Chapter 45: Competitor, start the challenge

Chapter 45: Competitor, start the challenge After floating for a while, they finally spotted a bright light ahead. Drawing closer, the light was so bright that it blinded them, and they felt a hard surface beneath their feet. As their eyes adjusted, they marvelled at the sight: ancient, pillar-like towers, some floating, others rooted to the ground. Each tower held a red-like symbol in the middle that gave a warm glow. The sky was dotted with stars, and the ground held moss-filled stones, each carved with ancient symbols. Eva inhaled deeply, the crisp air refreshing her senses. The air here was fresher and far better than the dungeon’s decaying, damp atmosphere. Everyone woke up from their trance and moved cautiously. The surroundings were eerie quiet, save for the sound of their footsteps. Ethan quickly froze his uncle in place, they were started by his sudden actions only to see Stone’s suspicious hands stretched forward toward the tower direction. Everyone shot Ethan grateful looks, especially Eva, still shaken by Stone’s recklessness. "Dear nephew, let uncle touch," Stone begged, staring longingly at the pillars, but Ethan froze his mouth. He wasn’t in the mood for his uncle’s shenanigans. "Everyone, move cautiously," he warned. They nodded. As Ethan unfroze him, Stone moved toward the pillar but stopped short when Julian clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Uncle, I’ll be your personal guard for today. Don’t try anything funny." Julian’s face held a smile, but the threat was evident. Stone shivered, remembering how he had suffered in Julian’s hands. He coughed, placing his hands behind his back and maintaining the aura of an elder—moving forward with the others. The area was vast, but their sight remained the same—unending hovering pillars. Eva grew bored and her mind wandered. ’Nothing about this place is in the novel as well. Did I enter the novel? Hmm... Female lead check, ring check, me the passerby check. So I’m still in the novel or, wait, maybe a fan-fiction of the novel.’. Eva slammed her hands together, her expression filled with realization. The sudden sound startled the group, drawing all eyes to her. Realizing everyone was staring, she rubbed her nose with an awkward smile. Distracted, she didn’t notice the curved edge of the ground and stumbled forward. Eva grabbed the tower instinctively, her hands brushing the glowing red symbol. A split-second a burst of light shone, and Eva disappeared. "Eva!" Julian and Ethan shouted. Julian teleported in an instant near the pillar, only for him to see the red slowly dim. He frowned and pressed his hands over it but nothing happened. Ethan appeared beside Julian, his face darkened, noticing the situation—his eyes zeroed in on another red glowing middle. ’’Uncle, remain here with them. Julian and I will touch the other pillars.’’ Ethan ordered, staring at his uncle with a serious expression. Stone didn’t add to Ethan’s problems and honestly nodded and sat on the ground to show he would be waiting. The two space users nodded to Julian and Ethan, their gaze held promise to look after Stone. Ethan nodded gratefully and touched a pillar beside Eva’s dim one. Julian chose the one closest to him by the left. Without hesitation, they pressed their hands in the middle of the glowing symbol and disappeared. Stone looked at the pillars, and a drooling expression appeared on his face. His sight was instantly blocked by a shadow. One of the space users made sure to block the tempting sight. Stone snorted and closed his eyes. "Competitor, start the challenge." An emotionless, mechanical voice rang out in the room. The voice kept repeating its words causing Eva to blink in confusion. Her gaze darted around the room, where a huge egg was placed in the center. She quickly dashed to the edge of the room; her eyes widened when she saw this room was hovering in space; stars shone ahead with no other pillars. She closed her eyes and opened them again, but the sight remained unchanged. "Am I suffering from a concussion from that fall? Ethan! Julian! Anyone!" She screamed, her voice echoing endlessly around her. No one responded except her still echoing voice and the repeating mechanical voice. "SHUT IT!" The sound was unending almost driving her confused mind into more daze. Eva held her waist, moving to the edge only to look into the darkness, and feeling the cool breeze on her skin she frowned and pinched herself. "Ow!! Not unconscious." Eva muttered, her pale skin had a glaring red mark. "Where am I?" "You are in the competition ground of the ancients.’’ The mechanical voice abruptly answered. "Ah! F*ck!’’ Eva held her chest, cursing out in shock. (⁠’⁠◉⁠⌓⁠◉⁠’⁠). Who knew the mechanical voice would suddenly answer her question, her heart nearly left her chest. "Aren’t you supposed to be a broken record? I thought you were broken and could only repeat the same words." Eva looked around for the thing talking but found nothing except the egg in the middle. "Human, I’m the guardian of the competition ground. Do you want to begin the challenge?" "No," Eva replied not waiting for its words to settle. The voice: ...? "Show me the way out of here. Thank you ʘ⁠‿⁠ʘ." Eva smiled in gratitude like it had agreed to show her the way. "Competitor, think it over. This ground will test you and improve your stren—" "No." Eva interrupted it; she wasn’t interested in competing in the test. The mechanical voice faltered—this was the first competitor to refuse the tournament. Had humans changed over the millennia? "Human, don’t you want the egg of –" its words were interrupted by Eva again, almost making it wish to materialize and throw her to the darkness below. "I’ll get that egg...if I compete. Gulp." Eva pointed at the egg and swallowed her drool. The egg had attracted her attention but she thought it was a design. But from the Voice words, it seems real. "Alright, how should we begin." Eva quickly agreed, cutting the voice off mid-sentence. The voice >〈< ), "The competition begins." Eva raised a brow, feeling something was off about its tone; she shrugged it off when the room lit up, and she disappeared in place. The voice didn’t bother to explain the egg to Eva and sent her to the testing grounds.