The next day came faster than Aren expected.He dragged himself up at the crack of dawn, worked out, and took his shower—every second filled with the heavy thought that he was about to enter a realm of monsters and magic. He was nervous, but doing his best to keep a calm head as he stepped into all of this.
As noon drew closer, he got dressed: a simple grey hoodie, black trousers, and the black boots he owned.
He lifted his bed, revealing the sword he had hidden underneath. The past him had bought a simple steel sword "just in case."
Aren picked it up, pulling it out of the scabbard. His reflection stared back at him in the polished metal.
He slid it back in and tightened his grip.
He picked up his phone from the table.
A message from his sister sat on the screen:
[Hey bro, I guess this is it. Kick some ass for me. Oh, and also, mum and dad were shocked when they heard you were going. They told me to tell you to stop, but what's the point? You won't listen.]
He stared at the message for a few seconds, then smiled faintly.
He clicked the side button, turning off the phone, placed it on the table, and walked out.
He locked the door behind him and slipped the key into his pocket—walking out for what might be the last time.
He took a taxi directly to the gate. From a distance, he could already see the large crowd.
The taxi stopped a bit away, and Aren got out, hoodie pulled over his head as he walked toward the location.
He stood silently among the crowd, waiting for someone to speak or for the gate to open.
The gate was out in the open, visible from the roads, but it sat behind a high-grade military wall capable of sending thousands of volts into anyone who tried to sneak in. Several armed guards patrolled the entrance.
The "gate" itself looked like two massive, slightly curved pillars with a base covered in ancient engravings.
Everyone just stood there.
The entire road was packed with people, all waiting.
When noon came, they would all walk in.
Were there any regulations? None.
People believed no one was stupid enough to throw their life away by acting recklessly.
Besides, the gate rejected anyone who hadn't awakened—so those under fifteen couldn't sneak in.
Not long after Aren arrived, the gates activated.
A deafening boom thundered across the sky.
The air became heavy as blue light formed between the pillars, twisting and warping until it became a swirling vortex.
Seeing this, everyone grew silent and focused.
This was it.
The moment their lives would change forever—the beginning of the God's Trial.
Military men walked to the heavy doors and slid them open.
Immediately, the crowd flooded in—no rushing, no shouting.
Everyone knew they would get inside.
The air was thick, filled with excitement, fear, determination, and dread—all mixed together in a chaotic storm of emotion.
One by one, thousands of awakened walked into the glowing vortex.
Aren stepped in as well.
The moment his foot crossed through the gate—everything went black.
[…]
When Aren opened his eyes again, he was standing in a dark realm that stretched infinitely in every direction.
A bright light shone ahead of him, like a solitary star floating in the abyss.
One by one, every awakened from his town appeared beside him, thousands and thousands of them.
This wasn't everyone in the world—only those from their region. Others would appear elsewhere.
Before anyone could fully grasp what was happening, a figure descended from the light.
A being draped in a beautiful white-and-gold gown.
Four angelic wings.
White hair flowing without wind.
She floated there like the morning sun—commanding all attention.
"Welcome, Awakened, to the God's Trial.
Your journey begins here. A hundred grand trials await you, and through them, you will save your world."
Her voice was calm and sweet… yet something in it made Aren's stomach twist.
"I am Elton, an Angel and one of the overseers of the trials.
My job now is simple—to welcome you and wish you the best of luck."
She brought her hands together.
"Welcome."
The word echoed—rippling through the infinite dark. Aren stared at her, and for a moment, she looked at him, and there was a slight frown on her face, but he instantly waved it off as over thinking.
Suddenly, the world began to stretch away.
Elton drifted back at incredible speed until she was swallowed by the light, and everyone was pulled into a warp.
Darkness again.
[…]
The smell of wet grass filled Aren's nose.
He felt dampness beneath him.
His eyes shot open.
He pushed himself up—and found himself in a vast, endless grassland.
Over a thousand people lay scattered around him, each of them an awakened who had entered the trial from his town.
One by one, they all began getting up, staring at the new world before them, the Trial Lands.
Aren stood fully to his feet.
Then—
A screen appeared before him.
[Name: Aren Raze]
[Class: ###]
[Type: Shadow]
[Tier: ####]
[Level: 1]
[Soul Fragments: 0/100]
[Soul Energy: 1000]
[Strength: 10]
[Speed: 8]
[Defense: 8]
[Constitution: 10]
[Intelligence: 15]
[Skills: Consume]
[Countdown to First Trial: 24 Hours]
From the looks on everyone's faces, they too had received their system screens.
They were fully awakened now.
And the trials had officially begun.