Mystica: Reincarnated Into A Novel As A Villain With 3x Reward System
Chapter 42: All of this was a Trial?

Chapter 42: All of this was a Trial?

[Congratulations! You have successfully survived the Trial...]

Arvian’s mind was too overwhelmed to process the words, even though they shone in front of him.

Then—everything shattered.

The battlefield, the warriors, the sky—all got destroyed.

And then—time began to flow in reverse.

The sun, which had set in the west, rose again—only to set in the east.

Day and night flickered back and forth like a broken sequence, blurring together.

It seemed as though the world itself was wiping the battle from memory as the conflict, the cries, and the devastation all came back around.

And then—stillness.

The world had returned to the time before everything had begun.

Arvian gasped, finding himself in the same dark cave where he had first arrived in this world.

He was alone.

But his body was still hideous. His form continued to pulse with Zaryx’s overwhelming power, and his six wings continued to stretch behind him.

The silence was soon broken.

Footsteps.

A group of men was approaching from the cave’s entrance.

But before Arvian could react—

CRACK!

His vision shattered like glass.

And suddenly—

He was floating in space.

He could see planets, stars, and entire galaxies spinning around him despite the endless darkness.

He cast his gaze downward.

The solar system lay beneath him, so tiny and so far away that it seemed as though he was viewing it from outside of reality.

Then—screens came into view.

Dozens. Hundreds. Buzzing all around him.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATIONS]

[Congratulations! You have survived the Trial...]

[The trial that didn’t seem like a trial...]

[Every event, every battle, every loss—was simply a test to measure your limits... and more.]

[Congratulations! You have unlocked a new path.]

[But be warned: The trial will soon end. Once the time expires, your real journey will begin.]

[Congratulations! You have received a ’Question Slot’—You may ask ONE question to the system.]

Arvian stood frozen.

His breathing was steady, but his mind was a storm.

Now he was not in Zaryx for. He was just... himself.

A normal Arvian.

He clenched his fists. His frustration boiled over.

"What the fuck... What does this even mean?"

His pulse pounded in his ears.

"Everything—everything that happened... The war. The pain. The suffering... That was all just a trial?! How?! Why?! How can a system be this twisted?!"

His thoughts rushed back through the years—years of suffering, of hardship, of scything through darkness and blood.

"System! Explain this! You never once told me that this was a trial! How can this be real?!"

And then—a response.

[Oops... It seems you are forgetful.]

[Did you not recall the message at the start of your summoning?]

[Here is the data.]

A screen blinked into existence in front of him.

—[DATA RETRIEVED]—

—[The Trial Begins—A trial that doesn’t seem like a trial...]—

Arvian’s breath hitched.

His hands trembled.

It had been there.

From the very beginning.

Arvian’s fingers twitched as he scrolled through the notifications, his eyes scanning over the words. His heart pounded as he read the next message.

[There will be many changes to the system...]

[The new, updated system details will be provided after your new journey begins.]

He exhaled sharply.

"Hell, I don’t understand any of this..."

The weight of everything crushed down on him, but he forced himself to keep reading. And then—

[Congratulations! You have received the Trial Bonus Reward—]

[You may choose TWO individuals from your trial world to accompany you on your new journey.]

Arvian’s breath hitched.

His mind instantly jumped to one name.

Without hesitation, he chose the first person.

Then, after a long moment of deep thought, he selected the second.

A confirmation screen materialized before him.

[Selections confirmed.]

His fate—their fate—had been decided or maybe not...

Arvian’s eyes locked onto a bright light ahead, shaped like a towering door. His breath hitched as obsidian-colored stairs began forming beneath him, stretching toward the glowing gateway.

"Is this... the path to my new journey?"

Hesitation clawed at his chest, but his feet moved on their own. Step by step, he climbed, and as he got closer, the details beyond the door became clearer.

A restaurant.

Tables and chairs stood neatly arranged. Glasses sparkled under warm lighting. The murmur of conversations and the soft clatter of cutlery filled the air.

But just as he reached the door—

Everything shattered.

Flashes of the past stormed his mind.

Screams.

The cold, unrelenting darkness of the Torture Realm.

Every wound. Every moment of suffering. Every second of agony.

His body trembled as his mind relived it all in an instant—

Then, silence.

He was engulfed by the emptiness.

Then—his eyes popped open.

He was sitting in one of the chairs.

The air was heavy with the smell of freshly cooked food. People were laughing, talking, and eating all around him. Waiters moved between tables, carrying trays. A chef could be seen behind the counter, working.

Everything looked... normal.

Too normal.

But Arvian?

He wasn’t normal anymore.

He could still feel it. Like chains that would not break, the weight of the Torture Realm hung in his body. His hands trembled slightly, and a deep uneasiness settled in his chest.

This place—so warm, so peaceful—felt unreal.

Everything seemed normal, as if this were his real world; it did not even appear to be a fantasy world or anything. He was perplexed, wondering if he would have to live without power or something.

Then—

A waiter approached his table.

A young woman in a typical waiter’s uniform, with black eyes and black hair that was tied back neatly.

Arvian’s breath caught in his throat. His eyes widened in disbelief.

Something about her...her gait. Her entire demeanor, including her face...and then—

"That voice..."

"Hey, mister," she said in a lighthearted and informal manner. "Please let me know what you want to order."

Arvian froze.

That voice—It was familiar.

His mind racing, he opened his mouth. "Uh-h... n-no, I don’t have m—"

"Don’t worry," she interrupted with a small smile. "I’ll bring something good for you, my choice."

His breath hitched.

A name rang in his head.

’Astrea?’