Aren appeared on the second platform.
It was a wide space, just as large as the town below. The crystals stood at the center, but unlike the town filled with buildings and streets, this level was completely flat. Marble tiles stretched across the platform in a patterned mix of white and black. Each tile was big enough for one person to stand on, but not two.
Aren scanned the area and saw that many others had made it, about two hundred people. He didn't bother with any of them. Instead, he walked to the edge of the platform, leaned against the marble wall that surrounded it, and relaxed.
One by one, more participants arrived through the center crystal. Bloodied, injured, exhausted—most of them looked shaken by what they'd done to pass the first platform. Aren simply watched silently, gathering his strength.
Eventually, after the last person appeared, Elton descended—wings spread wide as she floated above them with a smile that didn't match their misery.
"Congratulations to all of you who made it here," she said. "Exactly 420 of you advanced. Some of you followed the normal route of killing everyone in the town, and some of you used… creative interpretations of the rules."
Her voice echoed across the platform.
"The second trial will begin in two hours. Use the time to rest and prepare. But first, all of you who passed the first stage of the trial will receive a reward."
She waved her hand in a sharp, precise pattern. Immediately, the assistance screens lit up.
[You have received a package in your inventory.]
Elton gave them one last smile. "Good luck. Prepare yourselves well. There are things on this platform that may help you."
She was about to vanish, but she glanced down at Aren. For a split second, a frown crossed her face, then she disappeared.
Aren didn't see it. His focus was on the screen. He opened the package and found three items: a healing potion, a small black stone, and a fragment of a map.
He took the healing potion immediately and gulped it down. Warm vitality surged through him, humming under his skin as every wound rapidly sealed. Within seconds, he was completely healed. The speed shocked him.
Next, he picked up the black stone.
As soon as he held it, the system chimed:
[You have gained a low-tier soul stone. You can absorb soul energy from the stone]
It didn't say how much energy it contained or how to absorb it. None of the participants seemed to know; they all stood around staring at their stones, confused. There was no technique, no instruction—nothing.
It was still a valuable reward, so everyone held on to theirs carefully.
But then Aren got a different notification:
[Do you wish to use Shadow Consume on the soul stone?]
He blinked. He could use Shadow Consume on this?
He looked around—everyone else seemed clueless. No one dared to absorb the stone because no one knew how.
Aren closed his fist around the stone.
"Consume," he whispered.
A shadow formed in his palm, swallowing the stone instantly.
He had assumed Shadow Consume only worked on enemies. Apparently, it could absorb non-living things too.
Immediately, another notification flashed:
[You have gained 200 soul fragments.]
[Level up. +4 stat points.]
Aren let out a breath. It was a decent reward… yet honestly? Killing five humans had given him more soul fragments. The comparison left him numb. All those lives lost, and the stone's worth didn't even come close.
But he pushed the feeling aside. The stone was gone. He set the stat points aside for later, no need to rush. For now, leveling up meant his soul energy increased, which was good enough.
He pulled out the fragment of the map next. Everyone had one, which meant something important was hidden on the platform. But if they all started searching, it would turn into a bloodbath. No one here would share anything.
Not wanting to be part of the chaos, Aren slipped his map fragment into his pocket and pretended he never received it. He kept his head low, trying to gather his thoughts.
But then he heard footsteps approaching.
When he looked up, the silver-haired S-tier boy stood in front of him, staring right at him.
There was a silence for a few seconds after they locked eyes. Then the silver-haired boy spoke first.
"Hello."
His voice was short and quick.
"Yeah, hello," Aren replied.
"Can I sit?" the boy asked.
"It's not like I can control anything here inside the trial. You can do whatever you want," Aren said.
'What's with him? Why does he suddenly want to sit with me? I know for a fact he knows who I am. Does he want to force me to be his slave or something? If that's the case, then he's in for a shock.'
The boy sat down beside him and leaned against the wall. He stared at the crystal for a few seconds, then glanced at Aren out of the corner of his eye.
"You survived the first stage. It seems everyone underestimated you," he said.
'What's with this dude? Why the hell is he talking to me? Tsk. I don't want him anywhere near me… but I have a feeling he won't stop.'
"Yeah. Luck, skill, strength—whatever it was, something got me through the first stage," Aren replied.
"I doubt it was luck," the boy said. "Oh, and my name is Leon."
"Aren," he answered.
"Nice meeting you, Aren. You see, I know your tier didn't show, and everyone thinks you're weak… but I can tell you didn't get here through luck. There's more to you. So I wanted to extend an olive branch. If there's ever a need to work together, you and I can."
Aren looked at him with a confused expression.
"What the hell? Why would you want to mix yourself with me, bro?"