Aren walked through the hallway, the lights on the walls flickering from left to right as if performing some kind of dance.

"Hungry… hungry… hungry," he muttered while glancing around.

Paintings lined the walls at intervals, some depicting angels with their faces covered, others showing powerful figures that seemed to ooze authority and strength.

Rumble.

His stomach growled again.

"Arghhh, I'm really hungry," he groaned.

Suddenly, the lights flickered far more violently than before. A cold wind brushed against his skin, sending a chill down his spine.

He sensed it instantly.

A presence.

Aren looked up and spotted a figure standing within the darkness ahead. His eyes widened, and he immediately shifted into a combat stance as the figure approached.

But when the person stepped fully into the light, it was an old, tall man dressed in a butler's suit. His hair was completely gray, neatly combed back, and a well-trimmed beard framed his face. Despite his age, he stood straight and appeared healthy.

The most unsettling part was his golden eyes.

The man placed a gloved hand over his chest and gave a slight bow. "Greetings, Awakened," he said calmly.

Aren's gaze dropped to the glove.

The Angel's seal was emblazoned on the back of it.

His heart sank slightly. He immediately understood this man was connected to Elton.

The butler lifted his head and looked at Aren. "I am one of the many butlers serving within this prestigious castle under Lady Elton. It has been quite some time since we last had guests in the form of Awakened."

"Other Awakened have been here before?" Aren asked instinctively.

"Oh yes," the butler replied, a strange gleam flashing in his eyes. "Every era of trials brings many guests."

That look unsettled Aren, making his guard rise even higher.

"Forgive my manners, young Awakened," the butler continued. "I shouldn't ramble so carelessly. I sensed your hunger. Please, come with me. There are hundreds of delights for you to choose from."

He turned and began walking away.

Aren didn't move.

The butler paused and glanced back. "Is something wrong, young Awakened? Or did I misunderstand?"

Aren let out a strained smile. "It's not that. I just can't trust a being from a trial that's designed to kill me."

"Kill you?" the butler chuckled softly. "No, no. The trials are not meant to kill you. Those who die simply lack one of two things."

He turned fully and raised two fingers.

"Strength. Or brains."

"If you possess either, you should find a way to pass. The strong force their way through. The clever read between the lines."

He smiled faintly. "I heard your first trial required five kills within the town. Yet it was never specified what exactly needed to be killed."

Aren frowned. "She clearly gave us the number of people in the town."

"Indeed," the butler said. "But tell me, did she ever say you had to kill humans specifically?"

Aren froze.

His mind raced back to Elton's exact words.

[For this first test, you all are to have five kills to move on to the next. There is a total of three thousand people in this town, including players.]

"She… she didn't," Aren muttered.

The butler's smile widened when he saw realization dawn on Aren's face.

"You mean… killing ants would've counted?" Aren asked slowly.

"Indeed," the butler replied. "Every stage has a smarter way to clear it. Some are simply harder to notice. The trials always provide a path forward. Those who fail do so because of incompetence or weakness."

He turned and began walking again. "But you made it here. That alone tells me you're quite capable. You deserve a reward, so come, eat first. Exploring the castle on an empty stomach is dangerous."

Aren hesitated, then let out a quiet sigh and followed him.

His mind churned as he walked, realizing he hadn't needed to slaughter innocents at all.

The butler glanced back at him from the corner of his eye, a smirk tugging at his lips, before continuing onward.

They soon arrived before a massive pair of double doors. The butler pushed them open.

Warm air rushed out.

The scent of food exploded into the hallway.

Meat of every kind, roasted, baked, seared. Vegetables, fruits, delicacies beyond counting. The kitchen was enormous, medieval in structure yet strangely advanced, filled with magical tools Aren had never seen before.

Several chefs worked inside, all dressed in white uniforms with golden accents.

Not all of them were human.

Some had long, pointed ears. Others had snake-like tails instead of legs. A few bore horns and purplish skin. Humans were present too, mixed among them.

"Follow me," the butler said.

Aren complied.

As they passed, every chef stopped what they were doing and bowed to the butler, who nodded in acknowledgment. A few glanced briefly at Aren, then quickly returned to their tasks.

At the far end of the kitchen stood a long dining table. The butler led Aren there and gestured for him to sit.

One of the long-eared chefs stepped closer.

"Ohhh," he said with a grin. "Is he one of the Awakened?"

"Indeed," the butler replied.

The chef's smile turned unsettling. "From the looks of it, we'll get to have a lot of—"

Before he could finish, the butler's gaze snapped to him. His eyes flashed, killing intent surging.

The chef stiffened and fell silent instantly.

"Bring us steak," the butler said coldly.

The chef nodded rapidly and hurried away.

Aren had noticed this, though, and it immediately made him wary again. Something was definitely happening here, and he needed to be careful in every decision he made, or else he would end up dead.

The butler seemed to notice the unease and decided to speak. "Do not mind that chef. He gets too excited when he sees guests. He wanted to say we'll get a lot of guests.

"But the chef isn't meant to speak much. That's why I shut him up."

Aren heard that, but found it hard to believe it all.

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