Chapter 333 - 331

Tutorial: 'Tower of Trials' is like a fleeting dream. This was not a figurative expression. It felt like players were actually experiencing it, but it was a 'dream' created by Harmakan's sorcery and Ammut's authority. Although players felt like they had lived through 'four years' within, in reality, not even a single 'second' had passed. The 'four years' experienced by the players followed a strictly predetermined storyline. While they could act on their own volition, it wouldn't change the main narrative of the predetermined story. A kind of lucid dream. In game terms, it was like an 'opening' cinematic, as Yoo Jinho put it.

"And before that, we have to show players the ruined future first, to give them motivation. A goal to go back to the past and change everything."

That was the reason why the first person the player encounters is an important figure from their actual memory. Starting with this, the players become completely absorbed with the protagonist, each with a 'goal' in mind, and live within that dream. Following the predetermined story, following the predetermined memories. They become the older brother of a 'younger sister' who doesn't actually exist. A natural resolve to protect sprouts. They suddenly become a breadwinner, risking their lives as an E-rank Hunter to enter the dungeon. In the process, they experience several near-death experiences. Repeating the process of actually dying and reviving, they bravely re-enter the dungeon; all these experiences are imprinted into the soul, as a system within the dream. This was a kind of consideration...

"Even if they're possessing avatars, it's difficult for ordinary people to actually risk their lives fighting magical beasts. Just walking across a crosswalk when a car is coming makes your body tense up and your heart pound; that's what ordinary people are like. So they need to adapt. The real purpose of the 'opening' is to imprint on their souls, again and again, the sensation that they can revive no matter how many times they die or get injured, inside the avatar."

After all, how many times would an ordinary person actually encounter magical beasts in their life? Even if a dungeon break occurred, they would usually be protected by soldiers or police and evacuate to a safe place. Merely hearing the roar of magical beasts from afar, or seeing them on the news, wouldn't provide a realistic experience. The fear of encountering a magical beast face-to-face. The sensation of being bitten by their teeth. Experiencing the flashbacks of life, thinking, 'Ah, so this is how I die,' was a major event that could actually become trauma.

"No matter how accustomed people are to virtual reality these days, the experience of dying through an avatar is a completely different sensation. After all, this isn't virtual reality, it's real."

That's why the 'dream' method was absolutely necessary. A magical device that allows one to indirectly experience Sung Jinwoo's past life, stored within Woo Jinchul's memories. That was the true nature of the Tutorial: 'Tower of Trials.' But not all the experiences players underwent were dreams. Only those four years. It was the opening, for immersion and motivation in the game. The vital part was what came next...

"The important thing is what comes after, to actually grow your avatar, you need your own effort." Yoo Jinho smiled meaningfully.

If those 'four years' that players experienced were a fleeting dream, when would the reality begin? Naturally, it would be from 'that day' onward.

* * *

"The commandments of the Cartenon Temple."

Thomas Andre had just entered a 'double dungeon' he discovered by chance, along with fellow Hunters. A wide, dome-shaped room. It was as large as, no, larger than, several Seoul Olympic Stadiums combined. And yet, the reason it felt somewhat cramped was because of the colossal figure of a god, the size of the Statue of Liberty, sitting on a huge throne in the innermost part. And a C-rank Magic-type Hunter named Song, who had been in this profession for 10 years, was reading the runic letters engraved on a stone tablet found here.

"W-wait..."

But suddenly, someone pulled on his arm. Turning around, he saw a female healer with a pale face, trembling and pointing at the giant statue.

"E-eyes... The statue's eyes just moved towards us."

'Eyes?'

At those words, Thomas Andre felt a chill and sharpened his senses.

'The sounds... it's suddenly quiet.' The sounds of the torches burning had stopped at some point. And in an atmosphere that had become eerily silent...

"First..."

Only Song's voice, continuing to read the stone tablet, echoed.

"Thou shall worship God. Thou shall praise God. Thou shall prove thy faith. Those who fail to obey these commandments shall not be spared."

And as soon as those words ended...

Boom!

"Wh-what?"

"What's that sound...?!"

Suddenly, a noise erupted, the giant door they had entered through closed. And at that moment...

Whoosh!

Thomas Andre' awoke from the 'dream.'

"Wh-what?!"

While everyone else panicked. He was flustered for a completely different reason... A sudden sensation of vividness. His soul, having experienced the dream for four years, had perfectly adapted to the avatar. And no matter how much of an E-rank avatar he was trapped in, he was once a National-Level Hunter. While everyone was looking at the firmly shut door and panicking. He, instead, turned his head in the opposite direction, gritting his teeth.

"Damn it!"

Sure enough, the statue's eyes, which had been bothering him earlier... were looking down at him!

He roared. "Everyone, get down!"

Ziiiiing—!

The red beams of light shot out from both eyes of the statue.

The opening cinematic had ended, and the main game had begun. From this moment on, it was the main quest that all players who connected to the Tower of Trials from all over the world would have to experience. And it was also the true ordeal where normal people could awaken, just as Ahjin Soft had advertised. Everything up to this point, was what players would experience within just a few seconds of connecting to the Tower of Trials. For reference, logging out was possible at any time from now on.

* * *

"L-Log out...!"

No matter how many times they experienced death in their dreams, some timid players crawled out of the capsules, vomiting. While trembling at the excessive realism created by Ahjin Soft.

"Crazy bastards, why did they make the game so realistic?!"

But even before they could leave a negative review of Ahjin Soft online, they were astonished by the numerous reviews already posted.

– That's crazy. I really Awakened.

– I barely managed to Awaken, too...

