundless as a shadow slipping through the cracks of reality.

Kalyira swallowed and muttered, "That guy gives me the creeps."

"Yeah. Let's not cross paths with him again."

After noticing the strange person disappear, Jiho muttered to himself. The competitive spirit inside him flared even more. However, he realized that the person was stronger than he expected, so avoiding him for now was the wisest choice.

As the two of them were talking, they wound their way through the maze and eventually reached the direction the compass was pointing to. The atmosphere grew heavier with each step, the usual shifting sounds of the walls fading into an unsettling silence.

Then, they saw it.

A dead end.

Tall, crumbling buildings surrounded them, their walls cracked and overgrown with vines. Jiho frowned and checked the compass in his hand. The needle pointed steadily forward, right at the solid wall in front of them.

"Is this thing broken?" Kalyira muttered, watching the compass in Jiho's hand.

Jiho didn't answer. Curiosity sparked in his eyes as he stepped closer to the wall. He ran his fingers along the rough stone, searching for anything unusual. Then, he pressed his palm flat against it.

Nothing happened…

Kalyira watched, puzzled…

Jiho tried something else—pressing different stones, knocking lightly against the surface. Just as Kalyira was about to comment again, a small click echoed through the air.

One of the stones sank into the wall.

As the stone sank away, the nearby stones seemed to shift, and a door-like opening appeared. The collapsed walls revealed a territory glowing with bright white light. Two screen windows also appeared simultaneously.

[Congratulations: You have discovered a Hidden Trial Area.]

Jiho and Kalyira exchanged glances, a mix of excitement and disbelief in their eyes.

"Well," Jiho murmured, a slow grin forming. He hadn't expected it to happen either... "That's new…"

Kalyira exhaled, shaking her head. "You and your weird ideas."

The message on the screen pulsed faintly, as if urging them to take action. Jiho glanced at Kalyira, smiled, and then led the way into the area where the white light was shining brightly.

Kalyira followed suit, casting one last look at the mysterious message.

"Guess we're doing this," she muttered under her breath before stepping in after him.

After Jiho and Kalyira entered the white light, the collapsed walls began to reconnect, and everything returned to its original state. Everything became still, as if nothing had happened at all.

Once inside the white light, Jiho and Kalyira could no longer perceive what was happening outside.

End - 23