Squiggon

[Welcome Candidate 160!]

[You have been chosen.]

"Chosen?"

But he still glared at the screen before him.

Name: ???

Strength [STR]: 500 (10x) | [5000 SP]

{Affects attack power and physical endurance.}

Dexterity [DEX]: 100 (10x) | [1000 SP]

{Controls speed, reflexes, and agility.}

Constitution [CON]: 1500 (10x) | [15000 SP]

{Determines health, resistance to damage, and stamina.}

Intelligence [INT]: 7% (10x) | [70%]

{Affects magical abilities and problem-solving skills.}

Perception [PER]: 500 (10x) | [5000 SP]

{Enhances awareness, detection, and enemy tracking.}

Charisma [CHA]: 50 (10x) | [500 SP]

{Influences social interactions and persuasion.}

SP [Score Points]: generally attributed to any score attained as a reward for accomplishing tasks.

Dimm couldn't help but try to understand what was before his eyes. What does it mean to be chosen? Does it mean he has passed his test already?

But another notification replaced the previous one.

[Flaw of Help: Fight with mythical creatures!]

"Huh!" he exclaimed in shock. "Mythical creatures?!"

He immediately shifted his gaze to the approaching creatures and realized they were evolving. The bright atmosphere got blunt, and the environment became dim.

And then–

***

Meanwhile, suspended in the vastness of an ethereal void is a chamber unlike any other. It exists outside time and space but is a component of Ellipse. In this chamber, was a room which is an architectural marvel that blended divine elegance with an unsettling omnipresence, as if the very walls were watching.

At its center, above a floor of shifting constellations was a big screen. It served as an observation pool that reflected all that was going on in the game, more of a monitoring screen that recorded the performances of the players of the game.

Surrounding the pool are thrones that emitted otherworld energy from their apex, probably because they were carved from celestial stones. The thrones were five in number and on these thrones, seated beings who are more or less referred to as the cosmic beings.

They are formally called the Gods of Ellipse.

From the left, was seated Elios, the God of Fate. His smile is always friendly and welcoming, except to those who trudge his path with the wrong feet. His composure clearly explains why he was the god, in charge of selecting new players for the game.

Coming down, we have Vorex, the Lord of Trials. He designs the cruelest missions each candidate and player will follow, and is a great enemy of anything termed "cheat".

From the right was Ithrial, the Collector. "Catch them young" was always his watchword. His presence was clearly to assure himself of entertainment as he treated players like assets and experimented on them as he liked.

Then, there is Kaleith, the Betrayer. "All whom I aid shall pay a price", his guttural tone always states whenever he is in action. He is the god who aids players for a price. A price that will bring upon you, disadvantages!

Then, in the middle, was the author decider of the lives of players. Nyxara, the Goddess of Death. She, and she alone commands the protocol that erases and eliminates unworthy players.

Hear thee! The attention of these gods has been attracted. The distraction was that of a blaring alert screen.

Ding!

[WARNING! New System has been detected!]

[Carrier– Candidate: ??? | Player: ???]

"Whatever this is, it's a threat," Elios's voice stated.

"Of course, a threat. But he should be wanted," Ithrial said, with his hands coiled as he relaxed on his throne.

"Whoever this is, or whatever it is, it is dangerous and should face immediate elimination," Vorex explained, facing Nyxara.

"Fine," she said, waving her hand in the air before the observation pool. Immediately after she did that, a small box materialized at the top corner of the screen.

[Tag: Threat!]

[Tag: Wanted!]

[Tag: Dangerous!]

[Action: Elimination upon capture!]

At the same time, each of the gods rose in amazement as they watched the current occurrence from the screen.

"The beast, is that meant to be seen in a test hunt?!"

"Vorex!"

"It was not my doing."

"I don't suspect him either."

"But, that candidate, how can he?"

"…"

"…"

"…"

***

The momentary beasts that chased after Dimm had surprisingly evolved into a combination.

"What in the world!" Dimm uttered with shock, his mouth wide-opened was covered, with a stare dangerously gushing out from wide eyes.

The combination that was a result of the fusion between different beasts during their evolution.

"What the hell?" he stretched.

The creature in front of him possesses the formidable head of a dragon, crowned with obsidian horns that blended with its glowing intelligent green eyes. Its eyes sent the message "I can see in and through darkness!"

Dimm swallowed.

Its body was covered in shimmering snake scales that appeared venomous. Its colors shifted like liquid metal, both mesmerizing and deadly.

"Well," Dimm said softly, rising from the ground, with the sword that was beside him tightened to his grip. But he was not done yet.

This creature in his front didn't possess the traditional limbs of either a snake or a dragon. Instead, it moves with the powerful, sinuous legs of an octopus. Each was lined with fangs, plus suckers capable of crushing stone into powder and ensnaring prey.

Dimm narrowed his stare towards the creature and an orange notation appeared immediately above its head.

[Aspect: Venom | Fire | Precision]

[Tag: Dictator!]

"Krrr!" he shocked. "How am I supposed to know what Aspect means?!"

[Request Gotten]

[Answer— an Aspect is simply a unique trait that resides in any living creature. It can come as transformation, or power enhancement used to define a character's abilities<<<

>>>It often represents the creature's or character's core power, identity or evolution path, and it can serve as a major factor to determine strength and how stronger the possessor will be.]

"Right?" Dimm commented. "With an aspect such as precision, it only means his life can be shattered into slices with just a swing of any of the creature's eight legs.

"Dictator? Merciless. Are these levels of mission not meant to be reserved for the players alone."

He couldn't stop imagining. Why was he, a candidate, bestowed with a mission with this level of difficulty? He was sure a monster tagged DICTATOR is not of a beginning rank, neither is it of a second.

If his guess was right, it should be the highest rank. Of course, dictators are very dangerous, so they should be the last rank. But, that was only his assumption anyway.

The sword that glowed with luminous intensity was raised before his eyes, his hands gripping it tightly. Even though the creature in his front possessed a very strong and dangerous aura, he seemed ready for the fight.

His mind disconnected with the sudden and rapid approach of one of the creature's legs in a horizontal slash.

"Whhim!"

The leg came with a rush that emitted air fluctuations in the form of waves.

And even as quick as it had come, Dimm also possessed a speed that was enough for him to dodge the attack. He found himself leaping high into the air, with his hands raised in y-form and his sword, still clutching in his right hand.

He landed softly, a few distance away from the creature's position, and raised his head towards the creature.

"I know you're amazed as to how I dodged your unexpected attack."

Of course, it was something of amazement that Dimm was able to avoid that attack. No other candidate or low player would do that.

The creature could talk. Its resounding voice echoed in the whole environment with a vibrating volume of intensified crackles.

"I am Squiggon!"

"Hmm," Dimm snapped.

"And no mere mortal has passed this path and survived!!!"

"Woah. Guess I will have to be an exception again."