Chapter 2: First Trial: The Forest of Shadows

As soon as Vesper fell asleep, he was once again plunged into his recurring nightmares. Here, in the realm of dreams, the Celestials awaited him with a mixture of expectation and scrutiny. They were eager for him to awaken his Innate Talent and prove himself. Among them, one Celestial, an ethereal being draped in robes of shimmering stardust, observed with a rare smile. This Celestial knew that Vesper's performance was shaping up to be nearly unbeatable, even for those at the Awakened level.

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Before the trials began, Vesper's day had been simple and routine. He had been trudging home from the market, carrying a heavy sack of rice over his shoulder. Lost in thoughts of mundane worries, he was caught off guard when a flowerpot, carelessly thrown from a window above, struck him on the head. The world spun, and darkness enveloped him as he collapsed, the sack of rice spilling its contents onto the cobblestones.

When Vesper regained consciousness, he was no longer on familiar streets. Instead, he found himself in an oppressive forest where sunlight was a distant memory. Towering trees reached impossibly high, their canopies so dense that not a single ray of light pierced the darkness. The forest was alive with the sounds of distant roars and growls, and the ground was eerily quiet underfoot.

Vesper glanced down and saw that he was nearly naked, with only a rag barely covering his modesty. His heart raced with confusion and fear. This was not the world he knew, nor the trial he was prepared for. As a Lower-Class individual, he was not supposed to be subjected to such trials—these were reserved for those of the Middle or Higher Class, cursed and tested by the Celestials, revered for their immense power.

"This... this can't be happening," Vesper stammered, his voice trembling with disbelief. "I'm from the Lower Class. I shouldn't be here. This isn't supposed to—"

The realization hit him like a cold wave: he was in a trial crafted by the Celestials, known as the Gods of Earth for their immense power and their ability to bestow it upon those they favored. But there was no time for philosophical reflections. Vesper needed to survive, and he had no idea what the trial entailed or how to face it without any training or legacy.

Desperation drove him to seek shelter. Nearby, he spotted a gaping hole in the trunk of a colossal tree. He didn't hesitate; he scrambled inside, hoping for safety. But inside the hollow, he discovered a horrifying reality—a Category 2 Monster, a massive ant with razor-sharp legs, lay crumpled and injured.

The sight of the beast froze Vesper in place. He sank to his knees, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm dead. I'm so dead."

The ant, seemingly unaware of Vesper's presence, remained motionless. Seeing an opportunity, Vesper scanned the area and spotted a severed ant leg lying nearby. It was enormous, resembling a greatsword in size, sharp as a blade, but surprisingly light.

With trembling hands, Vesper reached for the leg. But as he did, the ant's head twitched, and it began to stir. Panic surged through Vesper as he dove for the severed leg, barely managing to grasp it. The ant's remaining limbs lashed out, and Vesper swung the leg in a frantic defense. The force of the swing caused painful recoil, and he stumbled back.

Gritting his teeth against the pain, Vesper forced himself to stand. He noticed the ant was limping, having lost several legs. One of those severed legs lay near the entrance of the hollow, presenting a possible escape route.

Vesper knew the ant's weak spot was its underbelly. With a determined breath, he sprinted toward the gap between the ant's remaining legs, aiming for its vulnerable stomach. As he ran, his feet slipped on the damp ground, and he fell beneath the ant's enormous belly. Just as a massive leg descended to impale him, Vesper rolled aside, narrowly avoiding the blow.

He scrambled to his feet and swung the severed leg at the ant's underbelly. The attack landed but inflicted minimal damage; the leg had gone blunt from the struggle. Desperation clawed at him as he realized his chance was slipping away. He remembered the severed leg near the entrance and sprinted towards it, his breaths ragged and his body aching.

But even wounded, the Category 2 Monster was relentless, its bulk closing in behind him. Vesper's desperate sprint was no match for the creature's speed.

Vesper raced towards the entrance, his heart pounding and his legs screaming with exhaustion. The monstrous ant's growls grew louder, the gap between them narrowing dangerously. As Vesper stumbled towards the hollow's entrance, he clutched the severed ant leg, though it had sliced his palm deeply with its sharp edge. The pain was excruciating, but he forced himself to push forward, knowing that his survival depended on his speed.

Each pounding step grew heavier as the growls of the Category 2 Monster grew louder behind him. The wounded ant, though limping, pursued relentlessly. Vesper's exhaustion mounted with every stride, but he kept running, his strength waning.

Then, Vesper spotted a dense tangle of branches and vines, as thick as his leg, stretched across a narrow part of the forest floor. An idea sparked in his mind. Using his remaining energy, he scrambled to weave the vines into a makeshift snare, hoping it would slow the beast down.

Panting heavily, Vesper collapsed behind a massive tree trunk, his body trembling from fatigue and blood loss. He lay in wait, barely able to catch his breath. "Come on, you overgrown insect," he muttered through clenched teeth. "Walk right into my trap."

The ant, still limping and roaring with frustration, eventually approached the trap. The vines ensnared its legs, slowing it down. Vesper seized the moment, resting briefly to regain some semblance of strength despite the pain. "This is your end, you filthy creature," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

With the ant entangled, Vesper knew he had to act swiftly. He retrieved the remaining ant leg, now blunt but still dangerous, and approached the struggling monster. His goal was to pierce the ant's underbelly, but the creature's wild thrashing made it difficult. The ant's massive head swung dangerously, each impact a reminder of how close he was to disaster.

He steadied himself and aimed for the ant's weak spot. His first thrust didn't penetrate deeply, and the ant continued to writhe in its trap. Exhausted and bleeding from multiple wounds, Vesper gritted his teeth and readied himself for another strike. "Just a bit more," he urged himself. "You can do this."

His sixth attempt finally drove the leg deep into the ant's underbelly. The creature let out a final, agonized roar and convulsed violently before collapsing, its life fading. Vesper, drenched in sweat and blood, pulled back, panting heavily.

But before he could fully celebrate, he noticed a new threat. High above, clinging to the massive trunk of the colossal tree, was a mantis as big as a house. The giant insect's presence was ominous, but fortunately, it appeared to be in a deep slumber.

Vesper's breath hitched in his throat. "Just what I needed," he whispered, a mix of relief and apprehension in his voice. "A giant mantis. Please, stay asleep."

Wounded and weary, Vesper took stock of his injuries. His body was battered, but he had survived the encounter. He approached the dead ant and, using the now-dull leg as a makeshift blade, began to butcher the carcass. His efforts were rewarded with some ant meat and a peculiar crystal embedded within the remains.

The crystal, glowing softly with an ethereal light, was a Core Crystal. It had the potential to enhance one's abilities but required the unlocking of an Innate Talent for its use. Since Vesper had not yet awakened his talent, he decided to keep the crystal for future use.

With a piece of the ant's carapace for protection and some meat gathered, Vesper carefully made his way back to the hollow where he had found temporary refuge. Despite his battered state, he had survived the trial's first phase and had managed to gather valuable resources.