Rifts are instance dungeons* that existed on each floor, such as the Blood Citadel and the Glacier Cavern.

Instance are special locations in MMORPGs that are inhabited by elite monsters. You can get to different instances both in parties (in groups) and alone.

The Rift had two main characteristics:

The speed at which the essence dropped increased exponentially, and a special monster called the Guardian gave special rewards that could not be obtained in normal areas.

"Abman, where is the Chasm?"

Mr. Bear closed his eyes to focus his feelings, and then opened them again.

"Over there." It seems not far.

In that case...

I grinned. The chances of successful penetration have just increased. Thanks to the fact that on the first day we passed the five Ladders of Wisdom, we were already able to reach the 27th stage.

[23:45]

The 7th day is not over yet. It was safe to say that there were very few competitors, since the Chasm on the 4th floor was only formed at the 25th stage and above.

But it so happened that it opened nearby.

"Mr. Yandel, we're going to look for him, aren't we?"

— Of course.

The rift was the flower of the labyrinth, an opportunity that no explorer should have missed. Getting up, we cleared the camp with unanimous consent and stood in front of the door leading in the direction indicated by Abman.

*Woom!*

After a few minutes of waiting, a symbol lit up on the stone gate. This meant that the four-hour wait was over and the door could be opened.

"Phew, I don't like it...

"I really hope it's not a hallucination.

Misha and Mr. Bear, who had experienced this test, made aching sounds in unison.

Raven and Einhar, on the other hand, reacted as if they were having a hard time understanding their plight.

"I would prefer it to be a hallucination. I've heard that it's not very effective against people with a strong will.

"Hahaha!" Then I won't have any problems!

If you think about it, it was the first time for these two. I was a little curious too. A magician armed with rationality, and a fearless barbarian warrior. How will these two react? If I had seen this, I would have been able to understand whether my case was unusual or not.

[You have selected the Ladder of Patience].

A corridor appeared that stretched straight for about 100 meters. As soon as I stepped into the spot, my teammates disappeared and a new backdrop emerged: the pediatric ward where I spent most of my childhood. The sky outside the window was clear, as was the face of the child lying on the bed...

This is a hallucination.

When I took a step towards the child, the environment changed. Outside the window, the sunset was beginning. In front of the bed, a young student was sitting on a chair. He was a man whom I once trusted more than my parents.

Huh, back to your own?

I grinned and took another step. Then a conversation began between the child and the student. While playing together, the child asked if he could stay and play a little longer, but the student refused. We could have ended here, but the child was still small. When the child continued to insist, the student's face hardened. Like an explosion, he jumped up from his seat and began to spew insulting words, which in those days caused more pain than any treatment in a hospital.

*Top!*

I took a step forward, letting it fly in one ear and out the other. Now I was an adult. Those same words didn't hurt me anymore. I didn't pay attention to it, saying he must have had a bad day. This can happen to anyone in life. Anyone could be to blame for this, but no one could be to blame.

That's all.

*Top!*

In the car before the accident.

In an apartment burning with a red flame;

In the amusement park where I was alone;

In my first apartment after I was hired to work in the office.

Every time I took a step, the environment changed and the characters that appeared changed accordingly.

*Top!*

Моя мама, папа, дядя, бывшая девушка.

In each place, a new person appeared and threw words that left deep scars on me.

But so what?

Still easy.

I could vividly picture these scenes in my head, even without hallucination. This was nothing new now. Even the pain became bearable.

What is this?

As I kept walking, new characters appeared that hadn't appeared before.

"Oh! Oh, are you here, Bjorn?]

"[Haha, why are you so late?]

Mike and Dvalki were smiling happily, holding hands. Despite the warm welcome, their faces contorted grotesquely as I took another step.

"[If it weren't for you, everyone would be happy.]

"Are you happy that you survived and not me?]

I have often seen a similar picture in cartoons and movies. God, even here there is nothing original?

yes, it's not my fault. Go and complain to God.

Without taking my eyes off them, I silently continued my steps.

[Bjorn, Great Warrior & Son of Yandel!!]

"[Return my friend's body!]

In addition to Ainar, who came next, there were other people I met when I was Bjorn Jandel who told me strange things. None of these events were in my memory, but they didn't seem unfamiliar. All this was something I thought about at least once.

yes, it still doesn't work.

I walked on without stopping. I didn't close my ears or close my eyes.

[Challenge Completed]

Soon the hallucinations ended. I was standing in front of the door, but before I knew it, I was at the end of the corridor, and there was a staircase in front of me. The rest of the team was also there.

— B-bjorrrn...!

"If you cry again, I'll really leave you."

"Hnng...

Turning away from the tear-stained Misha, I checked the others. Mr. Bear had a calm expression on his face. There was an offended look in his eyes, but nothing more. Einar was also unexpectedly fine.

"Are you okay?" I asked her.

"Hmm, oh... It was just somehow unpleasant.

Well, come to think of it, barbarians were all mentally strong, as they were taught to deal with a problem rather than run away from it.

So, what about the magician?

—…

Raven stared into the air with a blank expression. Even from afar, you could see that her body was trembling like an aspen leaf. What did she see? I was curious, but I didn't ask. It is unlikely that she will answer.

"It's all over now.

"Oh... yes. Exactly...

Raven came to her senses when I walked over and patted her shoulder. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead.

"We'll take a break upstairs, so be patient a little longer."

"Okay...

I comforted my comrades and climbed the stairs. Then we took a 10-minute break.

Truth be told, even in the game, I didn't choose the Ladder of Patience for this reason. It greatly reduced endurance. But I didn't know that was the reason.

"Abman, where do we go next?"

"There."

After a break, the expedition resumed. I decided that the Chasm was the first priority right now. We chose the Ladder of Wisdom and passed the test in about 2 hours.

