Darkness pressed against Zach's eyelids like an impending doom.
What?...
Zach grimaced. He tried to move but was restricted with a metal clang.
Where am I?
Darkness surrounded him.
*Argh...* A sharp pain shot through his ribs.
What is this?
Zach pushed hard, but the iron lid made his movements futile. The air was filled with a metallic tang that made Zach's throat itchy. Above, cracks of light peeked through the enclosed walls, signaling he was in some sort of box—a human-shaped box.
Wait... a coffin?
The wooden and metallic frame confirmed Zach's suspicion.
Zach could feel slight movement and the sound of horses neighing in the distance. The coffin wiggled, poking at Zach's injury even more.
A carriage...
The neighing horses and wheels squeakimg was proof of that.
Then the carriage came to a halt. Zach could hear footsteps crunching, inching closer.
Argh! Zach felt it; the box was lifted carelessly into the air and placed atop a person's shoulder.
"Hey! Careful with that dumbass." Zach finally heard a voice.
"Why'd they send us to dispose of the bodies in the lake? We could've just burned them at the castle, no problem."
"Tch! And leave traces of the count's death as we know it? Yeah right! Great way to get us both killed." Another voice replied.
Wait!?...count?, Lake?—What's going on?
Zach tried to wiggle. He couldn't identify the voices, but he could identify the intent. They were planning to throw the coffin into a lake.
"But honestly though, those humans got what they deserve." The duo laughed.
Humans...?
Soon enough, the box was launched into the air. Zach could hear the splash of water as his box sank to the bottom of the lake.
[Welcome to your first trial, Seeker.]
[The Thyxar Kingdom has infiltrated your ranks.]
Instantly, memories flooded Zach's mind. In this world, humans live side by side with Thyxars, coexisting as two rival empires that compete for resources.
But over the years, Thyxar growth far exceeded what was initially expected, birthing extremely powerful entities. The race had no reason to put up with humans anymore, so they waged war.
Zach was a scrawny swordsman who attended the academy. His camp was raided by the enemy. Thyxars, with their hulking frame and peerless regeneration, managed to completely overpower their squad.
And as it turns out, the monsters were on a reconnaissance mission. So they had to discreetly dispose of the bodies so they could blend in as knights and infiltrate the main gate.
Humans were spread thin around the continent, now dominated by the thxars who were the superior race
Water bled into the box.
[PARADOX SYSTEM INTERFACE]
[Objective: lead humanity to victory against the Thyxar]
[Difficulty: hard]
[Consequences for failure: death]
[Chances left: 10]
[Thread wisely, Seeker... the cycle of despair begins now.]
[Path: path of iniquity.]
What!... now? ...I think I get it... Zach gritted.
The trial was meant to see if he was worthy of the Earth rank; it is a conjured-up version, like a real dream.
Circle of despair?... what even is that?. The water seeped in faster, reaching his waist. Zach gritted. Despite the injury on his left side, he could still push forward.
Zach arched his back, placing both his feet on the coffin's door. The trial was talking about rank, and there were other people in the trials too. Zach pushed hard; the cold metal groaned under pressure. Zach's body erupted into a sea of pain; his sides screamed as he pried the lid of the coffin with his legs.
By now, the water had seeped in and was at neck level. Come on... Zach's whole body screamed in pain; icy water seeped into his wounds, making it even worse. But he persevered.
Soon enough, the coffin lid creaked open, swarming the coffin with water as a huge air bubble erupted. The coffin fully cranked open, revealing a wide body of clear blue liquid.
Zach moved, swinging his arms, paddling to the surface. The air was cut off; he needed to breathe. Above him, the surface of the water rippled unevenly; sunlight pierced through the surface, illuminating the bottom filled with jagged rocks and an uneven lake bed.
Thankfully, Zach had undergone basic training and survival skills in school before he dropped out due to his mother's death. But he learned how to swim in his time.
The water rippled around him, making Zach's spine tingle with a chilling intensity.
What... is this feeling?
Zach turned around to see a massive sillohuette striding towards him.
It was a giant serpent.
Oh sh*t
Zach tried to gasp, but only water filled his lungs. The bleeding on his side didn't help the situation either.
The serpent charged, opening its jaws wide. Zach tried to swim away, but he was too slow. The serpent closed in at incredible speeds.
Dammit! If only I was fast enough!, Zach gritted.
Wait... my skill.
Zach looked at his palm. If he could morph into something that was good and nimble underwater, he could escape.
Shadow Morph.
Zach's body became black like a silhouette; his insides changed shape, shirnking as it grew smaller, gills appeared on his sides , and replaced his hands.
His shape changed into a fish the size of an infant's leg—a salmon.
That's what Zach could think of at the moment.
Instantly, his body began ejecting water out through osmoregulation; liquid passed through his gills, which was a strange feeling considering he wasn't breathing but at the same time he was. His body oozed with a shadowy mist; he truly looked like a shadow creature.
The feel felt different; he was smaller now, which felt weird. Zach moved his fins awkwardly, managing to dart out of harm's way in an instant and crouch in a tight space under a rock.
[90/100]
[82/100]
[75/100]
His soul essence instantly dropped, shocking him.
I've just been in this form for a few seconds.
[50/100]
But... my soul essence is gone by 50%?
Zach had to do something. The huge serpent was still patrolling the waters above, looking for prey.
If Zach stays here, he will turn back to his human form, inevitably becoming the monster's afternoon snack. Zach waited until the serpent wasn't looking, and with a burst of speed, swam towards the shore.
[30/100]
Come on..., he gritted, swimming even harder.
[20/100]
Zach gritted his salmon teeth. He could feel his energy being drained by the second.
Just transforming into a small fish was able to drain his essence this fast?
[8/100]
Zach was almost at the shore. Just a little bit...
The serpent glided through the waters, finally noticing Zach's fish form.
Oh no...
Zach's body reverted back to his human form, but he still pushed forward, regardless.
Bursting out of the water, Zach rolled away instantly, dodging the serpent's serrated jaws by a hair's breadth.
_Cough_ _Cough_ Zach gagged. As he crawled away.
Above the still water, the Giants serpent loomed in the surface for a bit, and Zach could see it's black scales through the clear blue water.
After a while the leviathan sank back into the ocean, leaving behind thrashing ripples above the calm lake.
"It's gone?.."
I... made it...
Zach smiled . After all that. He survived.
"Well. well. well. What do we have here...?"
A familiar voice echoed behind him.