The cavern trembled like a living thing. Dust rained from the ceiling as the growl deepened, vibrating in Kaelith's bones. Around him, dozens of other applicants shifted nervously, weapons drawn. Most wore polished gear, enchanted blades, or glowing spellbooks. Kaelith had nothing but a worn dagger and the dark power coiled inside his veins.
Lyra gripped the back of his tunic. "It's huge…" she whispered.
He could see it now — the beast lumbering from the shadows. A grotesque amalgam of lion and serpent, its mane bristling with quills that dripped poison, its tail ending in a blade of bone. Its molten eyes swept the arena, locking on the nearest candidates.
> [Trial One Objective: Retrieve the Heartstone from the Hollow Chimera]
Reward: +300 Negative Points
Bonus: +1 Rank in Academy Entrance List
Punishment: -5 Years Lifespan, System Strike
Nyxion's voice purred in his mind like a cat before a kill.
> "Such a lovely creature. Shame it has to die."
Kaelith crouched slightly, scanning the arena. Most candidates were forming teams already. Nobles with their retainers, beastkin with their clans. Only he and Lyra stood alone.
He touched her shoulder. "Stay behind me. Don't move unless I tell you."
She nodded, trembling.
The chimera roared and lunged at the nearest group — a trio of elves with shimmering blades. Poison quills shot from its mane like arrows, striking two down instantly. Screams echoed as they writhed.
The rest of the candidates scattered.
Kaelith's grip tightened on his dagger. His heart hammered, but his mind was cold.
> "This is your chance," Nyxion whispered. "You've tasted grief. Taste rage now. Use it."
Dark energy throbbed in his veins, heavier than before. He could feel it begging to be released.
Kaelith exhaled slowly, drawing the dagger. "Fine. Let's see what it can do."
He darted forward, his movements sharper than they had any right to be. The chimera turned toward him, quills bristling. Kaelith rolled under its swipe, slashing at its foreleg. The dagger glanced off its scales.
Nyxion laughed.
> "Pathetic weapon. Let me help."
A dark prompt flickered before Kaelith's eyes:
> [Activate Skill: Wrath Surge? Cost: 15 Years Lifespan]
His breath caught. Not yet. He couldn't sacrifice that much. Not until there was no other choice.
He ducked another swipe, sliding between the chimera's legs. "Negative Points. Shop."
The System flickered a panel mid-motion:
> [Negative Points: 215]
[Shop: Open]
[Potion – Minor Life]: 150 NP
[Shadow Dagger – Temporary]: 200 NP
[Escape Scroll]: 500 NP
He selected without hesitation.
> [Purchase: Shadow Dagger – 200 NP]
[Transaction Complete]
The dagger in his hand dissolved into mist, reforming as a blade of black steel wreathed in purple light. Power hummed through his arm.
Nyxion chuckled.
> "Better. Now cut something worth cutting."
Kaelith lunged again, this time driving the blade into the chimera's shoulder. The weapon sank in with a hiss of smoke. The beast roared, flinging him back. He hit the ground hard, rolling to his feet.
Blood — black and steaming — dripped from the wound. The chimera's tail lashed, cracking stone where he'd stood.
Other candidates were circling now, hurling spells and arrows. The chimera swatted them aside like flies. Screams echoed as bodies hit the ground.
Kaelith darted behind a boulder, breathing hard. His Negative Points had dropped to 15. He could feel Nyxion's amusement radiating like heat.
> "Running out of options, little pawn. Time to ante up."
He glanced at Lyra. She was crouched behind a pillar, eyes wide, lips moving in a prayer. A quill whistled past, embedding in the stone near her head.
His chest tightened. If she died here…
He slammed his hand on the panel.
> [Activate Skill: Wrath Surge]
A searing pain tore through him as the System burned 15 years of his life away. Darkness flooded his vision, then cleared into crimson. His heartbeat roared in his ears.
His body moved before thought — faster, harder, sharper. The chimera lunged at him. He sidestepped, driving the Shadow Dagger deep into its chest. Black flames erupted from the wound, searing flesh. The beast shrieked.
Kaelith wrenched the blade free, slashing again and again. Each strike left burning trails of shadow that ate at its scales. He was a storm, a blur of rage and darkness.
> "Yes…" Nyxion hissed. "More. Feed me more."
The chimera staggered, its molten eyes dimming. It swung its tail in desperation. Kaelith ducked under, slicing across its throat. Blood sprayed like tar. The beast collapsed, shaking the arena floor.
He stood over it, chest heaving, shadows curling off his skin. The world snapped back into focus — pain, exhaustion, the heavy price of his power.
> [Trial Objective Complete: Heartstone Retrieved]
+300 Negative Points
Bonus Achieved: +1 Rank in Academy Entrance List
A glowing crystal pulsed in the chimera's chest where his blade had struck. He reached out, tearing it free. It throbbed in his hand like a living heart.
Lyra ran to him, eyes wide. "Kaelith…"
He turned to her, forcing the rage down. His hands shook as he slipped the dagger away. "It's done."
She touched his arm, flinching at the heat radiating from his skin. "You… you were…"
"I'm fine." He wasn't, but he would be. He had to be.
Around them, the other candidates stared. Some with awe, some with fear. Whispered words floated through the cavern.
"That commoner…"
"He killed it by himself…"
"What is he?"
Kaelith ignored them. He met Lyra's gaze and managed a thin smile. "Stay close."
> "Not bad," Nyxion drawled. "You're still standing. Barely. And I got a taste of something delicious."
Kaelith closed the panel with a thought. His Negative Points had climbed back to 315. Enough for another dagger. Maybe a potion later. But the cost… he could feel it, like a hollow ache in his bones. Fifteen years gone.
A pulse of light filled the cavern. The survivors — barely half of the original number — were transported back to the orientation hall.
Instructor Veyra stood waiting, arms crossed. Her eyes flicked over the group, lingering on Kaelith.
"Congratulations," she said coolly. "If you're still breathing, you've passed Trial One. But don't get comfortable. The second trial will make this look like a sparring match."
Her gaze hardened. "Dismissed. Rest. Prepare. Tomorrow, you bleed again."
Kaelith led Lyra toward the dorms, ignoring the stares and murmurs that followed. He could feel the hatred, the fear, the envy — all of it feeding the dark power within him.
He'd survived the first trial. But this was only the beginning.