– I... died so many times... But I did it.

– Everyone, hang in there. This wasn't designed to be a quest you could clear.

𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

– Haha, to think I'd become an Awakened. I still can't believe it.

– Ahjin Soft's technology is truly insane.

– Just praise it. Yoo Jinho must be a god.

"...Wh-what? They really Awakened? Is it real?"

The players who had vomited couldn't believe their eyes. There was a flood of reviews, to say the least. Because there were so many different posts about awakening, it couldn't be false even accounting for clickbait!

"Damn it."

"Damn it! I'm going to challenge it again!"

In the end, the players who had logged out couldn't help but muster their courage and reconnect to the game.

"How could I give up when I got into the beta test!"

This was because the avatars were in short supply. It wasn't an opportunity offered to all of humanity. It was too sweet a fruit to give up, having overcome numerous competitors to be selected. So, some time later, new Awakened individuals were born from the Tower of Trials. Of course, they started as E-rank Awakened individuals at level 1, but the fact that they could level up and gain skills just by continuing to play the game began to spread throughout the world. And that rumor reached the ears of Prime Minister Yuri Orlov of Russia.

"...The Tower of Trials was real?"

"According to reports from informants planted in various countries, it seems to be true."

At the secretary's words, Yuri Orlov gritted his teeth.

"But why is there no Tower of Trials in our country?"

"..."

The Prime Minister's expression, revealing his displeasure, made the secretary hold his tongue. For some reason, the Tower of Trials, which had appeared simultaneously all over the world, had not appeared here in Russia. This was truly strange, considering its vast landmass. Just look at China; because the land was vast, many Towers of Trials had appeared in several cities. But Russia was an exception.

"Have we still not heard back from Ahjin Soft?"

"That... yes."

"This bastard! Is he doing this on purpose!"

Crash!

Yuri Orlov threw the wine glass he was holding. It shattered dangerously close to the secretary, but the man, accustomed to this, just stood there stiffly with a pale face.

"Why? Is it because Yoo Jinho of Ahjin Soft happens to be Sung Suho's relative? Because I investigated Sung Suho's background? Ridiculous! I had no idea Sung Suho had anything to do with the Apostle of Paradise! And it's not like the Apostle of Paradise died saying my name!"

He knew the Apostle of Paradise's personality very well. He considered all humans insignificant. So he didn't even bother to memorize their names, nor did he feel the need to. Therefore, he was confident that there was no chance the name Yuri Orlov would have come out of his mouth. But then...

The secretary, terrified and desperately racking his brains, found a possibility that might not offend Yuri Orlov's temper.

"...Perhaps it's because of the barrier surrounding our cities."

"What?"

"The Tower of Trials didn't actually have buildings built, but appeared suddenly in various countries through a Gate. Even Ahjin Soft wouldn't be able to penetrate the Prime Minister's barrier and open a Gate in our cities..."

"...Hm. That makes sense." Yuri Orlov, hearing a sensible answer for the first time in a while, stroked his chin with a satisfied smile.

"Indeed, my barrier can't be penetrated by even S-rank magical beasts. It's possible. Then why haven't I heard back from Ahjin Soft?"

"They must be extremely busy with contacts from all over the world, so perhaps inquiries are simply piling up without any other reason. It would take all their employees to operate such a game." Finally, as the Prime Minister's mood seemed to improve, the secretary gained confidence and tried to appease him.

"Hm. That's not wrong. So what should we do..."

Yuri Orlov fell into thought for a moment. Regardless of the reason, it wasn't good that the number of Awakened individuals was increasing in all other countries except Russia. Both politically, and economically.

"I can't lift the barrier, though..."

Currently, Russia's major cities were thoroughly protected from magical beasts thanks to the barrier Yuri Orlov himself had erected. If that barrier was lifted, the magical beasts swarming outside would immediately attack. And because of that risk, Russia had effectively become a colony ruled by Yuri Orlov.

But, ruler or not. Yuri Orlov's dictatorship was so vicious that even fellow Russians were sick of it. But who in Russia would dare to criticize his command? He would banish anyone who displeased him from the city, leaving them to be devoured by magical beasts in the night.

"Hm. There's no other way. We'll have to temporarily steal one of the Towers of Trials from a neighboring country."

At his murmur, the secretary's face turned white. What did those words even mean? It wasn't like the Tower of Trials was an object that could be stolen. So, in the end, those words meant...

"Prime Minister. A-are you thinking of starting a war?"

"What are you talking about? A war, what a harsh word." At the secretary's reaction, Yuri Orlov shrugged and chuckled.

"There's no need to get my hands dirty. I just need to ask a friend I made recently." At Yuri Orlov's words, he instinctively trembled. Because the secretary was his close aide, he knew the identity of the 'new friend' he had recently made.

Yuri Orlov opened the safe in the corner of his office and took out the stone tablet stored inside. Then, as if using a walkie-talkie, he brought his mouth close to it and spoke.

"Hey. Are you listening? I have a favor to ask of you."

Then, after a moment. A voice came from beyond the stone tablet.

[...Perfect timing. I also happened to have something I wanted from you.]

At that answer, Yuri Orlov's lips curled up.

"Oh? What perfect timing indeed. What do you need?"

[My butterflies are hungry. Very much so.]

"Then that won't do. If your butterflies are to be fed, you'll need a hunting ground. Shall I find you a suitable target? There are many places these days where people just lie around, making them easy to hunt."

[Where is it?]

At the straightforward response of the other party, Yuri Orlov's smile grew even wider.

"Have you heard of the Tower of Trials?"