* * * * * * *

  Through the back of his mind, Ren heard a voice speak.

  "How is he? Will he survive?"

  Another voice responded, this one with a harsher tone than the first.

  "He'll live." The second voice grunted.

  "If he dies after all this effort, I'll personally throw him back into the river he came from. I had to use the last of my salve on him."

  "With these kinds of wounds, I don't get it, but his body has taken the medicine very well. One lucky bastard if you ask me."

  The voice responded with approval.

  "Good, you did well, Darwin."

  Muttering, the old voice responded, "He can tell me that himself when he wakes up."

  Ignoring his remark, the man continued.

  "Did you manage to find anything as to how he got so far in the mountains? That area has been abandoned for over ten years; no one would've been able to step foot in it."

  "After looking at his body? Not a clue."

  "Come on, old man, you got nothing? We both know you don't 'pass' through here casually. Something about this isn't normal."

  The first voice responded sarcastically as if mocking the other.

  "Really? I thought we found kids wandering the forest all the time; You've truly enlightened this old man with your wisdom."

  A thud echoed around the room.

  "I know you may be old, but don't think I discriminate against elders."

  "What did you find out about him?"

  Grumpily, the voice responded.

  "People these days really need to learn and respect their elders."

  "His wounds show he fought with a Living Oak, that much is sure; those nasty bastards pierced him real good."

  Ren felt a finger slide across his side as if pointing to something.

  "Either way," the voice continued, "You won't know what happened until he wakes up. But it's clear the forest did not take kindly to his presence."

  Disgruntled, the second voice responded.

  "What a fool. He's lucky we were heading for the mountain; otherwise, he'd be dead already."

  "Yes, yes, call him a fool all you want, but first we must find a place to put him. As injured as he is, the unknown he brings is far deadlier."

  "While exploring the ruins, we found an empty cell. Want to use it?"

  "Ah, so you can be useful!"

  "Shut up before I hit you again."

  As his body began to move, Ren eagerly tried to wake himself up.

  But even keeping his consciousness currently was difficult.

  Wake up, damn it. Why can't I move my body?

  He struggled again, fighting against his body's lack of response.

  Please, I'm begging you, wake up.

  After countless hours of trying to regain his awareness, he finally had enough, screaming he forced his body to listen, as he used one final push from his will.

  'WAKE UP, GOD DAMNIT.'

  * * * * * * *

  Ren's eyes shot violently awake, breaking out of the dream-like state he was in.

  'What the hell was that? How this day keeps getting more ridiculous is beyond me.'

  Forcing himself up with a loud sigh, Ren took a moment to observe the room.

  Looking down, he was on a bed of white sheets covered with blood; the bandages that wrapped his torso were in no better shape.

  Panic spread as he remembered the Wounds he suffered from the wood. He began examining his body with worry. But, somehow, the same body that was covered in injuries had almost all healed completely.

  In confusion, he tore off his bloodied bandages.

  Where his guts had been spilling out of his body, fine stitching was now holding them closed. Despite the many wounds he suffered, the stitching was the only thing left proving his battle.

  'Did awakening give me super healing or something? How is my body this healed already? I don't understand.

  'Did this mean the people in the carriage actually took me with them?'

  Looking around with confusion spreading over his face, Ren took a second to breathe.

  Since coming to this trial, he has yet to be able to do so. The Living Forest, the icy rivers, even the strings that created the world, so much had happened in such little time.

  Calming himself down, he took a deep breath before completely exhaling the air.

  He calmly looked around the room.

  It was nothing grand; the bed he lay on, while not particularly comfortable, had enough padding to support him. The frame lay in a corner of the room. The walls and floor of a dark cobblestone surround him. A partially broken mirror serves as the only decoration.

  A gate of rusted steel closed the room tight, making sure he did not leave.

  The room felt ancient.

  After examining his body, Ren stood up, walking to face the mirror that lay at the end of his bed.

  Finally getting a proper look at himself, Ren couldn't help but be shocked.

  He had never been a horrid looker, but he wasn't quite angelic either. But now? The once battered face had developed him into a handsome man. Where scars of his youth showered the face, clean, pale skin in its wake as if he'd never known struggle.

  Looking down ren also admired his body. The once scrawny kid had now been fortified with muscles, he felt strong.

  I know awakening shapes you up, but this... this is fantastic! Who knew I could be such a looker?

  Happily approving of his newfound beauty, Ren noticed something different with his eyes. Where grey eyes used to lay, there was now a vibrant purple; The scars that blurred his vision were gone, and his sight restored.

  If he said Leo's eyes looked like glass, then his were as if they were made from polished amethyst.

  Realizing what this meant, Ren couldn't help but smile at himself with glee.

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  'I have a second eye. A working second eye!'

  While it was a big thing not to notice, Ren understood that he was thrust into the world's hell, so he couldn't blame himself for not realizing.

  Sighing in laughter at his own attention, Ren decided to sit back down on the bed.

  He decided he could try to leave this room without checking a few more things.

