ROOM ZERO

"You really did impressively out there; Mama couldn't be prouder," Sylvana commended Jack in her chamber, reflecting on the tournament that took place two days prior.

Jack grinned at his mother's praise, soaking in the pride emanating from her expression. "Thanks, Mama. But you know me, always striving for more."

Sylvana's demeanor shifted, her gaze turning serious as she addressed her son. "Remember, don't venture past the second level; it could prove perilous. You're not ready for that yet," she cautioned, her concern evident.

"Yes, Mother... I understand," Jack replied respectfully, taking heed of her warning.

"Very well then, now that you're prepared. Evelyn, please escort Jack to claim his reward," Sylvana instructed with a mischievous glint in her eye, hinting at something more beneath her words.

"Come along, Young Master... I'll lead you to the treasury," Evelyn stated in her typical composed manner, ready to fulfill her duty as Jack's personal maid.

"Yes, let's go... Until next time, Mother," Jack said, bidding his mother farewell before following Evelyn out of the room.

"So, what did you think of my performance? I'm curious to hear your thoughts," Jack inquired, breaking the silence as they walked.

"You performed admirably, as always, Master," Evelyn replied without turning back, her response unwavering.

"Well, that was from my personal maid, Evelyn. But I'm curious about Evelyn Harper's opinion," Jack teased, noticing the slight blush on her cheeks as she continued forward.

"As... As I said, Master, y... you did well," Evelyn stammered, her embarrassment palpable as she spoke.

"She's quite adorable," Jack mused to himself, finding amusement in Evelyn's reaction as they continued their journey.

"We've arrived, Young Master," Evelyn announced as they approached a massive gate, signaling their arrival at the treasury.

"Open the gates, per Madam's orders," Evelyn instructed the gatekeeper, who complied with a respectful nod before opening the gate.

"From here, Master, you'll proceed on your own. But don't worry, you'll be transported to the treasury room once you enter. You'll be perfectly safe," Evelyn reassured him before bidding him farewell with a nod.

Jack acknowledged her words with a nod of his own before venturing into the treasury. As he entered, the atmosphere shifted, and he found himself faced with five imposing doors, each marked with a number.

"Looks like these are the five levels Mother mentioned," Jack remarked, approaching the door labeled '1.'

Just as he reached for the door handle, a tin sound echoed in his mind, prompting him to pause.

{SYSTEM: A HIGHER LEVEL OF DEMONIC MANA COULD BE SENSED FROM THE AREA. PINPOINTING THE SOURCE OF DISRUPTION...}

{SYSTEM: FOUND THE SOURCE OF DISRUPTION. CHECKING ITS COMPATIBILITY WITH THE HOST...}

{SYSTEM: CHECK IS COMPLETE.}

{SYSTEM: THE HOST IS ADVISED TO REACH LEVEL 0 TO MAKE A CONTRACT WITH THE WEAPON.}

Intrigued by the notion of making a contract with a weapon, Jack pondered his next move.

"But where would I find a door leading to level 0?" he wondered.

{SYSTEM: THE HOST IS ADVISED TO WALK TOWARDS DOOR NUMBER 5 AND TOUCH THE WALL ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DOOR.}

Following the system's instructions, Jack proceeded to the fifth door and touched the wall to its right.

{SYSTEM: EXAMINING THE WALL...}

{SYSTEM: EXAMINATION COMPLETE. THE DOOR TO LEVEL 0 IS APPEARING...}

With the appearance of a door marked '0,' Jack's adventure within the treasury was about to take an intriguing turn.

Jack saw the door and shook his head.

"Aaaaa... This door was hiding behind the wall. Well, if it weren't for the system, I wouldn't have found this door here..." Jack exclaimed, his curiosity piqued by the mysterious discovery. He couldn't help but marvel at the intricacies of the hidden doorway, wondering what secrets it held within.

With a mix of apprehension and excitement, Jack reached out and grasped the knob, feeling a slight tremor of anticipation coursing through him as he turned it. As the door creaked open, a rush of stale air greeted him, carrying with it a foreboding sense of darkness and mystery.

Peering into the dimly lit chamber beyond, Jack couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of his stomach. The room appeared to be shrouded in shadows, with faint whispers echoing from the depths, sending a chill down his spine.

"Wait, do I have to go in here? This place doesn't look like a treasury... It's so creepy and old," Jack muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper as he hesitated at the threshold. His instincts urged him to turn back, warning him of the potential dangers that lay ahead.

But despite his reservations, Jack's curiosity got the better of him. He couldn't resist the allure of the unknown, the tantalizing prospect of uncovering hidden secrets and treasures hidden within the darkness. With a deep breath, he steeled himself and took a tentative step forward, crossing the threshold into the unknown.

As he ventured further into the chamber, Jack's senses were assailed by the musty scent of ancient books and the faint sound of dripping water echoing off stone walls. The air felt heavy with the weight of history, as if each step he took brought him closer to uncovering long-forgotten truths.

The dim light cast eerie shadows across the room, playing tricks on Jack's mind and heightening his senses. Every creak of the floorboards, every whisper of the wind seemed to carry with it a sense of impending danger, urging him to proceed with caution.

But Jack pressed on, his curiosity driving him forward despite the growing sense of unease gnawing at the edges of his mind. With each passing moment, the darkness seemed to deepen, enveloping him in its embrace and obscuring his path ahead.

"Well, it can't be helped. Looks like I have to go in. It's not like I'm going to die... Right?" Jack reasoned aloud, trying to convince himself of the safety of his decision. Deep down, however, a nagging doubt lingered, a seed of uncertainty that refused to be ignored.

With a resolve born of determination, Jack pushed forward, determined to uncover the secrets that lay hidden within the depths of the chamber. Little did he know, his journey into the unknown was only just beginning, and the challenges that awaited him would test his courage and resolve in ways he never imagined.