The moment Kael stepped onto the stone platform—
The world changed.
The forest vanished.
The ancient ruins dissolved into particles of light, and in the blink of an eye, Kael found himself standing in a vast, empty space.
Gray skies stretched endlessly above him.
The ground beneath his feet was made of smooth black stone, extending in all directions like an endless arena.
There was no wind.
No sound.
Only silence.
Kael didn't move.
His golden eyes scanned the environment carefully.
His Origin Sense spread outward—but strangely, it was suppressed.
Cut off.
"This place…" he muttered.
Before he could finish—
A deep rumble echoed across the arena.
The ground trembled.
Cracks formed ahead of him.
Then—
Something began to rise.
A massive figure slowly emerged from beneath the black stone surface.
It was humanoid.
But not human.
A towering guardian formed entirely of dark stone and glowing ancient markings.
Its body was massive—easily three times Kael's height—and every movement it made caused the ground to shake.
Its eyes ignited with a dim golden light.
Then it looked directly at Kael.
A voice echoed through the space.
Cold. Ancient. Absolute.
"Trial Guardian… activated."
Kael exhaled slowly.
"So that's how it is."
The guardian stepped forward.
Each step carried immense weight.
Kael could feel it instantly—
This opponent was far beyond the Crimson Talon disciples.
Even beyond their commander.
This was the kind of opponent that could truly test his newly awakened Stage 2 power.
The guardian raised its arm.
Then slammed it down.
BOOM!
The ground shattered as a massive shockwave spread outward.
Kael vanished.
Origin Flash.
He reappeared several meters away, narrowly avoiding the impact.
Even so, the force of the shockwave pushed him back.
Kael's expression sharpened.
Fast… and powerful.
The guardian didn't stop.
It turned instantly and launched another attack.
A sweeping strike.
Kael ducked under it.
The air above him exploded from the force of the swing.
Kael countered immediately.
Golden energy surged into his fist.
Origin Pulse.
He struck the guardian's torso.
BOOM!
The impact echoed across the arena.
But—
The guardian didn't move.
Not even an inch.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
That barely did anything.
The glowing markings across the guardian's body flickered slightly, but its stance remained firm.
Then it attacked again.
Faster this time.
Kael barely reacted in time, activating Origin Flash repeatedly.
Golden afterimages filled the battlefield as he dodged strike after strike.
The pressure kept increasing.
Every movement of the guardian carried overwhelming force.
Kael landed on the ground, sliding back slightly.
His breathing remained steady—but his mind was racing.
Physical strength alone won't work.
The guardian's durability was on another level.
Brute force wouldn't be enough.
Kael closed his eyes for a brief moment.
He focused.
The Origin Core inside him pulsed steadily.
Energy flowed outward into his body.
Into his senses.
Into the battlefield itself.
When Kael opened his eyes again—
Everything had changed.
The guardian's movements slowed.
Not physically—
But in Kael's perception.
He could see it now.
The flow of energy.
The way power gathered in the guardian's limbs before each attack.
The exact moment before impact.
Origin Perception.
Kael moved.
This time—
Perfectly.
The guardian's fist came crashing down.
Kael stepped to the side at the exact right moment.
No wasted movement.
No hesitation.
He appeared directly beside the guardian's core.
Golden energy gathered in his palm.
More concentrated than before.
More refined.
Origin Pulse — Stage 2.
He struck.
BOOM!
A deep crack spread across the guardian's chest.
For the first time—
It reacted.
The massive body staggered slightly.
Kael's eyes lit up.
That's it.
He had found the weakness.
The glowing markings weren't just decorations.
They were channels.
Energy pathways.
And at the center—
A core.
Kael smiled faintly.
The fight had just shifted.
The guardian roared.
Its entire body lit up as power surged violently.
The arena trembled.
The next attack would be far stronger.
Kael lowered his stance.
Golden energy flared around him.
"Good," he said quietly.
"Now it's getting interesting."
The second phase of the trial had begun.