The Shadow of Demons — A Test of Will and Survival
Mi-An approached Xiao Yan as they waited for the bell to ring. Her eyes were sharp, her tone precise. "Make sure you do not slow me down," she said.
Xiao Yan didn't respond, his mind lost in thought, consumed by the memory of the Ansha. He barely registered her words, staring at the horizon where storms of power seemed to coil invisibly.
A sudden chime broke the moment—a deep, resonant bell that echoed through the courtyard.
The disciples stepped forward, entering the swirling portal that had appeared before them. Xiao Yan felt a chill crawl up his spine as the air shifted, the portal pulling him into a space unlike anything he had ever experienced.
Each pair was separated into their own tests, challenges designed to stretch their strength, courage, and wit to the limit. The air around Xiao Yan hummed with tension, the faint memory of the Ansha lingering like a shadow at the edge of his mind.
He glanced at Mi-An, whose expression had hardened into determination. "I'll see this through," she muttered under her breath, almost to herself, almost to him.
Xiao Yan swallowed, nodding slightly, still unsure if he could survive the coming trials… or if they even truly had a chance against what lurked beyond.