Alchemist In The Apocalypse: Rise Of A Legend!

Challenge Trial.

[Third Person POV],

"We cross the bridge," Ace said, his gaze fixed on the fog.

Anna, who had heard this, then spoke up.

"In that case, maybe we should have...

Anna didn't finish saying what she wanted to say, but it was clear what she meant by the direction her gaze was directed, which was toward the group of people who had just arrived to meet them.

"Yes, perhaps I should have agreed with them and crossed the bridge together to reduce the danger the bridge poses, but it doesn't make sense to put your life in the hands of people who want to use you to test the waters, does it?" Ace said, to which Anna responded with a low hum.

It was exactly because of what Ace said she didn't finish the words she was saying.

As random thoughts flashed through Anna's mind, Ace's voice pulled her out of them as he spoke again.

"Moreover, the man was right when he stated that the danger the bridge poses may be less than the danger the fog poses if we turn back right now and aimlessly walk around. This is another reason why crossing the bridge is necessary, but the fog that surrounds it makes one uncertain about the dangers "Ace explained.

"How do we cross the bridge then?" Anna questioned.

Ace, who had heard her question and was about to respond, was interrupted when he noticed a group of people emerging from the fog that had obscured the road path that had led them here.

Another group appears to have used the road to get to the bridge area.

After giving the new group a curious look, Ace returned his attention to the bridge and was about to respond to Anna when something else brought him to a halt.

...

[50 People on the Challenge Trial Ground],

[Conditions met],

[Since the maximum number of people are on the challenge trial grounds, the trial has been automatically activated],

[Quest; Cross the bridge/Defeat the guardian],

[Note: Completing the quest will result in rewards while failing to do so will result in death],

.....

[Ace POV],

"Damn!"

"What the f*ck is this?!"

"Is it a glitch?"

"F*ck",

As soon as I finished reading the text on the panel that appeared in front of me, I began hearing the various reactions of the people around me who had also just finished reading what appeared on their panel. At least now I knew I wasn't the only one who had received the primordial chronicle's message.

The group that had just arrived had the most intense reactions out of everyone here. However, it was understandable.

Imagine arriving at a location after just leaving a dangerous area and being given a mission in which failure means death. There was no doubt about it causing panic.

And it also appears that where we were standing was a trial ground.

No wonder there was such a large space before the bridge, and it appears that because 50 is the maximum number of people allowed on the trial ground, the primordial chronicle automatically began whatever challenge it was addressing.

There's also the part the primordial chronicle gave us a quest. At least to me the quest closely resembles the message that appeared when stage one began.

Unlike then, when we had to survive for 12 hours, the goal this time is to either cross the bridge or defeat the guardian.

The part about crossing the bridge is understandable. I was already planning on crossing it, and the quest that appeared now only made it even more urgent.

The question now is, who or what is the guardian?

Since nothing around me stands out or says, 'I am the guardian,' this 'guardian' must be in the fog surrounding the Bridge.

Perhaps this was what Anna saw before she got hurt. If what she saw was the guardian who injured her without even touching her, this quest just got more difficult.

It didn't help that the primordial chronicle was rushing us.

On the other hand, is the bridge, the source of this fog? And what does the primordial chronicle mean by a challenge Trial? What is the exact challenge, and what are we challenging?

As these thoughts raced through my mind, I heard Chris's voice beside me.

"Brother Ace, how do we pass this?" he asked, his voice trembling.

Looking at the 12 years old beside me who tried his best to control his expression from showing panic, I replied honestly.

"I don't know," I replied, but he was on the verge of losing his cool as a result.

It was true that I had no idea what to do. After all, I am not all-knowing.

But even if I didn't know exactly what was going on, I knew what I could do now.

Thinking about this, I pulled my twin blades from my storage ring and gripped them tightly before turning to face my teammates and speaking.

"Prepare yourselves, guys. We're crossing the bridge. It's do or die now", I said and when I said it was already a do-or-die situation, I wasn't lying.

After all, the primordial chronicle stated that the only outcome if we fail the quest is death, and am sure even if someone like me doesn't want to die then no one wants to die.

...

Ace team wasn't the only one who hardened their resolve to cross the bridge, as other teams on the 'trail ground' began to do the same. However, this was only in the minority, as the majority of the people here were still terrified.

When the primordial chronicle appeared to inform them about the quest, a gray light curtain surrounded and circled everyone on the trail. It was shaped like a bowl.

When it appeared, some of them attacked it, but even with their full strength, they were unable to cause even a crack, despite the fact that some of these people possessed the strength of a rank 1 specie.

Because of this, they realized they were trapped, and the only way out was to complete the quest.

They had to either cross the bridge or defeat the guardian, and failure to do so meant death.

Perhaps those who were panicking before realized this as well and tried to calm their emotions, but before they could even breathe, the sound of wolves howling erupted on the trial grounds.