Our protagonist remained in the dark room for a while, trying to process what had just happened. Questions swirled through his mind at a relentless pace, but he knew he had to endure. There was no other choice. The answers seemed to dissipate like mist in the shadows.

But then, he felt something strange. He thought the sound he had heard was just an illusion, but over time, it became clearer. The sound was coming from one of the devices in the room. Bit by bit, the noise grew louder.

Then, random images began to emerge from the device. They were distorted and blurry shots. Watching tensely, the protagonist noticed the images gradually becoming clearer. The footage was of other people, those who had undergone tests in the past.

"They were here too," the man said, stepping closer to the device. But the protagonist's focus was elsewhere. There was someone else in the images. Among the faces, he saw himself — a picture of him in another place, in a different time.

"How is this possible?" he whispered.

Then the sound came again, but this time it was different. It carried words from long ago, words speaking of power, death, and destiny. Words that hinted at everything having been planned beforehand.

The protagonist continued to watch the images flashing randomly on the screen. The faces were distorted, and a growing sense of confusion and unease stirred within him. Who were these people? What were they searching for? Every image carried peculiar details: hazy features of individuals in indeterminate locations, yet their expressions always bore a distorted look, as though they had all undergone a test similar to his.

At that moment, something touched his heart. One face among those images was clearer than the rest. A young man, resembling him in some ways, but his features were so distorted that only the eyes stood out. Those eyes, glowing with a strange hue, inspired fear and suspicion deep within him. This person seemed to hold a part of the answer he sought.

"Is this... me?" he murmured faintly.

The man beside him smiled strangely and said, "Time here is not what you think. These might be images from the past, but they could also be glimpses of the future."

The protagonist wasn’t entirely convinced. There was something unusual about the images, something that compelled him to question the nature of the test he was enduring. It wasn’t just about finding answers; it was tied to the memories that were beginning to fade.

"I want to know the truth," the protagonist said with unwavering determination etched on his face. "I want to know who I am and why I’m here."

The man stepped forward, gazing deeply into the protagonist’s eyes as though trying to read his thoughts. "The truth, as you call it, will remain blurred until you choose to see. Between the past and the future, you will find your keys. But don’t think it will be an easy path The protagonist hesitated for a moment before turning his attention to the scattered tools around him. These tools looked like ancient machines from bygone eras. Yet, there was something strange about them. Some had intricate keys, while others appeared designed for mental tests.

As his mind raced through a flood of thoughts, his attention was drawn to one of the old devices in the far corner of the room. It resembled an ancient contraption with spinning wheels. Slowly, the wheels began to turn, only to stop abruptly. The machine emitted strange sounds, as if trying to alert him to something.

Taking a deep breath, the protagonist decided to approach it. His hand trembled slightly as he touched the first wheel. Then, unexpectedly, the machine sprang open, revealing another small screen displaying a strange scene. It was an image of him in what seemed like the past, sitting in a dark room surrounded by others. What is this?" the protagonist asked in astonishment, but the man behind him calmly replied, "This is not just your past. This is part of the test."

Before the protagonist could ask further, the screen shifted to show another scene — a scene of him bearing a strange symbol on his neck. The mark was unlike anything he had seen before. It was a blend of intricate, intertwined shapes, resembling an ancient symbol from a distant time.

"This is the beginning of your understanding," the man said, observing the protagonist silently. "The symbol you carry will reveal your future, but it will also subject you to a harsh test."

Suddenly, the walls around them began to move strangely. Parts of the room opened and closed, while the devices emitted increasingly rapid sounds. The atmosphere grew more tense by the second. The protagonist felt as though the room had transformed into a vast testing ground, with him at the center, surrounded by puzzles and secrets he couldn’t yet comprehend.

But amidst the chaos, he felt something else. A strange sensation that this test wasn’t just a trial for him. It was connected to all who had faced it before him and all who would face it after.

Taking a step toward a door looming in the distance, a sense of resolve ignited within him. "If this is the only way to find answers, then I’ll move forward."

But at that moment, just before he could take another step, he felt something strange. The man’s hand rested on his shoulder, and the eyes watching the protagonist were filled with something inexplicable.

"Remember," the man said quietly, "the keys you seek are not only in the places you see but in the places you fear to uncover."