The moment the trial's details were announced, a tense silence spread across the massive crowd gathered before the towering gate.

Karl, Celeste, and thousands of other awakeners stood frozen, staring at the enormous structure that separated them from the trial area.

The gate itself, an ancient construct of blackened steel and glowing runes, was nothing short of intimidating.

Then, without warning, it stirred to life.

A low hum vibrated through the air, the sigils adorning the gate pulsing with energy.

The immense doors, easily towering over even the tallest buildings in the [Awakened City], trembled as they began to shift.

A deep, echoing groan accompanied their slow but inevitable opening.

The energy radiating from within felt dense, almost suffocating, as if the very space beyond the threshold was different from the world they stood in.

A system message flashed before them all.

[You have ten minutes to enter the area. All those who do not will be disqualified.]

No further explanation was given.

Some might have considered hesitating—after all, knowing the rules beforehand gave them time to think.

To strategize.

To prepare for what was ahead.

But the reality was... did this knowledge actually provide an advantage?

The tower always revealed the trial conditions before the challenge began.

That meant simply knowing what to do wasn't enough.

If anything, it was a mere formality.

Which led to a chilling conclusion.

Even those who had already taken this trial before—those who had prior experience—had still failed.

And the reason was clear.

Only half of the participants could pass.

This meant that even if someone knew the mechanics, they had still been forced into competition.

Into conflict.

Perhaps that was why not a single awakener among the 13,584 participants turned away.

Not one person backed down.

Instead, a massive wave of awakeners surged forward, their bodies vanishing into the shadowed gate as they stepped through.

Hundreds upon hundreds disappeared in a matter of seconds, each one racing to enter as soon as possible.

The sheer sight of it was overwhelming—like a flood crashing against the gate's yawning abyss.

But not everyone followed so recklessly.

Karl and Celeste remained where they were, watching as the mass of awakeners charged in.

"The rules seem pretty clear to me," Celeste said, her voice calm despite the heavy tension in the air.

"Too clear," Karl murmured, eyes narrowed.

"Either there's something we're missing, or the tower is being more generous with information because this is the first special trial."

Celeste let out a small sigh.

"Could be both."

Karl didn't answer immediately.

His gaze shifted, scanning the few awakeners who, like them, had chosen to remain behind.

There weren't many—perhaps a few hundred at most, compared to the thousands that had already entered.

These were the ones who understood something important.

Rushing in immediately wasn't necessarily the best move.

Karl's attention landed on a particular group standing a short distance away.

The [Starlight Academy] awakeners.

Back in the city square, there had been at least fifteen of them.

And yet, not a single one had gone through the gate yet.

That wasn't a coincidence.

These were some of the strongest participants in the trial.

If they had chosen to wait, then there had to be a reason.

Karl narrowed his eyes.

Would they be enemies?

The trial only allowed half the participants to ascend.

If too many people succeeded in gathering enough key fragments, then awakeners would undoubtedly begin hunting one another.

That was a reality Karl had to be prepared for.

"I say we go now," Celeste suddenly said, her voice neutral but firm.

Her gaze flickered toward the [Starlight Academy] group for a brief moment before returning to Karl.

He nodded.

"Yeah."

They weren't going to wait any longer.

Even just a two-minute head start could make a difference.

Without another word, they stepped through the gate.

Fwish! Fwish!

The transition was unlike any portal Karl had ever experienced.

There was no moment of dizziness, no delay.

One second, they were in the [Awakened City].

The next, they were somewhere entirely different.

[You have entered the Fifth Floor Main Area: The Trial District.]

Karl took in his surroundings.

"…This place looks exactly like the [Awakened City]."

Celeste glanced around, frowning slightly.

"Yeah. Just bigger."

It was unsettling.

The layout of the city, the style of the buildings—everything was nearly identical to the city they had just left.

But this one was much more expansive, as if someone had taken the original design and stretched it out.

And more importantly… it was empty.

No awakeners. No monsters. Just silence.

Karl turned to look behind them.

The gate they had entered through was gone.

"A one-way entry," he muttered, "And it probably teleports people into different locations."

Which meant that every participant was scattered across this massive city, each starting their hunt for the fragments in isolation—or in small groups if they had entered together.

A distant sound cut through the stillness.

Shouting. The clash of weapons.

"We should get moving," Celeste said, tightening her grip on her staff.

Karl nodded and extended his arm.

A faint shimmer of energy flickered across his fingers as his weapons materialized, his [Spectral Blade] in his left hand, and the [Spirit Gun] in his right.

Fully armed, he turned to Celeste, who was already summoning her spells.

Ten [Mana Missiles] floated around her, humming softly with latent energy.

Karl noticed it immediately.

She was faster. More precise.

The way she controlled her mana was smoother than before.

That was her specialized class, [Serene Mind], already taking effect.

Even at this stage, it was refining her magic.

In time, once she mastered stronger spells, she would become a terrifying mage.

Karl clenched his fists.

He would grow, too.

But for now, there was something more pressing to focus on.

A sound. A scraping noise.

It came from above.

Karl's instincts screamed at him.

His gaze snapped upward just in time to see movement in the shadows.

Figures emerged from the rooftops, their twisted forms silhouetted against the dim sky.

More of them slithered out from the darkened windows of the surrounding buildings, their skeletal frames twitching unnaturally.

A low, chittering sound filled the air.

[Level 23 Hollow Striders]

[Level 24 Screeching Banshees]

Karl's grip tightened on his weapons.

He didn't hesitate.

His eyes burned with energy as he extended his arm, "Spirit Summoning."

A pulse of light erupted around him.

The trial had begun, and he was ready.

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