BOOM!
The giant stone warrior stepped down from its pedestal, shaking the entire chamber.
Dust fell from the ceiling as its glowing red eyes locked onto Kael.
The pressure filling the room was overwhelming.
One of the mercenaries stepped back nervously.
"T-this thing is alive?!"
Lyra tightened her grip on her sword.
"No… this is some kind of guardian."
The massive statue raised its giant spear.
"Only the worthy may inherit the power of war."
Its deep voice echoed through the chamber like thunder.
Then—
It attacked.
WHOOSH!
The giant spear shot toward Kael with terrifying speed.
Kael barely dodged in time.
BOOM!
The spear smashed into the ground, leaving a massive crater.
"So fast…" Kael muttered.
The statue moved again, surprisingly agile for its enormous size.
Kael activated his War Aura instantly.
Crimson energy exploded around him.
"Kael!" Lyra shouted. "Be careful!"
Kael charged forward.
CLANG!
His sword struck the stone spear, but the impact sent pain through his arms.
The statue was unbelievably powerful.
The system suddenly appeared.
Special Trial Detected
Objective: Defeat the War Guardian
Reward: War God Skill Fragment
Failure: Death
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"So this is a real trial…"
The guardian attacked again.
CLANG! BOOM!
Each strike shook the chamber violently.
Kael dodged and countered repeatedly, but his attacks barely damaged the stone armor.
"It's too durable," he thought.
Then the War God's voice echoed once more inside his mind.
"War is not won through strength alone."
Kael paused for a split second.
"Not strength alone…"
Suddenly, he noticed something.
Every time the guardian attacked, the glowing core inside its chest became visible for a brief moment.
"A weak point!"
The guardian raised its spear again.
Kael took a deep breath.
This was his chance.
The spear came crashing down—
But Kael didn't dodge backward.
He ran forward.
Lyra's eyes widened.
"Kael?!"
Kael slipped beneath the massive attack and jumped upward.
The crimson aura around his sword intensified.
"All or nothing!"
"War God Strike!"
SLASH!!!
His blade struck directly into the glowing core.
CRACK!
The guardian froze.
A massive crack spread across its stone body.
Then—
BOOOOM!!!
The giant statue shattered into countless pieces.
The chamber became silent.
Kael landed on one knee, breathing heavily.
The system appeared once more.
Trial Complete
Reward Obtained: War God Skill Fragment
New Skill Learned: War Cry
A stream of ancient energy flowed into Kael's body.
At the same time, the wall behind the destroyed guardian slowly opened.
A hidden room revealed itself.
And inside…
Was a glowing crimson weapon resting on a stone altar.
Kael's eyes widened.
"A relic weapon…"
The journey of the War God's successor was only becoming more dangerous.
To be continued… ⚔️🔥