Chapter 208: Middle Realm Evaluation!

Chapter 208: Middle Realm Evaluation

As Tessa advanced through the distorted space, the very fabric of reality seemed to ripple and fold around her. The pathway widened, and with a sudden shimmer, a gateway to another dimension appeared. Before she could process the surreal transition, a resonant voice echoed from an unseen source:

"Congratulations, you have successfully passed the Lower Realm evaluation. Now, you shall face the Middle Realm evaluation..."

The voice trailed off, leaving an air of finality as the dimensional gateway solidified into a towering arch, glowing faintly with an iridescent hue. Beyond it stretched a queue of individuals, their expressions a mixture of anxiety, excitement, and dread. Tessa's brows furrowed as she scanned the unfamiliar surroundings.

"This is… strange," she muttered, her voice laced with suspicion.

Gastro, however, was in stark contrast. With a wide grin plastered across his face, he let out a laugh, seemingly impervious to any concerns. "We made it! The Middle Realm! Ha! I knew it!" He clapped his hands together, his joy bubbling over like a child who'd just found treasure.

"Can't you find anything weird with this?" Tessa's voice carried a sharp edge as she glanced over her shoulder at Gastro. His buoyant mood felt almost offensive in the face of her unease.

Gastro, however, was impervious to any deeper considerations. His grin widened as he shrugged, his carefree demeanor seemingly immune to her concerns. "We're in the Middle Realm now. Who cares how we got here?!" His tone was jubilant, almost naive, as he fell in line behind her.

Tessa sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration. The long queue ahead seemed endless, snaking its way toward a massive gate inscribed with glowing golden letters: Middle Power Realm. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, studied even, but Gastro's obliviousness only added to her irritation.

"Seriously, Gastro, think for a second," she pressed. "Doesn't it bother you how easy this transition was? Aren't you even the slightest bit suspicious that we didn't get to complete the lower realm evaluation as we expected it?"

"Suspicious?!" Gastro chuckled, leaning back on his heels as if she'd just made a joke. "First of all, like you said, we expected it to be like that, that doesn't mean it is .. also, Look, Tessa, we're here! That's all that matters. Besides—" He pointed at the glowing gate ahead. "That says Middle Power Realm. No more 'lesser god' nonsense for me. I'm moving up!"

Tessa opened her mouth to argue further but stopped. It was pointless. Gastro wasn't in a mindset to question anything right now. She shook her head and turned her focus back to the queue.

---

Meanwhile, in the Evaluation Room

A group of higher beings observed the scene on a vast, shimmering screen. The room, bathed in celestial light, thrummed with energy as the gods deliberated.

Elial leaned forward, his expression a mixture of amusement and intrigue as he watched Tessa and Gastro advance through the queue. "Well, well," he mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "The three of you might have stumbled upon a gem after all. Gastro in the Middle Realm evaluation? Who would've thought?"

Nilma and Enka exchanged uneasy glances. They knew better than to take credit for Gastro's unexpected success. It had been nothing short of a gamble, and the stakes had been their very lives.

Nilma cleared his throat nervously. "We—uh—had faith in him, of course," he said, avoiding Elial's piercing gaze.

"Faith," Enka added quickly, nodding in agreement. "Yes, absolute faith."

A nearby Xanthex god snorted, crossing his arms. "Faith or desperation? Let's not pretend it was anything more than blind luck."

Tam on the other hand was quiet. He didn't know how to keep secrets when he became nervous, so, he decided to remain quiet so as not to implicate the entire team.

Hovi, who had been silently observing, finally spoke, his tone measured but tinged with surprise. "Luck or not, Gastro's success isn't what stands out here. It's his decision to align himself with Tessa. That's what tipped the scales."

Elial's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Ah, yes, the girl. She's an enigma, isn't she?" His voice grew lighter, almost playful. "Perhaps I should take them both under my wing. A promising duo like that could prove useful."

The room fell silent. Nilma, Enka, and Tam exchanged alarmed looks, while Hovi's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Elial," Hovi said, his voice low but laced with unmistakable warning, "Tessa is under the protection of my father. You'd do well to remember that."

Elial raised his hands in mock surrender, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Ah, so she's the one. —Your hidden candidate. How delightful." His gaze lingered on the screen, the smugness in his expression unshaken.

"If you're bold enough to challenge my father," Hovi continued, his tone hardening, "then by all means, test your luck."

For a moment, the air in the room grew tense, crackling with unspoken threats. Elial, however, seemed unfazed. He leaned back in his chair, the smile never leaving his face.

"Relax, Hovi," he said smoothly. "I was merely curious. After all, it's not every day someone catches my attention."

Hovi's eyes remained locked on Elial, unblinking. The warning was clear: tread carefully.

---

Back in the queue, Tessa's unease deepened as they drew closer to the middle realm power gate. Gastro, still humming a cheerful tune, seemed utterly unaware of the storm brewing behind the scenes.

Tessa clenched her fists, a growing sense of foreboding settling in her chest. Whatever lay beyond that gate, it was bound to test them in ways they couldn't yet imagine.

Back in the queue, Tessa's unease deepened as they drew closer to the glowing gate. The radiant glow emanating from it seemed to pulse, as if alive, and the faint hum it emitted set her nerves on edge. Gastro, oblivious as ever, was still humming a cheerful tune, hands clasped behind his head as he strolled along. His carefree demeanor stood in stark contrast to Tessa's growing tension.

Her fists clenched at her sides as an inexplicable sense of foreboding weighed on her. Whatever lay beyond that gate, she knew instinctively that it would not be as straightforward as Gastro seemed to believe.

As they approached the front of the line, the gatekeeper, a tall figure draped in shimmering silver robes, glanced up briefly. His eyes glowed faintly, his expression unreadable. With a flick of his wrist, a translucent pad disappeared and another translucent pad materialized in his hand. He tapped it a few times, his gaze shifting to Tessa.

"You're Tessa," he said, his voice resonating like a low bell. "Daughter of Solaris and Lunara. You recently passed the Lower Realm evaluation with an outstanding score."

Tessa blinked in shock. She hadn't mentioned her parents here or even submitted any detailed information. She only mentioned her name and her parents identity– back in the lower Realm of power, so—How did this system know so much about her? She barely had time to process the gatekeeper's words before he waved his hand, causing the massive gate to groan and creak as it opened slightly.

"You may enter," the gatekeeper announced, stepping aside with a slight bow.

Tessa hesitated, her mind racing. The entire process felt surreal. Who or what was monitoring these realms, and how could they possess such detailed knowledge? She swallowed hard, forcing her feet to move forward. The moment she crossed the threshold, a faint warmth enveloped her, like stepping into a sunbeam.

A few minutes later, Gastro strolled up to the gate, his signature grin plastered across his face. The gatekeeper gave him the same cursory glance, tapping his pad again.

"Gastro," the gatekeeper intoned. "Chosen by the elders, lower realm candidate. Passed evaluation with... unexpected results." His brow arched slightly, but he didn't comment further. The gate opened once more, and Gastro sauntered through without a care in the world.