Dawn broke over the Serium Academy, streaks of violet and gold spilling across the crystalline spires. The air vibrated faintly, alive with the auras of those gathered for the second stage of the Succession Trials: the Judgment Trials. Unlike the physical tests of the arena, these trials challenged decision, morality, and foresight.
Shinjiru walked through the Academy corridors, his kusarigama secured at his side, eyes narrowed in concentration. Yesterday's illusions had tested his instincts and reflexes; today would test his judgment. Every choice, every hesitation, would be observed.
Kaoru Myojin awaited him in the Judgment Hall, a circular chamber with suspended light orbs that pulsed in rhythm with the heartbeat of the Serium Realm. The chamber was eerily quiet, as if even the air was waiting for judgment.
"You will face scenarios designed to test the consequences of your actions," Kaoru explained. "Some will involve humans, some Himen, some the Krawlers. You may not always be able to act to save everyone. What you choose, and how you choose, will define your suitability for succession."
Shinjiru's stomach tightened. He recalled the incident with his mother, accused of violating Himen rules even as a human. He had felt helpless then, bound by laws that he barely understood. That memory sharpened his focus.
The first scenario materialized before him: a holographic simulation of a human village under attack by a stage 2 Krawler. Innocent civilians screamed and ran as the spectral beast approached. Shinjiru's instincts screamed to strike, but he noticed subtle distortions in the illusion—the Krawler's movements threatened to destabilize nearby essence nodes that, if damaged, would permanently corrupt human energy.
Shinjiru weighed the options. He could strike immediately, risking collateral damage, or carefully manipulate the environment, guiding civilians to safety before engaging. The aura of the chamber pulsed in response to his thoughts, as if watching, judging.
Choosing strategy over impulse, Shinjiru activated a phased chain maneuver, using violet essence to create barriers, herding civilians safely away from the Krawler while simultaneously luring the beast into a trap. His pulse quickened as he executed each move with precision. The simulation concluded: success, but only partial. A few structures had collapsed, and the chamber's light dimmed slightly, indicating room for improvement.
The next test was subtler. A simulation of Shinu appeared, trapped by corrupted essence, calling for help. Behind him, a holographic Ranko Hoshi watched silently, her presence a reminder of the ideological rebellion that had begun stirring within the Academy. The chamber's energy warped—if Shinjiru intervened directly, he would violate Rule 3; if he ignored the call, he risked Shinu's destruction and the loss of vital guidance.
Shinjiru's mind raced. Rule 3 is absolute… but morality isn't always absolute. He found a path between action and restraint, using his essence to subtly guide environmental elements, breaking the corrupted essence's hold without directly touching Shinu. The illusion dissolved, and a faint nod appeared in Kaoru's eyes.
Hours passed in this relentless rhythm. Scenarios alternated between combat, moral quandaries, and strategic dilemmas. Every simulation was designed to push Shinjiru beyond instinct, demanding foresight, restraint, and creativity.
Finally, the last test appeared. The chamber transformed into a twisted landscape resembling the Boneyard, its gray bones and floating spires rendered in spectral form. At the center, a Stage 3 Krawler—Orochi no Kyōfu's phantom—towered, its aura a corrupted blend of black and ember. Around it, echoes of his father's final moments played in ghostly projection: Haruto Arakami, fighting valiantly, then falling.
Shinjiru froze, emotions threatening to overwhelm him. This was no longer a test of skill alone—it was a confrontation with his deepest fear, his personal grief, and the moral weight of his heritage.
Drawing a deep breath, he centered himself. I am not him. I am my own. Violet aura flared as he moved with precision, weaving a combination of the lessons from Masaru, Kaoru, Akihara, and Shinu. Each strike was calculated, each chain maneuver tactically phased, each move designed to minimize harm while subduing the phantom.
The simulation ended. Silence reigned. Kaoru stepped forward, the only sound the soft pulse of light in the Judgment Hall.
"You have demonstrated judgment, restraint, and insight beyond your years," Kaoru said. "Few have ever completed the trials with such balance. You understand the weight of consequence, the complexity of morality, and the responsibility of power. This places you among the strongest candidates for succession. But the final test lies not in simulation—it lies ahead, in the choices you make in the real world."
Shinjiru exhaled, exhaustion and relief mingling in a rare smile. The chamber faded, leaving him standing alone in the courtyard once more, the sun now fully risen. Around him, the Academy buzzed with whispers, some of awe, some of envy.
He realized that the path to becoming the ninth Elite Himen would demand more than skill. It would demand sacrifice, insight, and the courage to defy both instinct and law when the balance of the Serium Realm hung in the balance.
And somewhere, beyond the walls, the Stage 3 Krawlers were moving, and Ranko Hoshi's rebellion simmered closer to chaos. Shinjiru knew that judgment was no longer confined to simulations—it would soon define reality itself.