Is this really a Game?!

As the wave of silver light engulfed them, everything faded into an abyss of cold silence. It was a sensation that all of them had grown familiar with in the past—the feeling of death, of losing everything in a single, overwhelming moment. Yet, this time, it felt different. There was no panic, no fear, only a strange acceptance.

They had fought with everything they had, faced an opponent who was leagues beyond them, and still stood their ground until the end.

The void lingered for what felt like an eternity, the only company being their thoughts and the heavy weight of failure.

But then, like a distant echo, a warm light pierced the darkness. It was faint at first, barely noticeable, but it gradually grew stronger until it enveloped them in a gentle embrace. One by one, they began to regain consciousness.

Reign's eyes fluttered open, greeted by the sight of the stone ceiling of the resurrection chamber, a place they had not visited till now. The ambient glow of blue light surrounded him, a sign that they had returned to the haven that was present in the arena. He could feel the aches and pains from the battle still lingering in his body, but it was clear that they had been healed enough to stand.

"We're back," Reign muttered, sitting up slowly. His thoughts were still reeling from everything that had transpired.

Nearby, Shadow stirred, followed by the others. They all wore expressions of grim determination mixed with frustration. The reality of their defeat was hard to swallow, but it was also a powerful motivator. They had tasted what true mastery looked like, and it left a bitter taste in their mouths. But that bitterness only strengthened their resolve.

"So, that's what it's like to face someone truly at the peak of our Tier, I never thought the difference between us and any other combatant would be so wide," Jin said as he flexed his fingers, checking for any lingering stiffness. His voice was calm, but his eyes betrayed the deep anger he felt at his own shortcomings.

"I guess now we know how many of our opponents had felt like when facing us in the past," Wolf said with a smirk as he shook his head.

"That wasn't just a battle," Mia added, her voice laced with a mix of awe and annoyance. "It was a lesson."

Greenie clenched his fists. "We pushed ourselves harder than ever, and it still wasn't enough."

Tank, ever the optimist, crossed his arms and grinned. "It just means we have to keep moving forward. If we were able to make him go all out, that means we're on the right path. Next time, we'll be ready."

"Yeah, he did mention that he has a century of experience … for someone to be in this realm for that long, I guess it is to be expected that he would wipe the floor with us as he had done."

The group nodded in agreement. Despite the overwhelming defeat, there was a sense of unity and renewed purpose. They had survived an encounter with someone far beyond their level and lived to learn from it.

But the question that lingered in Reign's mind was what Radagan had meant by "reward." The man's words had been cryptic, and while they had been given another chance, there was still the matter of the trials that awaited them.

They failed the trial … so what was going to happen now?

But before they could delve deeper into planning, the chamber they were in suddenly flickered with light. The familiar voice of the system echoed around them.

[ Congratulations, participants. Though you have failed to secure the throne, your performance has been deemed worthy of redemption. The Trials of Ascension will now be revealed again. Brace yourselves. ]

The chamber's walls shimmered, and in an instant, the group was no longer in their safe zone. They found themselves standing in a vast, circular arena surrounded by towering statues of mythical beasts. The ground beneath them was made of polished stone, engraved with intricate patterns that pulsed with energy.

Above them, a translucent barrier encased the arena, through which they could see dark clouds swirling ominously. The air was thick with power, and its weight pressed down on them like a tangible force. In the center of the arena stood a massive gate, its surface covered in glowing runes that radiated ancient, foreboding energy.

The arena was empty, and suddenly, the gate opened, and many screens appeared in front of them. The screens showed the trials they had gone through before, the many battles they had managed to win, and their final battle, which ended in a cruel defeat.

[ The participants failed to secure the throne and lost their lives to participant 'Radagan', but thanks to the immense talent and bravery you have shown, you are given a second chance. ]

[ Pass the 5 Hell Trials of the arena, and you will be allowed to attempt to take the throne again. ]

The announcement from the system reverberated through the vast arena, its tone cold and impartial. Reign and his team exchanged glances, absorbing the gravity of the situation. They had failed to seize the throne, but now they had a chance at redemption—a chance to prove that they could stand at the pinnacle of their Tier. However, the mention of "Hell Trials" sent a shiver down their spines.

If these trials were anything like what they'd just experienced, then they knew they were about to face their greatest challenge yet. Read new chapters at empire

Reign took a deep breath, his expression hardening with resolve. "This is it, everyone. We've been given a second chance. It's not going to be easy, but we didn't come this far just to give up now."

The massive gate at the center of the arena groaned as it fully opened, revealing a swirling vortex of darkness and crimson light. A gust of hot air surged out, carrying with it the scent of ash and blood. The energy emanating from the gate was thick with malevolence, and it felt as if the trials themselves were alive, eager to devour anyone foolish enough to enter.

The system's voice echoed once more, providing a brief explanation.

[ The Hell Trials consist of five stages, each designed to test you to your fullest. Failure in any stage will result in total obliteration, with no chance for resurrection. Proceed only if you are prepared to face death. ]

A tense silence hung in the air as the team processed the implications. Unlike before, there would be no coming back from failure. This time, if they fell, they fell for good.

Tank cracked his knuckles, a fierce grin spreading across his face. "Well, I didn't sign up for this journey expecting an easy ride. Let's show these trials what we're made of."

Mia, her icy demeanor hiding the nerves she felt, nodded firmly. "It's not like resurrection was possible in any of the previous challenges we have gone through anyway, why would we care about that now?"

One by one, they steeled themselves, gathering their resolve. There was no room for hesitation. They had come too far, endured too much, to back down now. The only way forward was through the trials.

[ The system recognizes the ambition and will of the participants, the hell trials are now available to you, please go through the gate to be marked as participants of the hell trials, you can then attempt the trials whenever you wish. ]

"Let's go," Reign said, taking the first step toward the gate. The others followed, each member of the team ready to face whatever horrors awaited them.

As they passed through the gate, the world around them seemingly changed for an instant before they found themselves on the other side of the gate, still present in the same arena.

[ The participants will be returned to the arena now. ]

[ Please rest well before attempting the first trial, you can attempt it from any location in the arena merely by using the system. ]

And that was when Reign and the others were sent back to their accommodations, and that was when the reality hit them.

It was only then that they realized that even though they had another chance … they died … they were all killed by one opponent, and thus silence shrouded the room until some moments ago.

"Tomorrow, we attempt the first trial." Reign said as the others nodded and went to rest.

Just as they said, tomorrow, they all gathered and started the trial.

The world around them shifted as they were teleported somewhere, the warm air turned biting cold, and the stone beneath their feet transformed into cracked, charred earth. They found themselves standing in a desolate wasteland under a blood-red sky.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The distant howls of tortured souls echoed in the wind, and twisted, skeletal trees lined the horizon, their branches swaying like grasping fingers.

In the center of this barren landscape was a towering structure—a fortress made of blackened iron, its walls adorned with spikes and chains. The fortress exuded a sinister aura, and the oppressive energy radiating from it made it clear that this was the first trial.

[ Welcome to the Fortress of Despair, the first of the Hell Trials. Here, you will face relentless waves of enemies who embody your deepest fears and regrets. Only by overcoming them can you advance to the next stage of this trial. ]