Chapter 76: The Trial of the First Guardian

The Hall of Guardians fell silent.

The laughter from moments ago had faded.

Ahead of them...

The newly revealed passage descended even deeper beneath Ironridge.

Blue crystals embedded in the walls illuminated the corridor with a soft, ghostly glow.

The air grew heavier with every step.

Kael stopped at the entrance.

Before anyone could follow—

BOOM!

An invisible wall of golden light erupted across the tunnel.

Walter slammed face-first into it.

"Oww!"

He rubbed his forehead.

"What the—"

Darius immediately drew his sword.

The Black Dragons formed ranks.

The wall pulsed with ancient runes.

Then the familiar voice echoed through the corridor.

"The Second Trial has begun."

"Only the chosen may proceed."

Walter frowned.

"Chosen?"

The voice continued.

"The heir must walk alone."

Leon stepped forward.

"We're coming anyway."

He pushed against the barrier.

Nothing.

Not even his Knight Aura could move it.

Commander Aldric slowly lowered his spear.

"It won't let us pass."

Walter looked toward Kael.

"...Looks like you're on your own."

Kael nodded.

"If I'm not back..."

Walter interrupted.

"You'll come back."

"...Because if you don't..."

"I'm stealing your room."

A few soldiers laughed.

Kael shook his head with a smile.

"Guard the entrance."

"No matter what you hear..."

"Do not come after me."

Darius saluted.

"As you command."

Alone

Kael walked forward.

The barrier closed behind him.

The sounds of his companions disappeared.

Only silence remained.

Every footstep echoed endlessly.

The tunnel stretched for what felt like miles.

Ancient murals lined the walls.

He saw kingdoms standing together.

Humans.

Giants.

Centaurs.

Lizardfolk.

Orcs.

Even races he'd never seen before.

Not fighting.

Building.

Training.

Sharing knowledge.

The murals ended abruptly.

The final carving showed...

A war.

The details had been deliberately destroyed.

Someone had chiseled away the enemy.

Only the defenders remained.

The Arena

The corridor opened into an enormous circular arena.

It dwarfed the Hall of Guardians.

Black stone pillars rose toward a ceiling lost in darkness.

At the center stood a single man.

Nearly seven feet tall.

Clad in black armor trimmed with silver.

A dragon rested upon his chestplate.

His helmet concealed his face.

His sword...

Was nearly as tall as Kael.

The system activated.

Trial Opponent

Guardian Champion

Name:

Unknown

Race:

Unknown

Power Level:

???

Warning:

Victory cannot be achieved through strength alone.

The warrior slowly lifted his sword.

Then pointed it at Kael.

The ancient voice echoed again.

"Defeat the Champion."

"Or leave as another forgotten name."

The warrior vanished.

Fast

Kael's instincts screamed.

He twisted sideways—

BOOM!!

The massive blade crashed into the floor where he had stood.

Stone exploded.

Chunks of rock flew through the arena.

Kael slid backward.

"Fast..."

Much faster than someone carrying a sword that size should be.

The Champion attacked again.

Horizontal slash.

Kael ducked.

The blade sliced clean through a stone pillar.

It collapsed with a deafening roar.

Knight Aura

Kael inhaled.

Silver light erupted around his body.

His Knight Aura coated his muscles.

His reflexes sharpened.

The Champion charged.

Kael met him head-on.

CLANG!

The collision shook the arena.

Kael's arms went numb.

"He's stronger..."

The Champion didn't give him time to recover.

Another slash.

Another.

Another.

Kael retreated step after step.

The Champion fought with ruthless efficiency.

No wasted movement.

No openings.

kael Footwork

"Power alone won't work."

Kael remembered every lesson Darius had drilled into him.

Move.

Never stop moving.

Attack the blind side.

Control the rhythm.

The next swing came.

Instead of blocking...

Kael stepped inside the Champion's reach.

A move most swordsmen would never attempt.

His blade flashed.

SHING!

A shallow cut appeared across the Champion's side.

The armored warrior didn't even flinch.

But Kael had found something.

"He can be damaged."

Light Magic

Kael extended his left hand.

Golden mana gathered.

Flash.

A burst of brilliant light exploded between them.

The champion instinctively paused.

Kael accelerated.

Light reinforced his legs.

His speed doubled.

He appeared behind the Champion.

Three precise slashes.

Shoulder.

Back.

Knee.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Sparks erupted.

The armor cracked slightly.

The Champion answered with a spinning strike.

Kael barely escaped.

The wind pressure alone tore his cloak.

Ice Magic

Kael slammed his palm onto the ground.

Ice surged across the arena.

The floor froze.

Jagged ice spikes erupted upward.

The Champion continued charging.

One foot slipped.

Only for a fraction of a second.

But that was enough.

Kael lunged.

His sword pierced the champion's shoulder.

The ancient warrior grabbed the blade with one hand.

Crushed the ice.

Then punched Kael square in the chest.

BOOM!

Kael flew nearly thirty feet.

His back slammed against a pillar.

Blood filled his mouth.

"He's not testing my magic..."

"He's testing whether I can adapt."

Blood Magic

Kael wiped the blood from his lips.

He looked at the crimson stain on his glove.

Blood...

Wasn't only a weapon.

It was life.

He activated his Blood Magic.

The blood flowing from his wound stopped instantly.

Tiny crimson threads wrapped around the torn muscles beneath his armor.

They tightened.

Reinforced.

Strength returned to his body.

Not healed.

Held together.

Just enough to keep fighting.

A crimson aura wrapped around the edge of his sword.

The Champion attacked again.

This time...

Kael didn't retreat.

The battle became a blur.

Sword against sword.

Light bursting across the arena.

Ice walls shattering.

Blood-red arcs slicing through the air.

Every exchange echoed like thunder.

Kael rolled beneath one strike.

Cut the champion's leg.

Leapt over another swing.

Created an ice platform in midair.

Kicked off it.

Spun.

His sword descended from above.

CLANG!

The champion blocked.

But Kael didn't stop.

One strike.

Two.

Five.

Ten.

Every attack flowed into the next.

Like water.

Like a dance.

Like kael cutting through the butter.

For the first time...

The Champion was forced backward.

One step.

Then another.

The ancient warrior stopped.

He lowered his sword.

For the first time...

He spoke.

"...Good."

Then...

Black energy erupted from his armor.

The pressure doubled.

The arena trembled.

The true battle...

Had only just begun.