This would be a hard choice, especially because I didn't know what kind of trial I would get.
If it was a fight, then I was pretty much screwed. Neither I nor the original owner of this body knew how to fight.
To hell with it.
Since failure only risked the card, I decided to trust my luck, and tapped on Manual Mode.
Out of nowhere, a blinding flash of light swallowed my vision, and it felt like my soul was being ripped out of my body, making me regret my decision instantly.
When it finally faded, I blinked and found myself in a chamber that looked like it came straight out of an old castle.
The ceiling was high and arched, with dark stone beams disappearing into shadow. The walls were made of huge grey blocks, cold and smooth from age.
Was this really a simulation? It felt so real that when I touched the ground, I could feel its coldness.
Suddenly, a loud rumble shook the chamber, and the walls and floor started moving in all directions—like pieces of a giant Rubik's Cube.
I didn't dare move, scared that if I did, I would be crushed flat. So I did the only thing that made sense at the time: I shut my eyes tight.
The rumbling grew louder and louder until it felt like the entire castle was closing in on me.
Then out of nowhere—it stopped.
I opened my eyes, and a glowing window popped up.
[Congratulations! You passed the test of composure]
[By not moving an inch, you showed an indomitable will to stay calm despite overwhelming odds.]
[You have earned B Rank . Would you like to accept it, or go for A Rank?]
A bitter laugh slipped out of me. Who would've thought that being a coward would actually help me for once?
However, I didn't have time to celebrate, because a countdown had already started. I got to choose, settle for the B Rank or risk it all for a better ability.
I weighed the pros and cons, but the more I thought about it, the more it tempted me. In the end, greed won.
"Continue,"
Before I could even process my decision, the chamber transformed again.
A stone pillar rose from the center of the chamber, its surface smooth except for a panel with five carved symbols:
Roaring lion
Soaring eagle
Coiled serpent
Leaping hare
Curled-up turtle
A glowing message appeared above the pillar:
[Second Test: Press the symbol that answers the riddle.]
The pillar hummed, and a strange mixture of male and female voices—spoke from within it.
"I run without legs, I roar without a mouth, I hunt without eyes."
What kind of nonsense was this? It sounded like a riddle written by a drunk poet. And just to make things worse, a timer appeared: 5… 4…
I glanced at the five symbols. What the hell was I supposed to pick? The turtle? The hare? Something that "runs without legs"? I didn't even have time to overthink it.
3… 2…1…
That's right, I was too confused that I did not even answer, 100 PP gone just like that.
[Congratulations for passing the Trial of Choice]
[Sometimes the correct answer doesn't exist at all. You passed by avoiding hesitation and making a random selection.]
[You have earned A Rank . Would you like to accept it, or go for S Rank?]
What the hell was going on? First I passed by not moving, now I passed by not answering?
Why did this feel exactly like that ninja exam in those anime—where the main character only passed because he was too dumb to answer and didn't have the skill to cheat?
"Continue"
There was no need to hesitate—I already knew how these tests worked. And honestly, I was starting to get the feeling the system wanted me to pass, considering how easy the missions had been so far.
But what greeted me next almost made me curse the system out loud.
I stood in the middle of a small space, and across from me was… me. Or rather, a gray version of me, its crimson eyes locked on mine, a smile curling across its face.
[Third Test: Confrontation. Defeat yourself.]
I mean, if this thing had all my weaknesses, fine that would be easy.
But knowing my luck, it probably also had all the strengths I wished I had.
And considering I got exactly zero combat skills, that meant I was about to get my butt handed to me.
Calm down… maybe if I don't move, it won't attack me too.
Without warning, it ran straight at me with its fist clenched.
"Fuck!"