The moment Leon's vision returned, he found himself in a realm unlike anything he had ever seen.
The sky above was a swirling mass of gold and silver, vast and endless, stretching beyond sight. The ground beneath him was made of glimmering crystal, reflecting his own image like a mirror.
But what unsettled him most was the silence.
No wind. No sound. No movement. Just a realm of stillness.
Then—
Ding!
⟪ Welcome to the Trial of Evolution. ⟫
⟪ The trial will determine your new path. ⟫
⟪ Your talents, battle strength, and willpower will be assessed. ⟫
⟪ Should you fail, you will remain forever at your current peak. ⟫
Leon's heart pounded. He had expected this, but seeing the system explicitly confirm it made the reality heavier.
Failure meant no evolution, ever.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself. There was no turning back.
Suddenly, the ground beneath him rippled, as though it were alive. From the crystalline surface, three towering figures emerged—each one radiating an aura of absolute dominance.
They weren't just enemies.
They were versions of himself.
The Three Paths of Evolution
The first figure stood tall, draped in robes of pure darkness, its face obscured by shadows. It exuded an aura of mystery and control, the embodiment of a Master of Beasts and Shadows.
The second figure was a warrior, clad in armor forged from the scales of mythical creatures. Its presence alone felt suffocating, as if the weight of countless battles lay on its shoulders. A Beastlord, one who fought alongside his creatures rather than controlling them from afar.
The third figure, however, was something different entirely.
Its body shimmered between human and beast, its eyes glowing with an ethereal golden light. Unlike the others, it did not carry weapons or armor—it was a being that had transcended human limitations, merging its very existence with the beasts it commanded.
A Beast Sovereign.
Ding!
⟪ You must defeat these three versions of yourself. ⟫
⟪ Only then will you be worthy of evolution. ⟫
Leon clenched his fists.
Three battles. Three versions of himself.
This wasn't just a fight for power—this was a battle to decide what he would become.
The Trial of Evolution had begun.
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