Chapter 1541: Advices
Hearing that Askar had suggestions about the Trial, the four Dragonborn immediately gave him their full attention. This was not something they could ignore. Whatever Askar had to say could be extremely important for their success inside the Trial.
From everything they had seen so far, Askar appeared to be someone who had experienced an enormous amount throughout his long existence. His calm demeanor and hardened expression suggested that very little could still shake him.
Perhaps the only thing that could truly reach him was the guilt he carried over what had happened to Valthoria thousands of years ago.
As the guardian of the Trial, Askar’s knowledge about it was undoubtedly extensive. Any advice he could provide might make the difference between their success and failure.
"The first thing you need to remember is not to lose yourselves," Askar began. "The Trial may show you things that feel real. You may be placed inside situations that bring back memories, fears, or emotions you thought you had already overcome. Don’t allow those things to consume you."
The four Dragonborn listened carefully.
Askar continued. "Some of the puzzles may seem impossible. You may spend a long time searching for an answer and begin believing that there isn’t one. Don’t despair. Keep looking."
Askar paused for a moment, his expression thoughtful, then said with his expression was serious, "And there may be battles that seem impossible to win. You might face something far stronger than yourselves. Don’t give up simply because you cannot see a path to victory when the time comes.
"Everything inside the Trial was designed for you. If you are placed in a situation, then there is a way through it. You may not understand that way immediately. You may fail several times before you find it. But eventually, you will be able to overcome it."
Erend, Eccar, Aesa, and Sylven exchanged uneasy glances.
The advice sounded simple but the way Askar delivered it made the Trial sound far more dangerous than they had expected.
They were Dragonborns. They had already survived battles that would have killed ordinary beings countless times over. Yet Askar was warning them not to despair, not to lose themselves, and not to give up even when faced with impossible battles.
That alone was enough to make the four of them feel uneasy.
Askar noticed their expressions and released a tired sigh.
"I don’t know how to make you feel better about this," he admitted. "It would be a lie if I told you the Trial wasn’t going to be difficult. It will be hard. Very hard." He paused before continuing. "However, once you complete it, there will be a great reward waiting for you."
Eccar immediately looked at him. "What is it?"
"New powers."
The answer was simple.
"You will become much stronger," Askar continued. "Not only physically. You will become stronger mentally as well. The Black Rage won’t be a problem."
The four Dragonborn fell silent.
That was certainly a significant reward.
They had already learned that the enemies waiting for them in the future would continue becoming stronger. The Black Rage was a huge threat for them right now, and there were still countless dangers they had yet to encounter.
They needed more power.
After discussing the Trial for some time more, the four Dragonborn eventually reached their decision.
They would begin.
Askar stood from his chair and walked several paces away from them. He stopped in the middle of the chamber and raised one hand.
Magic immediately gathered around him. A strange portal began forming in front of him.
This portal appeared to be made from liquid metal that swirling in the air. Its surface constantly moved and rippled as though an enormous pool of molten silver had been suspended in the air.
Strange Magic radiated from it, or rather, from the place the portal connected to.
Erend immediately noticed that the energy was unlike anything he had ever felt before. It did not feel like ordinary Magic, nor did it resemble the artificial Magic energy they had encountered in Valthoria.
It was something entirely different.
Askar turned toward them.
"One last thing," he said. "Don’t trust everything you see inside. But don’t reject everything either. Observe, think, and most importantly, keep moving forward."
The four Dragonborn nodded.
Erend stood first. Eccar, Aesa, and Sylven followed. Together, they approached the strange portal.
"Good luck," Askar said.
Erend glanced at him one final time before stepping forward.
The moment he entered the portal, strange light surrounded his body. Energy flowed through him.
For an instant, Erend felt as though something was passing through every part of his body and reaching deep into his soul. The sensation was unfamiliar and impossible to describe. It did not hurt, but it felt as though the portal was examining him from the inside.
The light grew brighter. Then everything disappeared in an instant.
Erend felt his feet touch solid ground. He immediately opened his eyes and saw darkness surrounding him.
Above his head stretched an endless night sky filled with countless stars. Beneath his feet lay dark sand that extended across a vast empty landscape.
There were no buildings, trees, or mountains. Nothing. The land stretched endlessly into the distance beneath the star-filled sky.
Erend slowly looked around.
His expression gradually changed. Confusion appeared across his face.
He knew this place. Or at least, it looked incredibly familiar.
The endless dark landscape and strange night sky reminded him of a place he had visited countless times before.
This was the Dungeon World. The mysterious dimension Erend regularly entered to train and increase his level.
He stared into the distance in disbelief.
"Why does this place look like the Dungeon World?"
Erend wondered whether the Trial had somehow connected to the very dimension he had used for leveling up.
This was so strange. The Dungeon World was a place created by the System inside his body. This was not a part of the natural world.
But why the Trial able to create this place?
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