Chapter 56: Trials

Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Trials

The glowing runes on the altar flared with a blinding, ethereal light, casting long shadows across the cavernous chamber. Before anyone could react, the ancient floor beneath their feet began to shift into translucent, swirling rings of spatial magic.

Inscribed into the altar in ancient text was a single trial prompt:

[Hidden Zone: Trial of the Primal Sanctuary Initiated]

Notice: Individual Class Calibration Complete.

Commencing Spatial Isolation for Unique Profession Trials...

"Wait—what’s happening?!" Barney yelled, reaching out toward the others as his hands began to dissolve into shimmering particles of blue light.

"It’s an isolated instance trial!" Caelen called back, gripping his sword hilt as spatial mana wrapped around him like a cloak. "Everyone focus on your own role—see you on the other side!"

In a flash of blinding white light, the cavern vanished.

Caelen — Trial of the Lone Sentinel (Warrior Class)

Caelen materialized in a stark, endless arena made of polished obsidian. Floating above him in crimson text was his trial prompt:

CLASS TRIAL: WARRIOR

Objective: Survive 100 consecutive strikes from the Shadow Mirage without dodging.

Clear Condition: Master Perfect Parry timing.

Reward:

+5 Free Attribute Points

+1 Skill Level Upgrade

[Relic: Edge of the First Warden]

A silent shadow clone carrying a weapon identical to his own coalesced in front of him, raising its blade with terrifying speed. Caelen shifted into a low guard, his eyes hardening as he braced for impact.

Barney — Trial of the Living Forge (Blacksmith / Vanguard)

Barney dropped onto a stone platform suspended over a roaring subterranean magma chamber. Heat waves shimmered off the air as a massive obsidian anvil rose from the ground before him, alongside a glowing rack of raw, unrefined monster ores. Golden runes illuminated the smoke:

CLASS TRIAL: MASTER FORGESMITH

Objective: Smelt, fold, and hammer the raw primal ore to forge a weapon or armor piece.

Clear Condition: Craft an item of Grade-D or higher.

Reward:

+5 Free Attribute Points

+1 Skill Level Upgrade

[Relic: Hammer of the Sunken Bastion]

Barney wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, looking at the glowing anvil with a grin. He pulled off his heavy gauntlets, grabbed the heavy smithing tongs beside the forge, and hefted a chunk of raw Grade-D Iron-Core Ore into the flames.

"Grade-D?" Barney chuckled, his aura flaring as he picked up the heavy forge hammer. "I’m not leaving this room until it’s Grade-D+ at minimum!"

Seraphina — Trial of the Sovereign Catalyst (Alchemist Class)

Seraphina found herself standing inside a floating laboratory surrounded by thousands of suspended, glowing elemental ingredients. A delicate silver balance scale hovered over the central altar:

CLASS TRIAL: GRAND ALCHEMIST

Objective: Synthesize a Tier-2 Pure Elixir using unstable primal elements within 3 minutes.

Clear Condition: Zero margin for error / High Purity.

Reward:

+5 Free Attribute Points

+1 Skill Level Upgrade

[Relic: Crucible of Eternal Transmutation]

Seraphina cracked her knuckles, a wide, confident smile spreading across her face as she reached for two volatile reagents. "A Tier-2 synthesis under pressure? Easy."

Mirei — Trial of the Phantom Eye (Archer Class)

Mirei landed atop the canopy of a colossal, fog-shrouded ancient forest. The wind howled around her as glowing green text hovered before her bow:

CLASS TRIAL: SHARPSHOOTER

Objective: Eliminate 12 illusions hidden within the shifting mist using a single arrow each.

Clear Condition: 100% Precision Accuracy.

Reward:

+5 Free Attribute Points

+1 Skill Level Upgrade

[Relic: Breeze-Striker Longbow]

Mirei drew an arrow from her Wind-Blessed Quiver, closing her eyes for a split second to attune her senses to the subtle shifts in the wind before opening them with razor-sharp focus.

