MAGNUS DEI SYSTEM: CRIMSON RESOLVE

CHAPTER 5: FIRST SYSTEM TRIAL

The information caught him off guard. There was another system other than his own.

“Are you sure you don't remember anything, Trent?” Alex asked.

Trent looked up and after a while, he shook his head. There was nothing left for him to remember.

“Why were you sent here? What exactly did they do to you?” Alex probed. He knew Trent had gotten into the Reaper's Academy two months ago. It was dangerous to send newbies into such an area.

Trent looked around, and he widened as he remembered something. “What area are we?” He asked.

Alex shifted back, before resting his back on the cracked wall. “We are in a broken down station in the Outer Area.”

On hearing the name, Trent clenched his fist and slammed it on the ground. “Alwert, that conniving fox!” He grunted.

On hearing his cousin’s name, Alex turned to Trent, “What did he do?”

Trent drew a deep breath, “He sabotaged our mission. I knew it would be dangerous trusting him with the ships coordinate and he sent us right into the nest of a horde. I lost everyone there.” He answered, lowering his head. 

There was a palpable silence, and none of them knew what to say.

After the silence, Alex raised his head, “Trent, I need to find my father.”

Trent looked at his sharply, “What do you mean?” Before Alex could reply, Trent realized somethig was wrong. 

“Alex, did you get into the Reapers’ Academy after my absence? How did you get here?” Trent asked. 

“I’m a fugitive. I was framed for killing a city elder’s daughter by my own cousin, Alwert.”

Trent’s eyes widened, “Alwert needs to pay. For everything he had done. How do you want to find your father? The Outer Area is dangerous, Alex. I don’t think you know what you are saying.”

Alex shook his head and rose to his feet, “Trent…”

“It’s a death wish. I didn’t spend up to a week in here before everything turned dark for me. You have no idea where your father is.”

“He is a reaper!” Alex snapped, causing Trent to hold his breath. “I don’t care how long it takes me. He is a reaper, and I only need to search the reaper stations for his whereabouts or any hints.”

“But…”

Alex turned his back. “I already made up my mind. You are wounded, Trent. I can assist you and you can make it back to your ship and leave but I’d like to find my father first.”

His words were met with silence until a soft chuckle rang out. 

“Still as stubborn as ever. I’d never sleep well if I leave you here on your own.” Trent said, rising to his feet. 

He was about to fall back down when Alex reached out, supporting his stance. 

“And you are still Trent. Always the selfless guy.” Alex answered, before he carefully assisted his friend to sit. 

“You must be hungry. There should be something to eat around here and I’d look for any clue that could tell me about my father.” Alex suggested.

Unable to muster the strength to speak, Trent simply nodded, and rested his back. 

“Hold on.” Alex turned around, and his hand went for a long metal rod that seemed to have fallen of the wall. “You went through the academy, so I trust you can handle yourself till I return.”

“I can.” Trent gripped the rod before letting out a sigh, “I really pray I don’t have to use this.” 

Alex chuckled, dusting off the rust on his hands. “Have you forgotten, Trent? Prayers don’t work in this world, at least not anymore.” He frowned, turning around. 

Trent said nothing, but there was a meaning in his gaze as he stared at Alex’s back, thinking about what his friend had just said. 

Alex took a corner, escaping Trent’s line of vision. 

“I can’t just start searching without a plan, and especially without a weapon.”

He rested his back on the wall, and his hand reached for a metal rod that was hanging from a door. 

“I’d have to start that system trial.” 

As soon as the words left his mouth, a screen appeared in front of him.

[Would Host like to begin system trial?”]

Alex gripped the rod in his hands. He recalled what the system mentioned about the various trails but what if he failed?

[Failure in system trials or quests leads to instant termination.]

His eyes widened, “I’d die? Okay. Okay.” Alex answered, despite the increase in his breathing.

[The Magnus Dei would not give you more than you can handle, and there’s always a way out.]

The screen came up, as if hearing about Alex’s fears but it did nothing to calm him down.

“There’s no other choice. I simply have to do it.” Alex clenched his teeth, there was too much at stake for him to chicken out now. 

“Activate System Trial.”

[Beginning System Trial.]

As soon as he heard the chime, a strange feeling came over his body, and his skin tingled.

“What’s happening?” Alex asked, but things were just about to get started.

[Beginning Teleportation.]

Before Alex could take his next deep breath, he blinked, vanishing instantly from the spot. 

Afterwards, Alex opened his eyes, prompted by the cold and dry feeling of the breeze in his surroundings.

He was in a white room, and different screens flashed before his eyes. 

[The System trail has commenced.]

[Stay alive for 24 hours.]

[All skills would be on shutdown during this time.]

[Access to the system is denied for 24 hours.]

[Complete the trial and get great rewards.]

[Fail and sink into eternal death.]

Alex read each slide, unable to say a word, and the moment he was done with the last slide, the white room disappeared, and right before him was a horde of infected. 

“This is bad. Very bad.”

Alex held his breath, and his muscles tightened. The horde seemed focused on something else entirely. 

This was his chance. If he didn’t leave, he would end up as crawler food. There was no way he could combat more than one hundred crawlers at once.

His eyes gazed around, and the only option right now was to hide until the horde decided to leave. 

Growls and grunts of hunger got louder and Alex spotted a dilapidated and broken down building right around the corner of his eyes.

That was his only chance of survival. The problem now was its distance from his current position.