Chương 89: Shadows in the Main Chamber

10 minutes and 30 seconds earlier. Underground Safe Spot Main Chamber. In the center of the hall, the chairs had been arranged in a wide semicircle. The main leader sat in the center. Several other figures occupied the chairs on either side, while a few people stood behind them. Currently, only a single chair was empty. Everyone in the chairs was silent, as if they were waiting for one person to arrive. In front of the chairs, a large group of people sat on the ground in rows.

Looking at the crowd, one could guess that everyone who had appeared in this Concentric Trial had already gathered here. Among them, Susanne and her group sat together on the side of the ground. After noticing the countdown timer, they were under great stress. Some people had even spread rumors that were very strange and unacceptable. They said that everyone would be put into a death match, where they had to kill each other to prove their worth to the trial!

After her grandmother arrived at this place, Susanne had felt great relief. She thought she would be saved and that her grandmother would bring forth justice for the hurdles they had gone through. However, she had greatly miscalculated her grandmother's intentions. She was here to participate in the Trial, not to rescue them! It was mostly the same case for everyone. This was true even for Finola Van Zandt, who was the niece of the City Ruler.

However, just when everyone was preparing for the things that would come after the countdown finished, they were suddenly summoned to the Main Chamber.

"What is the purpose of this meeting?" Charlton murmured to Daniel, who sat near him. Daniel, who had a blank look on his face, shrugged his shoulders. His eyes remained fixed on the front. While they were in discussion, a few people suddenly entered the chamber and walked directly to the front.

"Sorry everyone, let us start the discussion," Edgar said. He walked behind the middle-aged man. Following behind him were the tall Deano, curvy Tantoo, and petty-looking Toni. The middle-aged man walked directly over and sat on the empty chair. Seeing that everyone was gathered, Lothaire, who sat on the main leader's chair, shifted his body and harrumphed, ready to speak. Sitting to his left, Dejan gave an irritated glance to Edgar and his group. Behind him stood his two sons and his grandson, Victor.

Victor had a disgusted reaction on his face after seeing that the Outer Sector people were late to the meeting. He already had great resentment toward this group for getting a share of the Torical Secret Treasure. Now, that disdain increased manifold.

"Now that everyone is gathered, let us start," Lothaire said, signaling Dejan to speak. After the signal, Dejan stood up from his seat and gave a small bow toward the people seated on the other chairs. A total of eight members sat on the chairs, excluding Lothaire. Every one of them was Faith City's formidable force! If Dejan were to consider it, he was seventh on the list, considering the Outer Sector people as eighth. But here in this Trial, he held the highest authority.

"Greetings, everyone. We have at most an hour until the Trial starts. Since we have all already signed an agreement of cooperation, Mr. Lothaire has decided to have some other discussions about how we will encounter the Trial.

"As participants, we cannot know what type of trial we will face, since it is not fixed for every Trial. But one point to consider is that it will not be a single Trial where everyone will be placed in the same place.

"Once the countdown finishes, everyone will be separated, especially those who share the same bloodline. For example, the Trial wouldn't put me and my sons in the same place. We could guess that much." Dejan explained these secrets to the general people. However, even Susanne and her group were not aware of these things, despite coming from prominent families. These things were kept secret and would not be shared even with their own heirs! until they become worth of trust.

"Every Trial will definitely be dangerous. I mean, it will not necessarily try to kill you. However, the Trial's ultimate goal is to kill you if you fail at the Trial," Dejan said, looking at the group of people before him. Everyone's expressions changed immediately as they started to discuss with each other. Even though they all knew their chances of leaving this place were very low, hearing that it was a certainty placed them in great anxiety.

"Everyone, do not get scared by this news. This is the main reason we made a pact to work together. If everyone cooperates, everyone will exit this place with great rewards, since great danger comes with great rewards! So, if the trial puts people in a group, everyone should work together and complete the trial." Dejan gave this advice after seeing the people start to panic. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"As per the pact, if anyone gets any treasure, it should be kept separately until you arrive at the Next Safe Spot." Dejan announced the clauses that were mentioned in the agreement.

"Finally, I want you to listen carefully, since it will help you immensely. The territory will play 90% of the role in your success in the Trial. So, I want everyone to have full focus on the Trial terrain.

"But this issue will be solved easily through the people who are already asleep. These people will guide you all in regards to the terrain, not the Trial. For the Trial, you have to work yourselves." Dejan announced the important point. Once he finished this point, someone suddenly raised their hand, as if they had a question.

"Yes?" Dejan said, looking at the guy who raised his hand. Immediately, everyone's eyes focused on the person who raised his hand.

"What do you mean that these people who are asleep will help with the terrain?" Nickolas asked with confusion. This point was very vague. How were these people going to help them? Were they going to wake up from their sleep? If yes, then how would they help everyone? After all, he had just mentioned that people might get separated once the time hit zero!

