Chapter 20: The Haber Realm III

"You want me to do what??"

"Stab yourself in the heart with the digger. That's the fastest way to die with the least pain. Slitting your throat or stabbing yourself in the eye are also good options," Nick responded, taking a look at his watch.

The Healing Effect of the Machine had bought Jordan exactly 20 minutes of protection from the Haber Realm. Nick was cautious with time, hence his persistent tone. Jordan had a lot more to accomplish before the rounds of pain resumed.

"I'm confused. You want me to kill myself?"

"Yes, Jay. Do it now. You're running out of time."

"Why? I don't want to die. I-"

"Jordan just trust me. You won't die. I really wish I could explain things to you but I can't. Trust me and drive that dagger through your heart," Nick spoke calmly, trying his best to connect to Jordan.

Jordan looked at the dagger on the floor and picked it up. In his hands, he couldn't make up his mind on what to do. For one thing, he didn't trust a single scientist in that room. He didn't know what the effects of killing himself in his mind, but they did. He knew they weren't telling him everything and that annoyed him the most. What if he actually dies by doing this? He didn't endure all that pain just to stab himself in the heart right after.

Jordan heaved a sigh and held the dagger with both hands, raising it to his chest. He didn't trust the scientist or anybody else in the Academy, but judging by what Nick had said back in the lab, he knew the scientist also stood a chance of losing something great if the experiment turned out a failure. Nick wouldn't be asking him to do this if there was another way. Jordan just had to convince himself that Nick knew what he was doing.

"Painless and quick," he said to himself, slowly piercing the dagger through his chest. Jordan took a deep breath in to calm himself and with all the force he could muster into his hands, he pushed the dagger straight into his body. It went into his heart and came out from the other side.

Just then the machine started beeping loudly.

"Alert! Alert! Sir the Subject's health levels are dropping very fast," L.I.A.M informed as the green light surrounding Jordan turned to a crimson red. "Subject's brain cells are rapidly dying. Estimated Death Rate at 57%.. 63%.. 79%"

'Come on. It shouldn't be taking this long,' Nick thought to himself.

The attention of all the scientists was on Jordan. This next part was solely dependent on chance. By killing himself in the initial space of the Haber Realm, Jordan had knocked on the door of the part of the Haber Realm the challenge would begin. The only thing is that whether that door would be opened before Jordan's death rate reached 100% was completely up to fate. 95% of everyone who had tried entering the Haber Realm had died at this stage and for the past 20 years, no one had been granted access.

{In the Haber Realm}

Jordan opened his eyes and found himself floating in a void of space. He couldn't see clearly but he could see a large door about 50 meters from him. With each passing second, the door was getting smaller. Judging by the light it was emanating, Jordan couldn't help but feel like he was supposed to pass through it. He tried lifting his body, but just as before, it weighed a ton. He could barely even crawl.

Jordan watched powerlessly as the door continued to reduce in length, but just as it was about to shut completely, a hand came through from the other side. It held the right side of the door. Another came out and it held the left side of the door. Jordan could make out on the figure on the other side that the person was a Human. The person kept pushing the door forcefully until it was large enough for an elephant to walk through.

He appeared to be in his early thirties with long fiery hair that was tied at the back of his head. He was dressed in a casual black top and red jeans. What surprised Jordan the most was that he appeared to be very familiar. He just couldn't picture where he had seen this person before.

Two others emerged from the other side of the door. They looked identical to the one holding the door. Like they were actual clones. They raced towards Jordan and when they got close enough to him, Jordan confirmed they were Humans. The most identical pair he had seen in his entire life.

One helped Jordan unto the back of the other. Immediately he started walking in the direction of the door with Jordan on his back, powerful monstrosities as tall as a giraffe emerged from the darkness of the void. A long steel sword appeared out of thin air in front of the other and he held it. He cleared the way, killing every monster that approached them as Jordan was being carried to the door.

Clearly, these monsters were trying to stop Jordan from crossing over but the clones did everything in their power to make sure he did. Someone was in charge of the Haber Realm and whoever it was, it wasn't the person's will for Jordan to enter. Just who were these people helping him?

When Jordan had been taken to the door, the duo helped him get on his feet. They turned and continued killing off the dreadful monsters aiming for him. They had held the door open and had gotten Jordan to it, he had to cross over by himself.

"Thank you," Jordan said to the one holding the door.

Jordan's body didn't feel so heavy anymore. He bent under the right arm of the one holding the sides of the door apart, and just as he stretched his leg to cross over, he heard the one holding the door whisper to him.

"At all costs, become the Strongest."

Jordan crossed over, his eyes wide with shock. He turned back, but the young man was gone. The door to the void had disappeared.

{Back in The Lab}

L.I.A.M was still calibrating Jordan's Death Rate.

"85%.. 91%.. 96%.. 99%.."

"Fuck!" Nick shouted when he heard L.I.A.M say the last number. He thought it was all over until L.I.A.M. said something that shocked everyone in the lab.

"99%.. 64%.. 32%.. 12%.. 4%...{BEEP} Subject health conditions are stable."

"Yes!"

They rejoiced with smiles all over their faces. Ella and Mira even hugged each other. The fact that Jordan was in good health meant that he made it into the secondary level of the Haber Realm. He was alive.

"J-Jordan, can you hear me?" Nick called out, his voice a little shaky. "Talk to me."

Jordan opened his eyes and he could see perfectly again. When he crossed over, he found himself in a field like the one before, but this one had a large structure far off from where he stood. It reminded him of something Nick had said to him a while back- The Leaning Tower of Pisa?

"I'm fine, Sir," Jordan replied walking closer to the tower. Suddenly, he felt a sharp sting-pain in his chest. "Shit! Not again."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Sir. It's just a slight sting. I'm okay. I see the tower you asked me about earlier. I'm heading to it."

Nick glanced at his watch and his brows furrowed. Jordan had less than 5 minutes to get out of the Haber Realm or face another Wave of Pain.

"Listen Jordan. You don't have much time. I need you to run towards the Tower and touch the front door with your two palms. No matter what you see or what you hear, don't stop running!"