The sun had barely risen over Hallowford, yet Elder felt the weight of a presence pressing against his mind. He was alone on the palisade, but the air seemed charged, vibrating with energy.
Then the world shifted.
The village, the hills, even Mara's voice disappeared. In their place, a vast battlefield stretched endlessly—fires roared along the horizon, smoke twisting into unnatural shapes, and silhouettes of soldiers, beasts, and monstrous entities clashed in perpetual combat.
A voice spoke, cold and omnipresent.
"Vessel, welcome to the Trial of Fire. Survive, and power shall be yours. Fail, and perish."
A translucent panel appeared in Elder's vision:
[Trial Status: Active]
[Objective: Survive waves of combatants until the Trial ends.]
[Time Limit: 900 seconds]
Elder's hands shook, but the Covenant's pulse surged within him. He gripped his spear tighter, feeling the warmth of Iron Veins coursing through his body.
From the smoke, the first wave emerged. Soldiers in jagged armor, their movements coordinated, striking with precision. They were faster, stronger than any mortal he had faced. Each held weapons etched with runes, glowing faintly.
Elder realized quickly: this was no ordinary test. The Covenant had crafted a simulation of war itself.
[Wave 1: 30 enemies]
He charged, spear thrusting, sidestepping a flurry of sword strikes. The Iron Veins skill activated automatically, muscles straining but pain dulling. Every blow he landed increased his resilience, every dodge sharpened his reflexes.
A soldier swung a heavy axe; Elder ducked, countered with a thrust into the man's leg. He fell with a scream, but the trial did not pause. More soldiers poured in, wave after wave.
[Wave 1 Complete]
[Experience Gained: 300]
[Skill Fragment Acquired: Blade Echo – allows replication of attack patterns.]
Elder's chest heaved, sweat and blood mixing. The battlefield shifted again. Now, monstrous beasts—hybrid creatures of scales and steel—rushed toward him, claws slashing, teeth snapping. Their movements were erratic yet terrifyingly precise.
[Wave 2: 15 beasts]
He dodged and struck, using Blade Echo to mimic the motions of the last beast he felled. Each swing, each thrust, became a rhythm—a deadly dance. The monsters fell before they could reach him, but not without leaving scars. Iron Veins healed most wounds quickly, but his arms and legs still burned with exertion.
A sudden voice cut through the chaos.
"Decision time, Vessel. Choose the path of Flame, Shadow, Steel, or Dominion. Each choice will alter your evolution."
The words echoed in Elder's mind as Wave 3 approached—a combined horde of beasts and soldiers, relentless.
He hesitated. Flame meant destruction, Shadow meant cunning, Steel meant endurance, Dominion meant control. Each path promised power, each demanded sacrifice.
Instinct took over. He struck at a massive armored beast with raw strength, realizing suddenly that his movements flowed naturally, almost guided. The Seed pulsed in sync with his heartbeat, granting him clarity amidst the chaos.
[Skill Activated: Iron Veins + Blade Echo]
The combined force of his skills allowed him to cut through the horde, each strike perfectly timed. The battlefield seemed to warp around him, every wave of enemies meeting death before they could land a blow.
Finally, silence. The Trial ended. Elder stood, breathing hard, battered but alive. The world shifted again, and he found himself back on the palisade in Hallowford. The morning sun shone normally, birds chirped, and the village lay peaceful—as if the Trial had never happened.
A message glowed in his vision:
[Trial Completed: Trial of Fire]
[Rewards: Attribute Points +3 | Skill Acquired: Blade Echo | Path Choice Unlocked: Dominion]
Elder dropped to his knees, chest heaving. The Trial had pushed him beyond the limits of mortal endurance, yet he survived—and emerged stronger.
Mara appeared quietly beside him. "You've changed," she said softly. "I can see it. Whatever that Trial was, it marked you."
Elder nodded, still catching his breath. "It wasn't just a test… it showed me… what I could become."
The Covenant whispered, as always:
[Power demands blood, choice, and will. Vessel, your path continues. Prepare for the storms beyond.]
Elder stood slowly, determination hardening his expression. The world was vast, cruel, and unending in conflict. But he had survived. He had grown.
And the Trial of Fire was only the beginning.