CRIMSON TRIAL
1326 Words
"System, what is my current stat?" Chris muttered under his breath.
[System..... Error..... Restarting... Updating Sequence Initiated.]
"Upgrading?" Chris stood with his arms clasped behind his back, eyes steady on the dark screen. *What does that even mean?*
Hours passed. The Naija youth sat relaxed on a stone chair, eating a juicy yellow fruit under the ruins of a broken house. His Grade 4 robe radiated with subtle power, fluttering gently in the ambient energy currents.
"Oga, show me my stats na! How long does an upgrade take?" Chris bellowed, still seated with one hand supporting his head. (Boss, show me my stats now! How long does an upgrade take?)
[Upgrading Completed Successfully.]
[Supreme Hustle African System 2.0.]
[Analyzing Host's Stats: 10% >>>>> 30%.]
[Analyzing Completed.]
[Revealing Host's Stats Now.]
"Alright, let's see what I have achieved so far," the Naija youth grinned uncontrollably, excitement bubbling inside him.
[Supreme Hustle African System 2.0.]
[Host: Chris] [Age: 20.]
[Realm: Mortal (Core Formation - Early Stage).]
[System Points: 5,130 + 170 Bonus Points.]
[Strength: 900] [Speed: 800] [Agility: 1000.]
[Intelligence: 1,200] [Endurance: 2000.]
[Qi Reserves: 2000% (Backup Reserves: 400%).]
[Special Talent: Naija Heritage Lv4, Craftsman Lv5.]
[Skills: Blade Art Lv2, Shield Of Shege Lv4, Pressure Of Tinubu Lv4, Voice Of The Streets Lv3, Core Shockwave Lv1.]
[Special Traits: Undying Courage (Extreme), 25x Recovery & Breakthrough Speed, Rhythmic Combat Intuition Lv4, No Pain-No Gain Lv6, Void Storage.]
[Items: Teleportation Talisman, +1 Heavenly Protective Talisman, +1 Grade 4 Katana.]
"This is cool. Soon, Golden Core will be within my reach and then beyond," Chris laughed heartily. "Mwahahaha. Soon I will be living my dreams."
"System, what are the mortal realms in this world?"
*I know so little about the realms. I doubt they are the same as the cultivation shows I watched back at home.* Chris crossed his arms over his chest.
[Host has requested to see the Mortal Realm Levels of the Tianhuang Continent.]
[Requesting Permission...]
[Permission Granted.]
[9 Levels Of The Mortal Realm:]
[Qi Condensation.]
[Foundation Building.]
[Core Formation.]
[Golden Core.]
[Nascent Soul.]
[Domain Soul.]
[King Core.]
[Human God.]
[Half Body Immortal.]
"Alright, that's good." *I'm currently at the third level, though I'm still an ant in the grand scheme. I need to rise faster.* Chris's facial expression suddenly darkened with determination.
"Show me the levels beyond the mortal realm, System," he ordered.
[System Cannot Comply. Host's Realm is still too low.]
The Naija youth nodded. "Sharp! You dey mock me abi, System? Are you not supposed to obey what I tell you?" (Sharp! You are mocking me right, System? Are you not supposed to obey what I tell you?) Chris's voice echoed, veins bulging on his forehead.
[The System Only Obeys When It Doesn't Affect The Rules Engraved Into It By The Fallen Sovereign.]
"Fallen Sovereign? Who is that?"
[Host is asking too many questions. System will not reply anymore.]
"Come guy, we are the only ones in this void. We have to keep talking so we won't be lonely." Chris whispered. (Come on guy, we are the only ones in this void. We have to keep talking so we won't be lonely.)
[Only Humans, Gods, And Beings Of Multiversal Destruction Feel Lonely. Systems Do Not Operate On Emotion. That's Why Systems Are Reliable.]
*It's like speaking to a wall.* "Listen, System, emotions are what drive us to do the impossible. Without them, we are just like this endless darkness—no purpose, no vision, no care." He clenched his jaw.
[Host's Philosophical Digression Noted.]
[Primary Objective: Find The Third Trial Hall, Host.]
[Daily Quest Loading...]
