Chapter 56: Trial Complete
A/N : there is slight correction in his initial real world stats as his Tier 0 stats were 100 each, there was mistake of 10, but now it's fixed, and it was only that chap that has correction ,as later when in Trial world he has average stat of 500, I said it's an average awakener stat.
****
{Congratulations, Challenger. Your final rating is: EX.}
{Congratulations, Challenger, on being the 2nd person to achieve this rating in the Trial Floor.}
{Challenger's rewards are...}
{Challenger's stats are multiplied by 10.}
{Challenger has received the Class Change Token (Legendary).}
{Challenger has received the Secondary Class Opening Token.}
{Challenger's Arune Ability is fully awakened.}
{Challenger's Arune Ability grade is raised by two ranks.}
{Challenger has gained a Legendary Item Box.}
{Challenger has received a Legendary Skill Catalogue.}
{Challenger has received a Legendary Pet Egg.}
{Challenger is now Tier I.}
{The trial world is closing.}
{As Challenger is rewarded with an EX rating, Challenger can take any 10 things to the real world.}
{The items include skills, items, and such; no living beings are allowed. Challenger's Familiar is not counted as it is a lifelong contract.}
{Challenger's Dark Pact is dissolved.}
{Challenger has 1 minute to choose the ten things. Make haste.}
Leon looked at the Tower system notification, his expression silent and heavy. "This is…"
"I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to her," he mumbled. Even though he knew she was not real—just an illusion created by the Tower—he couldn't help but regret not meeting her one last time or expressing his farewell properly.
'Fortunately, most of my things are in my charity system,' he thought, turning his focus to the remaining skills.
"Cherry, will my class skills be lost?" he asked, glancing at the familiar system AI.
[Yes, Host, they will be lost, but you will have a new chance to begin. This time, the opportunity will not start with basic choices but advanced ones, as your base stats—despite regressing to Tier I—are stronger than before,] Cherry replied calmly.
Leon nodded thoughtfully, acknowledging the explanation. He then scanned through the skills, making deliberate choices. Once he finalized his selections, the countdown timer for the trial's end ticked down to zero.
As the timer reached its end, the world around him began to dissolve. Before leaving, Leon glanced at Roselia and smiled faintly. "See you in the real world," he said softly.
Roselia, watching him with a mixture of emotions, nodded. "Until then," she replied before her figure vanished into the familiar space.
Leon sighed as the sound of the trial world being deleted echoed around him. Bit by bit, the space disintegrated into nothingness.
'Such a cruel Tower,' Roselia thought as she, too, entered the familiar space. Both Leon and his contracted companion exited the trial world, prepared to face the challenges of the real world ahead.
****
Leon opened his eyes as he looked around and found himself back in the Arune space of his, from where he started the trial.
{ Challenger Fang now can access the 1st floor of the tower }
With the tower system notification, a portal appeared in the room of his, and above is the symbol of Tower.
Leon nodded as he laid on the bed, "This feels like shit" he mumbled to himself, as Roselia materialized near him a she snuggled to him.
"You knew it was a trial world, so why?" Roselia asked softly, her gaze fixed on Leon.
"I don't know," Leon replied, his voice heavy with emotion. "Many times, I tried to ignore her, to remind myself she wasn't real. But there was something about her… something that always drew me in. And now… she's gone, just like that." He closed his eyes, his frustration and sorrow evident.
Roselia stepped closer, her voice gentle yet firm. "It's okay. Sometimes, the Tower lies. It twists things to mess with people."
Leon nodded faintly, but his weariness was evident. "I'm tired," he murmured, leaning against Roselia.
She sighed softly, guiding him to rest. "Then sleep," she whispered, wrapping her arms around him as he succumbed to exhaustion, finding solace in her embrace.
Though Roselia held him close, shielding him from the world, Leon's sleep was far from peaceful. Nightmares seemed to linger, haunting him even in rest.
Meanwhile, outside the trial, chaos erupted. The Tower had made an unprecedented announcement, shaking its challengers and the influential figures who monitored its progress. Whispers of Leon's achievements spread like wildfire, igniting a storm of speculation and intrigue across the Tower's countless levels.
Especially on the 100th floor, known as the Human Tower, chaos ensued. This level served as a bastion for humanity—the place where the strongest humans had carved out a foothold. Above it, each race had claimed dominion over their respective territories, with their footholds spanning from level 50 to level 200. While humanity wasn't the weakest race, it certainly wasn't among the strongest either. They had long struggled to keep up with other races, constantly fighting for survival and recognition.
However, today's announcement of an EX rating shattered the status quo. Across all floors, not just humanity but members of other races, scrambled for information. The announcement had named the challenger as Fang—an alias Leon had chosen during his time in the Tower.
The revelation of such a high rating had far-reaching consequences. For humans, it was a source of immense pride, a beacon of hope that they could rise beyond their current limitations. For the other races, it was a wake-up call, a stark reminder that humanity was not to be underestimated. Alliances were questioned, plans were revised, and countless influential figures mobilized their resources, determined to uncover everything about the enigmatic Fang.
Within hours, search parties were deployed, databases combed, and whispers spread through every corner of the Tower. To many, Fang was no longer just a name—it was a mystery, a challenge, and a threat.
Especially to the clan ruling the 200th floor, the announcement sent shockwaves. In their extensive databases, they were well aware that it was their revered ancestor who had first achieved an EX rating. However, their ancestor had done so on Nightmare difficulty, whereas Leon had managed the same feat on Insane difficulty—a distinction as vast as the heavens and earth.
Thankfully, the Tower's announcement hadn't disclosed the trial's difficulty level. Had it done so, the Fate Fairies Clan, known for their ruthless pride and unyielding dominance, would have already sent their deadliest assassins to annihilate every single human in the Tower. Such a drastic measure would be taken not out of fear, but to preserve their supremacy and the prestige of their ancestor's unparalleled legacy.
This delicate omission from the announcement kept humanity momentarily safe. However, the Fate Fairies Clan was still on high alert, their pride unsettled by the mere possibility that someone—let alone a human—might rival their ancestor's achievement. Whispers spread through their ranks, and orders were quietly given to monitor and investigate this mysterious Fang.
For now, Leon's anonymity was his shield, but it was only a matter of time before the storm came crashing down.