⚠️ Content Notice
This chapter contains intense action, mild sensual tension, and mature themes. Reader discretion advised
The void shimmered like liquid glass, then snapped into a kaleidoscope of swirling stars. Brian stood on an endless platform of fractured crystal, his shadows curling protectively around him. The rest of his harem—Aurora, Lyra, Kira, Selene, and the Angels—materialized in flashes of fire, telekinetic sparks, cyber-light, and cosmic glow.
> [System Alert: Supreme Trial Initiated]
[Heart of the Multiverse Unlocked]
[Warning: Participants Will Be Separated]
Brian grinned, cocking an eyebrow at the text. "Supreme Trial, huh? Sounds like my kind of playground."
Aurora folded her wings, flames dimming. "You're far too excited about this."
"Excited?" Brian smirked. "I live for this."
The platform cracked like a spiderweb. Light swallowed them whole.
---
Brian's Trial: The Mirror of Desire
He landed alone on a new platform: a black ocean under a sky full of golden constellations. The air smelled of ozone and something faintly sweet. Shadows flickered, forming mirrors all around him.
Inside each mirror, a version of Brian smirked back—some older, some darker, some in armor, some with harem members clinging to them.
> [Trial 1: Face Yourself]
Brian chuckled. "I'm my own first boss fight? Cute."
A darker Brian stepped out of the nearest mirror, smirk sharper, eyes glowing crimson. "You're a clown with power. I'm what you'd be if you stopped playing hero."
"Ah," Brian said, rolling his shoulders. "The edgy version."
Dark Brian lunged, shadows flaring. Brian shadow-stepped sideways, landing a hook to his double's ribs. "I like me better," he quipped.
The fight escalated—mirror-Brians multiplying, circling, attacking. Brian's system whispered strategies, but he ignored them, moving on instinct, mixing shadow punches with StarkTech bursts. Each double shattered into smoke until only one was left—the strongest, silent and deadly.
Brian's smirk faded slightly. "Alright then."
He gathered shadows and energy, launching his Shadow-Cosmic Repulsor Strike straight through the last mirror-Brian's chest. The double exploded into stardust.
> [Trial 1 Complete – Leadership Sync +10]
Brian exhaled, smirk returning. "One down. Next."
---
Aurora's Trial: Flame Without Fear
Aurora found herself in a burning forest, her wings trembling. Her trial was different—she had to control her flames without harming innocents. Every shadow in the trees whispered doubts.
She steadied herself, remembering Brian's teasing grin, his confidence. She smirked faintly. "He'd probably just flex and burn it all down," she muttered, then raised her hands and carefully manipulated her fire. One by one, the illusions of innocents vanished, replaced by glowing embers of approval.
---
Lyra's Trial: Telekinetic Storm
Lyra floated in an endless storm of debris—her own telekinesis threatening to crush her. She centered herself, recalling Brian's casual "you've got this" before battles. Slowly, she tamed the storm, forming the debris into a perfect spiral around her.
---
Kira's Trial: Blade of Choice
Kira's cyber-blades flickered in a dim neon alley. She faced illusions of people she'd harmed in the past. Her task: choose between cutting down illusions or sparing them. For the first time, she sheathed her blades and walked through, unscathed.
---
Selene's Trial: Cosmic Heart
Selene stood on a comet, cosmic power tearing at her. The trial forced her to anchor herself emotionally. She closed her eyes, picturing Brian's shadows wrapping protectively around her. The cosmic force softened, flowing with her instead of against her.
---
Brian's Interference
Suddenly, Brian felt their struggles through the bond. His system flashed:
> [Override Option: Enter Ally Trials? Y/N]
He grinned. "Wouldn't be me if I stayed out."
He shadow-stepped through the cracks of reality, appearing briefly in each trial as a whisper, a grin, or a hand on a shoulder—reminding them of their strength, making them laugh mid-battle, snapping them out of fear.
"Don't let the trial win, babe," he murmured to Aurora's flame. "Remember who you are."
"Flex King cameo," Lyra muttered, smiling despite herself as debris froze midair.
"Always dramatic," Kira whispered, smirking as she sheathed her blades.
Selene felt his shadow brush her cheek. "With you," he said simply. Her cosmic power stabilized.
---
New Challenger
As Brian regrouped with his harem on a new platform, a ripple tore through the arena. A tall, hooded woman stepped out, her presence heavier than the Hunter Elite combined. Her eyes glowed silver, and a System sigil burned on her hand.
"Brian," she said, voice like velvet over steel. "Flex King of the Multiverse… cute title. But you're playing with powers you don't understand."
Brian cocked his head. "And you are?"
"Your predecessor," she purred. "The one who failed the Supreme Trial."
The harem shifted into battle stances. Aurora's flames flared, Lyra's telekinesis hummed, Kira's blades snapped out, Selene's cosmic aura pulsed.
Brian smirked. "Ex-System user, huh? This just got interesting."
> [System Alert: Unknown User Detected – Power Levels Unscannable]
The woman flicked her fingers. The platform shook. Shadows around Brian recoiled like whipped dogs.
She smiled. "You're cocky. That's why I like you. That's why you'll lose."
Brian flexed, shadows rallying. "Lady, cocky isn't even my final form."
He launched himself at her. She moved faster, catching his punch midair, spinning him and slamming him into the crystal floor. The harem attacked in unison—flames, telekinesis, cyber-blades, cosmic beams—but her barrier absorbed everything.
Brian coughed, smirking through blood. "Okay. You're hot and terrifying. Great combo."
"Still joking," she said, tightening her grip.
> [System Alert: Supreme Hunter Signature Approaching]
The sky cracked. A colossal silhouette loomed beyond the arena—wings, claws, a thousand eyes burning black.
Brian's System screamed.
> [System Shutdown Imminent]
[User Power Suppression: 80%]
[Recommendation: Immediate Retreat]
Brian's smirk flickered. "Oh, hell no."
The hooded woman leaned down, whispering, "Now you see why I failed."
The Hunter Supreme roared, the entire arena shaking. The System blinked out of Brian's vision, static filling his mind.
"System?" he said aloud. "Don't you dare—"
> [System Offline]
Everything went dark.
Brian stood on the cracked platform, shadows fading, power draining, harem encircling him. The hooded woman smirked. The Hunter Supreme stepped fully into the arena, wings blotting out the stars.
Aurora whispered, "Brian…"
Brian grinned weakly. "Guess… I'm gonna have to flex the old-fashioned way."
The Hunter Supreme roared, lunging.
> [TO BE CONTINUED…]
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