As Kaiser went home he pondered on what Liam had said for a while before dismissing it entirely. He soon arrived at his dorm, which was located on the sixth floor of the building.
After having a light meal, he stood almost naked before his mirror then activated his [Keen Insight] Trait. Immediately, he could see his inner organs clearly as they expanded and contracted pulsing with hidden strength.
This was what made him different from others. Even though he was deaf since young, he had always had the ability to read a person's body language and lips which was always quite taxing for his brain until he had been chosen by the Mothercore. The absolute source of power in the universe.
With his body now stronger than a mundane human, he could actively lower it's efficiency and reduce the amount of information his brain processed.
But now, he had just removed that limiter. By observing his own body, he could understand his own strength and weakness, highlighting the aspects he could improve without getting overstressed on irrelevant exercises.
Realizing he had not maximized the muscles in his thighs, he began slow but efficient squats which strained the muscles without causing a muscle tear.
...
Once he was done performing his daily routine, he lay on the bed as he recalled his Dormant Trial. The very first nightmare he had had in this life since the departure of his parents. 'their' parents.
Calming his breaths, he closed his eyes and dived into that oddly specific and clear memory.
...
[Welcome CHOSEN, survive your first trial on the path of ascension]
The System's words floated right before his face as he scanned his surroundings.
It looked like he had been transported to a dark temple with unique pattern.
The room he was in only had one bed, a table and a small window.
He also noticed that his neck had a slave collar which was quite unpleasant, really. No one sane would want that. Except him of course. He found it somehow beautiful like an ornament.
Not long after, someone dressed in a dark cloak entered the room- or was it a cell?
"No 056"
The monotone voice called.
Realizing that was his name, he mechanically turned his head towards the visitor.
"It's time for the ritual" The worker said as he turned away.
Kaiser, now 056, followed without complaints until they arrived at a hall with over 200 young kids all dressed in white gowns and a slave collar around their neck.
There were six different statues in the hall with one at the head while others formed a circle around it.
Standing before the largest statue, which was cloaked in veiled shadows and had it's face totally unseen, the children began reading a mantra.
This went on for two hours and soon, Kaiser noticed that their numbers had reduced by a tenth.
After the ritual was done, they, at least what remained of them, were taken to the dining hall where a mildly lavish feast was prepared for them.
The Kids rushed forward like a mutated plant on haywire while Kaiser calmly walked and sat at a lone chair.
Since he wasn't much of a socialist, he didn't necessarily need the company of others. He even sometimes found it bothersome.
Picking up a lamb thigh, he looked at it with greed then wolfed it down in less than a minute. The other kids stared at him in disbelief as he consumed more and more of what was on the table, successfully clearing half of it.
As a boy from the slums, he had never had such a lavish feast and thus was unable to discover his monstrous appetite.
After the meal, they were dragged- literally dragged since it seemed no one wanted to go
Outside was an unexpectedly grey sky with absolutely no clouds. It just remained like a piece of art.
At the edge of the Black temple, a pond with grey waters was seen and the kids were pushed into it.
"No!!!"
"Please!!"
Screams of horror rang out from them as they writhed in pain.
Kaiser only experienced the horror of the pond when he dipped inside.
'It hurts'
His usually placid face was scrunched up in agony as he felt a thousand needles tear and weave themselves into his skin. Bearing the pain, he gazed deeply at the water then noticed silhouettes of small fishes and something quite malevolent at the bottom of the lake.
Feeling fear, he retracted his gaze and endured the pain as much as possible until he passed out.
...
Meanwhile at an office in the temple, a white haired clerk was standing before an empty desk.
"Their compatibility with the shadow essence is quite poor master" The shadows in the room grew darker and more imposing as a cold voice replied.
"Increase the intensity. We must produce the Shadow Avatar for our God's messenger to descend by any means"
The clerk jerked then proceeded to kneel immediately, replying in a voice filled with absolute reverence.
"Yes, my liege"