In the end, I chose to continue because I could always buy another card to retake the trial.
With my previous experience, reaching S Rank again would be even easier. But if I settled for it, I would miss the chance to get the Unbound Rank.
"Continue"
Once again, the floor moved, and a blinding light flashed.
I found myself standing in an open space, my eyes squinting as they slowly adjusted.
That's when I realized I was standing in an arena that resembled the colossal Roman gladiator arenas, only much larger and more imposing.
It was easily ten times larger than a normal , with towering walls as high as ten-story buildings. Each wall held a different flag, marked with strange symbols, and lined with small, prison gates.
Just looking at them made my skin crawl.
Please don't let the test be fighting whatever's behind those gates with nothing but my fists.
While I was still trying to understand what was going on, the ground began to shake, and from beneath, a throne made of bones slowly emerged.
Sitting on it was a figure that made my blood run cold, not because she looked scary, but quite the opposite.
She was beautiful—so much that she looked inhuman, unnatural. Like staring at a painting , not one born from flesh and blood.
Especially those eyes. Deep crimson, glowing like lanterns in the dark, with slit-shaped pupils resembling a serpent's.
The rest of her was no less breathtaking.
Long black hair cascaded down her back, contrasting sharply with her pale, flawless skin. Two sharp, curved goat horns jutted from her head, adding a touch of darkness to an otherwise perfect face.
She wore an elegant dark dress that fit her figure like it was woven just for her, and yet it did little to soften the chains that coiled tightly around her body.
If it weren't for the whole "radiating death" thing, I would probably be falling for her.
I mean, seriously, who wouldn't want to get flirty with a demon that stunning? Shame she looked like she would rip my heart out for fun.
She tilted her head, probably wondering why I was too quiet… or worse, noticing the way my eyes had wandered to her chest.
Please don't let it be that. I'm pretty sure my mind control won't work on her.
"How did a mortal like you come to this place?" Her voice echoed through the empty arena despite the substantial distance between us.
I swallowed hard. "I don't know."
The system said this was just a simulation, but the atmosphere of the place and the aura she was giving off felt far too real.
Her eyes glowed, and for a moment, I thought she might incinerate me on the spot with just a glare.
"An avatar, huh? First, they lock me in this place... and now this?"
Her expression darkened, and blood-red aura exploded from her body, swallowing the entire arena in an instant.
The moment it touched me, my knees hit the ground.
[System Protection Initiated: Protecting Host Soul]
A blue glow wrapped around me, wiping the pressure, but my hand still shook.
"Who sent you here?" she asked again, this time her voice grinding in my ears like metal scraping against stone.
"I checked your body—you don't have the mark of those bastards. Even that blue light from before came from a power I don't recognize."
It took me a moment to get back on my feet.
"I told you already. I have no idea…I just found myself here after accepting a mission… something about awakening my power."
She didn't respond right away. Instead, she rested a hand on her chin, silently studying me from head to toe.
"Very well. I'll overlook your insolence, since you're not sent by them. But if you truly intend to take the trial, know this—you will certainly fail. Give up now and leave this place while you still can."
"I want to know what it is first."
She narrowed her eyes. "Didn't you hear what I said?"
"I did," I stood my ground. "But I don't care. I want to know my chances."
Now that I'm here, might as well go all the way.
"See those prison bars?" she pointed reluctantly ."Each one holds one of my powerful servants. Beat them, and you'll earn their abilities."
"Will their power scale down to my level?"
She smirked. "What, you think this place is some charity for the weak? I'm already way too generous letting mortals steal a bit of my blessings. And now you come here, trying to snatch one directly? Seriously, don't you think you're pushing your luck?"
'System, am I really in a simulation?'
[Host, the Unbound power has surpassed the world's current limits. Your soul has been transported to its very source.]
From that statement, I figured the woman over there was the source of all awakenings—not because she was generous, but because she was forced.
What humans got were just breadcrumbs. I could've taken a big bite if I stuck with S Rank. But I wanted more—so the system sent me here as an avatar.
'System? Why do I have to rely on her to awaken my power? Don't you have your own?'
[Affirmative. However, most of the system's abilities revolve around control and can only tap into existing power source]
Great. So the system's store was basically like those online shops that don't make anything—they just act as a platform connecting sellers and buyers.
She grew more impatient, tongue clicking every time her eyes landed to the chains. That's when an idea popped into my head.