"Do not worry about it, you will find out for yourself," Yvan, who sat silently on the chair, spoke with a tone of irritation to his little brother. Seeing his brother's tone, Nickolas gave a serious look before turning his head away. Nickolas sat silently as he stared into the empty space. Currently, he held great anger toward his Big Brother. Similar to Susanne's grandmother, his brother had ignored his words and done what he wanted, joining hands with the people who killed Arthur!

"As the Young Lord Yvan said, you will know how they will help once you enter into the Trial." Dejan also did not explain how the sleeping people would help them.

"Finally, killing each other is prohibited! You all have signed the contract. If you fail that contract, the seal placed by the [Kloser] contract will be broken, and you will be killed once you arrive at the Safe Spot! Your families will not be spared as well. Therefore, I suggest everyone respect the contract that you all agreed upon." After speaking this last point, Dejan sat down. Once Dejan sat down, Linlyn, who sat on the left side of Lothaire, stood up. She gave a sweeping gaze to the crowd.

Her eyes landed on her granddaughter. Susanne did not even look at the front; she simply sat there, looking away. Seeing this, Linlyn simply shook her head inwardly as she started speaking.

"Mr. Dejan gave all the important points about the Trial. You all should follow those points without fail. Now, regarding the first Trial, I will give a few points on what you could expect," Linlyn announced. After hearing this, everyone focused their concentration on the front, since it was one of the main mysteries they wanted to know.

"There are different types of Trials inside the Concentric Trial. Of those, only two are considered famous and widely encountered. First, you will be given an objective to defeat a certain thing. Here, I mention'thing' because there could literally be anything you may have to fight! It will not necessarily be a monster. So, you have to use your minds to achieve that." Linlyn paused for a moment, allowing everyone to understand what she had just said.

"The second type of trial would be a Survival Trial. As its name suggests, you have to survive until the time set by the Trial." People exchanged glances. No one raised a hand this time to ask any questions.

"These are only the two types that are commonly known. There are other types of Trials as well, and none of you should assume that your Trial will follow either of them! Focus on the objective given to you and act upon it. Otherwise, you will be bound to perish!" Linlyn warned, and then she sat down. The crowd started to discuss the points she had said. Everyone had hoped that they were going to get some information about the First Trial they were to encounter.

However, after listening to Linlyn, their fear only increased! Once Linlyn sat down on her chair, Lothaire finally stood up. Instantly, the hall fell into a pin-drop silence. Everyone automatically focused on him; it was as if he were magnetic, drawing their concentration toward him. The Ruler of the City harrumphed, clearing his throat again to speak. However, before he could utter a single word, his gaze shifted toward the entrance of the Chamber!

Everyone whose eyes were focused on him saw the change on his face. Not only Lothaire, but everyone sitting on the chairs turned their heads in the exact same direction as the Lothaire! Confused by their actions, everyone sitting on the ground looked back to where the experts' eyes were focused. However, they could see nothing but empty ground, where shadows flickered from the wall torches. Susanne, who was also confused by this strange behavior, turned back to the front to see what these people were seeing.

however before she could see what kind of reaction the City Ruler was giving now, his figure suddenly disappeared from where he stood! Not only him, but most of the people on the chairs disappeared with a blur of an image! Edgar, who stood behind the middle-aged man, was also confused by the people around him. However, before he could ask the middle-aged man what was happening, the middle-aged man muttered.

"Toni."

"I am on it." Toni, who stood next to him, vanished with a puff! Edgar's face darkened. He could not understand what was happening all of a sudden. Everyone present on the ground stood up in a great panic. Susanne and her group quickly moved to the front of the crowd, rushing toward where the City Ruler had been looking. Before they could come forward, a strange kind of fight started! Every City Lord's figure flickered here and there, as if they were chasing something.

The strange thing was that they were particularly targeting the area where a lot of shadows flickered by the wall fire!

"Everyone, get away from here!" Suddenly, a voice echoed. Susanne could discern that it was Lothaire's voice. Before the voice could die down, many figures flickered and appeared near the people who stood in the Main Chamber. Once everyone exited the hallway, Lothaire's figure moved at a rapid speed. Boom! Suddenly, a big, deafening sound echoed! Something flew toward the Main Chamber from where the City Ruler had attacked. The object slid toward the crowd and stopped a few meters away from the edge of the crowd.

Susanne, who stood in front of the crowd, was shocked. Her eyes widened in disbelief after seeing what it was.

"A Skeleton hand!" Laurene, who stood beside Susanne, said in an excited tone. They all knew what the Skeleton meant and who used Skeletons. Now, seeing a black skeleton hand that was severed from the shoulder lay before them, she could not believe it herself.

"Hahahaha, I knew it! It is a miracle! It is a miracle!" she suddenly laughed like a maniac, saying the same thing again and again. While the others were inspecting the black skeleton hand, the fight in the hallway suddenly stopped. A figure suddenly appeared near the skeleton hand. Lothaire looked at the skeleton hand for a few seconds before his gaze turned toward Laurene. Not only Lothaire, but everyone present in the hall looked at her! After seeing the intense gazes fall upon her, Laurene's face turned pale.

What did she do?