The arena pulsed with a soft golden light, stretching endlessly in all directions.
Elena stood at the edge, her gaze calm but sharp, observing the small kitten as it faced the shadowy figure emerging from the glowing floor.
The kitten hissed, fur bristling, its tiny body trembling—but its eyes burned with determination.
"Remember," Elena said softly, crouching so she was at the kitten's level. "Fear is natural. But power comes from facing what you cannot run from."
The kitten's golden eyes locked onto the shadow. The creature shifted, its form constantly flickering, like smoke trapped in a mirror. It had no face, yet the growl it emitted was deep, resonating in the boy's chest.
The boy stepped closer, unsure if he should intervene.
Elena placed a hand gently on his shoulder.
"Do not interfere," she said. "This is how it grows."
The kitten crouched low, then leaped forward. The shadow lunged at it, and for a moment, it seemed the tiny creature would be swallowed whole.
But then a flash of golden light erupted from the kitten.
The shadow recoiled, as if struck by something invisible.
Elena's eyes glimmered. "Yes… feel it. Your strength is inside you."
The battle continued. Each time the shadow lunged, the kitten countered with agility that belied its size. Its fur shimmered with a faint glow, and its claws left sparks in the air.
The boy watched, awe and fear mingling in his eyes. "I… I've never seen anything like this…"
Elena's voice was calm, almost detached, yet carried an undeniable authority.
"The Bronze stage is always the hardest. They must face themselves… and the fears they carry."
Minutes stretched into an hour—or perhaps only seconds; time moved differently here.
The kitten's attacks became sharper, more confident. Each strike of its tiny paws chipped away at the shadow until, finally, the dark figure dissipated into mist, leaving only a faint echo behind.
The arena stilled.
The golden runes on the floor glowed brighter, swirling around the kitten.
A soft chime rang in the air.
Silver (Lv.2)
The boy's jaw dropped. "It… it worked. He… he leveled up!"
Elena smiled faintly, standing gracefully. "Potential realized is always terrifying," she said softly. "But now… he can grow stronger. And so can you."
The kitten's golden eyes now shone with a calmer, fiercer light. It rubbed against the boy's leg, purring, yet the shimmer in its fur remained—like it had glimpsed something beyond the ordinary world.
Elena turned back to the boy. "This is only the beginning. Every trial will test them… and sometimes, the trials will test us too."
The boy nodded, a mixture of wonder and fear on his face.
He looked at the kitten, now stronger, braver, and somehow… wiser.
Elena watched silently, her dark eyes reflecting the golden light.
In the distance, shadows moved again—an echo of future challenges.
But for now, the first trial was over.
And the true journey had only just begun.