Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Descent into the VR Game

A sudden pull gripped Elias, dragging him through a swirling vortex of time and space. The sensation was overwhelming, like being crushed and stretched simultaneously. His breath caught in his throat as his body twisted through dimensions, the echoes of Future Elias' final words still lingering in his mind.

"Remember the missions… Never disregard them… Protect yourself from the Council…"

Then, as abruptly as it began, the force ceased. Elias' feet slammed against solid ground, and he staggered forward, gasping for breath. The familiar surroundings of his training chamber came into view, the warm glow of mana-filled torches flickering against the stone walls. He had returned.

But before he could even process the information—

DONG! DONG! DONG!

A deep, resonating sound filled the air, reverberating through the entire city. It was as if the very heavens had opened, demanding the attention of every soul present.

Then, a voice, ancient and omnipotent, boomed across the sky:

"THE DIMENSIONAL ASCENSION TRIALS HAVE BEGUN. ALL ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS, PREPARE TO ENTER THE VIRTUAL REALM."

A hush fell over the city. Everyone froze in place. Whispers erupted immediately after, a mixture of excitement and dread filling the air. The VR Game—no, the Ascension Trials—had begun.

Elias clenched his fists. Future Elias had warned him about this. This wasn't just a game. This was a battlefield where the strong devoured the weak, where titles and monikers held absolute power.

And he had only one mission—

Claim the title of "Infinite."

Elias barely had time to catch his breath before a silver light enveloped his body. A pulling sensation struck him again, but this time, it wasn't violent. Instead, it was smooth, guiding him through space like a leaf floating down a stream.

When his vision adjusted, he found himself standing before an enormous Obsidian Gate.

It was massive—towering into the skies like an indestructible fortress. Strange runes pulsated across its surface, radiating an aura of authority that made even the bravest warriors falter.

Hundreds—no, thousands—of participants stood before it, each clad in different armor, robes, and battle gear. Some radiated an aura of confidence, others nervous anticipation.

Elias took a deep breath and stepped forward.

As he moved closer, a mechanical voice rang out.

"Welcome, Participant Elias. You are now entering the Dimensional Ascension Trials. Prepare for initial evaluation."

Then—

WOOSH!

The gates split open, and a blinding light swallowed him whole.

When the light faded, Elias found himself in a vast Coliseum.

The sky above was dark, filled with swirling clouds of energy. The ground beneath his feet was made of black stone, etched with glowing golden inscriptions. Around him, thousands of other participants materialized, each looking around in confusion or excitement.

A sudden gust of wind swept through the arena.

Then, an Ethereal Figure materialized in the air. A being clad in crimson robes, his face hidden beneath a golden mask. When he spoke, his voice held the weight of the heavens.

"The First Trial: Survival. Only the strongest shall advance. Defeat your opponents. Prove your worth."

The moment his words ended—

BOOM!

The ground beneath Elias' feet trembled. Then, the first wave of enemies appeared—monstrous creatures, humanoid warriors, and even beasts of legends.

Elias' eyes sharpened.

"Time to fight."

The battlefield erupted into chaos.

Swords clashed. Spells illuminated the sky. The scent of blood filled the air as warriors fell one by one.

Elias wasted no time. He lunged forward, dodging an incoming strike from a six-armed gladiator, twisting his body mid-air to counter with a swift kick to the skull. The gladiator stumbled, but Elias wasn't done. He followed up with a shadow-infused punch, driving his fist straight through his opponent's chest.

BOOM!

The gladiator collapsed, his body dissipating into golden dust.

But Elias had no time to celebrate.

A piercing shriek tore through the battlefield.

A three-headed wyvern descended from the skies, its fiery breath scorching the arena. Its golden eyes locked onto Elias, and in an instant—

SWOOSH!

It lunged, its jaws wide open, aiming to tear him apart.

Elias' expression didn't change. He reached deep into his core—summoning every ounce of power within him. His eyes flickered—blue, black, white—before settling into an intense golden hue.

"Let's test this new power."

With a flick of his wrist—

A blade of pure time energy materialized in his hands.

The wyvern's fangs came crashing down, but Elias vanished just before impact.

He reappeared above the creature's head, his blade already in motion.

"Temporal Slash!"

A single swing—

SHING!

A golden arc of light cut through the wyvern's neck, severing all three heads in one clean motion.

The beast let out a final, agonizing roar before its body exploded into golden fragments.

Silence fell upon the battlefield.

Then—

"Trial Completed. Elias, Rank: S."

A mechanical voice echoed through the air, followed by gasps from the remaining participants.

Elias exhaled, lowering his blade.

One trial down. Many more to go.

As the remaining survivors gathered, the crimson-robed figure appeared once again.

"Congratulations, warriors. You have survived the First Trial. But this is only the beginning."

A portal materialized before them, swirling with endless galaxies.

"Enter. The real challenge awaits."

