Chapter 4: The Trial of Shadows
The morning sun pierced through the tattered curtains of the small inn room where Kael had spent the night. His body still ached from yesterday's skirmish with the rogue mages, but the fire in his chest was unextinguished. Revenge, and now power, drove him onward.
Kael rose, checking the familiar glow of his Mana Core.
Level: 7
HP: 450 / 450
MP: 220 / 220
Strength: 22
Agility: 18
Intelligence: 25
Magic Rank: B
Sword Mastery: C+
"Level 7…" he muttered, feeling the hum of new power. "Not enough. Not nearly enough."
The town square was already bustling. Merchants shouted prices, children chased each other, and adventurers polished their gear, preparing for quests from the Guild of Ardent Blades. Kael's eyes, however, scanned the notice board.
A new quest glimmered in golden letters:
"Trial of Shadows – A Test of Power for Rising Heroes. Rewards: Rare Artifacts, Massive EXP."
Kael's pulse quickened. This wasn't just another task. It was an opportunity to grow stronger—fast.
He walked to the guild hall, greeted by the guild master, a stern woman named Elysia. Her silver hair shimmered like moonlight, and her eyes held the weight of countless battles.
"You've come for the Trial," she said, not looking surprised. "Few survive it. Many seek power… but fear the darkness within."
"I don't fear it," Kael replied, tightening his fist. "I just want to surpass it."
Elysia studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Very well. You will face the Shadow Arena. There, your strength, intelligence, and magic will be tested. Succeed, and you will gain not only experience but a ranked artifact. Fail… and you may not leave alive."
The words didn't faze him. Kael had already faced death once—and come back.
Entering the Arena…
The moment Kael stepped into the circular chamber, the light dimmed. Shadows stretched along the walls, coalescing into monstrous forms.
Enemy: Shadow Fiends (x5)
Level: 6 each
HP: 300
Weakness: Light Magic
Kael quickly assessed: five enemies, all agile, all weak to light spells. But fighting five at once would be dangerous. He activated his Sword Aura.
Skill Unlocked: Luminous Slash (Magic + Sword, Rank B)
Kael's blade glowed as he spun, slicing through two shadow fiends in a radiant arc. The remaining three hissed and lunged, claws flashing.
Battle Log:
Luminous Slash → Shadow Fiend x2: 2 defeated
Shadow Fiend x3 attack → Kael evades (Agility check: Success)
Shadow Fiend x3 → Light Bolt → Shadow Fiend x1: Defeated
Only two remained. Kael concentrated, feeling his Mana Core surge. His sword became a whip of pure light.
Luminous Slash (Enhanced) → Shadow Fiend x2: Defeated
A small ding echoed in his mind. Level Up!
Level: 8 → +1
HP: 480 / 480
MP: 260 / 260
Strength: 24
Agility: 19
Intelligence: 27
Magic Rank: B → B+
Sword Mastery: C+ → B-
Kael smiled. "Finally… getting somewhere."
A glowing chest materialized at the center of the arena. Opening it, he discovered a weapon unlike any he had wielded: a slender sword of silver with runes etched along the blade.
Item Acquired: Moonlit Fang (Sword, Magic Rank B)
Effect: Boosts light magic damage by 20% and regenerates 5% HP every turn in combat.
Kael strapped the sword to his back. Already, he could feel its synergy with his mana. He was evolving—not just for revenge, but for the battles yet to come.
As he left the arena, Elysia awaited him. "You survived the Trial," she said. "Few manage that. Few realize the true challenge is still ahead… the darkness you fight isn't only outside, Kael. It's inside you."
Kael clenched his fist. "Then I'll face it… and anyone who stands in my way."
Outside, the wind carried whispers of the Shadow Guild, the secretive organization responsible for the massacre that had sent him back in time. Kael's eyes narrowed. The next chapter of his journey was coming, and nothing—no magic, no steel, no shadow—would stop him.