Erza paused for a moment, then spoke.
"Because you won't be the only humans there," she said. "Those people will be human… but their abilities will be strange. They'll see you all as inferiors. Stay away from them."
The room fell silent. Even Noel felt his throat tighten as he tried to make sense of her words.
"Don't fret," she added. "Just listen. You only have fifteen minutes more."
She let her gaze sweep over the group.
"If you see another participant from this room, form a party with them. It's allowed. But don't get picky. People with good professions can have great potential, but some professions are only useful at certain times. Take what you get, and worry about upgrading later."
She exhaled.
"I've told you everything I'm allowed to share about the first nightmare," she said. "I'm sorry, but this is all
With that, she stepped back."
Now… get ready."
Noel stood along with the others. Around him, people stretched their backs, did quick push‑ups, and bragged loudly about how they'd survive the first nightmare.
"Piece of cake," one boy boasted. "I've fought beasts twice as big as this before."
Noel watched them, but he didn't care. To him, they sounded too confident, too loud.
"This won't be as easy as they're making it sound," he thought.
"He turned his head toward the girl who had been called the greatest prodigy of the generation.
Erza stood alone in the crowd, like a distant queen on a throne. The others unconsciously respected the space around her, as if afraid to get too close.
Erza, sensing eyes on her, glanced toward Noel. A boy with wavy blue‑white hair and fair skin stared back at her. The way he carried himself, calm and observant, made him look less like a rookie and more like a prince from the North.
Before she could study him further, a familiar screen appeared in the air, displayed only for her.
THE FIRST NIGHTMARE WILL BEGIN NOW
The words faded as quickly as they appeared.
Then, the space behind every trial participant cracked open like fractured glass.
In the blink of an eye, the room tore apart around them. A crushing sensation pulled at Noel's body, and then the world vanished.
Noel drifted through nothingness. It felt like an instant, yet also like hours had passed.
Then, suddenly, there was a sensation of ground.
His feet touched something solid.
He opened his eyes.
Everywhere was white. A vast, featureless chamber stretched in all directions, empty and silent.
Noel looked around. At first, he saw no one. For a moment, he thought he was alone.
Then, he noticed it.
A patch of white energy sat in the middle of the room, clear and still, like a living spotlight. It had no face, no limbs, no distinguishable features—nothing that could be called a "being" in the usual sense.
"Don't be afraid," a voice said from the energy. "I am here."
The voice carried no warmth, but it wasn't hostile either.
"…Oh," Noel muttered. "Can you tell me what all this is?"
The energy rippled, amused.
"A short, old summary," it said.
"This is the place where you choose your class."
"Oh," Noel said. "The class the fairy mentioned. Right. It's important."
He paused, then added, "Well, it looks like you think I know my way around here. I don't, actually. I'd rather not die because I didn't know something I should have."
The being's form shifted slightly.
"…You want to know more?" it asked.
"Yeah," Noel replied. "I want to know what this 'nightmare' is.
But first—what exactly are classes and professions?"
"Very well," the being said. "I'll give you the basics. The rest is your own responsibility."
"Nightmare is just a name you people use," it continued. "It's really just a trial. Do you understand?"
"Yeah," Noel said.
"
Then move," the being said. "Choose quickly. I'm not your babysitter. I won't feed you every answer."
The voice suddenly twisted into laughter, cold and hollow. It sent a shiver down Noel's spine. The thing had no face, no mouth—yet the laughter was unmistakably there.
"Okay, okay," the being said, its voice softening slightly. "Back to the topic.
There are four basic classes you can choose from."
It raised a shimmering hand, and four words appeared in the air:
Warrior
Mancer
Healer
Archer
"These are the four classes," it said. "The ways you evolve them are up to you. But this choice will shape all your future trials. So choose carefully."
For the first time, the voice lost its playful edge. It became mechanical, cold, and strict.
Noel thought about what he wanted—and what would be best for survival, both now and later.
He imagined a warrior, strong and reliable. A healer, always needed but fragile. An archer, with distance and precision. Or a mancer, wielding raw mana, but fragile at first.
He thought of the magi he'd seen in the city, bending fire and space like toys. He remembered the interface, the Realm of Shattered Dreams, the monsters waiting for him.
"…Mancer," he decided.
"I want to choose Mancer," he said aloud.
The being's shape flickered.
"Are you sure?" it asked.
"Mancers are often weak in the early stages. They lack the raw strength of warriors or the resilience of healers."
Noel nodded.
"Yeah," he said. "But I still think it'll be good for me."
"Very well," the being replied. "Choice confirmed."
It reached out. A thin strand of light touched Noel's forehead.
A surge of energy shot through his body. For a moment, every nerve burned, then calmed.
A screen appeared in front of him..
Noel Winters
Race: Human
Class: Mancer (Level 1)
Profession: N/A
Mana: 100/100
Strength: 10/10
Agility: 7/10
Endurance: 8/10
Perception: 9/10
Willpower: 4/10
Wisdom: 6/10
Intelligence: 7/10
Vitality: 5/10
Beneath that, two skillsappeared:
Bolt
Magic Barrier
"A skill for attack and one for defense," Noel muttered. "Not bad."
"Time's up," the being said. "Now meet the other participants. The trial will begin."
Ten platforms rose from the white floor, arranged in a circle. One by one, figures appeared on them—people Noel had seen in the waiting room: the show‑off boys, the quiet ones, the nervous ones, and even a few who looked confident, like they'd done this before.
"Listen up," the being's voice boomed over the area. "Boys… and girls… the first nightmare has begun."
Noel felt a sudden suction force pull at his body. The platform under his feet vanished. For a second, the world stretched, then snapped.
The last thing he saw before being pulled away was another screen, displaying the upcoming trial:
The First Nightmare Begins
Trial Location: Wilderness
This is a jungle where the weather shifts without warning. Dream spawns—abominations too gruesome to properly describe—lurk in the shadows. Their forms will haunt you until death.
Four Beasts Kings rule this wilderness. Avoid them. Survive them. Out‑last them.
The better your performance, the higher your score.
The higher your score, the better the chance of being granted a true name and title.
Good luck, survivors.
The screen faded.
Noel's body dropped.
He landed hard on damp soil.
Above him, trees towered like skyscrapers, their trunks so thick they dwarfed the tallest buildings he'd ever seen. Rain fell through the gaps in the canopy, but the sun still shone ahead, casting an eerie, broken light.
"How can it be raining while the sun is out?" he muttered.
Before he could wonder more, a low growl echoed from behind him.
He turned.
Something crouched in the undergrowth where he had just appeared. Twisted, warped, and clearly not human. Its body seemed half‑formed, like a nightmare that had clawed its way into reality.
"No way…" Noel whispered. "So this is what they call a dream spawn."
Fear froze his limbs for a second—then a strange voice rang inside his head.
"Fight."
It wasn't his own voice. It was calm, sharp, and urgent.
"…Of course," he thought. "I'll have to fight one of them sooner or later. Might as well be now."
He forced his body to move. His Mancer's instincts, barely awakened, pushed him to raise his hands, ready to cast.
The spawn sensed his intent. Its growl sharpened into a snarl. Muscles coiled.
Noel tightened his grip.
"…Well," he muttered, "I hope something's watching over me.
God probably doesn't exist here."