Warrior Training System

"How the fuck are these things getting through your Domain, Detective?" Cassian shouted, his voice edged with frustration as he deflected a flurry of sharp, slim projectiles. They pierced into Cassandra's Domain like it wasn't even there—something that should have been impossible unless the Domain was broken.

Fortunately, near her body, where her control was strongest, the projectiles couldn't touch her. But Cassian wasn't as lucky. With his Domain still at the first stage, it offered no resistance, forcing him to fend off every attack manually.

Even Cassandra looked troubled, her usually impenetrable Domain failing to block what seemed like nothing more than weak, play darts.

She knew weapons like these existed—they were the reason mages developed power blocks and could stand against the overwhelming, world-bending abilities of Circle Warriors. However, facing them for the first time, she hadn't expected them to make such a significant difference.

As Cassian and Cassandra finally escaped the trap unscathed, Cassian was slightly out of breath, while Cassandra appeared lost in thought. Wiping the sweat from his brow, Cassian grumbled, "Why the fuck are there so many traps here? What were those lunatics thinking, putting this many in one place?"

Cassandra, clearly not in the mood for his complaints, walked ahead and replied, "Those 'lunatics' were our ancestors, so maybe don't insult them. From what I've read, this place was some kind of military research facility—possibly even the central military hub for whatever organization controlled these grounds at the time."

Cassian found himself agreeing with the theory, given the sheer number of traps, war machines, powerful weapons, and war armors they had encountered so far. Walking behind Cassandra, he felt his stamina gradually recovering thanks to his Domain. "How much deeper do you think we've gone by now?" he asked. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

"A couple of kilometers, give or take," Cassandra replied, glancing back. Behind them stretched a straight, moss-covered corridor, and ahead was more of the same—endless and unbroken. The water seeping through cracks in the walls and the increasingly dense, slippery moss suggested they were deep underground. "If we were out in the open, we'd already be in the unexplored parts of the ruins."

"Any idea how much farther until we reach the other side of this mossy tunnel?" Cassian asked, brushing his fingers against the glowing moss. The moment he touched it, a strange sensation jolted through his hand, making it tremble as if the moss was harmful. He quickly pulled away, shaking off the discomfort.

Cassandra, still holding one of the darts from earlier, glanced back at him and shook her head. "I don't know. But let's find out," she said. Her Domain suddenly flared to life as she threw the dart forward, the silver streak of light vanishing down the corridor.

About ten seconds later, a faint, echoing sound reverberated through the tunnel from up ahead. Cassandra's lips curled into a small smile. "We're close to the end," she said. "Let's try not to trigger any more traps before we get there. And let's hope whatever's ahead isn't just another endless corridor or a dead end. This humid, slippery mess is getting boring."

Soon, and fortunately, they reached the end of the corridor without triggering any traps. To their relief, it wasn't another endless hallway or a dead end. Instead, they found a massive metal door, the source of the sound they'd heard earlier.

The spot where Cassandra's dart had struck was visibly dented, and the dart itself had shattered into countless pieces, almost reduced to dust. Cassian stared at the damage, a fresh reminder of Cassandra's incredible strength. Despite her Domain's inability to block those tiny projectiles earlier, she was still a formidable Circle Warrior.

Cassian let out a hopeful sigh, placing a hand on the heavy metal door. "Let's hope there's some treasure waiting for us behind this door," he said with a faint grin. Testing the handle, he was surprised to find it unlocked. With a determined push, the door groaned open, revealing... yet another corridor.

His shoulders sagged as he groaned, "You've got to be kidding me." But this one was different. It was much larger, with rows of similar, seated figures lining the walls. Above them, a faint, ethereal light poured in from an unseen source, illuminating the vast space. The corridor seemed to stretch endlessly, its sheer scale adding to the eeriness.

Cassian exchanged a wary glance with Cassandra, who was equally cautious. Without a word, they stepped inside, their movements slow and deliberate, every sense on high alert. As they stepped into the massive corridor, a voice suddenly echoed in their minds, resonating deeply as if it came from within their very thoughts.

[Welcome to the Challenging Grounds of Matrthya.]

