Two Priests from the Judgment Court approached him, dressed in their signature black, robe-like uniforms. The form-fitting, waist-cinching style made them look sharp and competent.
After some questioning, an identity check, and a body search, one Priest helped Lloyd open a small access gate, while the other kindly offered a reminder:
"Go report to Tower Nine. Follow the signs, don't wander off, and don't listen to any strange sounds."
As he spoke, he gave Lloyd's shoulder a firm pat.
"Welcome to the Abyss of Madness. From the moment you step through this gate, madness will be your constant companion. Do your best to adapt... May the Radiant light be with you."
"Thank you. May the Radiant light shine upon you."
Lloyd replied, mimicking the saying.
The moment he entered the valley, he felt a wave of dizziness. It seemed as if something invisible in the air was pricking at his eardrums and brain, causing a faint, sharp pain.
Faint, fragmented whispers also echoed in his ears, indistinct, yet beckoning him to listen closer.
But they were quickly drowned out by a series of prompts:
[Ding! Madness Value +1]
[Ding! Madness Value +1]
[Ding! Madness Value +1. You can disable repeat notifications in the lower-right corner.]
[Note: Attribute points can be obtained after accumulating a certain amount of Madness Value.]
'Heh heh, I can gain "experience" just by breathing. This place really is the Promised Land I was meant for!'
Lloyd's heart swelled with glee. He momentarily forgot to school his expression, letting the corners of his mouth curl into an eerie smile, and his steps grew lighter.
The two Priests in black witnessed this. They couldn't help but exchange a glance, and as they watched Lloyd's retreating figure, they began to discuss in low voices.
"This guy... is a little weird, isn't he? He's actually smiling? He even seems... excited?"
"Hmm... Usually when new recruits arrive, their illusions are shattered and they turn pale as ghosts, or they're a nervous wreck, screaming for their mothers. I never thought I'd see one this excited."
"Damn, don't tell me he's some kind of freak."
"Could also be some rich young master who's already completed his Extraordinary Enlightenment and is just here to pad his resume."
.........
The valley's interior was vast and quiet, with towering white spires visible everywhere. In a pleasant mood, Lloyd walked at a leisurely pace, taking a little while to find Tower Nine.
Along the way, he took the opportunity to review the panel's instructions again and, while he was at it, spent his first attribute points:
'Three points into [Rationality], two points into [Cognition]. Let's go!'
[Ding! Point allocation complete. Attributes have been updated.]
[User: Lloyd]
[Status: Normal]
[Madness Value: 0/100 (Max 500)]
[Rationality: 5]
[Spiritual Power: 1]
[Inspiration: 3]
[Cognition: 6]
[Extraordinary System: Enlightenment Incomplete]
[Mastered Skills: High-Efficient Learning]
These first five attribute points felt like a freebie. Lloyd had only been here for 100 seconds, yet he'd already accumulated the 100 Madness Value needed for an upgrade.
'A grace period for new arrivals, maybe?'
The [Madness Value] display of 0/100 meant he only needed to gain 100 points for another upgrade, which seemed quite easy. Just breathing was enough.
Following the panel's recommendation, Lloyd invested the points into [Rationality] and [Cognition].
As the top-listed attribute, [Rationality] was naturally the most important, as it directly affected the maximum amount of Madness Value Lloyd could withstand.
If he exceeded this limit, his status would change from [Normal] to [Mild Madness], then gradually worsen to [Utter Madness], until he finally degenerated into a Demon.
Although the panel could absorb and convert the [Madness Value], if he were to suffer an instance of Spiritual Contamination too intense to bear, it would cause him to pass out, his consciousness to blur, or even lose his sanity entirely. In such a state, he wouldn't be able to maintain the panel's function. This would leave the madness unresolved, allowing him to descend into insanity while unconscious and in a daze.
Therefore, [Rationality] was crucial.
The same was true for ordinary people. Spiritual Contamination within the limits of one's rationality could still be cured and dispelled through various means. But once that limit was surpassed and one descended into madness, the process became irreversible—like sinking into a bottomless mire, where one could only struggle and delay the inevitable, but never escape.
[Spiritual Power] was a type of Extraordinary Power in this world, the fundamental line dividing ordinary people from Extraordinary Beings. One had to possess sufficient Spiritual Power to undergo Extraordinary Enlightenment, enter an Extraordinary System, and become an Extraordinary Being.
Lloyd's current [Spiritual Power] was 1, the level of an ordinary person. He would need to accumulate it for a while longer before he could undergo Extraordinary Enlightenment.
'With the panel, this should be a piece of cake.'
[Inspiration] was sometimes also called 'Spiritual Vision' or the 'Intuition' of an Extraordinary Being. It allowed one to see things that were normally invisible and hear things that were normally inaudible. If it was powerful enough, it could also trigger effects like 'sudden flashes of insight' or 'premonitions of danger.'
It also had functions such as perception, channeling power, wielding Holy Artifacts, and remotely controlling Orbits, making it an attribute just as important as [Spiritual Power].
But it was also a dangerous double-edged sword. One might accidentally see what shouldn't be seen or hear what shouldn't be heard, leading to all sorts of unpredictable consequences...
[Cognition] referred to one's efficiency and capacity for learning. Without sufficient Cognition, it was difficult to master advanced knowledge.
Of course, that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. In this world, the more advanced the knowledge, the more dangerous it tended to be...
Finally, [Extraordinary System] and [Mastered Skills] could not be upgraded directly with points; they depended on Lloyd's own efforts.
For example, he had already mastered the [High-Efficient Learning] ability through his past experience of studying hard, solving problems, and attending university.
This would further boost his learning efficiency. Combined with his 6 points in [Cognition], back on Earth, that would have been enough to master C++ and ace the bar exam on his first try.
'All that studying hadn't gone to waste.'
After allocating his first points, Lloyd couldn't help but reflect:
'Even though I have the panel, as an educated and forward-thinking young man, I can't rely on it completely. I can't afford to slack off. If I want to carve out a future for myself, it'll still depend on my own hard work and effort!'
His thoughts then turned to Evelor, and he added internally:
'Evelor, I've gotten stronger! I can protect you better now!'
Then, he walked into the white tower before him, which stood over ten stories tall. In a first-floor office, he found an absolutely stunning woman.
Her gray eyes were sharp and alert, and her silver-gray hair was tied into a crisp, high ponytail. She wore a similar black, robe-style uniform, though hers had a short hem and a high slit, revealing knee-high boots over fine black stockings. The sliver of black stocking visible between her boots and hem was impossible to look away from.
Under the light, the black material shimmered with a fine, silky luster, as tempting as Chocolate.
'In short: uniform, black stockings. Good-looking and lickable.'
It was just that her severe expression and rigid air screamed that she was the strictly-business, unapproachable type.
She sat there quietly, yet her presence was like a lone orchid on a perilous cliff, making the office feel several degrees colder.
"Hello, Judge Weiya. We meet again."
Lloyd said in greeting.
"Hello, Executor Lloyd. Please, have a seat," she replied coolly.
The two had met once before, during that 'little accident'.
It had been this very same, stunningly beautiful Judge who had appeared in the nick of time, wielding a long, narrow, standard-issue Straight Blade to cleanly slice the Demon in two.
Amid the spray of dark-green blood, Lloyd had seen her cold, beautiful face.
To be honest, the scene had made quite an impact.