**Chapter 5
Spirit Beast Gauntlet**
Dawn's first light painted the Training Hall courtyard in pale gold as Alex Reed shuffled into position. His robes were streaked with dust, and his muscles protested every breath—but at least he'd slept on a real bed last night. Maybe that counted for something.
Across the courtyard, the great wooden door carved with the snarling Ironback Tortoise stood open. Beyond it lay the twisting cavern where the Spirit Beast Gauntlet awaited. The sect instructor—a hawk-eyed woman with silver hair—raised her fan.
"Novices," she announced, "today you face three trials:
1. **Swift Pups & Boars** – outrun or outsmart spirit wolf pups and boars.
2. **Feral Cubs & Owlbears** – dodge medium-sized beasts with elemental traits.
3. **Ironback Tortoise** – survive the slow but relentless tortoise's energy drain.
"Invisible Guy," she added, "you go last."
Alex's heart thumped. Last meant watching mistakes… and having to do better. He glanced at Ling Xiao'er, who stood beside him, twig-staff at ease. She winked.
"Ready to get slammed again?" she teased.
He swallowed. "Invisible."
---
**Trial 1: Swift Pups & Boars**
The corridor narrowed into a winding tunnel lit by bioluminescent fungus. A chorus of low growls echoed as Alex and the other novices crept forward. Suddenly, a pack of six wolfling spirits burst from the shadows, teeth glinting.
Alex's "invisibility" buzzed in his mind: *"Cloaking Field active—20% effective!"*
He bolted sideways—right into a sprinting spirit boar, which rammed him into the wall with an oink that shook his spine. He slid to the ground as pups leapt over him like parkour masters.
"Use the dust!" Ling Xiao'er's voice floated from behind. He flung the spirit-dampening powder, and the beasts slowed, sniffing at the cloud. Alex scrambled up and dashed past them, adrenaline surging.
He burst into the open courtyard, panting, to the instructor's nod: **Trial 1: Passed**.
---
**Trial 2: Feral Cubs & Owlbears**
Next, a mural-lined chamber where elemental cub spirits prowled—fire tiger cubs that spat embers and ice owlbears whose frosty breath could freeze air.
Alex stepped onto the tiled floor. The System piped up: *"Recommended: Barrier Spell."*
He closed his eyes, whispered the incantation, and… nothing happened. He opened one eye to see a flicker of blue light—barely enough to mist a pebble—before fizzling out.
A fire cub lunged. Alex dove—but the cub's flame tipped his sleeve ablaze. He yelped, shaking the fire off, and tripped backward. An ice owlbear pawed at him, coating his hair in frost.
"Over here!" Ling Xiao'er called, weaving between the beasts and tagging them with her twig-staff to stun them briefly. She tossed Alex a scrap of rune-inscribed cloth. "Bind and go!"
He fumbled the cloth around the ice cub's leg; the spirit squealed and froze solid. Then he wrapped the fire cub in the rune cloth, dispersing its flames. Alex stumbled out of the chamber right behind Ling Xiao'er, coughing. The instructor's banner fell: **Trial 2: Passed**.
---
**Trial 3: Ironback Tortoise**
A heavy iron door groaned as it opened, revealing a vast cavern. At its center sat the Ironback Tortoise—its shell etched with ancient seals, its eyes glowing molten gold. Every beat of its heart sent ripples of energy across the floor.
"Final trial," the instructor's voice echoed. "Reach the far wall and place your Core Herbs—without exhausting your spirit reserves."
Alex swallowed. The Tortoise stirred, rising on stubby legs with a low rumble. It exhaled a wave of draining energy that made his limbs feel like lead.
*"Warning: Magic reserves at 60%,"* the System alerted.
Ling Xiao'er dashed past him, planting her herb in one swift motion. The tortoise swung its heavy head toward her—but she spun away, giggling, and vanished around a pillar.
Alex clenched his fist around his remaining Core Herbs. He sprinted forward, ignoring the System's suggestion to recalibrate his Cloaking Field. The tortoise's energy pulse hit him mid-stride; he staggered, vision blurring.
Desperation lent him speed. He dove beneath the tortoise's belly, rolling across the shadowed floor. His ribs screamed, but he landed in front of the far wall. With shaking hands, he affixed the herbs one by one.
A brilliant barrier of green light flared around the tortoise's shell, and the ancient beast sank back to the ground with a contented sigh, seal-runes glowing softly.
Silence reigned for a heartbeat—then the courtyard erupted in cheers.
---
Alex Reed lay on his back, chest heaving, covered in soot, frost, and bruises. Ling Xiao'er landed beside him, staff tucked under her arm.
"You did it," she said simply.
He blinked up at the cavern ceiling. "Invisible."
The instructor approached, nodding in approval. "You passed all three trials. You may now embark on your official Azure Mist Sect journey—visible or not."
Alex hauled himself up with Ling Xiao'er's help. As the sun rose higher, he realized that invisibility was never about going unseen—it was about finding the courage to face the world, no matter how many toddlers or tortoises stood in his way.
And with that thought, he limped toward the exit, ready for whatever absurdity came next.