"I choose the third option!" Jacob declared without hesitation.
Although he knew the third option would result in the death penalty, he was also confident in himself. After all, no one with his current prowess had taken this trial, and this was his biggest advantage.
Even if there were even harsher penalties, Jacob would've done the same thing since he wanted to acquire the Ascension Permit, or who knows when he gets such a chance. Just like the Legendary Key, the Ascension Permit was equally important if he wanted to continue his journey. Furthermore, he knew Immortika also told him about the Ascension Permit because Immortika knew if he didn't find this Ascension Permit worth it, he might not select this option at all.
At this moment, the voice from the Tower of Taurus responded to his choice, and the Legendary Key suddenly released a strong light. Jacob felt a powerful pulling force, and he let go of the key.
The next moment, the key turned into an emerald light and bolted towards the symbol above the door before vanishing within.
"You have used the Legendary Key to instigate the 'Star King' difficulty level Tower Trial!
"The Star King Tower Trial of Taurus has been opened!"
The very next moment, the closed door started to pull inwardly, revealing a pitch-black opening. Even Jacob couldn't see anything, which surprised him.
But since he had already decided, he entered without hesitation and vanished into the darkness before the door instantly closed. The starry light on the tower dimmed down, and only the symbol of Taurus continued to shimmer in mystical light.
The moment Jacob entered the darkness, which seemed absolute, a void that seemed to swallow all light, Jacob's senses strained against the emptiness, but his enhanced vision pierced through the veil.
The air was thick with an unseen pressure, and as he ventured deeper, the pull of gravity grew stronger, each step a battle against an invisible force.
Suddenly, a flicker of light appeared in the distance like a beacon in the abyss. As he approached, the light transformed into a sprawling forest, its trees towering into the unknown and exotic flora, creating a serene atmosphere.
Jacob was astounded. He wasn't expecting something like this in a structure; it was like he had entered another dimension. Yet Jacob sensed something was amiss. The foliage pulsed with an unnatural energy, and dark tendrils seemed to writhe beneath the surface.
Jacob's eyes started to flicker in golden light, and he instantly knew that this tranquility was deceptive. This serene atmosphere disappears under Jacob's eyes as many strange symbols are hidden within the foliage, and if the entrant fails to see through those illusions, they will be in a world of trouble and pain.
At this moment, something unexpected happened; the Cursed Immortality's page suddenly turned, and words started to appear on it.
"Tower of Taurus Level One: The Verdant Vestibule
"Challenge: Navigate through the treacherous terrain without triggering the hidden traps!"
Jacob was startled when he read those words, as he clearly remembered it was the same thing that happened every time he entered a plain trial. The Cursed Immortality always revealed what needed to be done to clear a plain trial, and it seemed the same was true for this Tower trial. "Is this place like the Plain Trials?" Jacob quickly asked Immortika, as this was the only explanation he could think of. But unexpectedly, Immortika didn't reply and went completely silent as Jacob looked confusedly at the cursed book in front of him. He knew the cursed book would never miss a chance to preach its twisted beliefs.
Jacob called again, but he met with complete silence. Then Jacob suddenly thought about something, 'Immortika can't appear in a plain trial and always vanished. Could it be the same thing here? But the difference is that I can now keep cursed immortality out while only Immortika is restricted. Are these changes because of the first phase or because of the tower?'
Although Jacob didn't know how much he guessed right, with the current information he had, this was the only possible explanation he could think of.
Nonetheless, he was more than happy not to hear that annoying, eerie voice. Furthermore, if Cursed Immortality could easily see through these trials and provide him with guidance, these trials would be a breeze for him.
So, without hesitation, he closed the cursed book and started making his way towards the path ahead. Although all he had to do was navigate through this terrain filled with traps, it wasn't as simple as it sounds.
First, he can't be injured or trigger any traps, or the trial will fail directly, and he knows the consequence will be death. Second, if he didn't have the judge's eyes, this trial would be even more troublesome for him, and he mightn't even be able to clear it.
Without a doubt, this trial was extremely difficult, and it wasn't about fighting but about wits. If Jacob only thought that he would slaughter his way out of this place, now he knew might wasn't always the answer.
As Jacob looked towards the towering trees, he found they were filled with hidden symbols, shimmering in crimson runes. He could see dark particles emitting from them. The dark particles always represented dangerous things, so he knew he couldn't step over them.
But what made him solemn was even the trees were filled with these symbols.
However, Jacob quickly discovered another school of symbols, which were green. White particles were emitting from them, and they were making strange patterns among the crimson symbols.
Other than those two symbols, he found nothing else, and he instantly knew what he had to do to trek this place. Jacob was standing on a green symbol that covered a mile-radius area, which meant he had to follow these green symbols and trek out of this place!
Nonetheless, Jacob was still shocked to learn just how difficult this tower level was, and this was only the beginning!