Raven slowly opened his eyes, finding himself sitting on a chair in a room which felt com
His memories of what happened before were unclear, but the words from the mysterious masked man still bothered him. He stood up, feeling a bit sore, but was surprised to find that he was completely healed.
Right in front of him popped up a translucent blue screen confirming his recovery:
```
Level: 2
Class: Rogue / Blood Seeker
Title: Blood Seeker
Health: 60/60
Mana: 35/35
Strength: 7
Agility: 10
Intelligence: 8
Skills:
- Bloodcraft: Trial (10/100) - Basic blood manipulation.
- Blood Manipulation: Trial
- Blood Chain: Unlocked (5/100) - Creates blood tendrils. Needs focus.
- Basic Combat: Level 1
```
Raven checked the room carefully. Thick stone walls surrounding him, a single window covered by dark curtains, blocking the view outside. With just a candle on a table cast flickering light across its surface.
He realized this was another test, and it made him feel uneasy.
On the table, seven ceramic plates were arranged in a perfect circle, each having different food: bread, cheese, fruit, meat, pastries, vegetables, and a small bowl of soup. In the center of the circle, there's a glass cup filled with rich, red wine.
Raven got closer cautiously, eyeing the deep red of the wine. His attention was drawn to a small paper by the table's edge with elegant writing:
"Only one of these seven items isn't poisoned. Choose carefully."
His thought was to ignore it at first. He wasn't prepared to take any risks with his life by picking something randomly.
He scanned the room for clues, he noticed something on the shelf displaying an emblem that sent a chill through him—it was the mark of the Order of Death, a notorious assassin group.
Raven felt uneasy, as if someone was watching him. But it made him even more determined to check everything carefully.
He went back to the table and looked at each plate carefully. There were small symbols carved into the edges of the plates. Some of the food didn't look right—the bread was too hard, the cheese smelled slightly sour, and the fruit had tiny holes in it.
Each plate was sitting on small, beautifully carved stones that seemed to change when pressed. Raven thought, These are traps. Making a wrong move could cause more problems.
He walked around the table three times, methodically narrowing down his choices. The wine caught his eye again—not because it looked fancy, but for another reason. Unlike the food, which seemed fresh, a thin layer of dust had settled on the rim of the wine glass.
It's been here longer than everything else, he thought. Why's that?
To test his theory, he carefully lifted one of the plates. The stone underneath made a soft click, and Raven heard something inside the table start to whir. He quickly placed the plate back down, stopping whatever trap had been set off.
He looked underneath the table, a message carved into the wood caught his attention: "What nourishes the soul cannot harm the body."
Raven took a moment to think about everything he had seen so far. *Wine isn't good for the body; it just clouds your mind. But what about the mention of the soul?*
He ignored the wine and picked up a piece of plain bread. He broke off a small piece, raised it to his lips, hesitated briefly, and then took a bite.
At first, nothing seemed to happen. But soon, a sharp pain shot through his stomach, making him double over. The world around him blurred, and the room spun. It only lasted a few moments but left him gasping for air when it was over.
Suddenly, he received a notification:
```
[Poison Resistance] skill gained!
Level: 1 (5/100)
Effect: Reduces damage from poisons by 5%
```
With that, the previously locked door opened.
Raven entered a long hallway, feeling a bit better thanks to his new skill. The walls were made of stone and were dimly lit by torches that cast long shadows on the ground. Ahead, he saw a few people moving cautiously, looking confused and scared.
They wore simple, practical clothes, similar to his own, it's only meant for combat and stealth.
A young man approached Raven, looking curious but also a bit nervous. "Hi, nice to meet you," he said with a cautious smile. "Do you know what's happening here?"
Raven shrugged "Not a clue, just like you." The lie slipped out easily. It is better to keep quiet about Order—every little details matters.
The large hall buzzed with low voices as twenty participants exchanged looks, some forming small groups while others stood apart, cautious and watchful.
Suddenly, a tall man entered, commanding attention with his broad shoulders, neat black hair, and piercing blue eyes that seemed to assess everyone. A confident smile crossed his face as he raised his hands to quiet the room.
"Hi everyone, I'm Adrian," he said in a deep, commanding voice. "I think you all know why you're here." His gaze swept the room, briefly landing on Raven.
Adrian went on to share a quick story about a past trial, where forming alliances had been key to survival.
"Trust me, we need to team up and let's make it fast
The room became quiet as everyone looked at each other, trying to figure out who might be a good partner.
Raven saw a man sitting by himself on the floor, with his legs crossed and looking uninterested. His skin was pale and he had dark circles under his eyes.
Curious, Raven went over to him. "Do you mind if I sit?" he asked, not really caring about the answer.
The man looked up briefly, his eyes vacant, before looking back down. "Do whatever you want," he mumbled. "It won't change anything in the end."
Raven settled down beside the quiet guy just as a woman with short, spiky hair approached. She moved confidently, like someone used to fighting, and her eyes sparkled with determination as she faced them.
"You two look strong," she said bluntly. "How about we team up?"
Raven sized her up. She seemed capable—lean and muscular, with tough hands and a keen eye that was always scanning the room. Partnering with her could boost his chances of survival.
But partnerships required trust. Trust made you vulnerable. Vulnerability was weakness.
"I'll pass I'd rather go solo." he finally replied. "
Her expression changed from being confused to feeling disappointed, and then she seemed not to care anymore. "Well make sure you die," she said quietly, and walked away to find someone else.
The pale man next to Raven let out a dry chuckle. "Smart choice. They want us to take each other out, anyway."
Raven turned to him, surprised. "What makes you think that?"
"I've been through this kind of stuff before," the guy said quietly. "Different challenges, but it's all about weeding out the weak. They'll eventually have us go up against each other." He locked eyes with Raven, his gaze empty. "Oh, and I'm Eli."
Raven felt a bit jealous as he saw people gathering around Adrian. Adrian's charm was clear, and people were attracted to his confident presence, which made them feel safe.
I've never been like that, Raven thought, old doubts coming back in. David was never the one in charge, never the one that others leaned on.
A familiar idea popped into his head: I just need to get better. I need to level up.
For the next few hours, Raven took in the scene around him. He eavesdropped on quiet plans, spotted the alliances that felt real compared to the shaky ones, and mentally ranked the strongest contenders—those who could be a real threat.
"So, what was your trial like?" he finally asked Eli.
"Combat arena. Just one-on-one fights until only five of us were left standing." Eli pulled up his sleeve, showing off a bunch of scars. "I came in fifth."
As time went by, things got more and more tense. Arguments broke out over supplies and strategies. Some people were pacing anxiously while others sat quietly, saving their energy for what was coming.
Adrian's voice cut through the chaos. "Hey, remember that teaming up can help, but don't trust anyone too quickly." His face darkened. "The next test is almost here, and it won't end well.