Then the next stage followed.

"It's a portal!"

In the empty stone chamber, the Chasm opened. The furiously shimmering portal was green.

The Forest of Doubles, right?

The Blood Citadel, the Ice Cave, and now the third Chasm that I have to explore.

***

[You entered the Chasm on the 4th floor].

***

On the 4th floor, there were two types of Rifts:

The Golden Ruins, where money flowed like a river, and the Forest of Doubles.

… So this is not the Golden Ruins.

Brushing away my disappointment, I called the mage.

"Raven."

"[Leith].

When the sphere of light appeared in the air, we saw a new environment around us. We were locked in a massive iron cage. Because of the darkness of the labyrinth, nothing could be seen behind the bars.

"Bjorn!" What is going on!?

Do I need to explain?

As I thought about it, Raven spoke.

"Don't be surprised. Over time, it will open on its own.

"Huh?" What do you mean?! Explain in more detail!

"This is because the number of participants has not yet been recruited. Up to three teams can enter here.

This was different from the 1st floor. Up to 15 people could enter the Forest of Doubles through three different portals. If in the previous case it was about cooperation between individuals, then in this case it was about cooperation between teams.

"Is this place also described in that book?"

— Yes. We were lucky. I don't know much about the Golden Ruins.

Hmph, since she's read the [Complete Book of Rifts], she can take care of the hidden part... Wait, maybe I should leave everything, including the strategy, to her?

I did not drag out the discussion.

"That's good. Then this time you can give orders. I'll do whatever you say.

"Are you saying that I should take on the role of leader?"

"Isn't there a saying that you have to listen to a mage in places like this?"

"Hehe, of course. Just leave it to me.

After a slight flattery, Raven straightened her shoulders and stated that she would take care of all the trouble. She was definitely easy to deal with.

If there is a problem, I can intervene.

Following Rothmiller's advice to hide my peculiarity in the new team as much as possible, I had to be careful. If I behave like this, then Raven and Mr. Bear will definitely feel something strange.

"Then here's what you need to know. First of all, all the monsters we meet here will be Doubles...

After that, Raven's briefing continued. Everyone except Ainar listened attentively. I already knew all this, but I listened with the thought that maybe there was something I didn't know or something that needed to be fixed.

After an unknown amount of time had passed, I interrupted her.

"I think that's enough.

"What?" I haven't even told you about the herbs that can be harvested here-...

"You'll tell me as you go." Rest is above all.

I interrupted Raven's endless explanations, and we took a break. We didn't get enough sleep because of the discovery of the Chasm, and then we also passed the test of Patience.

We needed to keep the stamina for the real game.

*Hraaaaap!*

Ainar immediately began to snore, as if this was all she was waiting for. Mike and Mr. Bear were also sitting, leaning against the iron bars.

And Raven...

"It's kind of strange. Get the mirror on the first expedition, and then the Chasm on the second...

For some reason, she sat next to me and chatted incessantly. Apparently, the excitement of entering the Chasm had not yet passed.

"If you look at it this way, I was very lucky. Before that, I was also able to visit the Blood Citadel.

Oh, so that's how it is?

"Yes, it was definitely luck.

— ... Are you laughing at me?

— By no means.

"Wipe your smile before you say that.

She was too smart.

"Anyway, I'm going to rest, so you should too."

At this point, I ended the conversation and closed my eyes.

Time flew by, and the morning of the 8th day came.

[07:11]

It was a little over 7 a.m., which is about five hours since we entered the Chasm.

*Click!*

Tightly closed iron bars rose.

This meant that there were enough participants.

"Well, let's go."

When I was the first to come out of the cage, the study officially began.

— [Leith]

Raven increased the number of light spheres to three to improve visibility. Then the outlines of a cave appeared, hidden in the darkness.

Ainar looked up.

"Huh?" Didn't you talk about the forest?

"I thought I had explained it earlier.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't listen at all.

That was too honest an answer. Raven couldn't even be angry.

—... The forest will be after this cave. After all the teams that have entered here will unite in one place.

"I see!"

—…

Raven just clenched her fists and shook with anger. For some reason, I felt sympathy, but at that moment I was in Ordinary Barbarian Mode, where all I had to do was follow orders. Yes, there should be such days at least sometimes.

"Mr. Yandel, what kind of life are you leading?"

— ... So are we going or not?

"Oh, yes. Come along. We don't have time.

Following Raven's instructions, we moved along the path at a somewhat accelerated pace. The reason for the rush was simple. The first chapter of the Forest of Doubles was the Cave of Shadows. It was a format when each team started from its place and met with the others in the center.

"We have to get to the center as quickly as possible. This way we will be able to take rewards from other routes. If we are late, it will be the other way around.

Although due to the structure of the Rift, we will eventually face the final boss together, up until this point, it was no different from a competition. Who will get more? It depended on us.

"There's something ahead of you!"

As we ran down the straight passage, Mr. Bear sensed his presence and stopped us.

After a short wait, a man appeared from the darkness.

*Top!*

He had scruffy brown hair, a bushy beard, a titanium breastplate covering a muscular body that was more than two meters tall, and even a giant shield and mace.

"It's Bjorn!"

Ainar looked at both of us in turn and fell into confusion.

Seeing this, Raven exclaimed impatiently.

"I told you it was a Double!"

"A double?!"

"Phew, God!" It doesn't matter anymore. Get ready for battle!

I don't think I've ever heard her scream like that before. Could no one defeat the barbarian with words? Thinking so, I laughed.

'Behellaaa

The doppelgänger dared to shout out the name of the ancestor goddess.

At the same time, his body swelled up like a balloon. It was necessary to be careful.

[The doppelgänger used [Gigantization]].

[The doppelgänger cast [Wild Splash]].

I was very strong.