As I regained consciousness, soreness gripped my entire body — especially my legs.
Once the ache dulled enough to move, I pushed myself upright and looked toward the sky. I hesitated. The demon might still be lurking above, waiting for me to show myself. Taking no chances, I decided to explore deeper into the hole.
Still limping, I leaned against the rough wall for support — until suddenly, it gave way, and I tumbled through, landing heavily onto a hidden staircase.
At the bottom, my hand brushed against a switch. Instinctively, I flicked it — then froze. Wait, why is there a light switch? This isn’t my old world.
Before I could think further, blinding light flooded the staircase, forcing me to shield my eyes. When the brightness faded, I found myself standing in a concrete hallway eerily reminiscent of Earth.
I staggered forward, coming across a door to my right. Its label was in English: Artifact Testing Room.
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Inside, I found six pedestals arranged in a circle, each displaying a strange object:
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A pair of glasses.
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A knife glowing red.
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A vial filled with shimmering liquid.
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A bow carved from black wood.
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A sword bathed in a soft white aura.
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A spear standing solemnly upright.
Symbols were carved beneath each pedestal.
The glasses bore an emblem of books and an academy — the mark of knowledge.
The knife’s symbol was a bloodied mask — trickery and deceit.
The sword showed a haloed figure — righteousness.
The spear’s emblem depicted a weeping face under a lonely spotlight — something broken, something sad.
But the vial’s symbol was stranger: a figure screaming, mocked by a crowd, with a brain struck by lightning. A symbol of madness... or genius?
Drawn to the glasses, I reached out and picked them up. Instantly, a translucent window blinked into view: Glasses of Christ Imbued with divine wisdom. Constantly absorbs and synthesizes knowledge to assist the wearer.
Without hesitation, I put them on.
Darkness swallowed me once more.
When I awoke, I was back at the hole. The artifact room was gone — and with it, the chance to choose anything else.
Heavy-hearted, I limped to the rusted ladder and began the slow climb up. Night had fallen. Surely, the demon would be long gone by now.
I was wrong.