Everything was calm, everything ordinary until the shift occurred a few months ago. My companions and I were thrust into a different world, a different planet. We were simply living our lives, causing no harm, yet somehow we became the unfortunate souls selected for the trials.
Let me explain briefly. The trials are challenges imposed by gods upon those who rank low in the Divine hierarchy. If your planet and species sit at the bottom of the cosmic ladder, the gods select five individuals from your world to endure these trials—and they are difficult, extraordinarily difficult.
Beasts and monsters unleashed their fury upon me and my companions. Now my friends lie nearly dead, all of them. I alone remain standing, but I must stop writing. The beast approaches. To whoever discovers this message: if I'm dead now, I pray you won't be chosen. I pray neither you nor your friends will face this fate. Farewell.
Michael read the letter repeatedly, turning it over in his hands. "What kind of idiot writes such fantasy nonsense on a scrap of paper?" he muttered, tossing it into the trash. "People are so ridiculous. At least buy proper stationery if you're crafting these outlandish stories. No one will believe this garbage."
Walking back into his apartment, he sighed. "I'm done examining this foolishness. Might as well get some rest." He checked the time—around 5:00 p.m. "A quick nap won't hurt me."
Michael lay down on his bed, exhaling deeply as he settled in. Suddenly, before his eyes could even close, a beam shot down from the sky. Terrified, his instincts screamed at him to dodge, which he did immediately, leaping from his bed. The beam, however, followed his movements and struck him. In an instant, Michael vanished, taken away as the beam dissipated.
Bam! A punch flew toward Jacob's face. He caught it effortlessly, sneering at his opponent. "I hate fighting weaklings like you—just a bunch of pathetic idiots," he said, leaving the arena. While walking home, the same phenomenon that had claimed Michael occurred—a beam descended from the heavens. Jacob attempted to dodge, punch, and even kick the light, but his efforts proved futile. The beam struck him, absorbing his form, and when it faded, Jacob had disappeared.
Awana was sleeping on his couch when the beam came for him. Exhausted, he didn't register what was happening—his brain failed to notice as the light enveloped him, absorbed him, and then he too was gone.
A young boy named Damien found himself shoved against the lockers in his school. He looked around desperately for help as a bully grabbed his face and slammed him against the wall repeatedly until Damien lost consciousness. His body went limp as the tormentor walked away, smiling cruelly. Like the others, a beam shot through the sky, penetrating the school's roof as if it weren't there. It struck Damien's motionless form, and when the light dissipated, he had vanished.
Elsewhere in the world, a man held a blade to someone's throat. The assailant had dark hair, his face obscured except for his eyes. He sliced his victim's throat, watching dispassionately as the body crumpled to the ground. Retrieving both his blades, he sheathed them on his back, considering his job complete. As he walked away, a beam shot through the sky. Despite his attempts to evade it with every maneuver in his arsenal, the light pursued him relentlessly, eventually striking him. Like the others, he disappeared along with the fading beam.
Somewhere on a mysterious world shrouded in darkness with no visible sky, five beams struck the ground with ferocious intensity. As the light faded, five figures materialized in the dense forest.
Michael glanced around nervously, his mind racing. "This can't be real," he thought, recalling the letter he had discarded. "That note I threw away... was it actually genuine? There's too much evidence suggesting it might be. If so, I'm trapped here with these strangers."
Damien stood up shakily, his voice cracking with fear. "Where am I?" he asked, his young eyes wide as he surveyed the alien landscape.
Shadow remained motionless in the darkness, his face unreadable, his posture betraying nothing of his thoughts.
"Idiots," Jacob scoffed, crossing his muscular arms across his chest.
Awana finally stirred from his daze. "What? Where am I?" he asked, scrambling to his feet. "Is this place real? Am I dreaming?"
Jacob struck the back of Awana's head with an open palm. "No, you fool, you're awake," he snapped, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Everyone needs to start thinking logically."
"Does anyone understand what's happening?" Michael asked, attempting to establish some order.
"Oh, I get it," Damien replied with unexpected enthusiasm. "This is like one of those fantasy novels where we're transported to another world for some power fantasy adventure."
"Nerd," Jacob muttered derisively.
"Back off, man. I'm just trying to help," Damien retorted, his voice stronger than before.
Michael stepped between them. "I know what's happening. That letter I read mentioned divine hierarchies and five people being selected to fight monsters. That must be us."
"Fascinating," Damien said, a smile spreading across his face. "I can't wait to fight monsters and grow stronger. I'm tired of being weak all the time."
"Perhaps I'll simply allow a monster to end my existence," Jacob remarked with dark sarcasm.
Michael turned to him, eyes flashing with anger. "Listen, Jacob, stop being such a jerk. We need to stick together, not act like arrogant meatheads. I'll personally sacrifice you to the first beast we encounter if you don't change your attitude."
"You're becoming truly irritating," Awana added, finding his courage.
"Whatever, losers. Your opinions mean nothing to me," Jacob replied, turning to walk away.
"Don't wander off," Michael called after him. "You might die out there. We don't need any casualties."
Jacob reluctantly returned, arms crossed and expression sour.
Suddenly, a message appeared simultaneously in all their minds:
"You have been selected by the gods to participate in the trials. Each of you will receive gifts to combat the beasts you will face. Good luck."
"So I was right," Michael said, nodding grimly.
"Fine, you were correct," Jacob admitted reluctantly. "I'll stop posturing and try to be... normal."
Michael shook his head. "I wasn't referring to you specifically, though you do boast about your strength constantly. Stop pretending you can defeat everyone. You're not as powerful as you claim. Cease being so arrogant."
As Jacob and Michael continued their heated exchange, Shadow observed the surroundings carefully, his eyes adjusting to the perpetual darkness.
"This environment is intriguing," Shadow remarked quietly, scanning the area methodically.
Damien sat down cross-legged on the ground and closed his eyes.
"Why are you meditating?" Awana asked, puzzled.
"I'm bored with nothing else to do," Damien replied. "Actually, I might just take a nap instead."
Eventually, the argument between Jacob and Michael subsided. Jacob settled for glaring intensely, while Michael ignored him, refusing to provide the reaction Jacob clearly desired.
"Who exactly are these gods?" Awana wondered aloud.
"I have no idea," Michael responded with a shrug. "Honestly, I'm not eager to find out. Our only objective should be completing these trials and hoping for some reward at the end."
And so the trials had begun.