Chapter 142: Legacy Trial

The statue’s eyes suddenly glowed with a faint blue light.

Alex immediately raised his greatsword.

"Don’t move."

The statue remained still for a moment.

Then cracks began spreading across its stone body.

Crack!

Crack!

Pieces of stone fell from its shoulders and chest.

Alex took a step back.

"What the hell?"

The stone covering the statue’s body slowly broke apart.

Underneath the stone was a humanoid figure wearing ancient silver armor.

Its long hair was white, and its eyes glowed with a faint blue light.

The strange symbol on its chest continued shining.

The figure slowly looked at Alex.

"You are not an elf."

Alex blinked.

"Obviously."

The figure stared at him for several seconds.

"A human..."

Alex lowered his sword slightly.

"Yeah. I’m human."

The ancient figure seemed surprised.

"Humans should not be able to enter this place."

Alex frowned.

"Well, I’m here."

The figure remained silent.

Alex looked around the chamber.

"So, are you the one who brought me here?"

"No."

The figure shook its head.

"You were carried here by the water."

Alex nodded.

"That’s what I thought."

He then looked at the strange figure.

"Then who are you?"

The figure slowly stood up.

"My name is unknown to your era."

Alex raised an eyebrow.

"That’s not very helpful."

The figure ignored his comment.

"I am the guardian of this place."

Alex looked around.

"Guardian of what?"

The ancient figure turned toward the large chamber behind him.

"This place was created to protect something."

Alex became interested.

"Something important?"

"Very important."

The guardian looked back at him.

"But before I tell you anything, I must know why you came here."

Alex scratched his head.

"I didn’t exactly come here on purpose."

The guardian remained silent.

Alex sighed.

"I was fighting a Rank 3 monster, got hit really hard, flew into a lake, and somehow ended up here."

The guardian stared at him.

"You entered the forbidden grounds and fought a Rank 3 monster?"

"Yeah."

"And you survived?"

Alex pointed at himself.

"Does it look like I’m dead?"

The guardian looked at him for several seconds.

Then, surprisingly, it smiled slightly.

"You are an unusual human."

Alex frowned.

"People keep saying that."

The guardian turned around and began walking deeper into the chamber.

"Come."

Alex hesitated.

"Where?"

"You wanted to know what this place is."

The guardian continued walking.

"I will show you."

Alex looked at the dark passage ahead.

He then looked back toward the way he had come.

There was no point returning yet.

"Fine."

He followed the guardian.

The two walked through another passage.

As they went deeper, the strange blue light became stronger.

Soon, Alex noticed several ancient statues standing along the walls.

Each statue was wearing armor similar to the guardian’s.

Alex looked at them curiously.

"Are these your people?"

The guardian stopped.

"No."

"They are the ones who created this place."

Alex’s expression became serious.

"How old is this place?"

The guardian looked at the statues.

"Older than the current elven kingdom."

Alex’s eyes widened.

"That old?"

The guardian nodded.

"And the secret hidden here is something that even the elves of this era have forgotten."

Alex’s curiosity increased.

"What kind of secret?"

The guardian didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he continued walking.

After a short while, they reached another massive chamber.

At the center of the chamber was a huge stone platform.

Something was placed on top of it.

Alex’s eyes widened.

"What is that?"

A faint golden light came from the object.

The guardian stood beside the platform.

"This is the reason this place was created."

Alex slowly approached.

He could feel a powerful energy coming from the object.

He tightened his grip on his sword.

"What exactly am I looking at?"

The guardian looked at him.

"Something that could change the balance of the forest."

Alex stared at the mysterious object.

For the first time since entering the cave, he became completely serious.

"Then why are you showing it to me?"

The guardian smiled.

"Because you are the first person in thousands of years to reach this place."

Alex froze.

"Thousands of years?"

The guardian nodded.

"And now that you are here, I must decide whether you are worthy of receiving what lies within."

Alex stared at the guardian.

"Worthy?"

The guardian nodded.

"Yes."

Alex glanced at the golden object resting on the stone platform.

"So, what happens if I’m not worthy?"

"You leave."

Alex relaxed slightly.

"That’s it?"

The guardian’s expression became serious.

"If you attempt to take it by force, you will die."

Alex’s expression stiffened.

"Right. Good to know."

He looked at the object again.

"Then what do I have to do?"

The guardian raised one hand.

The entire chamber suddenly shook.

Boom!

Several lines of blue light appeared across the floor.

They spread outward from the stone platform and formed a massive magic circle around Alex.

Alex immediately raised his greatsword.

"What is this?"

The guardian stepped away from the platform.

"A trial."

Alex looked at the magic circle beneath his feet.

"What kind of trial?"

"One that will test whether you possess the qualities required to inherit what lies within."

Alex frowned.

"Can you be a little more specific?"

The guardian shook his head.

"The trial will decide that."

Alex sighed.

"Of course it will."

The blue light around him suddenly became brighter.

Then a familiar system notification appeared before his eyes.

[Hidden Trial has been activated.]

[Trial Name: Guardian’s Judgment]

[Objective: Prove your worth.]

[Trial Condition: Survive the trial and defeat your opponent.]

Alex’s eyes widened.

"Opponent?"

The guardian remained silent.

A low rumbling sound suddenly came from the other side of the chamber.

Alex slowly turned around.

The stone wall began to move.

Large pieces of rock separated from the wall and gathered together.

Crack!

Crack!

Within seconds, the stones formed the body of a massive humanoid creature.

It was over five meters tall.

Its entire body was covered in ancient silver armor.

Blue energy flowed through the gaps in its armor, and two glowing blue eyes appeared beneath its helmet.