NOVEL NEXT Chapter 103: The fifth sector
Sometime later, Ray was resting in the main hub to recover his stamina, sitting on a stone bench with his back against the wall, a bored look plastered across his face.
In this place, he couldn't even practice the Tyrant's Soul cultivation technique as it was devoid of primodial essence.
The only thing he could do was pass his time while sightseeing.
Around him, the large circular plaza that made up the central and most attractive part of the main hub buzzed with life,
tamers, hunters, and warriors of different types of races moving about, chatting, boasting about their recent victories, or quietly counting their spoils.
Ray eavesdropped on some conversations, making crucial discoveries and widening his horizon. He ignored the small talks.
"Has half a day passed already?" He muttered under his breath, watching in wonderment as the main hub's ceiling perfectly simulated a bright afternoon sky, painting the space in a soft, ethereal light as the clock hit the 12 hours mark.
Every 12 hours, the environment in the main hub changed.
Right now, the ceiling was reflecting an afternoon sky. Twelve hours later, it would reflect a sky with a setting sun, and so on.
It never simulated a dull and boring picture, keeping one's mind fresh.
He was approached by Selena a while later.
"Ray, there's something I want to say to you," Selena said as she sat down near him.
"Yes? What is it?" Ray turned his head slightly to look into her eyes to show he was listening.
"The day I left town, a commoner came to me, tempted by the news that I was buying taming seals," Selena said.
Ray straightened, interest sparking in his gaze. "What happened then?" he asked, licking his lips unconsciously, his anticipation evident in the subtle tension of his shoulders.
"He sold this taming seal to me." Selena reached into her storage pouch and pulled out a smooth, silver-inscribed seal that shimmered faintly with a dim, bluish light. The intricate runes on its surface pulsed softly like a beating heart. "I kept this just for you. Figured I'd hand it over when we crossed paths again. Well, here we are. Take it."
Before Ray could even respond, she leaned forward and pressed the taming seal into his palm.
For a moment, Ray simply stared at her. Having never expected to be cared for so much by a noblewoman he had met only a few times before, he felt a strange warmth stir in his chest. Then, almost reflexively, a small, genuine smile curved his lips.
'Maybe in this world… I'm not as alone as I thought,' he mused quietly.
"You're not going to charge me for this?" he asked.
Selena shook her head gently. "Consider it a token of gratitude," she said.
Ray had helped her when she needed it the most. He had saved her from certain death. She owed him her life.
This was her way of start repaying that debt — a small gesture, yet one that carried sincerity.
At this point, declining it would only wound her pride and feelings. So he accepted it with a nod.
"What rank is it?" Ray asked, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
"If it's an ordinary seal," he thought internally, "it wouldn't add much to my arsenal. The Eclipse Devouring Seal can't duplicate the same skill. But if it's higher-ranked — and has multiple skills — then it'll make a difference."
"Extraordinary rank," Selena replied.
Ray's eyes twinkled, excitement flickering across his face. 'Once I feed it to my seal, there will be instantaneous improvement.'
With a thought, the extraordinary rank taming seal vanished from his hand.
He had stored it within his inventory instead of letting his seal devour it on the spot because he was in a crowded space and anyone in this crowd could be a spy for the demonic races.
There was no telling who was who.
In such a situation, he dared not reveal what his Eclipse Devouring Seal was capable of, as it could bring him endless trouble!
"You know," Selena said suddenly. "I was honestly surprised to see you here, inside the Tower. When I first met you, I found you admirable because you willingly faced danger to change your circumstances. I never expected you'd turn out to be a tamer so talented that even bronze-rank experts would envy you, and in less than a month at that. Looks like even the judgment of our elders can't be blindly trusted."
It wasn't Garrick's fault.
The Grand Invigilator had fooled the world, using his immense power to place an unfathomable shroud over the truth,
a shroud so deep and intricate that even the top-notch invigilators of the Investigation Bureau—those tasked with protecting the crown and central authority from the schemes of the demonic creatures—failed to see through it.
Of course, now wasn't the time to talk about such things carelessly.
Selena had to be kept in the dark for the time being.
Only when Nameless had exposed the insidious scheme and brought the Grand Invigilator down could such matters be spoken of freely.
Ray wondered how long it would take for that to happen.
'Considering his personality, it shouldn't take too long.'
"Actually, I was just as surprised to see you here," Ray chuckled lightly once he was done musing.
At his words, Selena blinked. "Why's that?"
"Your family is so overprotective of you they wouldn't even let you spend winter outside the heavily guarded Labyrinth City," Ray pointed out before continuing, "I didn't think they'd agree to let you step foot inside the Tower of Enlightement, of all places. It's as dangerous as it's full of opportunities, after all. Lots of tamers end up dying while seeking fortune in the tower."
"I insisted. They could only let me go," Selena exhaled through her nose, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"What motivates you?" Ray asked Selena, his tone calm but genuinely curious.
"Women like me don't have a lot of choices. Most of us are used as pawns to establish connections and deepen ties between noble families."
Selena explained before revealing the reason she was willing to risk it all to grow stronger.
"I don't want that. I don't want to end up marrying a nobleman I don't love or care about. I don't want to end up as a stranger's plaything to secure benefits for my family. I want to live life on my own terms.
"For that reason, I have to claim a position of power. I have to succeed my father. But becoming his successor isn't easy. Many are fighting for that position. I have to prove I'm better than them all. The competition is so tough I can't afford to lax or play safe."
She looked at him with a faint, self-deprecating smile. "Do you think I'm being silly?"
Ray shook his head. "You're trying to carve open your own path so you won't have to dance to the tunes of others. That's admirable. Really!"
Selena blinked, slightly taken aback.
The people around her always told her she was being reckless, that she should just accept her fate and marry well like any proper noblewoman.
So hearing Ray's words—spoken without mockery or pity—struck something deep inside her. For the first time, her choice didn't sound foolish. It sounded right.
Time passed.
Every hour, Ray's stamina recovered by one point thanks to his passive Stamina Regeneration trait. When it recovered to the max, he stood up and headed to challenge the next trial.
The bartender he had befriended during his stay in the tower wished him luck as he went away.
The fifth sector of the first floor was a vast chamber with three doors, each painted in a distinct color and carved with the drawings of different symbols and beasts on their surfaces.
One bore a coiled serpent, another a soaring bird, the third a crouching wolf, and the last a flaming eye.
The drawings were so well drawn and life-like they seemed alive.
Ray wasn't alone here. There were a bunch of seekers nearby.
"Manager, hurry up and tell us what we've gotta do to pass this trial!" a slender young woman with cropped black hair and imperial attire shouted impatiently.
"I see you're as impatient as ever, Evermore," Arthis remarked dryly.
"You know me best, manager," Evermore replied with a grin. "I'm always in a rush to grow stronger."
"Let me explain the rules of the trial to you. The doors surrounding you represent different challenges. You are given two hours. Within that time, you must complete at least two challenges to pass this trial. Completing a challenge will earn you an additional reward. The first one to conquer all four amongst you shall reap the greatest benefits this sector has to offer," Arthis explained.
"With the explanation out of the way," Arthis added, "you may proceed with the trial. I wish you all good luck."
A faint hum reverberated through the air as the four doors began to glow and slowly open, light spilling from within each one.
Ray didn't think twice before going through one of them.
Not to be outdone, Evermore and the others followed in his footsteps.