CHAPTER 3 - PART 1
Exiting the dungeon, a scene of effervescence and anticipation unfolded before me. A diverse crowd ranged from paparazzi eager for sensational shots to government representatives scrutinizing every detail, all sharing a palpable sense of expectation for the survivors' exit. As I emerged, the portal dispersed, triggering a wave of reactions from the crowd, ranging from surprise to sadness. Volunteers and rescuers, ready to offer assistance, hurried over, asking if I was injured or in need of care.
Simultaneously, press members made their way through this human ocean, microphones in hand, asking rapid and pointed questions about my experience inside the mutated dungeon.
It was an overwhelming atmosphere, but one I expected, after all, this was the reception for those who emerged from a mutated dungeon.
Government officials, while maintaining an official demeanor, took control of the situation, allowing only a distinguished individual, wearing a badge of the Etherials' Association, to pass through the commotion. The man approached me and, in a calm but determined voice, introduced himself as a representative of the association and expressed his desire to discuss my experience inside the dungeon in private.
"My name is Marco, from the Etherials' Association. We have some questions to discuss with you. If you feel up to it, our office is nearby. We will also ensure that your needs are taken care of after this ordeal."
Already prepared for this scenario, I let Marco lead me, away from the tumult, to the premises of the Etherials' Association where I handed over the remains of my companions.
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Sitting in the impersonal coldness of an interrogation room, questions began to rain down upon me as soon as I entered, emanating from an eclectic mix of government representatives, curious researchers, and inquisitive members of the Etherials' Association. Their varied interest in my adventures added an additional layer of pressure, with each question seeming sharper than the last.
Determined to protect the secrets of the entity encountered in the mysterious room, I decided to divert the truth. I recounted how the throne room had suddenly mutated, revealing a Roiz'or whose appearance had caught our team off guard. According to my story, my companions had nobly sacrificed themselves, allowing me to escape. As for the spectacular evolution of my skill, I attributed it to the fortuitous discovery of an enhancement crystal after the monster's defeat.
The atmosphere was electric, every word I spoke was captured, analyzed, and noted with surgical precision. The experts present, specialists in Etherial phenomena, endeavored to decipher the subtleties of this dual awakening, an event of exceptional rarity that captivated not only the Etherials' Association but also attracted the attention of government circles and researchers worldwide. The possibility of reproducing such a phenomenon would offer a major advancement in understanding and exploiting Etherial powers.
As the interrogation stretched on, a more thorny question was raised, that of recalibrating my Etherial rank. Cases of dual awakening, due to their rarity and potential, prompted the Association to proceed with a rigorous evaluation, with the goal of preserving the balance of forces and ensuring collective security.
Accepting the principle of the test with measured apprehension, I was led, ten minutes later, to another room. This space was dedicated to evaluation, where a series of specially designed trials awaited me. They aimed to gauge the extent and control of my newly acquired abilities, a challenge I approached with determination tinged with uncertainty.