(Juwan's POV)
I look around at the place I warped into. There's a ton of paper charms and seals inside this place which seems to be a cave.
It's riddled with creatures with blade for arms. If I remember correctly, Pomfy called them Blade-quoinns. Understandable since they have blades, does that mean they're called Quoinns?
I really shouldn't have skipped the dialogues when playing the game. Welp, too late for that now.
"SCREECH!"
One of the Blade-quoinns saw me as they all start rushing at me.
I raised my fist and did a simple jab to the one rushing at me first as they instantly turned to dust.
Wut?
I slipped under one of their strikes and kicked their leg as it got ripped off from from their hips before punching them in the face as they turn to dust.
Why are they so-- weak?
At this point, I just basically did a normal one-two combo while avoiding their attacks.I don't even need to use my skills. Why do they die so easily?!
I instinctively felt the wave is done at this point.
I walk further inside the cave, my eyes wandering for something useful as I saw a small orb on the ground.
I grabbed it like the hoarder that I am and went on my way. I reached what seems to be the center of the cave.
There's a huge stage in the middle in the shape of the circle. I stepped in when suddenly, a familiar sight appeared in front of my eyes.
[[Trial of the Thunder Seer: waves of Quoinnins will appear on the circle, Defeat them. Your actions will determine your fate.]]
It's a system window--! I didn't expect this to appear. I felt myself smiling like a dumbass.
No, focus Juwan. I read the system window again. Waves of Quoinnins will appear on the circle. I looked at the circle and there are already some Blade-quoinn's inside but they don't seem to notice me yet.
I cracked my hands again, prepared to fight the Blade-quoinn's inside the circle. This challenge will be a piece of cake for me since I can defeat them with just one--
--Trial?
If it's a trial then shouldn't it be hard for me? I look at the window system again and back to the arena. It's a simple trial for me at this point but why is it bothering me?
Because trials are supposed to be hard? No they don't have to be hard at all. Hell, I even remembered playing this area using Lovely and I just spammed love missiles while in flight.
So why am I hesitating like a dumbass?
"... God-- fucking dammit. [Hinto]" I said as I deactivate my form, turning back to normal.
This is stupid.
I'm stupid.
But I just can't remove the feeling that it wouldn't be fair for the one who made this trial if I can easily just defeat those guys inside.
I think of putting the card away as it vanishes into thin air. I swear if I die because of my stupidity-- I could still transform back, just easily face this trial.
I stepped in the arena as a normal person.
"Haa... fuck it, we ball." I sighed as I raised my fist.
The Blade-quoinns' started attacking me one by one as I avoided them. I punched one while moving around. It staggered so I took my chance and struck it's stomach with a strong gut shot.
Strange, It still feels like I'm hitting metal but I don't feel my knuckles hurt that much.
I avoided a wide slash from one of them as I grab their arm and basically threw them on the ground, stomping on their neck with the intent to crush it.
It turned to dust.
I looked at the remaining Blade-quoinns as they hesitate to attack me. I walked slowly towards them as they take a step back.
I fixed my breathing before rushing in.
Strike the face with a jab.
Slip out of the haymaker then kick the leg.
Continue striking their face with a jab and a straight.
Side step out of their strike then an uppercut underneath their arm directly to their face.
Roundhouse kick to the neck to end the combo.
The creature turned to dust before another one lunged in. I blocked their attack but my arm started to bleed due to their arms being made out a blade.
They saw my blood dripping from my arms as they all attack simultaneously.
I tried to avoid every attack but ofcourse I'd get hit with how many they are.
I threw a hook when I side stepped one of them but I can't throw a combo due to their numbers as all of them simultaneously swing their arms.
I started running as around the arena, ducking everytime I felt something lunging at me. I threw a back kick at one of them as they stagger towards their fellow Blade-quoinns.
I was surrounded again as I throw an uppercut and hook combo at one of them then slipping out of their slice only to get stabbed by one of them in my side.
Fuck that hurts--!
I grabbed the arm that's inside of me as I basically swung it around and made space for me to run away from being surrounded.
I felt the warm blood on my side flowing out but it's fine, I've dealt with worse.
Let's keep the hit and run tactics.
As one of them ran towards me, I rushed in as well, grabbing their blade as my hand starts to bleed, but I managed to keep it in place as another one jumped to strike me.
I held the Blade-quoinn's arm firmly and guided them in the way of their ally's attack, beheading them as I throw away the body that's turning into dust and continued to run.
Suddenly I was surrounded again, I redirected one of their attacks toward another before punching their face, holding their shoulders as support to throw a strong side kick to the ones beside me.
I tried slipping away but my back got hit as I felt my blood flow. It hurts like hell! I turn around with momentum as I throw my whole weight with it, using my elbow as I strike their head.
As soon as I faced them, I threw another elbow as they turn to dust.