Elias closed his eyes for a moment. Future Elias had warned him about this world—about the hardships he would face. But he wasn't afraid.

He opened his eyes, determination burning within them.

Without hesitation, he stepped into the portal.

The path to the Infinite Moniker had begun.

The swirling portal engulfed Elias, pulling him through an endless tunnel of light. His body felt weightless, as if he was floating through a vast ocean of energy. He kept his eyes open, watching as different shades of color streaked past him—gold, silver, crimson, and deep void black.

Then, suddenly—

THUD!

Elias landed on solid ground.

He steadied himself, scanning his surroundings.

The world around him had shifted completely. Instead of a massive coliseum filled with warriors, he now stood in front of an enormous stone structure, stretching far beyond what the eye could see.

A labyrinth.

The sky above was a swirling vortex of galaxies, casting an ethereal glow upon the twisted corridors ahead. The air was thick with an unknown energy—dangerous, yet alluring.

Then, as expected, a mechanical voice resonated through the space.

"Trial Two: The Labyrinth of Fate. Only those who pass through shall advance. Choose your path wisely. Time is limited."

Elias narrowed his eyes.

Future Elias had mentioned the importance of these trials, especially securing the title of "Infinite."

This was another test. And he would not fail.

Without hesitation, he stepped into the labyrinth.

The moment he crossed the threshold, the stone walls behind him shifted, sealing off the entrance.

The labyrinth was alive.

Elias could hear the faint hum of shifting corridors, the whispers of something unseen moving in the darkness. Every step he took felt like he was being watched.

Then—

"SCREEEEE!"

A high-pitched screech echoed through the labyrinth.

Elias turned just in time to see shadows gathering ahead. Creatures.

Their bodies were humanoid, but their skin was a writhing mass of darkness. Their eyes burned like molten gold, and their elongated limbs twitched unnaturally.

"Guardians of the Labyrinth," Elias muttered, recognizing them instantly.

They weren't just mindless creatures. They were designed to test the mental and physical limits of participants.

And they did not die easily.

"Well then." Elias exhaled, his fingers tightening into fists. "Let's see how strong you really are."

The creatures lunged.

Elias moved the moment they attacked.

WHOOSH!

He ducked beneath the first strike, a clawed hand slicing through the air above him. With a swift motion, he twisted his body, delivering a precise kick to the creature's ribs.

CRACK!

The monster was sent flying into the stone walls. But before Elias could follow up, two more creatures appeared, their glowing eyes locked onto him.

They attacked simultaneously.

Elias evaded with fluid movements, weaving between the onslaught of strikes. His mind was razor-sharp, calculating every movement, every weakness.

Then, he retaliated.

He clenched his fist, summoning a surge of time energy around his arm. His veins pulsed with raw power as he launched a counterattack.

"Temporal Disruption!"

BOOM!

The energy exploded outward, distorting time in the immediate area. The creatures froze mid-attack, their bodies caught in a stasis field.

Elias smirked.

With a single motion, he slashed through them with an energy blade, their bodies shattering like glass.

As the last remnants of the creatures faded, the labyrinth shifted once more.

New corridors appeared, paths twisting in unnatural ways. The trial was adapting.

Elias exhaled. "Fine. Let's keep going."

He pressed forward.

After what felt like an hour of navigating the ever-changing pathways, Elias found himself stepping into a different chamber.

Unlike the rest of the labyrinth, this space was silent.

The air was eerily still, and before him stood three massive mirrors.

Each one reflected a different version of himself.

One mirror showed him as he was now—determined, strong, unwavering.

The second showed a twisted version of himself—his eyes hollow, his body engulfed in darkness, a grin of pure madness stretching across his face.

The third…

It showed Future Elias.

Dressed in his dark coat, his expression distant, his eyes filled with untold pain.

Then—

"Choose."

The voice boomed from nowhere.

Elias' heart pounded. He didn't understand the purpose of this test, but he knew one thing: this choice mattered.

His eyes flickered toward the third mirror.

The reflection of Future Elias stood there, silent, staring back at him.

This was his fate. His destiny.

Or was it?

Elias stepped forward.

He reached out—

And shattered the third mirror.

CRACK!

The entire labyrinth trembled.

Then—light enveloped him.

Elias opened his eyes.

He was no longer in the labyrinth.

Instead, he stood in an endless void. Stars and galaxies swirled in the distance, stretching infinitely in all directions.

And before him—

A Throne.

It was colossal, carved from an unknown material that shimmered with the essence of existence itself. Inscribed upon it were symbols of every known energy—Mana, Qi, Time, Space, Void… Infinity.

Then, a new voice spoke.

"You have chosen your path, Elias."

A figure appeared before him.

Not Future Elias.

Not a Guardian.

But something beyond mortal comprehension.

It radiated pure divinity.

"You stand at the precipice of Ascension. Now, prove yourself worthy of the title of 'Infinite'."

A new trial had begun.

And Elias was ready.