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"Congratulations for completing the first step," Cedric said to a total of ten people below the podium.
Even though he congratulated them, it didn't really touch the participants. If anything, they just found it strange and only regarded it as pleasantries.
"Even though all ten of you have managed to last for 12 hours straight under the insistent corrosion of the Void, it doesn't an that you're cleared. You moving up to the next stage of this project doesn't an that you can relax. You still have to extend that ti because you'd never know how long you'd have to endure it."
"Of course, on top of that, you'd have to practice another exercise that will help you make it through the ordeal of the Ancient Chaos Path."
Saying this, a small square compartnt opened up on the floor in front of the participants. From below, a set of equipnt appeared, one that none of them had seen before.
The equipnt looked like a crystal ball placed on top of a small altar. The crystal ball was connected to the altar through a set of wires, and next to it was a holographic interface, which should indicate sothing once they begin using it.
They then heard Cedric's voice introducing this equipnt to them and the purpose of the next step to this project.
"The next step is what I call the 'Void Refinent Step.'. Its goal was pretty straightforward; it's in the na itself; your task is to refine the void."
After saying this, Cedric unleashed his Inner World once more, dragging them within its confusing atmosphere.
"Focus on the dark zones." His voice echoed in their mind, prompting them to look over. "You all have seen this before; the Void is present in my Inner World, yet it's not as harmful as the raw one you've been exposed to."
The participants couldn't help but agree to this. The impact is stronger now that they've endured the ordeal of void exposure for long hours. They could feel the sheer difference of raw void compared to refined void.
Before they could completely imrse themselves in it, Cedric retracted his Inner World back to his body and said:
"The device in front of you is sothing I invented to help you learn how to refine the void. Since all of you are in the Transitional Realm, I'm sure you're all familiar with the Cosmic Furnace Spell. Well, treat this as learning another chapter from it."
"The only difference is that you're not studying how to refine using a concept law from within the realm; instead, you'll be dealing directly with the unruly aspect of the Void."
"It will resist your control. Not only that, it might even control you instead. But that's where the equipnt cos into play."
"I've made this equipnt to assist you in your practice. The interface will give you hints and clues to start with the refinent, but the rest will fall upon you to discover. It will also indicate your proficiency as you practice."
"This equipnt is connected to the vat of void energy collection, and it has inhibitors to limit the psychological influence of the elent. The better you get at refining the void, the inhibition decreases, aning that by the ti you've grown skilled enough, the equipnt essentially becos useless to you. That's your goal. Once you've stepped into that stage, you will be taken to the final step of this project and closer to the chance you yearn for."
"Don't be anxious. Take your ti. You've already spent years or even decades with no progress; you can afford to wait so more. Don't aim for a quick success; perfect this skill because this will be extrely crucial on this path. And don't forget your void exposure; continue to strive to extend the duration. In fact, if you can, try doing both at the sa ti. You can deploy an isolation chamber and have it discharge with void energy up to a certain level while practicing your refinent."
"But, although there will be dical staff available at all tis, don't bite off more than you can chew. Go at it at your own pace. Like I said, you still have ti; you're not on a ti limit here."
After saying this, Cedric disappeared from their sight along with his familiar presence.
The participants could only look at each other in dismay. While they're not really expecting Cedric to teach them anything or at least give them so clues, even a feigned attempt would be nice. Unfortunately, it seems that the director of this project was not interested in holding their hand in any part of the process at all.
Well, what else can they do other than try it themselves, right? The equipnt isn't going to use itself.
And so, they started to try it out.
The mont they touched the equipnt, it shone with a faint light, and the interface ca alive. It displayed so texts for them to read, and it was here that they understood why Cedric didn't say much, because it turns out that everything he could help them with was already written in the interface.
The hints and clues, reminders, precautions, advice, and the tutorial on how to maximize the use of this equipnt...all of it was available for their perusal in this interface. But whether they rember everything or show any interest at all will depend on them. This way, Cedric's conscience was clear. Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire
And so, the rest of today was spent on learning how to use this equipnt; none of them dared to practice void refinent without knowing everything they could about it first. With their impressive mories, reading and rembering all information available here wasn't all that hard for them. And like Cedric said, they can't be anxious. They have ti, and they can afford to take their ti.
**
Seeing as so of them already moved on to the next step of the project, those who remained on the first step felt even more determined.
Deep down, they know that they're not really falling behind that far. And just like the rest, they too still have so ti left. But seeing others advancing closer to the chance they all yearned for lit up a fire within them. They too wanted to make so progress soon and move on to the next step to get closer to their dreams.
Because of this, the remaining participants are especially eager today. And this enthusiasm shall continue for the next couple of days, or maybe even weeks. It might even get more intense the more people move on to the next step.
This prompted the dics to be on alert because they could tell that so of these people would start becoming reckless. They're desperate people, after all.
And they weren't wrong to assu this. In fact, their assumptions were proven right at the soonest possible ti because a patient has already appeared. Of course, this participant was scolded heavily after treatnt and was reminded to stop this recklessness. But whether they listened to it or not will only be proven as ti passed.
Cedric saw this coming. In fact, it was he who alerted the dics about this. He even predicted which participant would show recklessness first, but of course he kept this information to himself.
It was really that hard. Cedric read the journal entries of the participants every day and already had a clear grasp of their personalities. Using this as a basis, he was able to predict their next course of action and plan ahead.
And while he couldn't say that he could sympathize, he could imagine what it's like for them, and he could hardly bla them for acting this way. That said, as the director of this project, he doesn't want them to turn into idiots just because they were desperate.
From here, the number of people who will move on to the next step will only increase. It's a good thing that Cedric already made sufficient equipnt for their use. The materials needed were cheap and weren't all that difficult to make, so the camp could easily bear the cost; hell, Cedric bets their coffers wouldn't even feel that pinch.
As for the things needed for the final step...well, it's more or less ready, but Cedric wasn't in a hurry. He estimated that it should take a few months before soone reaches the appropriate level to move on. Hell, it might even be longer, so there's no real need to rush it.
He just hoped that the few promising ones he had his eyes on continued working hard and showing so results. These few had the best chances at becoming like him the most and might also be his future colleagues.
Cedric wouldn't hold their hand, though. Because he knows that he can't and shouldn't. This is sothing they had to go through by themselves. All he could offer was suggestions here and there; the rest were completely up to them to discover.
Because at the end of the day, Cedric's different from them. He can't use his exact experiences as the sole basis and extent of how this path should go. Cedric isn't that arrogant.
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