"Sweet Mother of the Lord…!" Jack jumped back and readied himself for a battle. He was already very close to the Therras Beast.
However, the Therras Beast just stared at him without moving an inch.
He looked again to make sure. His distance from the beast was less than the first time when he met this beast. Was the beast looked down on him again? Last time it did some stretching before it came charging, but now it stood unmoving and just stared at Jack.
Jack moved sideways with his attention fully on the Therras Beast, towards the direction of the cave. He expected the Therras Beast to attack him at any moment, but it never did. It even lost attention after Jack circled to his back. Its head stopped looking at Jack and turned back to the front. It then lay back on the ground in its previous lazing position.
"Huh?" Jack watched the beast with confusion.
He glanced to his back. The cave was just a few meters away. With his eyes still on the Therras Beast, he slowly walked backward until he passed the opening into the cave.
"It truly didn't attack… What's wrong?" Jack asked. The Therras Beast won't be able to attack anymore once he went inside the cave. There was an invisible layer that prevented the beast from entering.
"Don't know…," Peniel replied.
"Why is its level increased so much? I thought only outworlders can level that fast?" Jack asked again.
"Don't know!" Peniel replied with a louder tone.
Jack observed the Therras Beast for a while before saying, "I don't know why it didn't attack but I think I can hazard a guess as to why its level increases."
"Why?"
"Wilted said this place is one of his partner's secret spots, right? However, as time passed, more and more players will stumble into this place, such as those Growth Aid Agency people. If high-level players come and this Therras Beast's level is constant at level 45, then everyone will have no trouble taking the trials inside. This special class here won't be that special anymore. Since this Therras Beast improved in level following players' progression, it will always keep the special class inside here out of reach, until maybe when players hit the level cap. Which means, whatever special class is inside here, it is meant for end game content."
"I seriously have no idea what you are talking about," Peniel said.
"Game terminology, don't worry about it. Just know that this proves the special skill inside here is something unusual. Hehe. I'm truly looking forward to it now."
Jack didn't pay attention to the Therras Beast outside any longer. He turned around and headed inside. Since he already knew that there were no monsters or traps inside, he ran at full speed without worry. Last time it took him an hour of walking to reach the large cave hall. With his running speed this time, he arrived in less than fifteen minutes.
The hole he had broken through into Pandora's containment room was still there.
He looked around. This large cave hall only had that single window opening and the hole into Pandora's room. He had no idea what to do here. Last time the Test of Courage just activated by itself after he went to sleep. He didn't feel sleepy this time. He also didn't wish the trial to be the same horror experience as the last time.
"Hey, the old man who enjoys scaring people! Are you around?" Jack yelled.
"You are still as impolite as before," A voice came up behind Jack.
Jack jumped because the voice appeared directly behind him. He turned back and saw Majus in his illusory form.
"And you still enjoy scaring people!" Jack returned. "Can't you appear in front of me instead of my back? And so close even. Don't you know about personal space? Well, never mind that. I'm here to take on that special class trial."
"Oh, you are an archmage and level 50 already?" Majus asked. But before Jack could answer, Majus had added, "You truly are! That is quite fast. Good, good."
"You seem awfully happy. I take it you don't get many test-takers here, do you?"
"You still dare to say that! You have taken the Nightmare. I can't give anyone the first test even if I want to! Now, only you have the chance for passing this test. If you fail, then no one can get the special class here and my duty will never be fulfilled. So, you have better not fail, you rude and impolite youngster!"
"Whoa, whoa… Why suddenly get so agitated?" Jack said. "You said you need the Nightmare to give someone that horror test?"
"Yeah. Do you know where that Nightmare has gone to? Can you capture it back for me? I will reward you," Majus said. Jack received a quest notification.
"Uh? Um, no… I have no idea where that Nightmare is now," Jack lied. He promptly rejected the quest request.
Majus eyed Jack suspiciously, which caused Jack to smile wryly.
"Hm… Then you have better not fail this trial, kid. I won't forgive you if you do," Majus warned.
"Then give me info and tips about the trial. Help me increase my odds of succeeding," Jack said.
"I can't. I'm duty-bound to be impartial and not provide aids to the candidates."
"Not even info of what the trial is about and what I need to do to pass it?"
"Nope."
"What about the consequences of failing? Are you not allowed to tell me that as well? Will I die if I fail or something like that?"
"I suppose I can tell you that. If you fail, you won't be able to retake the trial anymore. This is a one-time attempt. So do not f*ck this up! If you fail, there will be no more candidates because the Nightmare is missing and I will be a haunted ghost forever. I will make it my mission to haunt you forever if that happens! Even if you die, I will still haunt you!"
"Damn, old man. I'm more scared by your threat than going against that level 70 Therras Beast down there," Jack said. "Speaking of which, why does that Therras Beast down there not attack me?"
"Because you have passed the first trial, the test of courage. That gives you the privilege of entering this place freely."
"Ah…," Jack remarked with a nod.
"Are you done with your questioning? Are you ready to begin the trial or do you still have questions?"
"I have lots of questions about the trial but since you are not allowed to answer me then there is no point for me to ask. Just begin the Goddamn trial!"
"I half-wish you to succeed because I'm not keen on being a haunted ghost forever, but I also half-wish you to fail because of your foul mouth," Majus said. "Well, anyway. Here comes the trial!"
Jack waited for something to happen, but everything is quiet. Nothing seemed to change.
"Old man, this is a letdown. Have you lost your juice? Or do you need the Nightmare for this second trial as well?" Jack asked.
Majus didn't reply. He just stood still and stared at Jack.
"Hm…?" Now that Jack paid attention. The ghostly old man had actually stayed exactly the same after declaring the start of the trial.
"Hey, old man! What's wrong?" Jack snapped his fingers in front of Majus. No reaction.
'The heck? Is he messing with me?' Jack thought. He decided to throw caution to the wind and slap the man. His hand went passed the man as if air. 'Oh, right. He is just a ghost.'
"Peniel, what do you make of this?" Jack asked. His hands were flicking around Majus' ghostly face. The old ghost's eyes just stared blankly ahead. Jack chuckled from his own mischief. He had been expecting Peniel to scold him by now.
"Hey, Peniel. Why are you so qui…," Jack's words stopped when he saw Peniel who was completely still in the air beside him. She was wearing the same blank look as Majus.
Jack knew then that something was not right. He waved his hands in front of his fairy companion. No response. Both Peniel and Majus had seemingly turned into statues.
Jack moved away and looked at the two. It was like looking at a still picture.
"Shit…," He uttered. It looked like the trial had already started.
*
Jack wandered around the large cave hall. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. He checked every nook and cranny in that place. Nothing. He got tired and just sat in a corner and looked at the two still beings at the center of the hall.
He stayed there for a long while until he decided that he won't find any solution here. He needed to get out of here. It's too depressing here inside this hall with nothing but the two statues of Peniel and Majus. He looked outside the window opening.
'Odd…,' He thought. There was light. Sunlight usually couldn't come into this valley. However, another strange thing. When he came back down to the valley, it was almost noon. He estimated he already spent a great deal of time since then. It should be close to the evening already, but the sunlight from outside seemed like it was still noon.
He then walked down. He came out into the valley again, expecting to see a still Therras Beast. Instead, he saw no beast. In front of him after he came out of the cave was a large expanse of land and a clear sky. Which made no sense, because he was supposed to be in a valley.
He looked back and saw that there was still the tall cliff behind him.
He decided to summon Pandora and ran up the cliff. Back to the plateau above before trying to think about anything.
Nothing came out.
