"Andrew lost..." the white-haired girl muttered as she saw a blurry image of a man with ck hair swinging a sword, which then dissolved into nothing but pitch-ck darkness.


    "So, it was you, Ray, hehe." She chuckled. "I hope you remember me from ourst meeting. Yeah, I really want to know why you and that other guy are so special, so I''ve prepared some guests for you... I hope you like them. Hehehe."


    "Don''t disappoint me," she muttered, lost in thought. "Until then, let me speed-run the assessment as fast as I can so we can meet again."


    With those words, she continued walking through the amusement park, engulfing everything in ice as she transformed it into an ice pce.


    Every step she took left behind a trail of glistening ice, transforming the carousel into a majestic structure of crystalline horses, the Ferris wheel into a towering fortress of ice, and the game booths into shimmering structures adorned with intricate frost patterns.


    It was as if the very essence of winter had sprung forth from her fingertips, reshaping the park into a breathtaking ice pce that sparkled under the pale sunlight, reflecting a beauty that was both enchanting and foreboding.


    ---


    Flying at high speed, Orion appeared in front of ake. It was argeke, surrounded by nothing but ins and trees.


    At the center of theke floated a small boat, its elegant form bobbing gently on the water''s surface. The traditional design, reminiscent of ancient Chinese craftsmanship, featured intricate carvings along the sides, depicting mythical creatures and swirling clouds. The boat couldfortably fit four people at most, its polished wooden surface gleaming under the dappled sunlight.


    "Is the trial on the boat?" Orion muttered, deciding to check it out.


    ording to the map or whatever guide he had been given, this spot—marked by a blue circle—was the entrance to another trial. The only thing around him was theke and the boat, which now felt like a gateway to the unknown.


    As he took a moment to steady his thoughts, Orion suddenly sensed multiple presences approaching. Rather than hiding, he stood his ground, knowing that there was no need for secrecy. He waited for them to arrive, curiosity bubbling beneath the surface.


    A short whileter, five individuals appeared at theke''s edge—two women and three men.


    "Oh, and we thought we were fast." One of the women chuckled, seeing that Orion was already there. She had rose-pink hair and exuded a kind of charm, though in all the wrong ways.


    "So, the boat or theke?" one of the men asked Orion. This man carried a huge broadsword on his back and had a well-built body, which led Orion to suspect he had a talent for strength.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "I don''t know," Orion shrugged. "I just got here a moment before you all arrived."


    As he said this, he observed the group. Judging by how they stood apart and eyed each other warily, Orion could tell they were just random participants who happened to cross paths on their way to the trial.


    "Hey, you—yeah, you who flew here—go check the boat," another man said, pointing at thest girl. She wore a golden uniform, had brown hair, a long face, and looked quite thin. The man had wild yellow hair, ear piercings, and an aggressive demeanor.


    "Humph, why tell me to go when your friend over there can fly too?" the girl sneered, pointing at a guy who was sitting on the ground, looking bored.


    "I say we send the guy who got here first to check the boat," the bored guy on the ground chuckled. "This might be a trap, so we should be careful. Since he came before all of us, he should go first."


    "Poor guy, looks like you made a mistake by arriving before us," the rose-haired woman said mockingly to Orion.


    Orion smiled. "Since you''re all so cowardly, I guess I''ll check the boat myself."


    "Who are you calling a coward?!" the man with the broadsword roared, releasing his aura.


    "All of you," Orion replied, ncing at the group. "You don''t have the guts to check the boat, so you''re just making excuses."


    "If you''re so brave, then go!" the yellow-haired man sneered.


    "I am." Orion looked at him mockingly and flew into the air using the Curse of Stormcaller, floating toward the boat.


    As he flew, Orion scanned theke below for any signs of a trap. He had to be cautious—this was the trial''s entrance, or so he thought, based on the blue circle. The map didn''t specify if this was just the entrance or the actual trial.


    However, as he slowly approached the boat, nothing happened. Theke remained calm as hended on the boat.


    Just as he did, a notification appeared in the air above theke, written in bold letters.


    **[Entrance: Trial of Mind.]**


    **[Description: The boat holds many secrets, but its true nature is a doorway to the Mind Realm. Since this is a trial rted to the mind, only the person who steps onto the boat can enter the Mind Realm. Others may also enter—if they kill the person on the boat and everyone else around the entrance to be thest one standing.]**


    Orion frowned at the message. ording to it, he was eligible to enter the Mind Realm, but only if he killed the five others present.


    ''So, it''s them too...''


    The others also had to kill everyone else before they could step onto the boat and enter the Mind Realm.


    The five participants were shocked when they saw the message. They had anticipated a trap, but this was far more difficult than expected.


    ---


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