⚡ The Last Disciple of Lightning Peak
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🌑 Outer Trial Grounds — Final Day of Martial Soul Awakening
The stone courtyard was nearly silent now, save for the wind brushing across the engraved tiles. The last rays of dusk painted the pillars gold, as if reluctant to let the day end.
On the platform stood the trial overseer, a sharp-eyed man in jet robes and dark bronze armor. His gaze swept across the thinning crowd of disciples. Then he raised his hand.
> "This concludes the Martial Soul Awakening phase," he said, voice echoing without effort. "Only one candidate remains."
He looked down at the name scroll, then raised his eyes again.
> "Niva."
A stir went through the crowd. Niva hesitated at the edge of the formation, visibly startled. Her fingers twitched at her side, and her throat bobbed as she swallowed.
> "She's the last?" someone whispered.
The examiner narrowed his eyes, speaking with a cold smirk.
> "Tomorrow begins the survival test. Not all Martial Souls are worthy of our sect. We'll see if yours deserve to exist beyond the pillar…"
Then, as if to himself, he turned his gaze slightly upward toward the sky and muttered:
> "Let's see how that rootless boy's fate turns. If he dares to return…"
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🌬️ Below the Platform — The Crowd Shifts
Whispers slithered through the crowd like vipers.
> "That's the friend of the rootless failure, isn't it?"
"Tch, now she'll embarrass herself too."
"I guess trash attracts trash."
Niva's eyes wavered. The sneers bit deep, and she stared down at her trembling hands.
Her feet refused to move.
> "Maybe… they're right…"
But then—
A figure moved.
She stepped from the crowd without hesitation. Her silver-blue robes gleamed with an inner fire, and the phoenix emblem stitched at her shoulder shimmered with authority.
Seriya.
She walked straight toward Niva, calm but unwavering, and stood before the mockers.
> "You mock someone before they've taken the test?" Her voice rang out clear. "Is this what the future disciples of Uccot Sect have become?"
The crowd went silent.
She looked each bully in the eye, unflinching.
> "Some of you barely awakened your souls. Some haven't awakened at all. But the moment someone close to another is mocked, you laugh?"
She turned and took Niva's hand, steady and proud.
> "If you can't walk forward, I'll walk with you. But don't doubt yourself because of them."
Niva's breath caught.
Something shifted in her eyes—like a lantern reigniting in a storm.
She stepped forward.
> "Thank you. I'll… do my best."
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⚡ The Pillar of Soul Awakening
She placed her hand on the pillar.
Seconds passed. She closed her eyes, whispering in her heart:
> "I know I've awakened my Martial Soul… but I don't know if it's worthy or not—strong or weak. Still, I'll show it."
The stone stayed silent at first.
Then—
🌸 A burst of pink aura exploded outward, tinged faintly with silver sparks. A subtle pulse of thunder echoed inside it, like the heartbeat of a distant storm.
The entire crowd gasped. Even the arrogant examiner leaned forward, brow furrowed.
> "That… isn't any standard soul type. What… is that?"
The pillar glowed again, but this time it didn't form a beast, weapon, or armor. Instead, a shape shimmered—vague, mysterious, ethereal—like a soul that refused to take any known form.
> "It's… unclassified?" someone whispered.
"No one knows what it is!"
"But it's powerful… I can feel it from here!"
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👣 Elsewhere — In the Hidden Garden
Sylara looked up sharply from the edge of the pond, eyes narrowing.
Aarush sat in stillness beside her, adjusting his breath flow, unaware.
She rose to her feet.
> "It's time."
Aarush opened his eyes.
> "Time?" he asked.
She gave a faint smile.
> "Someone just revealed talent they didn't know they had. That means the trial's about to shift."
She turned, cloak fluttering in the wind.
> "Let's return. You're not the only one who's been underestimated."
Aarush stood slowly, the faint flame in his chest flickering brighter.
And together, they stepped toward the path that would lead them back—to the sect, to judgment, and to the world that still didn't see them coming.