The chamber still smelled of blood and dust. Sina wiped the sword clean on the beast's fur before walking deeper into the underground base. His footsteps echoed, the air growing colder with every step.
Torches lit the walls—strange, because no one had been down here in years. It was as if the place was alive, waiting for challengers.
Soon, he reached a staircase that spiraled downward. The deeper he went, the heavier the air felt, pressing against his chest like unseen weight.
At the bottom, he entered a wide stone hall. The floor was marked with faint circles, almost like an arena. Sina gripped his sword tighter. "Another test…"
The ground shifted. A figure rose from the glowing circle—it wasn't flesh and blood, but a shadowy warrior, tall and armored, holding a long spear. Its helmet had no face, only darkness within.
Sina's throat went dry. Unlike the beast from before, this opponent moved with skill. The spear swept forward in a sharp thrust. Sina barely parried, sparks flashing as steel struck steel. The impact rattled his bones.
The shadow advanced, each move precise and deadly. Sina stumbled back, his muscles screaming from the constant pressure. His arms felt heavy, but he forced himself to swing again.
If I fall here… it ends here.
He steadied his breathing and waited. The next thrust came. This time, instead of blocking directly, he sidestepped and let the spear graze past. In that instant, he slashed across the warrior's chest.
The shadow flickered, its form breaking apart before dissolving into smoke. A dull clang echoed as the spear it carried fell to the floor, real and solid.
Sina bent down, picking it up. It felt balanced, lighter than it looked. He looked at the sword in his other hand, then back at the spear.
"Not bad… but I'll stick with this." He raised the sword. It felt like an extension of his body, something no other weapon could replace.
Still, he strapped the spear onto his back. Extra weapons meant extra chances to survive.
He glanced toward the staircase leading even further down. Darkness waited below, silent and suffocating.
Sina's lips pressed into a thin line. His parents' words echoed again. You have one or two years… prepare yourself.
His grip tightened on the sword.
"I don't care how deep this place goes… I'll conquer it all."
With steady steps, he descended toward the next floor.