He twitched on the white grass like a fish out of water.
Taking deep breaths and steadying himself, Kael slowly sat up.
"That was a stunning performance, Kael.
Your dance moves were bolts out of the blue, and your screams were electrifying.
It was a shocking performance," the sexy-voiced lady said plainly, barely hiding a chuckle.
"Touch the orb again," she continued.
"Master!" the robotic voice protested.
"Engaging trial legacy space.
Securing transmission channel.
Legacy-realm gate is opened," the robotic voice announced.
"Kael, step through the gate," the sexy-voiced lady said.
Moving closer to the opening in the white space, Kael heard the howls of wind echoing through it.
Swallowing hard, fists clenched, he closed his eyes and stepped through the gate.
Suddenly, a wave of weightlessness hit him.
Opening his eyes, Kael's skin crawled—goosebumps prickled across his arms.
He was falling—falling through a black void toward a huge, multicolored planet.
The closer he got, the faster he fell.
The air around him grew hotter and hotter.
But then, for a moment, Kael lost his breath.
The sight was… breathtaking.
A golden sunset stretched across the horizon. Towering trees swayed gently below. The cries of distant beasts echoed through the lush forest.
For a moment, he was completely in his element.
"Liora," Kael whispered softly.
"I promised you such a sight. Just you and I in our little paradise — our world within a world.
I wish I could share this sky with you."
He chuckled weakly.
"I would give anything to hold you for just a second in this paradise... before I leave forever."
A trail of tears followed him as he continued to fall—faster and faster still.
The booming sound as Kael broke the sound barrier echoed everywhere.
Gritting his teeth, resolved to die, he managed to flip himself so his back faced the ground.
"Fuck you, bitches!" he roared to the sky he fell from.
"Remember my name! Kael Valeria! I am immortal even if you wipe me from space and time! I know I existed—I lived!
No matter where I end up, I will crawl through hell to eat your flesh!"
With bloodshot eyes, Kael screamed wildly.
Passing through the clouds, his speed kept increasing.
As he neared the ground, he began to grin.
"Heheh, you are quite energetic," an old voice sounded in Kael's ear.
Turning his head, Kael found himself staring face-to-face with a white-haired, middle-aged man. The most striking part of his handsome face was his pointed ears. His long flowing robe danced like a cape behind him. His smile was so calming, yet you could faintly sense the danger in his gaze.
"I choose you," the white-haired man said simply, tapping Kael's forehead before vanishing into thin air.
"Was that an elven grandpa?" Kael mumbled.
"Hold up—elves, magic, bows, swords! Hey, old guy! What are you choosing me for?!" Kael screamed out, beginning to lose his breath.
Everything began to spin. Kael's vision blurred, and darkness rushed in as he lost consciousness.
For a minute, all sound disappeared. Then Kael's body vanished into a golden rift.
"Medic! Medic! The King is awake! Fucking healers, get your asses here!" a thick roar suddenly rang out.
The voice was deep and full of power—it made Kael's ears ring. The ringing grew louder until it made him dizzy and nauseous.
Ding!
Welcome, host, to the Trial Space.
Your Race Selection Quest has been activated.
You are undergoing a Legacy Trial for the Elven race.
This marks a period in the history of the elves—the last resistance before the collapse of the Elven Monarchy and the extinction of all elves.
You are the King of the Elven race. This is the final frontier. When the walls of this fortress fall, the quest will end.
To obtain the Elven heritage… slaughter and survive the carnage.
"To see your status, mentally say: Status."
BEEP...
"Status," Kael weakly whispered.
A display screen appeared before him.
---
Name: Mo Jun
Class: Supreme Warrior / Monarch
Race: Silvermoon Elf (Super Ultra Tier)
Health: Poisoned (5 hours until death)
Skills: Locked
Countdown: 4 hours 58 minutes
---
Rubbing his forehead, Kael slowly opened his eyes.
"And this is just the beginning of the trial?" Kael sighed, still rubbing his forehead.
Looking around, he took a peek at his surroundings.
"Fuck! If I could carry a single thing out of here, I'd be fucking rich!" Kael thought, eyes wide with greed.
"Cough, cough—fuck!" Before Kael could laugh, he started coughing violently.
"Your Majesty, you are awake! Where the fuck is the damn medic?! Healer!" the deep, loud voice boomed again.
Turning in the direction of the voice, Kael saw a burly, thick, middle-aged elf with pure silver hair—still in armor, covered in thick blood—looking at him with relief.
Suddenly, the doors to the chamber burst open as a group of elves rushed in.
From the group, five curvy female elves detached and started chanting. Golden energy waves gathered around Kael, and he felt a rush of energy flood his body.
Sitting up from the bed, he tried to stand.
BOOM!
A massive explosion threw Kael off the bed and into the air.
While midair, from the corner of his eye—through the gaping hole in the wall of his chamber—he saw the biggest ship of his life, its cannons the size of submarines, glowing hot, still pointed at his chamber, lights flickering across its hull.
But below, rivers of blood flowed.
Dismembered elven bodies littered everywhere—some in deep pits, others on broken walls.
Time froze. For a second, everything stood still as a golden pulse suddenly erupted, washing over everything—followed by a thunderous heartbeat.
Everything had settled after the blasts from the oversized cannon, yet Kael remained floating in the air, eyes closed, fists clenched, twitching from time to time.
"Kael, this is where we fell. Our fires perpetually snuffed out.
Before we knew, we were facing giants too big to be shot down.
Can you look up to gods that oppress us and slay them all?!
Can you point your sword to the stars and carve our names on them?
Can you save those souls our enemies decreed damned to hell?!"
The grandpa elf's voice echoed in Kael's head.
"I am asking you this—are you bold enough to take on this burden and make this fight yours?" the elf grandpa added.
In Kael's mind space, he stared dazedly at the old elf before him.
"Can you save me from this cage, Kael?
Kael, I miss you.
Please come to me.
I'll be good, I won't trouble you anymore.
I pinky promise, Kael—just come and take me away. Even if you don't want me, I can live looking at you from a distance..."
Liora's voice kept ringing in Kael's mindscape—her tear-streaked face, the desperation in her voice, the longing.
"Old man elf, I disappointed too many people in my lifetime. I can't add an entire race to that list," Kael said in a raspy voice, head bowed and fists balled.
"What if this path led to your redemption—to finally live up to your potential?
You won't be fighting alone like before.
And all those people from your world are going where you're headed from here," the old elf added.
"I—"