Rowan — Trial of the Sovereign Cultivator (Farmer Class)

Rowan stepped onto a vast, barren plain of grey, cracked earth that stretched out as far as the eye could see. The soil was dead, dry, and drained of all natural mana—a graveyard of ancient flora.

CLASS TRIAL: SOVEREIGN CULTIVATOR

Objective: Revitalize the Barren Ley-Line and nurture the Seed of the Primal Tree.

Clear Condition: Full Mana Integration & First Bloom.

Reward:

+5 Free Attribute Points

+1 Skill Level Upgrade

[Relic: Hoe of the World-Tiller]

Rowan adjusted his Enchanted Straw Hat, feeling the faint, faint pulse of dormant life sleeping deep beneath the petrified dirt. He slowly lowered the tip of his Rank C Hoe to the grey stone floor.

"Dead soil?" Rowan murmured, his eyes glowing with soft golden earth mana as he raised his tool high into the air. "Let’s bring it back to life."

***

Rowan raised his Rank C Hoe, channeling his mana deep into the cracked, petrified stone.

[Skill Activated: Earthbreaker Plough - Celestial Furrow]

With a low, resonant rumble, the barren grey earth revolted against its ancient decay. Rowan dragged the iron edge through the ground, turning the dead crust over into rich, dark loam. Dense golden earth mana surged down his arms, saturating the newly tilled furrows like liquid sunlight.

From his pocket, he drew the Seed of the Primal Tree and gently pressed it into the center of the revitalized soil.

[Skill Activated: Breath of Eden - Lv. 2]

A blinding pillar of emerald and gold light erupted from the earth. The withered plain burst into vibrant green life, thick roots spreading across the entire floor in seconds as a colossal, glowing sapling broke through the dirt, blooming with radiant, mana-infused flowers.

The System interface flashed across his vision:

TRIAL CLEAR: SOVEREIGN CULTIVATOR

Status: COMPLETED (Perfect Evaluation)

Rewards:

+5 Free Attribute Points

+1 Skill Level Upgrade

[Relic: Hoe of the World-Tiller]

As the light settled, a deep, majestic voice echoed directly inside Rowan’s head, echoing with ancient warmth and authority:

"Congratulations on completing the trial, Rowan Vance. I am glad the Vance bloodline remains strong... Here is an additional gift for you."

In the air before him, a golden orb materialized, drifting down to hover at chest level. Inside the radiant sphere rested a small crystal vial containing a single drop of shimmering, molten-gold liquid.

[Unique Item: Dew of the Primordial Sunflower]

Effect: Permanently elevates the user’s Bloodline Tier by 1 Level.

Rowan reached out, his fingers closing around the warm glass. Without hesitation, he uncorked the vial and downed the golden elixir in a single swallow.

High above the isolated trial domain, shrouded in a timeless sanctuary beyond the mortal plane, Markus Blackwell, the God of Fate, looked down upon the young boy with a gentle, approving gaze.

"I am glad to see the bloodline of Rosanne prospering," Markus murmured softly into the void.

The moment the liquid hit Rowan’s chest, a burning heat exploded through his veins.

His skin cracked like dried clay, golden light searing through every fissure as ancient, stagnant impurities purged from his bone marrow. Black sludge oozed from his pores, dripping onto the trial ground below where the revitalized soil absorbed the waste, turning it into raw nutrient energy. As fast as his skin cracked, it instantly healed, smoother, fairer, and overflowing with dense, primordial vitality.

BLOODLINE EVOLUTION COMPLETE

Name: Rowan Vance

Bloodline: Prime Human

Stat Bonus: +10 All Primary Attributes per level

Special: Natural Resistance to status effects / Enhanced Mana Affinity

Rowan took a deep, clear breath, feeling an unprecedented wave of energy flowing through his limbs. He opened his eyes, now glowing with a faint, permanent golden sheen, as the trial space began to dissolve, preparing to return him to the main chamber.