Chapter 3: Waiting Room

Arriving in the Otherworld, Aiden looked around with curiosity, realizing that he wasn't alone.

There were three more people with him, and they all seemed equally intrigued by their new surroundings.

'Why is everything in this room completely white?' He thought, a little confused by how empty this room was.

The room in which Aiden found himself was entirely white, from floor to ceiling. Its pristine appearance gave off an almost clinical vibe, resembling a waiting room where one might pause between levels in a video game.

Suddenly, a message from the same system that had sent him here appeared.

[The first trial will start in five minutes. Take this time to get to know your teammates.]

Aiden saw that message and immediately prepared himself to speak up. However, he couldn't when someone spoke up first.

The person who spoke up was a strikingly beautiful girl. Her presence captured the attention of everyone present.

Even Aiden's breath got caught in his throat as he observed her.

She was truly perfect, and he hadn't seen anyone as beautiful as her in his entire life.

"Is this everyone's first trial?" she asked, giggling at the reactions she received.

Each person in that white room confirmed that it was indeed their first time, including the girl herself.

Aiden, however, had a question since he was confused about what she had just asked.

"We can attempt the trials multiple times?" Aiden asked, confused.

"Well, yes, but there are some consequences for those who fail over and over again." A small man, who resembled a dwarf, answered, sporting impressive armor compared to the others.

Aiden found it peculiar that only the dwarf had such equipment, but he didn't dwell on it for long. He wanted to understand the potential consequences of the trials.

"What kind of consequences are we talking about?" Aiden asked, genuinely curious.

"If you continue to die repeatedly, you'll lose stats. And if you lose all of them, you'll forfeit your awakening powers. However, the first trial allows for a free attempt without consequences, designed for newcomers like us," the dwarf explained.

"I see, and sorry if I'm asking too many questions, but could someone tell me what the trial that we would be doing is about?" Aiden inquired, eager to gain some knowledge about this world.

"That's the tricky part," the dwarf started explaining. "We don't know the specifics until we're summoned. However, the first trial is typically one of the easiest, meant to test the potential of the Awakened. Those who fail it usually don't possess much promise in this world. On the other hand, the ones who excel in the first trial sometimes become famous in the real world, or at least, they show some potential."

"Ahem," interrupting their conversation, the girl spoke up, reminding them of the limited time they had left and suggesting introductions along with their respective classes.

"I'll start. I'm Ava, an enchantress. I have the ability to cast spells on monsters and impair their senses," she introduced herself with confidence, clearly knowing about her beauty.

Aiden couldn't help but notice how everyone's attention seemed to gravitate toward Ava whenever she spoke. Her enchanting presence was undeniable.

"I'm Gus, a shieldbearer," the dwarf introduced himself, pointing to his formidable armor.

The third member, who had been rather quiet until now, finally spoke up. "I'm James, an assassin," he said in a mysterious tone, dressed entirely in black and sporting a visible scar on his face. He exuded a menacing aura that might have an unsettling effect on some people, but Aiden remained unaffected.

Now, it was Aiden's turn to introduce himself. However, he realized that he didn't have a class. He realized that he couldn't present himself like all the others.

He had assumed that everyone awakened with a class, given their unique abilities.

Shouldn't he be an assassin, considering his past life?

Feeling compelled to speak up and not wanting to raise suspicions, he wasn't sure if not having a class was normal. So, he decided to go ahead and tell them.

What's the worst thing that could happen?

"I'm Aiden, and I... have no class," he uttered with the same amount of confidence as everyone else.

He didn't think that having no class was something special which is why he revealed it, he thought that many were in the same situation as him.

However, the group was taken aback, clearly puzzled by Aiden's revelation. It seemed unheard of not to have a class in this world.

They exchanged bewildered glances, aware that awakening was usually accompanied by a class and a starting skill.

"Did you receive a starter skill at least?" Gus, the dwarf, inquired, trying to make sense of the situation.

Aiden contemplated whether to divulge the skills from his past life that had appeared in his system. However, he decided against it, almost sure that his teammates would not believe him.

"No, I didn't receive anything," Aiden responded honestly, still unsure why his lack of a class and starting skill was causing such a reaction.

As Aiden's words sank in, his teammates looked at him with a mix of surprise and concern.

"Then, aren't you useless? You don't even have a skill nor a class, and judging by your physique, your starting stats are bound to be low," Ava remarked, her attitude shifting completely as she assessed him.

Gus and James seemed to agree with her assessment, their expressions reflecting doubt and disappointment.

Aiden understood their reaction but was still mad at them for changing their attitude so quickly.

He knew he wasn't any weaker than his companions. In fact, his past life experiences had granted him a level of strength and resourcefulness that they couldn't even comprehend.

But before Aiden could respond, Ava continued, "I think we should leave him behind when we enter the trial. He probably won't be of much help, given his lack of skills and class."

James and Gus blindly supported Ava's decision without even questioning her as if they were under her control. It was clear to Aiden that they were under her influence, oblivious to the change in her attitude.

The first trial was about to start, and Aiden would make sure that they regretted what they had just said. He wasn't weak...hell, he would be the one coming out on top in this trial.

He had always found a way to overcome challenges, and it wouldn't be any different this time.

'I can't wait to see what the first trial is. Even if I have to face it on my own, I'll find a way, just as I always have,' Aiden thought determinedly, reminded of his past memories.

Nervousness started to fill the air as the group realized that their first trial was about to begin. The outcome of this trial could significantly impact their standing in the real world.

Beep!

[You are being summoned to the first trial.]

As they disappeared, Aiden held onto his conviction, ready to prove to the others that he would be much better than all of them combined.