Awakening: Reincarnating With the SSS-Level Extraction Talent

[Trial #1: Protect the Flag]

A burst of blue light enveloped Alex as he vanished from the [Hub] of the [Tower of Wrath].

A moment later, he reappeared on a new platform, the first stage of the trials.

The moment his boots touched the ground, a glowing golden panel appeared above his head.

Alex's eyes narrowed slightly as he read the message.

He muttered the words under his breath, "Protect the flag…"

His voice was calm, but his gaze swept over the surroundings with sharp focus.

He stood on a vast green plain that stretched for what looked like miles in every direction.

The gentle breeze rustled the grass around him, and the only sounds were the soft whisper of leaves swaying from the occasional tree dotting the landscape.

Nature dominated the area, no structures, no signs of civilization, except for one thing.

About twenty meters in front of him, a small stone platform stood quietly amidst the field.

It was the only man-made structure visible, and naturally, it drew his attention.

"That must be it," he thought, stepping forward.

As he walked, a new message flickered into view.

[Rules: Take the flag from the shaft and manage to bring it all the way to the end without it breaking.]

[If the flag breaks or gets destroyed, you do not fail, as you simply have to go back all the way to the beginning to retrieve a new flag.]

[Good luck!]

Alex's brows rose slightly as he processed the trial's objective.

It was simple on the surface, carry a flag from one end of the field to another without losing it.

But the trial didn't lie.

The challenge wasn't the task itself, but everything that would try to stop him along the way.

Still, he wasn't worried.

Not even a little.

He reached the structure and stepped onto the platform.

There, at its center, a small metallic shaft held a flag upright.

The fabric fluttered gently in the wind, untouched by time or dust.

Without hesitation, Alex reached out and pulled it free.

The pole felt lighter than expected, well-balanced, and the cloth shimmered faintly as if enchanted.

He turned slightly and looked at the [Crown of Calamity] resting atop his head.

"Can you help me with this?" he asked, holding the flag out toward it.

The response was immediate.

[Yes.]

Black tendrils erupted from the base of the crown like coiled serpents, quickly forming a thick, skeletal hand made of dark energy.

It grasped the flag pole firmly and floated just behind Alex, allowing his hands to remain free.

With that alone, the difficulty of the trial dropped drastically.

That crown had tanked strikes from the [Hatred Demon] itself without a scratch.

Compared to that, what else could even threaten the flag now?

The answer was obvious.

Nothing.

Not even remotely.

With the flag safely suspended behind him, Alex spread his four wings.

The air pulsed with force as he gave them a single strong flap, lifting off the ground.

He hovered briefly, then launched himself forward at high speed, his wings carrying him across the plain like a streak of light.

Almost immediately, the boundaries of the trial became apparent.

Though the field seemed infinite, Alex could clearly see translucent walls on either side, softly glowing borders that formed a narrow corridor stretching ahead.

This wasn't a free exploration zone, it was a straight path, guiding him from the starting platform all the way to the finish line.

And that suited him perfectly.

Alex pressed forward, the crown's hand holding the flag steady just behind him, its grip unmoving.

Below, hordes of monsters began to rise.

Hundreds of them.

Beasts of all sizes emerged from the trees and plains, snarling wolves with crimson eyes, bipedal lizardmen armed with spears, even massive golems stomping through the grass with thunderous steps.

Some waited in ambush near small structures, while others openly charged across the open field, snarling up at the sky.

Alex didn't give them a second glance.

He soared over them effortlessly, his speed unmatched.

Even the fastest ones on the ground couldn't hope to reach him.

But as he advanced further, the trial adapted.

Roughly halfway through the field, the monsters changed.

Aerial beasts with scaled wings and glimmering fangs took to the skies.

Dozens of them, all heading toward him in coordinated attacks.

At the same time, fortress-like structures appeared below, mechanical arms lifting from hidden compartments and launching volleys of glowing projectiles into the sky.

But it didn't matter.

Even mid-air, Alex's control over his movement was flawless.

He weaved through the attacks, twisting and diving with practiced ease.

No creature could match his agility, and no projectile came close to grazing him.

The [Crown of Calamity] didn't even need to act.

And so, Alex kept moving forward, flying above chaos without breaking a sweat.

The scenery around him shifted gradually.

The lush green plains turned to golden fields.

The blue sky above darkened into an orange hue, shadows stretching longer as if night was approaching.

A faint reddish tint bathed the landscape, and even the wind carried a different tone, harsher, heavier.

It felt like the trial was trying to make him feel the weight of time.

But Alex ignored it all.

Then, after just under five minutes of flight, something appeared on the horizon.

A large translucent barrier shimmered at the edge of the world, almost invisible until he was right in front of it.

He nearly slammed into it, but stopped just in time, wings halting him mid-air with a powerful gust.

He glanced downward.

Below the barrier stood another stone platform, identical to the one he had started from.

No monsters guarded it.

In fact, most of the nearby beasts backed away the moment Alex approached, retreating with quiet fear.

Landing with a soft thud, Alex surveyed the platform and stepped forward, approaching its center.

"Thanks, crown," he said, calmly taking the flag back into his hands.

The tendrils holding it slowly pulled away, retreating back into the crown like ink vanishing into water.

Alex climbed the final set of steps and approached the shaft.

It was the same design, perfectly sized to hold the flag he carried.

Without hesitation, he placed it inside.

Ding!

[You have completed the first "Wrath Trial" in record time!]

"Tch," Alex muttered with a smirk. "Figures."

The tower's reaction was curious.

It wasn't just giving out messages, it was reacting to him.

Not many systems or trials bothered expressing awareness, but this one clearly noticed his performance.

That meant something, or someone, was watching.

[You will be teleported back to the hub to participate in the next trial or take a break, though you probably don't need one…]

Even the trial seemed to be aware that rest was irrelevant to him.

Fwish.

Bing.

His body glowed as the teleportation activated again, and within seconds, Alex was standing back inside the Hub, more precisely, back on the circular platform of the first trial.

The same spot where he'd initially stood before being taken to the flag field.

As he stepped forward, he glanced down.

Underneath the platform was a transparent tunnel, previously empty.

Now, a deep crimson liquid was flowing through it, streaming directly toward the main platform, fueling it with energy.

Ding!

[One out of three trials cleared.]

The circle beneath his feet pulsed in red light, glowing steadily, and on the main platform in the distance, a symbol matching it also lit up.

It marked his progress clearly, one down, two to go.

Alex looked toward the path ahead.

If this trial had been that easy, even while throwing dozens of monsters, flying beasts, and magical fortresses at him, then the others likely wouldn't fare much better.

Not with the kind of power he was carrying now.

The tower was dangerous, sure.

But to him?

It was a playground.

With a light smile on his face, Alex turned and began walking back down the bridge that connected the trial platforms to the main platform.

Beneath his feet, the transparent path showed the same flowing crimson energy as before, vibrant and alive, lighting up the dark void beneath.

He reached the central platform again, stepping onto its center as another panel greeted him.

Ding!

[1/3 before "Ascension"]

Alex stood there silently, glancing from one path to the next.

Two other bridges extended forward, each leading to a different trial.

He didn't need to rush, but he already felt his body preparing itself, itching to move, to conquer.

This tower wasn't just a challenge.

It was proof of how far he had come.

And so, without hesitation, Alex turned toward the next path, ready to clear the second trial just as easily.