Morning mist clung to the grass like silk as Ezra awoke to the murmured chants of Merlin weaving a spell circle into the earth. In the clearing beyond, Escanor stood shirtless, bathed in the soft radiance of dawn, arms crossed over his chest. His golden aura shimmered faintly despite the sun not yet reaching its peak. Meliodas leaned against a tree, sipping from a flask and watching in silence.
Ezra stood and approached the sigil Merlin was finalizing. "So this is the trial?"
"Indeed," she said, etching the last rune. "A direct confrontation. No illusions. No systems. Just strength, will, and resolve."
Meliodas stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "Escanor has agreed to be your opponent. Not at full power—but enough to push you. If you can land one clean hit before the sun reaches its apex, you pass."
Ezra blinked. "Just one hit? That's it?"
Escanor's deep voice rumbled. "You say that as if it's simple."
Ezra chuckled nervously, then took a deep breath. He equipped only one active skill from Shin and Ban—his taunt-cancel from Shin and regeneration from Ban. Twigo and Tristan remained passive, their buffs subtly empowering his defense and light affinity.
Merlin clapped her hands. The sigil pulsed, and the air thickened.
"Begin."
Ezra lunged forward, opting for speed. Escanor didn't move. He simply waited. As Ezra struck, a golden wall of heat pushed back, flaring from Escanor's skin.
[System Notice: Skill Interference Detected — System Suppressed in Trial Zone.]
Ezra grunted. He had expected that. Twisting mid-air, he rolled behind Escanor, sweeping his leg low—but Escanor didn't even flinch. A wave of pure pressure knocked Ezra back ten feet.
Meliodas winced. "He's using less than ten percent. Still too much?"
Ezra groaned and pushed to his feet. He remembered Escanor's teaching: Pride isn't arrogance—it's certainty. So be certain.
His mind clicked. Instead of aiming for power, he baited with weakness. He faked a staggered stance, let his breathing hitch, and waited.
Escanor stepped forward.
There.
Ezra activated his cleanse skill to feint a system backlash. Escanor reached out—not to strike, but to help. In that heartbeat of hesitation, Ezra spun, driving his fist—glowing faintly with Tristan's holy light—into Escanor's chest.
A soft impact. Barely a hit.
Escanor looked down. Then he smiled.
Merlin nodded. "Contact confirmed. Trial complete."
Ezra fell backward into the grass, panting.
Escanor extended a hand. "You learn fast."
Ezra took it. "I had good teachers."
As the trial circle faded, the system chimed faintly again, barely audible.
[Hidden Quest Completed: Flames of Pride] [Reward: Title Unlocked — Flameborne] [Passive Buff: Increased resistance to heat and light-based magic.]
Meliodas raised his flask. "You've got fire in you after all. We'll need it. The Watcher isn't just watching anymore."
Ezra narrowed his eyes at the treeline.
Far away, something shimmered.
Watching.