Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Acclimatization and Adaptation
"Now you little chickens," he said, his voice dripping with a sadistic edge that seemed almost to relish the discomfort of the group. "It's time to take a good night's sleep. After all, on floor 0, we simply weed out those useful from those who are useless."
The Trainer's lips curled into a smirk, and he clapped his hands slowly, as if applauding the very concept of hardships. His expression held an unsettling mix of glee and malice, causing a shiver to run down the spines of the participants.
Kai's eyes sparkled with unbridled enthusiasm as he glanced around the room. His face, framed by a confident smile, betrayed none of the apprehension that gripped his fellow contestants. "Weed out, huh?" he thought, his excitement barely contained. "So basically, this was simply a trial run. Hmmm… truly… this place… it's gonna be super fun."
"Hello little ducklings. I'm the Manager. Now. I want you to group yourself by gender. Boys on the left and girls on the right." Said the Manager with a detached tone and cold expression.
"Well, I guess this is where we say goodbye." Said Kai extending his hand towards Lyra, his expression one of genuine camaraderie.
Lyra met his gaze with a soft, understanding smile. "Yeah. Well, see you on the next trial."
"See you on the next trial." Kai echoed, his tone brimming with hopeful determination. The handshake they shared was brief but meaningful, a gesture of solidarity in the face of the unknown.
After executing themselves, giant doors appeared in front of the participants, marveling at their sheer scale. The left door was a deep blue, oceanic blue, while the right door blazed a vibrant red. Each door seemed to pulsate with its own rhythm, as if alive with hidden possibilities.
"Now ducklings," the Manager's voice rang out, smooth and commanding. He stood with his arms spread wide, directing the attention of the participants. "Follow the assistant managers through the doors."
The male assistant manager, a broad-shouldered man with a stern expression, gestured toward the blue door. The female assistant manager, a lithe woman with an air of quiet authority, indicated the red door. The participants obediently followed their respective guides.
After passing through the doors, each group found themselves in a wide, vast and echoing hall. The room was illuminated by an otherworldly glow, casting long shadows that danced along the walls. In the center of the hall, a holographic screen flickered to life, displaying a figure who seemed to float mid-air. The Promoter, dressed in a sleek, tailored suit that shimmered with an almost celestial quality, addressed them with an air of gravitas.
"Now my diamonds in the rough," the Promoter's voice resonated with a deep, commanding tone. "I think you each need some explanation on where you are, what you shall be doing, who we are and what is happening in this realm."
The Promoter's presence was captivating, a blend of elegance and authority that held the participants spellbound. "First things first." He continued, his voice carrying the weight of a thousand unspoken truths. "I am the Promoter of this domain. The one who oversees everything that happens inside this realm. And each one of you, to put it simply, are performers. Performers who are here to entertain the countless Constellations which exist in the universe."
The screen displayed a series of dazzling images—fleeting glimpses of the tower, ethereal beings observing from above, and flashes of grandeur that left the participants in awe. The Promoter's words painted a vivid picture of a world where their talents would be showcased as never before.
"In this tower," he continued, "all talents are weapons that can be used to reach great heights. Fame and wealth await atop of this tower. The trials, to put it simply, are entertainment content brought upon us of the tower to the Constellations. Views and fame are the only credits accepted in the tower. If you want to ascend the tower, then prove your worth with your talents and polish them to the extreme."
"Now then, any further details shall be relayed to you by the Manager and Assistant managers." Said the Manager, his voice drifting away like smoke, leaving most participants bewildered.
After the Promoter's speech, Kai's eyes sparkled with an intense, almost feverish excitement. To him, the Promoter's speech was not a cryptic enigma but an exhilarating challenge. This was the chance he had always dreamed of—the chance to prove himself, to make a name in a place where ambition met its ultimate trial.
"Silence everyone." Said the Assistant managers in each respective gender group. "I'm the assistant manager in charge of the boys/girls."
They began to explain the tower's complex system in detail. Their voices were calm yet filled with an unspoken responsibility. The tower itself, they revealed, was under the under control of the Promoter, a mysterious entity whose powers were reflected in the very gates that had brought them here. The trials they were about to face were not merely tests of skills, they were elaborate programs designed for the amusement of the Constellations, powerful beings who watched their every move.
"The trials are essentially games." The Assistant Managers said, his voice steady. "You are each divided into different sections, and each section is divided by gender group. It is only after clearing the fifth floor that the different remaining contestants of each gender group within a section are reunited."
They continued by adding the fact that each section is under the care of its respective manager, and the groups by the assistant managers. Then, they also added that the one to coordinate the trials, was the trainer while the conception of the trials were all decided by the Promoter.
Kai's face lit up with a mix of determination and glee. He was already envisioning himself conquering these trials, one by one, until he stood at the pinnacle of the tower, a beacon of success. His heart raced at the thought of the challenges ahead.
The Assistant Managers further elaborated that the tower comprised 12 floors. Floor 1 through 10 each had three trials to be completed. The preliminary trial they had just undergone on floor 0 was a mere gateway, a test to determine who would be deemed worthy to face the true challenges. On the topmost floor of the tower was the Promoter's room.
The objective: gain and collect Views from the Constellations, but for the participants there was another rule. Those who achieve 10,000 followers during the trials would be given a special privilege from the Promoter.
Other details were how any currency, from their world would be valid in the tower and how they could even gain more after each trial completion.
The room buzzed with murmurs of disbelief and excitement. The notion of gathering followers, of becoming a spectacle for unseen entities, seemed almost surreal. Many participants exchanged glances, their expressions reflecting a dawning realization.
"This is some sort of… Entertainment Tower." Someone whispered, the sentiment echoed by a ripple of nods and uncertain smiles.
For Kai, however, the notion of being part of an entertainment spectacle was exhilarating. He had always dreamed of becoming a star, of standing in the spotlight, and now, he was on the verge experiencing the thrill of challenge firsthand. His excitement was palpable, his fists clenched at his sides as he imagined the fun, fame, glory and adoration that lay ahead.
Meanwhile, on Earth, the scene was markedly different. Countless stone shrines appeared seemingly overnight, their ancient designs stark against the modern landscape. Holograms flickered in and out of existence, projecting a message in bold, glowing letters:
Welcome to Nilheim, the tower of debauchery.
The message, though cryptic, was clear enough to spark a wave of unease and curiosity among those who witnessed it.
As Kai and his fellow participants integrated the reality unfolding before them, their fates were sealed. They were about to embark on a journey that would test their limits, challenge their very notions of reality, and perhaps, lead them to the very height of their dreams. The participants could only wait for the next step, their hearts pounding with anticipation of what lay beyond. The stage was set, the players were ready, and the trials of Nilheim awaited.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Ryajin
Ryajin Hiyah there. Sorry for the late release, due to an illness i was bedridden, but luckily it gave mz the time to rethink many thing about my stories. Look forward to it.
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