Chris smirked. "You have nothing to say? Alright, let's go find this hall. Make I test out my new Core Formation power." (You have nothing to say? Alright, let's go find this hall. Let me test out my new Core Formation power.)
---
Outside the mountain, Senior Yang stood with his arms crossed, his piercing gaze locked on the shimmering barrier.
Over the last few hours, the Lion Clan's Grand Elder and Ancestor had sent even more forces. The full Lion Clan expedition force had now arrived: over one hundred elite disciples, five Core Formation Elders, two Perfect Core Formation Elders, and one Mid-Stage Golden Core expert. They stood in disciplined, imposing formation.
Elder Sung and Mia stood beside Yang.
"By the breaking of the next dawn," Yang said coldly, "the barrier will weaken enough for us to enter safely. Whatever is inside belongs to the Lion Clan."
Sung's eyes burned with murderous intent. "If anyone finds the boy who entered before us still breathing, bring him to me or inform me of your location using the communication talisman."
Mia licked her lips. "I say we kill him on sight. He humiliated Lira and killed ten of our disciples. Such an insult cannot stand."
Sung glared intensely at Mia. She staggered backward, eyes widened in fear.
She quickly lowered her gaze to the earth.
*You might be stronger than me now, Sung, but it will not be for long. After I'm done with that boy myself — you will be next. It's time I became the new second head of the Lion Clan Expedition Team.* Mia thought darkly.
Senior Yang observed the tension silently, his grin fading as quickly as it appeared.
---
Back in the Void Realm, Chris stretched his powerful limbs and looked toward the third trial mountain range floating in the distance.
**Boof!**
He shot forward like a blazing comet into the sky. The wind howled around him as he crossed the vast distance in mere minutes.
The Third Trial Hall awaited on a blood-red peak. As he got closer, massive skeletal remains of ancient beasts decorating the entrance came into view.
**Ahhh!**
Chris grunted as an invincible force slammed into him.
[Warning: Pressure Flowing Out Of The Third Trial Hall Is Strong Enough To Crush Early Foundation Building Cultivators.]
[25x Recovery Engaged.]
[Intense Spiritual Pressure Is Being Absorbed Into Host's Body.]
"Thank you, System."
[Gratitude Not Required. Host's Survival Is Logically Beneficial.]
"You don dey get small pride oh! Sha make I no insult you. For now you are my helper." Chris squeezed his face in mild annoyance. (You have started getting small pride oh! Let me not insult you. For now you are my helper.)
He moved faster toward the hall, the air screaming past him, his robe dancing wildly in the wind.
A deep, thunderous voice echoed throughout the entire third realm.
"Challenger Has Reached The Third Trial. Difficulty Has Risen Significantly."
"No wam, I gallant like a marine. Bring am." Chris smirked, cracking his neck. (No problem, I am brave like a marine. Bring it.)
He landed on the blood-red peak like a falling star. His Core Formation aura caused the skeletal remains around the trial hall to rattle violently.
*God, this place smells like boxers wey I don wear for one week without washing. Omo, this hall dey try oh — no cleaner to make am smell nice.* (God, this place smells like boxers that I have worn for one week without washing. Omo, this hall is really trying oh — no cleaner to make it smell nice.)
*Third Trial Hall, what do you have for me today?* he thought, eyes scanning the massive structure carved from black bone and crimson stone.
The realm shook once more. Clouds gathered overhead, covering the entire floating mountain.
"Challenger Has Reached The Third Trial. Ten Guardians. All Possessing Basic Techniques. One Hour Limit. Fight Alone."
[Void Trial 3: Commence.]
[Time Remaining: 59 Minutes 57 Seconds.]
[Daily Quest Activated.]
[Daily Quest: Defeat All Crimson Guardians.]
[Rewards: +25 Healing Pills, +5000 System Points, +1 Core Formation Technique Manual, +1 Void Crystal.]
"Ten Guardians!" Chris laughed, rolling his shoulders. *Alright, time to explode.*
The door groaned open with a heavy, ominous sound. The Naija youth marched inside confidently. The door sealed shut behind him with a final, resounding thud.
Inside, ten pairs of crimson eyes ignited in the gloom.
- Writer
