A Higher Plane of Existence
Ten spheres of light, each a different color, illuminated in an endless space, forming a perfect circle as they spoke among themselves.
At the center of their judgment hovered a glowing blue sphere.
1st Light:.
"Jax, do you know why you're here?"
The blue sphere—Jax—responded.
"Well, I don't think so."
4th Light mocking, said.
"Of course you don't. Not after what you did."
6th Light kindly, said.
"Fourth, aren't you being too harsh? Jax is still an excellent worker."
3rd Light laughing, said.
"Hahaha… yes, excellent at making mistakes."
Jax.
"I don't consider what I did a mistake."
5th Light coldly, said.
"So you consider the failure of all participants in your trial a success?"
Jax.
"They failed because they were weak."
9th Light angrily, said.
"And who are you to decide who is weak and who is strong? "
" Don't you think you've overstepped your place?"
10th Light lazily, said.
"I think that's enough "
" We didn't bring him here to judge him—not this time, at least."
1st Light.
"Jax, we called you today because an extra participant has been detected"
" All other trial makers are busy."
Jax suddenly excited, said.
"You mean… you'll let me handle it?"
7th Light.
"Don't get too excited. This is your final chance."
1st Light.
"If this participant fails as well, your role as a trial maker and your status "
" Will be stripped from you."
1st Light continued.
"For your own good, Jax… don't fail."
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(The White Space)
An endless white expanse stretched in every direction.
Amadeus appeared there after being teleported.
He looked around, but there was nothing.
Amadeus.
"Is this supposed to be the trial?"
A voice echoed from behind.
"This is not the trial, but you could call it the waiting room."
Amadeus turned quickly.
A floating blue sphere—twice his size—hovered there.
But after meeting Omega, such things no longer surprised him.
Amadeus.
"So… what are you, floating sphere?"
Jax feeling disrespected, said.
"Don't you think that's rude? To ask what I am?"
Amadeus.
"You're a floating sphere. What else should I ask?"
Jax shook himself, regaining focus.
"What I am doesn't matter right now."
His glow intensified, as if to impress Amadeus.
"I am Jax, the trial maker who designed your trial."
Amadeus skeptical, said.
"Do all trial makers meet participants, or is it just you?"
Jax awkwardly laughed.
"No, just me. I… like to encourage participants personally."
Amadeus stood silently, clearly unconvinced.
Sweat trickled from Jax's presence.
This participant is too sharp for my own good.
Noble's memory.
"Told you, he's hiding something. If we push him, we can use him ".
Jax trying to rush, Said.
"Anyway, I'm here to give you this."
A glowing panel appeared before Amadeus.
[ Map of Trial World acquired ]
Jax.
"This will help you navigate. And one more thing…"
The panel shifted.
[ Multiple marks added to the Trial World Map ]
Jax.
"The marks show dangerous areas, safe zones, and a few hidden items—like healing tools."
Ready to leave, Jax said.
"Then my work here is done. Please, don't fail the trial".
" I'm saying this for your own good."
Amadeus, who had been silently observing, finally spoke.
Amadeus.
"Jax… can I ask you something?"
Jax.
"Of course."
Amadeus.
"You serve Genesis, right? Tell me—what kind of being is he?"
Jax's glow brightened with joy.
Jax.
"He is my Creator, the most loving being in all existence! The savior of everything!"
Amadeus.
"Really. Then what happens to me if I fail?"
Jax hesitated.
I can't tell him the truth. I'll scare him instead.
Jax with a menacing voice, said.
"If you fail, you will die."
Amadeus chuckled.
"You're saying I'll die?"
Jax confused, asked.
"Is dying funny to you?"
Amadeus.
"Something like that. But that's not the point."
His eyes hardened.
"Jax, you're lying. And if you keep lying, we'll have a problem."
Panic rippled through Jax.
"And why do you think I'm lying?"
Amadeus explained calmly.
Jax not only appeared personally, but also handed him a map.
He marked dangerous areas, safe zones, and even revealed hidden items.
Finally, he lied about Genesis.
If Genesis truly was kind, he would not simply kill a chosen participant for failing.
Amadeus.
"Now, Jax… will you tell me the truth? Because I think we can help each other."
Jax resisting, said.
"And if I don't?"
Amadeus shrugged.
"Then once the trial begins "
" I'll kill myself."
Jax disbelieving, said.
"As if I'd believe that. Even if you don't die, you'll feel the pain of death."
Amadeus smirked.
"You said it yourself—death is a funny thing to me."
Jax panicking, said.
"And you'll lose your chance to become a Sovereign!"
Amadeus.
"So what? I can live with that. But you'll lose more than me, Jax."
Silence. Defeat.
Jax.
"…Okay. You win."
He confessed everything—from his first failure to his summon before the Ten Lights.
Jax.
"That's all. So tell me, Amadeus… will you help me?"
Amadeus stood quietly.
Noble's memory.
" This is golden chance. The trial maker is beneath us ".
"We must take advantage of this ".
Amadeus.
"…Don't worry. I will."
Jax.
"Amadeus? You're with me?"
Amadeus.
"Yes. I'll help you."
Happiness radiated from Jax.
he saw through me without fear, even mocking death itself. Perhaps he really can succeed.
Jax.
"Thank you, Amadeus—"
Amadeus cutting him off, said.
"First, I have demands."
Jax fell silent as Amadeus listed them.
A complete map with every hidden item revealed—no matter how powerful.
Jax agreed.
A strong weapon from the start.
Jax refused. As it was against the rules.
Knowledge of the Trial World.
Jax explained quickly.
The world is the size of a continent, divided into three regions.
The Barren Lands: infested with killers, slavers, and monsters.
The Desert: the only path to the next land, even harsher than the barren wastes.
The Green Lands: beautiful and rich, but filled with powerful individuals.
Jax.
"That's all I can tell you. Any more, and I break the rules."
Amadeus.
"That's enough."
Jax opened a glowing gate in the white void.
"Step through, and the trial begins."
Amadeus.
"Then answer me one last time."
" If you want me to succeed so badly, why not make an easy trial?"
Jax.
"I wanted to. But my beliefs wouldn't allow it."
Amadeus frowning, said.
"Beliefs?"
Jax.
"I believe Sovereigns must be powerful. That's why my trials are difficult."
Amadeus.
"Then why help me? Isn't that against your beliefs?"
Jax laughing, said.
"Hahaha! Exactly. "
" That's why this will be my masterpiece—the hardest trial I've ever created."
Amadeus.
"You're joking, right?"
The gate began pulling him in.
Jax watching, said.
"I hope what I gave you is enough… though I doubt it."
Amadeus.
Jax, you little.
Jax.
"See you after the trial."
The gate swallowed Amadeus and closed, hurling him into the Trial World.
To be continued.