The truth about the trials

Pain dragged Eris back into awareness—dull and persistent, pulsing through every inch of her body.

She stirred, the cold stone beneath her a stark reminder that she was still alive.

"She's conscious," Orin's calm voice cut through the haze. "Took longer than expected."

A faint sigh followed. "Her injuries were severe," Saria noted. "Even with a potion, the body can only heal so fast."

Eris blinked, her vision sharpening. The crew stood around her—six figures, steady and patient, watching rather than judging.

Liren, kneeling in front of her, held out a small vial. "Drink."

She took it without question. The potion burned down her throat, warmth spreading through her chest as the worst of the pain faded.

Debka studied her quietly. "You fought through the trial better than I expected."

Aven crossed her arms. "And you made it out successfully. That's worth noting."

Eris exhaled, flexing her fingers. "That crystal… it wasn't normal."

The Dungeon Crystal's Truth

Liren nodded. "No, it wasn't."

Saria met Eris's gaze. "You should know this now—there are different types of dungeon crystals. Most function under system constraints, but the one you entered doesn't. Those are rare and dangerous."

Debka leaned against the wall. "And it's the only kind that boosts core attributes."

Eris frowned. "And you sent me into it?"

Liren didn't flinch. "We needed to see what you could handle."

Orin's voice was smooth, unwavering. "Understand this: no one joins a crew without proving their worth. We don't take in liabilities."

"And now that you're here, you have a place," Aven added. "If you can keep up."

Saria gave her a measured look. "It wasn't personal, Eris. We don't gamble with untested players. But you came back."

Debka exhaled, arms crossed. "And that means something."

Officially One of Them

Liren reached into her coat and tossed something her way.

Eris caught it—a small, worn insignia. The weight of it pressed against her palm, heavier than she expected.

"You're one of us now."

Aven gave a slow nod. "You've earned the name. Don't waste it."

Saria glanced at her. "Rest while you can. You'll need it."

Eris held onto the insignia, her grip firm. This wasn't just survival anymore. She had a place. A role. A team.

She wasn't alone anymore—maybe this was a place to belong.

---

Eris awoke to the dim glow of the embers, the scent of damp earth and lingering exhaustion pressing down on her.

For a moment, she simply lay there, her body aching from the trial's aftermath. Then, slowly, she pushed herself up, muscles protesting.

A small ration pack sat beside her. Debka must have left it. She unwrapped it and took a bite, forcing herself to eat despite the bland taste.

The lodge felt… emptier. The tense energy of a full group was gone, leaving behind a stillness she wasn't used to.

Where was everyone?

A faint scraping sound drew her attention. Across the shelter, Orin crouched near a jagged rock, sharpening a dagger with slow, practiced strokes. The faint sparks flickered in the dim light.

He didn't look up.

Eris pushed herself upright, brushing stiffness from her limbs. She hesitated, then made her way over.

"You're finally awake," Orin muttered, still focused on his blade.

Eris frowned. "How long was I out?"

"A little over an hour." He tested the dagger's edge with his thumb before sliding it back into its sheath. Only then did he glance at her.

She scanned the empty lodge. "Where's everyone else?"

Orin leaned back against the rock. "Debka and Saria left. It's Saria's turn for the third-stage trial today. Liren and Ash are handling something. Aven's still here."

As if on cue, Aven's voice cut in. "Not that you'd notice."

Eris turned to see her leaning lazily against the wall, arms crossed.

"Figured you'd need a proper rundown before you jump into another trial," she added.

Orin nodded. "Liren told me to explain the system details."

Eris arched a brow. "I thought I understood the basics."

"You understand enough to survive." Orin's gaze was steady. "But survival isn't the same as winning."

He gestured for her to sit. "Listen up."

---

The System's Hidden Rules

1. Rank Progression Isn't Automatic

Orin slid his dagger back into its sheath. "Magic rank-ups don't happen just because you gather enough energy. Every trial gives you the chance to raise your rank cap—Inferior High to Neutral Low, then Neutral High to Divine Low. But for Divine magic, you only move up sub-ranks per trial—Divine Low to Mid, Mid to High."

Eris frowned. "And if I don't meet the requirement?"

"Then you stay stuck until the next scheduled trial."

Aven let out a short laugh. "Most people don't figure that out until it's too late."

Tension crept into Eris's shoulders.

She had to push herself as close to the next threshold as possible before each trial—or be left behind.

---

2. The True Nature of Trials

Orin's expression darkened. "Trial One was just a warm-up."

Aven smirked. "Trial Two is when it gets serious. The difficulty spikes hard."

Eris narrowed her eyes. "And Trial Five?"

Silence.

Orin's fingers tightened slightly against his sheath. Aven, usually smug, didn't look amused.

"No one's ever returned from it."

The air in the lodge felt colder. Unease crawled up Eris's spine.

She remembered that Liren had said they believed they had gotten their due rewards—but no one was sure. They could be dead or worse.

She exhaled slowly, forcing the dread down.

3. Main and Sub Missions

Orin ran his fingers along the edge of his blade. "Unlike Trial One, later trials have objectives."

Eris narrowed her eyes. "Objectives?"

"Main and sub missions although the system won't tell you what they are," Aven clarified, smirking.

Main Missions: Fail, and you suffer rank downgrades, core attribute loss—penalties you don't want even after you escape alive. Sub Missions: Optional, but they give rewards—skills, system credits, and sometimes rarer things.

Eris crossed her arms. "And how does anyone figure them out if the system doesn't tell us?"

Orin tapped his dagger against the stone. "The NPCs inside the trials. They hint at them. Pay attention."

Eris frowned. NPCs…? She hadn't thought much about the figures inside the first trial. They had felt like background scenery, not something to interact with.

"You're saying the NPCs know what the system won't tell us?"

"Exactly," Orin confirmed. "The system doesn't hand-feed players information. It's up to you to catch the details."

Eris exhaled slowly. That meant every interaction inside the trials mattered. She had to be observant—more than before.

Aven stretched. "Most people realize this after they fail a main mission. And by then, it's too late."

Eris clenched her jaw. Another layer of difficulty. Another trap waiting for the unprepared.

---

5. Time Differences in Trials

Eris flexed her fingers, absorbing the information. "How long do these trials actually last?"

Aven's smirk faded slightly. "Longer than you think."

Trial One: 7–14 days.

Trial Two: 1–2 months.

Trial Three: 3 months.

Trial Four: 6 months.

Trial Five: Unknown.

Eris stiffened. "Wait—Trial Two lasts months?"

Orin nodded. "The deeper you go, the longer you're stuck."

Her stomach twisted.

She had barely survived a week in Trial One. A full month? Two?

And Trial Five… was it endless?

"Food, shelter, injuries…" she murmured. "How do people even last that long?"

Aven shrugged. "They learn. Or they don't."

Orin met her gaze. "Time is a resource. If you waste it, you die."

Eris pressed her lips together.

She had thought she understood the difficulty of this game.

But now, staring at the sheer scale of what lay ahead—the months trapped in trials, the ever-tightening grip of the system, the silence surrounding Trial Five—she realized the truth.

This wasn't just a battle of survival.

It was a slow, calculated descent into something far worse.

And the game wasn't watching to see who survived.

It was waiting to see who broke first.