The Extra Who Shouldn't Exist novel Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Damn Ancients and the first trial

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After searching for an entire day, Alex finally stumbled upon the entrance to the ancient dungeon. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The journey had not been entirely smooth, as he had encountered several weak monsters along the way—goblins, shadow wolves, and even a particularly aggressive tree that tried to strangle him.

Thankfully, he had managed to dispatch them with relative ease, though not without acquiring some minor cuts and bruises.

"I'm basically a moving target for nature at this point," Alex muttered as he wiped some sweat from his forehead.

The entrance to the dungeon was nestled between two massive rock formations, partially hidden by overgrown vines and moss.

At first glance, it seemed like nothing more than a cave, but as he moved closer, he noticed intricate inscriptions carved into the stone archway above it.

The letters pulsed with faint energy, a language foreign yet oddly familiar to him.

"Oh great, ancient mystical gibberish. Just what I needed." Alex sighed and stepped closer. To his surprise, the moment his eyes focused on the inscriptions, a flood of comprehension washed over him.

The words shifted, rearranging themselves in his mind until they became readable:

'Only the worthy may enter. Prove thy strength, will, and wisdom. Four trials await. Triumph, and the power of the ancients shall be yours. Fail... and be forgotten.'

"So basically, 'win or die'? Very encouraging," Alex muttered, rolling his eyes. "But hey, at least it's not another 'You shall not pass' situation."

He hesitated for a moment, glancing behind him. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows through the dense forest. There was no turning back now. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward.

The moment he crossed the threshold, the ground beneath him vanished.

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He landed on solid stone a second later, barely managing to keep his balance. A deep, rumbling voice echoed through the chamber.

"Intruder, you stand before the Trials of Ascendance. Prove your worth, or perish."

"You know, a simple 'welcome' would be nice." Alex dusted himself off and looked around.

The chamber was massive, lined with towering pillars covered in glowing runes. At the far end, a massive stone door stood shut.

As he took a step forward, the torches along the walls flared to life, casting flickering shadows across the room. Then, a section of the floor split open, and something began to rise from beneath.

A humanoid figure, clad in rusted armor and carrying a jagged sword, emerged. Its eyes glowed an eerie blue, its skeletal frame barely holding the armor together.

"Ah, great. Undead. Because nothing screams 'ancient trial' like a walking corpse with a sword." Alex sighed and tightened his grip on his weapon.

[First Trial: The Trial of Strength Begins!]

The undead knight lunged at him without hesitation. Alex barely managed to sidestep, feeling the whoosh of air as the blade missed him by inches.

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