章 37: Trial of the Gate

Gate took a deep breath, his eyes piercing into Alex's, as he spoke with a stern tone, "If you truly desire to save your beloved wife, you must successfully complete my two daunting trials. Should you pass, you will be granted the chance to save her from a life of perpetual agony. However, if you fail, you shall remain here in this abyss for eternity, without any hope of salvation."

Alex, feeling the weight of the moment, took a moment to compose himself before responding with unwavering determination, "I accept your conditions, Gate. Whatever it takes to save her, I will do it."

The Door let out a mocking laugh, "You must really care for this person to be willing to put yourself through such an ordeal."

With a fierce determination to save Linda, Alex stood up, and the Door pointed him toward the trial location. As he made his way there, Alex couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as the atmosphere around him seemed to shift and change.

Suddenly, he found himself standing in the middle of a beautiful garden, with two chairs set up on opposite sides of each other across the table. As Alex took in his surroundings, he noticed a tall, handsome man standing before him with piercing blue eyes and long black hair.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Alex asked the man, "Who are you?" The man replied, "I am the Door that you have met before. My real name is Leo." Alex was shocked by the revelation, but he quickly composed himself and laughed, dismissing it as just another illusion. However, Leo insisted that this was his true form and that the garden they were in was the only place that was real. Just as Alex was about to ask another question, Leo cut him off and raised his hand, declaring, "Let's begin the trial."

As Alex watched in anticipation, a brilliant blue screen suddenly materialized before him and levitated effortlessly in the air. Leo directed his attention toward it and announced, "This marks the commencement of your first trial. Within this challenge, you must demonstrate your wisdom, and upon successful completion, I shall reward you with an additional bonus." As Leo concluded his instructions, the words "What do you think mana is?" began to materialize before Alex's eyes on the vibrant blue screen.

The question may seem straightforward, as most people are familiar with the concept of mana. However, it goes beyond a mere definition and instead asks for a personal interpretation of what mana represents. As Alex was about to ask for clarification, Leo interjected with a time limit, leaving him with only 10 seconds to respond. Despite the sudden pressure, Alex managed to compose himself and began to deliver a thoughtful response.

"Mana," he began, "is the very essence of humanity. It is a force that has been around for centuries, although its existence wasn't fully recognized until almost a century ago. Many believe that mana is not native to this world but rather came to us from elsewhere. It is the foundation of our spiritual beliefs, and it permeates every aspect of our lives." As he spoke, Alex noticed that Leo seemed pleased with his answer but wanted more.

It dawned on him that this trial was turning into a mini-lecture, similar to the ones given by Maya. Despite this realization, Alex continued to elaborate on the concept of mana, exploring its various manifestations and cultural significance.

- To be continued