Conrad took a deep breath and inspected the screen in front of his eyes.
"From what I can see, it is pretty similar to games..." he thought and nodded.
Others, on the other hand, showed different reactions and changes in their emotional state.
Some of them found it familiar, and some of them found it different. Liebeld nodded for a moment and then started talking.
"When you guys reach 100% in the Conceptual Awakening, your bodies and mind, as well as brain, will enter a qualitative change."
"From that moment on, you will be able to choose a 'Concept' to work on and become a real Conceptor."
Liebeld then made a gesture to tell others to watch him. He touched the ground and smiled.
"This is a stone ground, as all of you can see," he said, and then, with a smirk, he punched the ground.
"Thump!"
One would normally expect a man punching solid rock ground with his fist to be in pain—most likely to have his fingers broken and injured. But that was not what happened.
The stone ground did not hold it against the fist of Liebeld and broke apart.
Liebeld turned to others and said,
"Because I am a Level 1 Conceptor, my physical capability is strong enough to punch solid stone and break it down."
"You guys will too—have the same or even more—if you go on."
At that time, Conrad was about to ask how to go on and improve and reach the 100% of Conceptual Awakening, but before he asked, a silent voice resonated in their heads.
"Conceptor – 1 – Liebeld, completed the mission of teaching the new people about the rules and answering the questions."
"The mission reward for 'Liebeld' is '50 Mystery Points.'"
Liebeld smiled and nodded.
"Great. Now that the simple things are over, what we are going to do is just open this door and reach the 'Trial Grounds.'"
Despite others and Conrad having many questions, everyone kept their words to themselves, which Liebeld found weird.
It was not his first time completing a "Teaching Mission," and every time he completed such a mission, he would usually be bombarded with many questions.
This time, it did not happen.
"I really think this group is filled with potential," he thought and opened the door.
With the door opening, a white flash manifested in the room, and Conrad shook his head and closed his eyes.
Seconds later, his mind filled with knowledge and the voice from "The Admin."
"Trial One"
"Ludicra Cursed Darkness"
"Trial Type—'Survival'—3—3"
"Reward—'200 Mystery Points and 60% Conceptual Awakening'—1st will get an additional 20% Conceptual Awakening and will be elevated into the Conceptor Level 1."
Conrad then let out a breath and looked around. It was nighttime, and he was inside a forest—that was certain.
"I expected that the group would be sent together, but it seems not."
Conrad started moving, as he believed staying in one place did not make any sense.
He picked up a relatively strong stick from the ground as he moved.
He knew that a stick was not the best weapon he could use, but it was better than using his fists and hands, considering he was not a fighter.
As he moved, he heard some voices and saw firelight. He smiled and then nodded.
"A small village of some sort," he thought and then moved toward the light. Not much longer—in just ten minutes—he reached the entrance.
It was a small village. He saw one or two people walking in the road and some lights in the houses.
There were not many houses, only about fifty to one hundred at the very most.
As he was thinking about his next step, he heard somebody calling out.
"Hey, you are Conrad, right?" the voice said.
He turned to look, having a hard time choosing the face, and not much later, he saw the man. It was Orvel—one of the men he saw in the first house.
Conrad nodded, and the man got closer. He first looked around and then said,
"Did you get the mission too?"
Conrad nodded again and then asked,
"Are the missions the same for everybody?"
Orvel shook his head for a moment and added,
"My mission is to survive; the title of the mission is 'Ludicra Cursed Darkness.'"
Conrad nodded and smiled.
"It seems like he is not lying," he thought and then added,
"I think it is better to call it a 'trial' than a 'mission.'"
Orvel smirked.
"You are right."
"So, what do you think we should do?" he asked Conrad.
Conrad thought for a moment and then spoke.
"I think the best action is grouping up."
"I am not sure of this village and the people who live here. Adding to that, the Trial says we should survive. We do not know how others would face us—or even try to harm us."
Orvel touched his chin and then nodded.
"You are right, I guess."
Conrad and Orvel then started moving around the village to encounter others.
They could not risk talking with the other people that lived in the village, as they were not sure if they were considered hostile and would be attacked.
The only thing they knew was that they could not defend themselves against the population of a village if they had ill intentions towards them.
As they moved on, Conrad and Orvel stopped and heard the scream at the same time.
"Help!!"
They both looked at each other for a moment and then decided to run toward the scream.
As they came to the source of the scream—illuminated by a long torch in the center of town—they were both shocked and felt the fear inside their minds at the same time.
One of the people they had met in the House, Melboue, was on the ground—his head separated from his body—and his hands and arms changed places; it was like seeing a blob of meat.
The one who screamed was the pale woman they had met in the house, named Leylis.
Conrad took a deep breath and shared a look with Orvel.
They were not sure what could be said or done right now.