The moment Eokimo crossed the invisible line where the barrier had been, a faint chill ran across his skin.
Not cold.
Just… strange.
Like stepping into a place that wasn't meant for normal people.
Behind him, Rye walked in silently. The others followed soon after.
Inside, the air felt different. Still. Heavy.
The ruined town stretched before them — cracked stone roads, leaning buildings, broken statues that had long lost their faces.
Yet nothing moved.
No creatures.
No sounds.
No wind.
Eokimo frowned.
"Is it just me… or is this place way too quiet?"
Lira tossed her coin once.
Clink.
"It's a Safe Zone," she said. "Maybe this is the only place the System isn't trying to murder us."
Dagan didn't look convinced.
Sen remained silent.
Rye glanced around carefully, studying the empty streets.
Then—
[Ping — System Notification]
Five translucent windows appeared before them at the same time.
Everyone froze.
Eokimo read quickly.
[Trial Announcement]
Trial Name: First Convergence
Participants: 5 Candidates
Objective: Survive the Trial
Trial Begins In: 30 Seconds
"…Survive?" Eokimo repeated slowly.
"That's the entire objective?"
Lira laughed quietly.
"Simple objectives are always the worst ones."
Dagan pulled his spear from his back.
"Get ready."
Eokimo's heart began beating faster.
"Wait — survive what?"
As if answering him, the ground beneath the plaza trembled.
Cracks spread across the stone.
A deep rumbling sound echoed through the empty town.
Sen suddenly spoke.
"…Something's coming."
The center of the plaza collapsed inward with a thunderous crash.
Dust shot into the air.
From the darkness below, something massive began to move.
A huge shape slowly pulled itself out of the pit.
Stone scraped against stone.
The creature's body looked like it had been carved from the ruins themselves — jagged rock forming its limbs, glowing lines of faint red light running through the cracks like veins.
Two burning eyes opened.
The system window flickered again.
[Trial Creature: Ruin Guardian]
Eokimo's stomach dropped.
"That thing is the trial?!"
The creature let out a low grinding roar.
The sound echoed through the empty town like mountains colliding.
Dagan grinned.
"Now this feels more like the Trials."
Rye stepped forward slightly.
His voice calm.
"Spread out."
The Ruin Guardian lifted one massive arm.
Then slammed it into the ground.
The shockwave shattered stone and sent debris flying across the plaza.
Eokimo barely jumped aside in time.
His heart was racing now.
His mind screamed one thing.
This thing could crush us instantly.
The system window appeared again.
[Trial Start]
The Ruin Guardian turned its burning gaze toward them.
And charged.