But there's still more of them. I kept running around, the arena, my blood staining the ground as the Blade-quoinns kept chasing me.
Unlike before, I can clearly see how many there are left. Seven in total.
"Huu--" I exhaled slightly, making sure I'm conscious of where the pain is coming from. I have more injuries than I thought.
That's ok.
As long as I'm alive.
I stopped from running when I saw that only one of them caught up as I let them lunge towards me.
I rushed towards them before jumping, using their own momentum against them and hitting them with a flying knee straight in the face, turning them to dust.
"Six left--!" I said as I continue running around the arena as they kept chasing me.
Three of them caught up as I bobbed and weaved one of them before sidestepping away as they hit each other.
I teeped one of them with force as they fall down on their ally. I hopped when I saw one of them basically tried to sweep my feet then kicked the one trying to stand up in the back of their head with a soccer kick.
Five left.
I felt something behind me as I ducked and sweeped their leg, injuring myself since their lower legs are made of blade as well.
The important thing is they fell down.
I avoided one of them who jumped towards me and tried stabbing me, only to hit their own as it turns to dust.
Four left.
Before they can even pull their blade. I stepped in, planted my foot in an angle and threw a low kick aimed at their head as my whole body twists with momentum.
My shin acted like an axe as it decapitated the one in front of me, turning to dust. I exhaled, the injuries I got are still aching like a bitch.
Three left.
I raised my fist towards the three remaining Blade-quoinns in front of me. I don't need to run away for this one.
I slowly walked towards them, conserving energy before dashing in and throwing a huge body shot at one of them.
One of them tried to step away as I throw a roundhouse kick towards them, missing completely. They saw the opportunity to strike and they swung their arm.
I dragged the Blade-quoinns who was still recovering from the body shot and used it as a meat shield, dying as it's ally stab it.
Two left.
I pulled the arm of the one that died before it fully turned to dust as I swung it as hard as I can, decapitating the one who stabbed it while the other one just stared at what happened.
"..One left." I said as I walked closer to the final creature left.
Out of pure desperation, it swung it's arms as I bob and weave before side stepping and giving it a check hook to stop it from moving randomly.
It staggered as I threw out a jab and a body shot as it keeps staggering backwards.
I walked slowly as it regains balance before continuing to with a hook, a lead kick , and ending it with a flying elbow as it turns to dust.
I closed my eyes as I breathe deeply. The pain from my injuries suddenly starts becoming better, I took a look at my wounds as I was basically healing.
"Damn seeing how healing works in person is kinda cool--"
Suddenly, I felt something huge hit me as I basically fly from where I was.
I felt my body ragdoll on the ground as I spit out blood.
It felt like I just got hit by a large truck, my body is refusing to move and my eyes are not focusing at all...!
Dammit-- stand up!
I tried pushing myself up as I can barely stand. My eyes starting to focus as I can't even breathe properly.
In front of me are two big pieces of shits with shield for arms.
I took a step back, closing my eyes and trying to compose myself. Those creatures are slow, I can take my time recovering.
The pain I'm feeling right now is so goddamn bad but not bad enough for me to make me give up.
"They didn't even give me enough time to rest... I guess that's why it's a trial." I told myself as I basically run towards the two giants in front of me.
I saw one of them throwing their arm downwards as I stopped and waited. It slams down as a huge wave of air hits my face.
I jumped on their shield as I basically climbed up on one of them.
Don't fall, Juwan...!
I gripped on it's arms tightly as I saw the other one about to slam it's arm on the one I'm currently climbing. I climbed higher as fast as I can.
The other guy crushed this guy's arm as it screams loudly. I avoided the strike but they were about to attack again. I jumped off when they suddenly swiped their arm around, decapitating the other one as I run around again.
They're easier to handle than the Blade-quoinns. I run as fast as I can towards the creature as it drags it shield for arms before smashing it downwards as I avoid it easily. I grabbed on to it's arm as it try to shake me off.
I reached to it's head as it starts swinging around it's arms as it tries to shake me off, too bad you don't have any fingers you son of a bitch--!
I started choking it with my legs, it's large neck is like a damn tree... but it's possible. I kept tightening my lock on it's neck as it starts to try screaming but nothing comes out.
While I choke it with my legs, I kept elbowing the back of it's head as it starts to lose consciousness.
"Fall already--!" I uttered as I keep choking it.
The creature fell to it's knee as I saw it's arms basically flop, falling on the ground, not letting go as I did my best to snap it's neck, successfully turning it into dust.
"Haa..! Haa...!" I was out of breath but I feel my body recovering.
This time, instead of savoring my victory, I waited and saw more creatures appeared.
This time, the creatures are on fire.
"You've got to be kidding me." I said to myself as I immediately run around to avoid the flames they're throwing at me.
.
.
.
"Motherfucker!!!"
I shouted from the top of my lungs as I'm basically on top of this giant dragon looking ass Quoinnin.
