Chapter Three: Trials

They climbed in silence.

Six of them remained. Half the group that had survived the Greyy. Their faces were gaunt, skin pale in the Tower's sterile light. No one spoke about the others who had vanished. That chapter was closed, buried under unspoken fear.

Caleb led the way, as always. The others followed without protest. It was easier than arguing, and safer than guessing. Authority filled the void where hope had faltered.

They reached the third landing. The stairwell ended abruptly, giving way to a circular platform floating in an endless expanse. No walls, no supports, just a disc of cold metal suspended in a sea of soft blue mist.

At its center stood a pedestal, holding a sealed container the size of a shoebox.

Above it, text hovered in the air:

FLOOR TWO

Trial of Trust

Time Limit: 30 Minutes

Group Objective: None

Individual Reward: All Stats +2

The promise of a stat boost sharpened their attention.

"Stats?" the ex-survivalist asked, squinting at the words. His voice was rough, edged with suspicion. "What's that mean?"

Soren read the text twice, his brow furrowing. "No group goal?"

Dina crossed her arms. "So it's optional?"

Caleb stepped closer, eyes fixed on the container. "No group objective likely means no penalty for the rest if one fails. But only one gets the reward."

They all stared at the box, its metal surface gleaming under the Tower's light.

The message shifted:

Only one may open the box. Choose.

Soren edged forward. "We take turns touching it, that's fair."

"Fair?" the ex-survivalist's voice cracked. "Like Caleb said, only one of us gets it."

The security guy, slightly limping said: "What if we all touch it at once?"

Caleb watched them bicker, he stayed silent and his mind calculating.

Dina turned to him. "You're quiet. Got a thought?"

He nodded. "If we fight over this, no one reaches Floor Three."

"And if we don't fight?" she pressed.

"Then we prove we're still human."

His words didn't land well. Their eyes betrayed it. Distrust creeping in, the Tower's influence already twisting their thoughts. Not with monsters, but with choices.

Caleb stepped forward. "I'll solve this."

He placed both hands on the container before anyone could object.

The screen flashed:

Claimant Confirmed

Others Locked Out

Dina swore. "You said we—"

Caleb quickly shot her a cold glance as he opened the box.

He opened the box.

Inside rested a vial of dark liquid and a card.

Reward Claimed: All Stats +2

The card dissolved in his grip. He drank the vial, its bitter taste burning down his throat. Warmth spread through his veins. His heartbeat steadied, stronger. His movements sharpened, muscles coiling with new precision. His vision snapped into focus, every detail of the platform vivid.

[Caleb Stray - Level 2]

[Strength: 12 → 14, Agility: 13 → 15, Endurance: 12 → 14, Perception: 13 → 15]

[HP: 100%, Stamina: 100%]

Soren's eyes narrowed. "What did that do to you?" he muttered, stepping back.

The Tower didn't seem to reward trust and cooperation, it rewarded decisiveness.

The others stepped back, their postures shifting. A crack had formed in the group, subtle, silent, but growing. Caleb wasn't just acting as leader now. He was a rival.

They reached the next door without a word.

FLOOR THREE

Trial of the Eye

Group Objective: Choose the True Path

Penalty: Group Reduction

Reward: Calm Heart

The words hit like a blade.

Soren blinked. "Group reduction?"

The message clarified:

Whoever chooses the wrong path will be removed. Choose the correct door among five to proceed. One choice is true; the others lead to ruin. You have ten minutes.

Five identical doors materialized around the platform's edge, each marked with a faint, shifting symbol, spirals, lines, and shapes that flickered deceptively. Caleb's heightened Perception caught subtle differences: a faint hum from one door, a slight distortion in another's frame.

The ex-survivalist's eyes darted. "What the hell is this?"

Dina's voice was tight. "We pick a door? Based on what?"

Soren growled. "It's forcing us to gamble. Like a damn game show."

Caleb didn't smile. "Game shows don't kill you for guessing wrong."

He studied the doors. The second hummed faintly, almost inviting. The third's symbol flickered too quickly, unnatural. The fifth felt… right, though he couldn't say why. His newly acquired perception stat nudged his instincts.

"We can't just pick randomly," the security guy said, leaning on his splinted leg. "There's gotta be a clue."

"Then what?" Dina snapped. "We wait, and it chooses for us?"

Caleb's mind raced. The Tower thrived on deception. He had to act before indecision trapped them.

"Second door's a trap," he said. "It feels too obvious. Fifth feels right."

The ex-survivalist scoffed. "Feels right? You're guessing!"

"You got a better idea?" Caleb asked, voice calm but cutting.

The ex-survivalist's face reddened. "Yeah. I'm not following your gut." He stormed toward the second door, fist raised as if to strike Caleb on the way.

That was enough.

The screen flashed:

Incorrect Choice. Penalty Enforced.

The ex-survivalist vanished as he reached the door. There was no scream or blood. He was just erased from existence.

Correct Path Confirmed. Floor Cleared.

The fifth door glowed briefly, unlocking with a soft click.

The group stood frozen, horror etching their faces.

They looked at Caleb, fear and what seemed like hope flickering in their eyes, small but growing.