  The first step was trying to make the Trial System respond to him.

  So, he called out

  "Open Trial!"

  Nothing happened...

  "I summon you!"

  Again, silence filled the room.

  In embarrassment, he stopped his random shouting and began thinking back on the trial. Recalling the voice, he echoed the words in his mind.

  'Wait, didn't the Trial call me a Champion?'

  As soon as he mentioned being a Champion, the Voice boomed through his head.

  {Awakened! Have you chosen to accept your fate?}

  In confusion about what it meant, Ren decided the only way to get answers was by answering the system's questions.

  Yes?

  Acknowledging his answer, the golden strings appeared in his eyes, making him see words forming in the air.

  * * * * * * *

  {You Have Deepened Your Fate, Great Champion!}

  {A Unique Malfunction Seemed To Occur During The Creation Of Your Trial}

  {Reinitiating Explanation Sequence}

  * * * * * * *

  A unique malfunction, what does that even mean? Is that why I fell?

  {Greetings, Champion! Welcome To Your Trial - We will now Give Your Task!}

  {In the shadows of the stone beast, a corrupt existence began to form. The shadows reflected the will of the gods, and through them, the one who rules the forest spread its roots throughout the land, risking the fate of all who live. Defeat the mystery that infected this world before it's too late.}

  Ren was dumbfounded by the vague-sounding task echoing in his mind. Sure, he didn't expect the Trial to give him everything; the death rate wouldn't be so low if that were the case. But defeating a Mystery?

  He was pretty sure the Trial didn't even spawn him in the right place, yet that was all he was given. A riddle?

  'Let's calm down.'

  Laying out the information he had, he started putting together what he knew. One the phrase, 'The one who rules the forest spread his roots,' had to be connected to the forest he found himself in, the living trees just made too much sense for the line. The second was 'the will of the gods'. Putting two and two together, he realized that in this world, the Gods were some sort of enemy. He'd make sure to investigate the mythology of the world later.

  For now, he put his thoughts away and focused back on the words in front of him. But this time they showed something new.

  In front of him, the Task he was given faded away and was replaced with something that resembled an information card.

  The card, surrounded by a golden glow, read:

  * * * * * * *

  {Champion - Ren}

  Rank – {Awakening}

  Traits - [True Instinct], [???], [???]

  Title - {Worthless - Born as filth, you are insignificant; the world will barely acknowledge you.}

  Talent – [Developing]

  Relics - [Living Sword - Tier 1 - Augment]

  Spirits – [None]

  * * * * * * *

  {Recite Your Title In Your Mind To Access}

  'So... even the world considers me worthless.'

  Ren couldn't help but linger on the title he was given, every insecurity that came with it attacking his mind. Why did he even survive this long? Awakened or not, it seems he was born to be thrown away.

  But Ren did not falter.

  'Fuck this, I don't need your handouts anyway. If you call me worthless, I'll destroy your trial and rise higher than anyone else. You don't have to accept my existence; I'll force you to.'

  Recalling the screen, Ren called forth the one 'Relic' as the Trial called it that he had.

  'Living sword - Teir 1'

  Out of thin air, sparks formed in his hand. Over 5 seconds, the shape of a sword was formed, the same one he got from the Living Sapling he had defeated. Its weight was heavy in his hand. Yet Ren had a sense of fondness to wash over him.

  Outside the trial, Ren knew of the Relic system. Through defeating various creatures, an awakened could obtain relics, crafted from the beast's essence. However, from what he heard, the chance of obtaining one was not high, so many awakened still relied on the forges the clans provided.

  But on his first kill, Ren obtained a Relic of his own. Proof of his achievements and his survival.

  He may have had an indescribable hate for the Trial, but the weapon he held now did not share the same fate. It was the first thing he truly owned, outside of his name; it was uniquely his.

  Ren swung the sword, testing its balance. But as he did, it began to adjust, fitting in his hand smoother, perfectly balancing itself to his liking.

  Ren wondered if the sword had inherited the power the beast he killed had. Opened the system, he brushed his hands through the words that formed the name of his sword.

  Relics - [Living Sword - Tier 1 - Augment]

  Augment was the only thing that rested next to the sword's name. That must be what the sword's ability was.

  As he rubbed his hand over the Relics' name, the Trial expanded its meaning.

  [Augment - the sword has the unique ability to fit its owner's intended form.]

  Touching the words again, the screen updated

  * * * * * * *

  {Champion - Ren}

  Rank – {Awakening}

  Traits - [True Instinct], [???], [???]

  Title - {Worthless}

  Talent – [Developing]

  Relics - [Living Sword]

  Spirits – [None]

  * * * * * * *

  Ren, pleasantly surprised, remarked to himself.

  'The system is way more optimized than I expected. I can collapse everything into just the name and expand it again at will?'

  'At least now I won't be reminded how shitty my life is every time I see my title.'

  He chuckled, putting the screen away. System Zero Ren One.

