It was a secretive place hidden deep underground, far away from where normal people could reach. In fact, this place was so heavily guarded that even powerful Psionic Warriors could not reach it without being detected.
Tall walls made of thick steel and powerful security systems were only two of this place's security measures. There were cameras everywhere, watching every corner of this place. Armed guards could be seen standing at each entrance, keeping an eye on anyone who tried to enter.
Only people with special permission were allowed in.
At that moment, three figures were making their way toward the depths of the underground facility. The person leading this group was a striking red-haired woman. She was also famous as the Ember Queen. Eryx and Nyra were following behind her.
Both the Ember Queen and Nyra carried cold, unreadable expressions. In contrast, Eryx appeared slightly distracted for some reason.
This place was special, but Eryx didn't seem to be observing his surroundings at all.
It is all because of what happened about an hour ago.
After telling Eryx about the Icy Flame Source, Ember Queen gave him a small bottle. This small bottle contained three drops of icy cold liquid. According to Ember Queen, these were three drops of Ice Poison extracted from her daughter, Celina. As long as he can enter the place where the Icy Flame Source is likely to appear, the Ice Poison will start boiling. This way, he would know that the Icy Flame Source is nearby.
Eryx became curious about the Ice Poison, so he took the small bottle from Ember Queen.
To his shock, the silent system suddenly startled him the moment he touched the test tube.
⟪3 drops of Ice Poison: 300 Energy Points⟫
Eryx was astonished.
This was clearly a trial. Eryx thought this trial was more like an illusion created by the owner of the mechanical voice using some sort of extraordinary method.
However, it seems he was utterly wrong.
If this was truly an illusion, how can the current situation be explained?
Why was the Ice Poison giving him energy points? Moreover, each drop was worth 100 Energy Points. This poison's value was obviously not low.
Was everything really an illusion?
Eryx could not help but think about the second trial again. The detail clearly told him to try making decisions that differ from Azadin's.
In other words, everything has already happened. The life he is living now has already been lived by Azadin, perhaps very long ago. However, Azadin must have some regrets, and that's how this trial has come about.
Of course, everything was Eryx's guess.
What made Eryx excited was the fact that he could extract energy from Ice Poison. It also means he doesn't need to enter the pocket dimension, deal with life-threatening dangers, and look for the Icy Flame Source. He can cure Celina without going through so much trouble.
All he needs to do is touch Celina and extract High-Level Energy Points, and the Ice Poison will disappear after losing its energy.
However, Eryx didn't choose to do this. He still wanted to enter the pocket dimension. After all, if Ice Poison can be extracted for High-Level Energy Points, there are bound to be other treasures that can be exchanged for energy points. And such treasures are likely to exist inside the Pocket Dimension.
Thus, Eryx decided to enter the Morning Snow Pocket Dimension under the guise of obtaining the Icy Flame Source.
Currently, the three of them were walking deeper into this place. This place appeared to be some sort of facility, but it was still different.
As they moved deeper, Eryx felt the air around him becoming colder. The path was lit by dim blue lights, and everything was quiet and tense.
The further they went, the more security he saw. There were laser barriers, locked doors with special codes, and even more guards who didn't look friendly at all.
"We are here!"
They stopped in front of a giant gate. Four armed Psionic Warriors were standing in front of this gate.
Ember Queen scanned her ID and the gate opened slowly.
What appeared in front of Eryx was something he had never imagined seeing here.
On the other side of this gate was a huge fracture in the air. It looked like the space itself was broken.
This fracture in space was very similar to the one Eryx had witnessed back on Earth. It is just that this fracture was comparatively smaller than the fracture that appeared in the sky of Earth.
This fracture was also similar to those many in the sky of Infinite Land Star.
Eryx was as the fracture shimmered and glowed faintly like a crack in a mirror, but instead of reflecting, it showed swirling mist and faint blue lights from another world.
This fracture was the entrance to the Morning Snow Pocket Dimension. It was the only way in and was tightly controlled because of the dangers inside. The entire area around the fracture was secured to make sure only those who were ready for the risks could step through.
The Ember Queen pointed at the fracture in space and said, "When you're ready, you should enter the pocket dimension. You might already know this, but I'll explain a few things about pocket dimensions. These are fragments of complete worlds that have long since been destroyed. Some pocket dimensions were created by Star Lord-level Psionic Warriors or stronger, but such pocket dimensions are incredibly rare and hard to find."
"The Morning Snow Pocket Dimension is just a small, broken piece of a once-complete world. How that world was destroyed or what its original name was is unknown. Since that land is covered in ice and snow, and night never falls there, we call it the Morning Snow Pocket Dimension."
"The main dangers inside the Morning Snow Pocket Dimensions are from beasts such as Snow Rabbits and Ice Bears. Other than these Beasts, you may have to face ice storms, land collapsing, cold wave eruptions, and more. Inside, you have to be careful. I've already sent the map to your NeoVisor, and marked the location of Icy Flame Valley."
Eryx nodded and looked at the NeoVisor on his wrist.
NeoVisor is a high-tech communication and holographic interface device that is worn like a wristband or visor over the eyes. It combines augmented reality (AR) with holographic projection, allowing the user to interact with a wide range of virtual screens, objects, and communication functions seamlessly.
This was such a useful device that Eryx wanted it to appear even in the Infinite Land Star.
Ember Queen gestured to Nyra, and Nyra took out a small circular device. Then she placed it on Eryx's chest and pressed.
Immediately, a surge of energy pulses outward as liquid-metal nanites spread across the body like flowing mercury. Within seconds, they harden into a sleek, form-fitting exosuit, providing full-body protection.
This armor was both lightweight and incredibly strong. Eryx could tell that it was capable of withstanding extreme impacts, energy blasts, and harsh environmental conditions very easily.
"Aegis Core!"
Eryx was surprised. Due to Azadin's memories, he knew this armor was called Aegis Core, which is a highly advanced, compact armor system designed for instant deployment in high-risk environments.
Aegis Core is very costly and even Sullen Family doesn't have more than three of this armor. He did not expect Ember Queen to provide him with such armor.
But then again, it was very normal. After all, the current him was an ordinary person. He had not even awakened, yet he was about to risk his life for someone else.
Thinking about risking his life, Eryx could not help but recall the second task given by the mechanical voice for this trial.
The task was: Will you live to die or will you die to live?
Now that he thought about it, wasn't he about to face both situations inside the pocket dimension? He was alive and well, yet he was willingly stepping into a place so dangerous that even Mental Core Realm Psionic Warriors had perished helplessly. He was choosing to risk everything for a slim chance at survival, knowingly walking into a death trap, just to look for an "Icy Flame Source".
But what if he actually died inside?
Would he fail the trial and reappear in the great hall, as if nothing had happened?
Or... would he still exist after death? Would something beyond his understanding take place?
"Be careful," Nyra warned Eryx and retreated.
Eryx nodded at Nyra and Ember Queen, then walked into the fracture.
Before he stepped inside, he heard Ember Queen speaking, "I've invested a lot in you this time. Don't die. Come back alive, with Icy Flame Source. As long as you can bring back the Icy Flame Source, I promise I will help you awaken even at the cost of my own cultivation."
Just like that, Eryx disappeared inside the pocket dimension.
Outside, Nyra looked at Ember Queen, who slowly nodded. Then, both withdrew from this huge room and closed the gate tightly.