MTLNOVEL Chapter 3: Chapter 2: The First Trial Begins
Chapter 2: The First Trial Begins
Heat.
It was the first thing Yoo Jihwan felt. A burning, suffocating heat.
The flames had erupted in an instant, spreading across the vast arena like a living beast. The scent of scorched stone and something else—something sickly, like burning flesh—filled the air.
Screams rang out.
The other Readers—if that was what they were—were scrambling, their eyes darting between the fire and the towering stone walls that caged them in. Some collapsed in panic, others were frozen in place, unable to comprehend what was happening.
Jihwan forced himself to stay calm.
Focus. Think.
He clenched his fists, forcing his mind past the fear clawing at the edges of his thoughts. His breath was uneven, but he ignored it. Panicking would get him killed.
That much, he understood instinctively.
Then—
A voice boomed through the air.
Cold. Mechanical. Empty.
> [The First Trial: The Burning Choice.]
[Survive for 10 minutes.]
[Survivors will be granted passage to the next stage.]
A simple instruction. Survive.
But how?
Jihwan's eyes darted across the arena. The fire was spreading rapidly, the stone beneath his feet already scorching hot. The outer edges of the arena were completely engulfed, cutting off any escape.
Some people were already making desperate attempts.
A man tried climbing the walls, fingers clawing at the cracks in the stone—only to scream as flames erupted from the surface, setting his body ablaze in seconds. He collapsed, writhing, before falling still.
Jihwan's stomach twisted.
Others were running aimlessly, hoping to outrun the fire. But the flames were alive, responding to movement. The moment someone ran, the fire surged in their direction—consuming them without mercy.
So movement triggers it.
Jihwan exhaled sharply. His mind worked fast, analyzing everything.
The walls were a death trap. Running was suicide.
That left one option—
Standing still.
A terrifying gamble. But it was the only thing he hadn't seen punished yet.
Jihwan took a slow breath and stopped moving.
The heat pressed against him, licking at his skin. He could feel the fire's presence, circling him like a predator. But it did not touch him.
It was testing him.
Someone nearby saw what he was doing. A boy, barely older than Jihwan himself. His face was streaked with sweat and soot, his chest rising and falling in panicked breaths.
"W-What are you doing?" he gasped.
Jihwan didn't answer. His eyes were locked on the fire. Waiting.
The boy hesitated—then, in desperation, followed his lead, standing completely still.
The fire slowed.
More people noticed. Some took the risk, freezing in place. Others, too afraid, kept running—and were swallowed by the flames.
Jihwan watched silently as the number of survivors dwindled.
And then—
The voice spoke again.
> [Time remaining: 3 minutes.]
The fire shifted.
The temperature spiked. The flames roared higher, growing more intense, the heat turning unbearable. The ground cracked beneath them, and the arena itself trembled.
Jihwan's heart pounded.
They weren't safe yet.
The rules had changed.
The fire was no longer waiting.
Now, it was closing in. Slowly, deliberately.
A girl broke first. She screamed, unable to endure the heat, and ran.
The flames leaped toward her instantly. She never had a chance.
Jihwan gritted his teeth. He couldn't move. Not yet.
A second announcement echoed.
> [Time remaining: 1 minute.]
The flames were too close now. If he stayed still, he would burn.
Jihwan looked up.
For the first time, he noticed something—the sky above was open. Smoke curled toward it, but there was no fire there.
An idea formed in his mind. A desperate, reckless idea.
"Jump," he muttered.
The boy beside him blinked. "What?"
Jihwan's legs tensed. "Jump. Now."
And before the flames could swallow him—
He leaped.
His body shot into the air, higher than he should've been able to. For a split second, he hung above the fire, where the heat was weaker. Then—
He came crashing down.
The moment his feet hit the ground, the fire surged forward—but the impact had reset his position.
The flames hesitated, confused.
Jihwan's eyes flashed. It worked.
The others saw him and started jumping too. One by one, they broke into desperate leaps, buying themselves a few extra seconds.
> [Time remaining: 10 seconds.]
Jihwan jumped again. His lungs burned. His body screamed in protest. But he kept going.
> [5 seconds.]
The boy beside him collapsed. Jihwan didn't think—he grabbed his arm and hauled him up.
> [3 seconds.]
The fire was right beneath him.
> [2 seconds.]
His legs gave out.
And then—
> [Trial Complete.]
The flames vanished.
Gone, as if they had never existed.
Jihwan collapsed onto his knees, gasping for air. Around him, the few survivors stood frozen in stunned silence.
They had made it.
But before anyone could recover—
The voice spoke again.
> [The first selection has been made.]
[Welcome, true Readers, to the beginning of your story.]
And above them—
The faceless figure watched.