Chapter 6 – The First Trial
The forest clearing faded as we approached the edge of a massive stone arena. The air thrummed with energy, thick and heavy, unlike anything I had felt before. Torches lined the high walls, and beyond them, I could hear the murmurs of unseen spectators—beings of all shapes and sizes, watching, waiting.
"This… this is the trial?" I whispered, glancing at Lyra. She nodded, her expression serious.
"Yes," she said. "The First Trial of the kingdom. It's where beginners like us prove our worth. Fail… and you may never get a second chance."
I swallowed, my throat dry. Every fiber in my body screamed anxiety. The Demon King's words echoed in my mind: "Fail, and you will understand the price of weakness."
Before I could process my fear, a booming voice filled the arena."Welcome, contenders! Today you will prove your strength, skill, and courage. Survive the challenges, and you may earn your place among the worthy. Fail… and be forgotten by this world."
The gates on the far side of the arena swung open, revealing the first wave of the trial: massive beasts, each more terrifying than the last. I could feel their power radiating from the ground. Their eyes glowed, and each movement sent tremors through the stone floor.
I raised my energy blade, the hum of it steadying my racing heartbeat. "Here goes nothing," I muttered.
The first beast lunged, faster than I expected. I ducked just in time as its massive claws slashed the ground where I had been standing. Sparks flew as I struck back with my energy blade, feeling it respond instinctively to my intent.
"Focus on the flow of your energy," Lyra called from beside me. "The blade is alive—it reacts to your determination!"
I nodded, though my muscles screamed in protest. Each swing, each dodge, each strike was a battle not just against the beasts, but against my own fear. My body burned, yet somehow, the energy blade guided me.
Minutes—or maybe hours—passed in a blur of claws, teeth, and sparks. I realized something strange: with each strike, the energy within me grew stronger, sharper. My swings became faster, my reflexes sharper.
Then, the largest beast yet—a creature with four glowing eyes and jagged black armor—charged at me. My heart skipped. I barely dodged, rolling across the ground. It lunged again, and instinctively, I felt a surge of energy inside me that I had never felt before.
A wave of pure power erupted from my chest, enveloping my blade in brilliant light. The beast shrieked as I struck, energy slicing through its defenses effortlessly. In that moment, I understood—it was not just skill. Something inside me had awakened.
Exhausted, I fell to my knees as the last beast dissolved into light. I had survived the First Trial, but the exhilaration was tinged with fear. The energy I had unleashed was unlike anything I had controlled before.
From the shadows, a figure appeared—cloaked in dark energy, eyes glinting. "Impressive," it said, voice smooth and almost amused. "You have potential… more than most beginners. But remember, the First Trial is only a taste. The next challenges will test more than your strength—they will test your soul."
Cliffhanger: From the far end of the arena, a portal shimmered open, and a figure stepped through—a being radiating power far beyond anything I had faced. My heart sank. This was the true trial… and it was about to begin.