The sound was cold, inhuman, and devoid of any emotion. Its sheer detachment sent a shiver down Cassian's spine. Cassandra froze, her eyes narrowing in confusion as she glanced around the vast space, searching for the source. "What the hell was that?" she muttered, her Domain flaring faintly in reaction to the unsettling presence.

Cassian, however, stiffened for an entirely different reason. That voice... it felt oddly familiar. The same unnatural cadence, the same emotionless tone—it was almost identical to the Warrior Training System that had taken root in his mind. A sense of unease crept over him, but also a flicker of recognition.

"Did you hear that too?" Cassandra asked, her sharp gaze now fixed on him.

"Yeah," Cassian replied cautiously, his voice low. He didn't want to jump to conclusions, but the resemblance was too uncanny to ignore. but he didn't want to reveale it as he waited for the voice to speak again as it did.

[Are you here to take on the challenges of Matrthya and earn rewards?]

The voice asked again, echoing in their minds and catching them both off guard. Cassian's eyes narrowed as the voice solidified his suspicion—it sounded exactly like the system in his mind.

Beside him, Cassandra glanced around warily before speaking aloud, her tone sharp and questioning. "What challenges? And what rewards?"

As Cassandra's question hung in the air, a soft light began to coalesce before them, shimmering and shifting until it formed the shape of an elderly man. His kind smile and relaxed posture gave the impression of a gentle mentor, but Cassian's sharp gaze caught something else—an unmistakable excitement flickering in the depths of the man's unnervingly wise eyes.

"The challenges of Matrthya," the figure began, his voice now distinctly human, rich with emotion and gravitas. "The world's most renowned warrior training school."

His words hung heavy in the air, carrying a sense of pride and reverence. Cassian and Cassandra exchanged a quick glance, their bodies tense and alert, eyes fixed on the glowing figure. Despite his warm demeanor, neither was ready to lower their guard. The man's appearance was immaculate, almost too perfect—his white robes glowed faintly, and intricate patterns shimmered across the fabric like they were alive.

Cassian tightened his grip on his weapon, while Cassandra subtly expanded her Domain, ready to react at a moment's notice. The figure seemed to sense their suspicion but made no move to ease their tension. Instead, he continued speaking, his tone calm but deliberate.

"And in exchange for conquering these challenges..." The man raised a glowing hand, and a cascade of luminous images appeared in the air between them. Weapons, armors, ancient scrolls, glowing vials, and crystalline artifacts hovered before them, each one radiating an aura of power and mystery.

"These rewards," the man said with a hint of pride, gesturing to the treasures on display. "Relics of unimaginable value, forged by the finest minds and hands of a bygone era. Knowledge that can reshape your understanding of the world. Tools that can elevate even the strongest warrior to heights beyond their wildest dreams."

But neither Cassian nor Cassandra spared so much as a glance at the shimmering rewards hovering before them. Their focus remained locked on the glowing figure, their guarded stances unchanged. Cassandra's Domain subtly pulsed, ready to shield them at a moment's notice, while Cassian's grip on his weapon remained firm, his body tense with suspicion.

The elderly man's smile faltered, and a flicker of annoyance crossed his face. With a simple wave of his hand, the dazzling display of treasures vanished, leaving only the dimly lit corridor and his luminous presence. "You two are rather rude, aren't you?" he said, his voice tinged with exasperation.

Straightening his posture, the figure folded his hands behind his back, his tone taking on a sharper edge. "Being the first challengers to step into these halls in eons, I suppose you're entitled to ask a few more questions than usual. But I'll make this clear—you may either accept the challenge or leave. Ask your questions now, while I still have the patience to entertain them."

Cassian raised an eyebrow, exchanging a quick glance with Cassandra. The irritation in the figure's tone was evident, but neither of them seemed inclined to let their guard down just yet. Cassandra, ever the pragmatist, stepped forward slightly, her voice steady but sharp.

"Who are you?" Cassian asked, his voice firm but edged with curiosity. He needed to know. The way this elderly figure presented those images—translucent, glowing, and almost tangible—was eerily similar to how the system displayed things in his mind. It wasn't a coincidence, and Cassian wasn't one to ignore such details.