Will, who had fallen from the sky, struggled to his feet. Seeing that the gryphbat no longer stirred, he began to approach it slowly.
Standing before the creature, he looked down into its face, poised to deliver a final, fatal blow. Though barely breathing, the gryphbat fixed its gaze on him—a gaze brimming with sorrow and a plea for mercy.
"Don't look at me like that. This is a trial... and you're not even real," Will murmured, his resolve faltering as he stared into its eyes.
After a moment of hesitation, he steeled himself. Crouching down, both hands clutching the hilt of his dagger, he closed his eyes and drove the blade swiftly into the creature's skull.
A harrowing cry echoed through the chamber. The gryphbat was dead. Crimson blood burst from its head, splattering the floor, the walls, Will's blade—and his face. The pristine white room was now streaked with red.
"Your Holiness, you should be able to hear me now," Will said loudly, lowering his dagger and rising to his feet.
But Pope Matthew gave no reply.
"That creature… it wasn't a demon fit for a sanctist to vanquish. It was just a wild beast. I could feel the warmth of its blood," Will continued, raising his voice.
"You are quite right," the Pope's voice finally responded, stern and unyielding. "It wasn't the evil we sanctists are sworn to destroy. But its existence threatened the lives of men—thus, it had to be eliminated."
Suddenly, a golden portal shimmered into existence at the room's center. Will wasted no time—he snatched up his dagger and braced himself for what came next.
"Congratulations. You've passed the first two trials. Your skill alone is worthy of a sanctist. But sanctists do not walk the path alone—we fight side by side, guarding our allies from harm. One who entered with you is now in peril. You must go to him. And know this: everything from this point forward is real," the Pope's voice echoed once more.
Will stared into the portal. "Is that... Eddie?" he asked, eyes wide.
Beyond the shimmering gate, he saw Eddie wounded—blood flowing from his right arm and abdomen, a spear clenched in his left hand, cornered by a gryphbat.
Without a second thought, Will stepped back, gripped his dagger tightly, and leapt into the portal. Emerging on the other side, he raised his weapon high and slashed at the gryphbat's exposed back.
A shriek of agony rang out as the beast's right foreclaw and wing were severed, and it collapsed to the side, howling in pain.
"Will...? Will!" Eddie exclaimed, stunned.
"You alright?" Will asked, surveying his friend's injuries—right arm, abdomen, and now the left leg too, all bleeding.
"That thing's... too fast... and strong," Eddie stammered, still in shock.
"Let me handle it," Will replied, turning to face the beast, now rising shakily. It glared at them, unleashing a furious roar.
It lunged at Will, claw outstretched. But with the experience of his last fight, Will ducked low, sliding beneath its massive wings, pivoting, and delivering a sweeping strike. The beast's left claw and wing fell to the ground.
Another roar of torment filled the chamber as the wingless gryphbat writhed in agony.
"Now, Eddie! Finish it!" Will shouted from behind.
With a cry, Eddie lunged forward, driving his spear deep into the creature's body. A geyser of blood erupted, drenching him as the gryphbat collapsed lifeless to the floor—then dissolved into a shimmer of golden light.
"We've completed the trial together, haven't we, Your Holiness?" Will called out.
"You have indeed," came the Pope's reply. "You stood together, and defeated a mighty foe. You are both worthy to be sanctists."
Hearing this, Will and Eddie exchanged glances and smiled, the relief of victory etched across their faces.
"But one final trial remains. Survival," the Pope added gravely.
"Survival? What do you mean?" Will asked, his voice rising with unease.
"Sanctists exist to purge the world of evil. Yet the more evil they vanquish, the closer they come to it. If one's faith is not unwavering, he may one day be consumed by darkness—and when that happens, he becomes a threat to his own kind."
"The final trial is to endure the corruption of darkness," the Pope declared.
At his words, a golden portal opened once more, and from it, two swirling clouds of black smoke emerged.
"What is this?" Will gasped, but there was no time—he and Eddie were engulfed.
The smoke poured into their mouths and nostrils. Both fell to their knees, writhing in agony.
"What... is this?" Will choked out, as horrific visions flooded his mind. Darkness. Dread. Despair.
"Aaaagh!!" he finally screamed, and the dark mist burst from his mouth.
Weary, drained, but conscious, Will staggered to his feet. He turned immediately to Eddie—who sat hunched on the floor, unmoving. Will rushed to his side.
"It's over, Eddie. You're alright now," he said, trying to lift him.
But then he saw Eddie's eyes—glowing red, staring straight into his own.
Eddie's body stirred, the wounds seemingly healed. He picked up his spear and began advancing slowly toward Will.
Then, with a sudden, feral cry, Eddie lunged—weapon poised to strike.