Morning came slowly.
Soft golden light slipped through the cracked roof of the ruined house.
Dust floated lazily in the air.
Wind moved gently outside.
Peaceful.
Quiet.
Calm.
---
Inside the house—
Movement began.
Kael was the first to stir.
He groaned softly as he stretched.
"…My body…"
Every joint popped painfully.
"…Feels like I got crushed by a mountain…"
---
Soren turned over on the bedding.
"…Same…"
His voice was muffled.
"…But at least we slept…"
---
Elric sat upright slowly.
Disciplined as always.
Even in pain.
"…Recovery successful."
---
Rynelle Aeris opened his eyes last.
Slowly.
Quietly.
His mind cleared instantly.
His body—
Still sore.
Still tired.
But far better than yesterday.
---
The bedding he created remained soft beneath them.
Warm.
Comfortable.
Safe.
A rare luxury inside the Dream Realm.
---
Kael sat up fully.
"…Best sleep since entering this nightmare…"
He stretched again.
"…We needed that."
---
Soren stood slowly.
Testing his legs.
"…Not perfect…"
"…But good enough to fight."
---
Elric stepped toward the doorway.
Scanning outside carefully.
"…No movement detected."
---
Rynelle stood quietly.
Looking outside through the broken wall.
The plains stretched endlessly once more.
Wide.
Silent.
Waiting.
---
Kael grabbed his spear.
"…So what's the plan?"
---
Elric answered immediately.
"…Exploration."
---
Soren nodded.
"…We can't stay here forever."
---
Rynelle spoke calmly.
"…We explore the Outer Plains."
---
Agreement settled quickly.
They gathered their equipment.
Checked their surroundings.
Then stepped outside.
---
The morning air felt cool.
Refreshing.
Alive.
---
They began walking.
Careful.
Alert.
Watching every direction.
---
Minutes passed.
Then more minutes.
Nothing attacked.
Nothing moved.
Just wind and grass.
---
Then—
Soren stopped suddenly.
"…Wait."
---
Kael followed his gaze.
"…What is that…"
---
Ahead—
In the distance—
Another structure stood.
Unlike their ruined house.
This one—
Was different.
---
Plain.
White.
Untouched.
Perfectly standing.
---
No cracks.
No damage.
No decay.
---
Elric narrowed his eyes.
"…Suspicious."
---
Kael tilted his head.
"…Or lucky."
---
Soren whispered quietly.
"…Too clean…"
---
Rynelle stared at it silently.
Something about it—
Felt strange.
Wrong.
Out of place.
---
But curiosity pulled them forward.
Step by step—
They approached carefully.
Weapons ready.
Eyes sharp.
Hearts steady.
---
Soon—
They stood before it.
The plain white house looked untouched by time.
Smooth walls.
Closed door.
Silent presence.
---
Kael whispered.
"…We going in?"
---
Elric nodded once.
"…Yes."
---
Rynelle stepped forward.
His hand reached toward the door.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Then—
He pushed it open.
---
The moment they stepped inside—
Everything changed.
---
A bright flash of light filled the room.
The air vibrated violently.
Mana surged wildly.
---
Then—
A sound echoed inside their minds.
Clear.
Sharp.
Unmistakable.
---
[Ding… You've entered the Plain Trial]
[Ding… The trial is split into three sections]
[Ding… Complete the trial to receive bountiful rewards]
---
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Unbelievable.
---
Kael blinked rapidly.
"…Did… did that just happen…"
---
Soren's eyes widened.
"…A trial…"
---
Elric's grip tightened around his sword.
"…Reward system detected."
---
Rynelle's eyes sharpened.
Excitement flickered deep within him.
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
But anticipation.
---
Kael suddenly grinned.
Wide.
Excited.
"…HAHA…"
"…Now THIS is what I'm talking about!"
---
Soren smirked.
"…Finally something worth fighting."
---
Elric spoke calmly.
"…Prepare for combat."
---
Rynelle lifted his hand slightly.
"…Bring it on."
---
They all spoke together.
Voices filled with fire.
With challenge.
With hunger.
"…Bring it on."
---
Immediately—
Mana surged around their bodies.
Armor formed.
Weapons appeared.
---
Threads wrapped around Rynelle's body.
Syrenic Ethereal Armor formed perfectly.
The floating crown appeared above his head.
His ethereal sword formed in his hand.
---
Kael's spear ignited with wind.
Soren's daggers shimmered sharply.
Elric's blade hardened with mana.
---
Then—
The ground trembled.
---
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
---
The air warped violently.
The room expanded—
Transforming into an open battlefield.
Wide.
Flat.
Endless.
---
Then—
They appeared.
---
One hundred figures.
Suddenly.
Violently.
Without warning.
---
Coreless.
Soulless beasts.
But different from before.
---
Faster.
Stronger.
More aggressive.
More terrifying.
---
Their eyes glowed faint red.
Their claws scraped violently across the ground.
Their bodies twitched unnaturally.
---
Kael tightened his grip.
"…One hundred…"
His voice trembled slightly.
"…You've got to be kidding me…"
---
Soren whispered.
"…They're faster…"
---
Elric raised his sword.
"…Combat formation!"
---
Rynelle narrowed his eyes.
His crown glowed faintly.
Mana surged inside his body.
---
Then—
The beasts moved.
---
Instantly.
Violently.
All one hundred rushed forward at insane speed.
Faster than anything they had faced before.
---
Kael roared.
"COME ON THEN—!"
He launched forward first.
Wind exploded around his spear.
BOOM.
One beast shattered instantly.
---
Soren moved like shadow.
Sliding between enemies.
His daggers flashed repeatedly.
SLASH.
SLASH.
SLASH.
Bodies fell rapidly.
---
Elric blocked three incoming strikes at once.
CLANG.
CLANG.
CLANG.
"…They're stronger!"
---
Rynelle stepped forward calmly.
His voice steady.
Cold.
Focused.
---
"Weaver Step."
---
His body vanished instantly.
Reappearing behind multiple beasts.
His sword swung.
A perfect arc.
---
SHHHK.
Three beasts split apart instantly.
Bodies collapsed.
Dust rose.
---
But the swarm didn't slow.
Didn't hesitate.
Didn't fear.
---
More rushed forward.
Faster.
More aggressive.
More brutal.
---
Kael shouted.
"THIS IS INSANE—!"
---
Soren dodged violently.
"…They're stronger than yesterday!"
---
Elric roared.
"DON'T FALL—!"
---
Rynelle spun his blade again.
Threads formed instantly.
---
"Weaver Bind."
---
Dozens of threads shot outward.
Binding multiple beasts instantly.
Restraining movement.
Crushing limbs.
---
CRACK.
CRACK.
CRACK.
Bodies shattered under pressure.
---
But still—
More kept coming.
Relentless.
Unstoppable.
Unending.
---
The first section of the Plain Trial—
Had begun.
And already—
It felt like war.