  As helpful as it was, he couldn't help but wonder what the System exactly was, or for that reason, who created it.

  'How much effort did it take to even make something like this? Was it the result of talent?'

  Knowing he'd get no answer, Ren looked over the sword.

  'You were so worth almost dying for.'

  Despite its wooden nature, Ren could feel a sharpness radiating from its depths. He knew this was the perfect first weapon for him.

  The blade sharpened forward as if bragging of its worth to its new master.

  Laughing, he remarked to the blade.

  'Glad were on the same page, buddy, keep it up!'

  Then he heard a voice.

  * * * * * * *

  "Well, if it isn't Sleeping Beauty, look who finally decided to wake up," a voice called from the shadows.

  Ren jumped from the bed, sword in hand, staring at the silhouette behind his gate.

  "Who's there… are you the ones that put me here?"

  A hunched man stepped forward, responding to Ren in a mocking tone.

  "Oh, looks like we got ourselves a genius on our hands."

  The man had a long brown robe covering his old body, walking stick in hand keeping himself stable.

  From behind the old man, a hand slapped across the back of his head.

  "Ouch!"

  "Damn it, you rascal, why did you go and do that?" He said, rubbing the spot of impact.

  From behind the old man, another appeared, this one of tall stature and shining steel armor.

  "Because you're antagonizing the guest, you dumbass."

  Shaking his head, the new figure looked at Ren and spoke.

  "I'm sorry about my partner. Let us introduce ourselves. My names Radcliff, and this is Darwin." He said, pointing at the old man.

  "The names Ren, and if you don't mind me asking, why am I in a cell? Actually, where exactly am I?"

  "Ah, yes, sorry about that, I hope you understand it was not in ill intent."

  "We found you alongside a bridge on our journeys, half dead with a sword in your hand, which isn't the best impression if we're being honest. Sorry about the room. We would've given you a nicer stay, but unfortunately, in these ruins, that doesn't seem to exist. "

  "Just say what you mean, you're too kind these days, Rad," the old man chimed in. "He meant to say we need to ask you questions before we have you roam around, child. How did you manage to find yourself in this forest?"

  "Not the best impression, I'll admit. But I'm sure you can tell I didn't intend to be dying in the woods."

  Not wanting to tell these people they weren't real and their lives were meaningless, he came up with a better story.

  "My name's Ren, but unfortunately, I can't tell you much about how I got here."

  "My memory is still hazy, all I know is I woke up on the edge of a forest, and while I started traveling through them, the trees started attacking me. Honestly, the shock of that should've killed me there."

  "Then, just the usual. I accidentally jumped off a cliff, fought with a piece of wood, and almost froze to death, so I'm sure you can imagine how I got injured."

  Darwin started to laugh, "These kids aren't too bad these days, this one's got a little insanity in him. Maybe he can teach you a thing or two," he said, hitting the side of the knight's armor with a mischievous smile.

  Sighing, the man took a look at Ren, studying his face.

  "I'll be honest. Your story is way too vague. But I don't get the feeling you're lying. If you dismiss your sword, we'll let you out. We've already chosen to save you no point in turning back now."

  "I can fill you in on the way to our campsite."

  Opening the door, the man shrugged for Ren to come with.

  Reluctantly, Ren got off the bed. He didn't want to leave his new sword, but he understood the worry of those in front of him.

  'Well, they can't be too awful if they managed to save me.'

  "Come on, we don't have all day, let's get moving," the old man muttered impatiently as he started hobbling down the dark corridors.

  Following his lead, Ren stepped out of the cell. With the knight next to him, they began to head to their camp.

  "I appreciate you guys saving me. I haven't properly thanked you yet."

  "Don't worry about it. Honestly, we need all the help we can get right now, besides Darwin's the healer of our party, you can thank him later. He may be a looney but he's the real deal. Even I'm not sure how he managed to fix you up; you were messed up pretty badly."

  "You don't say, imagine how I felt."

  Chuckling, the man spoke as they traveled through the winding halls, "Alright, enough of the small talk, let's fill you in."

  "First, I have some good and bad news for you. The good is that without us, you would have died on that bridge. The bad, you're going to have to stick with us in these ruins."

  "You'll meet the rest soon, but our part is here to fight back whatever monster infected the forest. Over 10 years ago now, the forest began to walk. We weren't sure why, but we knew it was deadly after the villages that spread across our land were wiped out. The forest began to reclaim its lumber and take all who resided in them into its darkness. "

  "After losing so much, we were at a loss. We did our best to investigate, but we found nothing, not a single trace of the infection left behind. "

  "But that changed recently. The lady had a vision of dark ruins deep within the forest. Resting at the edge of the mountains, here she felt the evil was buried in its depths."

  "Following that vision led us to this rundown place." He said, hitting the walls.

  "The lady?" Ren asked curiously.

  "She is the king's daughter. Since she was young, she's been trained by the Oracles to read her visions."

  "Don't worry too much, you'll meet her soon. We're coming up on the camp now."

  * * * * * * *