I've lost count of how many waves I've been through. I've lost count of how many times I almost died, hell even right now I feel like passing out.
But I pulled out a scale from this bastard, and I'm using it to stab it.
I stabbed it's eyes earlier but it didn't work so now I'm stabbing it's wings, poking holes in it as we're both falling down this height.
My stomach is bleeding heavily due to this motherfucker's bite, I can't open my left eye due to the blood constantly flowing down my head.
But I'm still alive.
So I'll bring this bastard down with me if I have to! As we both fall down, it shook me off as I basically flop on the blood filled ground, most of which is my blood.
"Still alive?" I asked the dragon Quoinnin as I spit out the blood on my mouth.
It growled at me, two of it's legs gone, it's tail basically ripped out, it's wings full of holes and one of it's eyes bleeding.
It lunged at me, it's claws prepared to just swipe me. I slipped under it and stabbed it with it's own scale in it's other eye before going in and grabbing it's neck with my arms and using my whole body weight behind it.
I'm gonna choke out this fucking dragon--!
The scales protecting it's neck are basically stabbing my arms and body but I'm already a mess anyways.
It roars, releasing flames out of it's mouth as it tries to shake me off. Too bad you bastard but my lock is pretty much secured!
I felt it's scales plunging in deeper in my arms as I twist my body. It cries out as the flames engulf the arena. I felt one of the scales piercing my cheek but I don't care.
I tightened my arm lock on it's neck, gritting my teeth as I finally hear the snap, breaking it's neck as it finally falls.
I felt my wounds recovering already, but I immediately prepared for what's about to appear when suddenly--.
[[You have completed the Trial of the Thunder Seer.]]
My eyes started tearing up as I feel the heat on my body surging.
"RAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
I shouted from the top of my lungs. The clothes I wear ripped to shreds with the only thing in tact is my pants that now looks like tattered shorts, the sensation of my heart pumping, how my warm blood is surging to my body, how I feel the fatigue despite recovering, God I feel so alive!
I can't help but smile like a damn idiot after all of that. I took a deep breath as I look around the arena. It's soaked with my blood, almost covering the entire arena.
There's this weird sense of pride and contentment when I look at this blood soaked arena. I survived that, i survived all of that and won each one.
[[The Thunder Seer Expresses It's Gratitude.]]
Suddenly, the blood on the arena started to glow as a single door appears at the edge of the circle. My mind started to finally calm down as I see the door form right in front of my eyes.
The memories of this stage suddenly flashed on my mind. 5 rounds of enemy waves and the Thunder Seer should've appeared on the arena.
But I did more than just 5.
And there was no door like this in game.
I took a deep breath before opening the door.
On the other side of the door is a stair that leads to the light. I started going up the stair.
Each step I make creates an echo and each time I get closer to the light, it becomes louder. The steps seems endless at first but it's clear that the end of these steps is the other side of that light.
As I get closer and closer, each echoes of my steps becomes louder and stronger, as if they're thunderous roars.
After a few more steps, I finally reached the end. In front of me was an open filled with nothing but golden light underneath the gray colored clouds as the golden light flicker like lightning.
The open field was nearly empty, the only exception is the creature in the middle of the field.
It's a Ram with a human's torso wearing some type of beads on it's neck, holding an orb at one hand and a giant axe on the other.
The Thunder Seer I encountered in game had an appearance of an old man with a staff that wears a yellow cloak.
But there's no doubt that the creature in front of me is the True Thunder Seer.
I walk towards it as it shows no signs of malice.
It closes it's eyes, putting the hand holding an orb to his chest before bowing at me, opening it's eyes again to look at me.
"You're... the Thunder Seer, right?" I asked it. Even if my whole being is shouting that it's the Thunder Seer, I have to make sure.
It nodded.
"I see." I uttered as I imitate how it bowed infront of me.
It closed it's eyes again and nodded when it suddenly pulled out something out of thin air, it pointed at my arm.
I reached out my hand as it gently gives the item to me.
[[Gift of the Thunder Seer.]]
The system window suddenly appeared as it identifies the item on my hand.
"Thank you..!" I looked back at the Thunder Seer, wanting to show my appreciation.
But the Thunder Seer started to walk away from me before stopping and then facing me again.
It swung it's Great Axe downwards as the wind it makes creates a thunderous sound and then showed how it's Orb generates golden lightning.
I looked at the Thunder Seer, realizing what it wants me to do and what I have to do.
I pulled out my card out of thin air. It's eyes widened from it's color before nodding as if acknoledging what I am.
"[Install]." I uttered as I was engulfed in darkness. The moment my transformation finished, I immediately removed the mask to show respect like it did to me.
Golden light flashed inside the gray colored clouds as lightning hits the ground, then thunder follows, all of which flows through Thunder Seer's Orb.
So I raised my fists up and rushed in.