The First Trial
As Grey reached for a weapon, a hand swooped in and snatched it. Before he could react, another hand pushed him, sending him stumbling. The Norwood Twins, Max and Lax, stood before him, their bright red hair and eyes unmistakable.
"Hey, you pushed me!" Grey exclaimed.
"So what?" Lax sneered.
"Quit it, Lax," Max said, his commanding voice a stark contrast to his brother's. "Sorry about my brother's behavior; he's always like that." Max offered a courteous smile. "I'm Max Norwood."
"I'm Grey Lowmit," Grey replied, his hand extending.
"Lowmit? You're from District 7, aren't you?" Max's eyes sparkled with intrigue. "People from District 7 don't last long in the Tower. I'm hoping you'll surprise me; you are a Lowmit after all." With a grin, Max walked away, his sword and shield at the ready.
Grey's curiosity was piqued. "What does being a Lowmit have to do with anything?" he called out.
"Hurry up, humans!" a rushed voice interrupted.
Grey sighed, eyeing the remaining weapons. "I guess I'll take a spear; I don't have enough strength for a sword."
Just then, a handsome stranger approached him. "No, I think a dagger would suit you better." He flashed a charming smile. "The name's Reta Owen, but people call me Hallow." A white-haired boy with a sinister smile lingered in the background.
As Grey turned to enter the trial, Peter's voice stopped him. "Grey! Be careful of those people. They're nobles – the last one, Hallow, is the son of a well-known noble in District 1. You know how the districts work: District 1 & 2 are nobles, 3 & 5 are commoners, 6 & 7 are...well, you know."
Grey nodded, his mind racing with the implications.
"The trial will begin in a few seconds," the bunny announced.
Grey sprinted toward the door. As he stepped into the trial, everything went dark.
When he came to, he was lying on the ground. The bunny's voice echoed above him, "If you found yourself knocked out after entering the trial, it's because your body isn't strong enough to survive here."
The bunny explained the rules: "Floor 1 Mission: Kill all the goblins. Goblins killed: 0. Goblins alive: 250. Days to completion: 5 days. Rewards: 1000 Silver. Fail the mission: Death."
Grey stood up, gripping his daggers tightly. He looked around, taking in the eerie forest surroundings with glowing trees and plants. "I will survive this," he vowed.
To Be Continued