Chapter 4 — Trial of the Strong
The pillar of light pierced the sky like a divine spear.
It stood in the distance, radiating overwhelming energy that made the air tremble. The ground around it had completely transformed — buildings twisted unnaturally, streets melted into black stone, and strange symbols glowed across the surface.
This was no longer part of Earth.
It was something else.
Ayaan stopped at the edge of the glowing zone, his instincts screaming warnings.
[Special Zone Detected — Trial Ground #17]Purpose: Selection and EvolutionSurvival Probability: 32%
"Thirty-two percent…"
Ayaan exhaled slowly.
Low chances of survival. High reward.
Exactly what he needed.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward.
The moment he crossed the boundary, the world changed.
Space twisted violently. Gravity shifted. The ruined city vanished, replaced by a vast dark plain stretching endlessly in every direction. The sky above was blood-red, swirling like a living storm.
A cold voice echoed everywhere.
[Trial Initiated]Objective: Survive and eliminate enemies.Reward: Evolutionary AuthorityFailure: Death
Ayaan's heartbeat steadied.
This was no longer survival.
This was a test.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake.
Black cracks spread across the surface as creatures emerged from beneath — dozens of them. Their bodies were skeletal, covered in dark armor, their empty eyes glowing with crimson light.
[Abyss Spawn — Rank F]Quantity: 47
Ayaan's pupils narrowed.
Forty-seven.
At once.
The creatures attacked without hesitation, moving with unnatural speed. Their claws tore through the air like blades.
Ayaan reacted instantly.
He leapt backward, gathering the dark energy within his body. The new power he gained began responding to his will.
A sphere of black energy formed in his hand.
He thrust it forward.
The energy burst outward, crushing several creatures instantly.
[Energy Manipulation Proficiency Increased]
But the rest kept coming.
Relentless.
Endless.
Ayaan's body moved like a machine — dodging, striking, tearing through enemies. His regeneration healed wounds almost instantly, allowing him to fight without pause.
Yet something strange happened.
The more he fought, the more excited he felt.
The fear faded.
The hesitation vanished.
Only the thrill of battle remained.
[Humanity Stability: 88%]
Ayaan ignored the warning.
Right now, survival mattered more.
Minutes passed like hours.
The battlefield became a sea of broken bodies. Black energy filled the air as defeated creatures dissolved into particles of power, all flowing into Ayaan.
His aura grew darker.
He grew stronger.
[Level Increased → Level 7]Evolution Progress: 26%
Then the ground split open.
A massive hand burst from beneath the earth.
The entire trial zone trembled as a gigantic creature emerged — a towering knight-like entity clad in black armor, holding a massive blade forged from condensed darkness.
Its presence alone crushed the air.
[Trial Guardian Appeared]Abyss Knight — Rank EDanger Level: Extreme
Ayaan's body froze.
This presence was completely different.
Overwhelming.
Absolute.
For the first time since his evolution, true fear returned.
The Abyss Knight raised its blade.
With a single swing, the ground split apart, releasing a wave of destructive force.
Ayaan barely escaped, rolling across the battlefield as the attack erased everything in its path.
He couldn't win through brute strength.
He needed something more.
As the Knight advanced, Ayaan felt the energy inside him react violently — as if something deep within his existence resonated with the creature's power.
A hidden force awakened.
A dark mark spread across his arm.
[Hidden Trait Activated — Abyss Resonance]Temporary Power Surge Granted
Power exploded through his body.
His vision turned sharp. His senses expanded. The dark energy surrounding him grew wild and unstable.
For a brief moment…
He stood on equal ground with the Guardian.
The battle that followed shook the entire trial zone.
Blade met energy. Shockwaves shattered the ground. The sky itself trembled under their clash.
Ayaan endured countless wounds, but his regeneration forced his body to keep fighting.
Step by step, strike by strike, he adapted.
He evolved.
With a final desperate attack, he drove his energy directly into the Knight's core.
Silence followed.
The massive entity shattered into fragments of darkness.
[Trial Cleared]Reward Granted — Abyss Authority FragmentNew Ability Unlocked: DevourEvolution Progress: 45%
Ayaan collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily.
A strange black symbol appeared on his chest — proof of the power he had gained.
He could feel it clearly.
He could now absorb the power of defeated beings completely.
True evolution.
The trial world began to fade.
Before disappearing, the cold voice spoke once more.
"You are no longer merely human."
"You are a candidate."
Ayaan returned to the ruined city.
But everything felt different now.
The air.
The world.
Even his own existence.
He had taken his first step toward becoming something far beyond humanity.
And the path ahead only grew darker.