The air around Dawn crackled with strange energy as the illusion flickered again, the Warden's massive form distorting before his eyes. The creature's ethereal presence wavered like smoke caught in the wind, a mere specter in the face of Dawn's burgeoning awareness. With each passing second, it became more and more apparent that the Warden wasn't simply an obstacle—it was a façade, a test of wit and will.
The realization was a bitter pill. The beast's oppressive aura, the weight of its celestial energy, the physical force it had exerted—none of it had been real. It was an illusion, a crafted mirage designed to trick him. But the danger wasn't gone. The true test lay ahead, and it was clear that the Warden's true form was not far behind the curtain of deception.
Dawn took a deep breath, gathering his resolve. He couldn't afford to let himself be overwhelmed by the realization. The Celestial Tree loomed ahead, its colossal branches stretching high into the sky, the fruit that would seal his mission still just out of reach. He had no time to dwell on the illusion.
He needed to move—quickly.
The Warden's shimmering form, now more distorted than ever, swung its massive claws toward him, a clear sign of its lingering threat. But the attack was slow, sluggish. The beast seemed disoriented, as if it were struggling to maintain its hold over its own form.
With a surge of energy, Dawn darted forward, using his Astral Eyes to track the Warden's every motion. His steps were quick, his thoughts sharper than ever. The Warden had become nothing more than a distraction—he needed to get to the tree.
The Celestial Tree's roots sprawled like a labyrinth, twisting around jagged rocks and broken earth, but the ground beneath Dawn was solid. He leaped forward, pushing off with every ounce of strength, his rapier-whip trailing behind him like a gleaming comet. His silver tide ability hummed passively, a quiet undercurrent of strength he didn't need to focus on—it was there, keeping him agile, slippery.
As he neared the base of the tree, the Warden let out a deafening roar, its claws slicing through the air in a vicious arc. Dawn didn't flinch. He had anticipated this. Now.
With a burst of energy, Dawn spun, his Vast Sky Pattern flaring to life. He moved faster than ever before, his body feeling lighter with each step. He sidestepped the Warden's attack, using its own momentum against it, before sending his rapier-whip into the creature's massive leg. The weapon embedded itself into the shadowy form, but the creature barely reacted. Instead, it lashed out with a backhanded strike, sending Dawn tumbling to the ground.
But this time, he didn't stay down. Instead, he rolled with the momentum, flipping back onto his feet and sprinting toward the base of the Celestial Tree. The Warden's enraged bellow echoed behind him, but Dawn didn't dare look back. He couldn't afford to slow down now.
The tree loomed before him, its bark glowing with an ethereal light, the celestial fruits hanging just beyond his reach, like golden orbs swaying in a cosmic wind. He was almost there. But the Warden was closing in, its long strides making the earth tremble with each step. Dawn's heart raced.
Think. Think!
Dawn paused at the base of the tree, catching his breath. The Warden was getting closer, but Dawn had to focus. The creature's illusions had fooled him once, but now, he could see the pattern in its movements. The Warden wasn't chasing him—it was herding him, pushing him toward the tree. It wanted him to climb.
He wasn't about to fall into that trap.
Instead of scaling the tree directly, Dawn spun around, his Shrouded Gate briefly activating to mask his presence. In a fluid motion, he darted sideways, ducking behind a thick, winding root of the Celestial Tree. The Warden, not realizing the shift, charged forward in a blind rage, its massive claws raking through the air just inches from where Dawn had stood moments ago.
Dawn's pulse raced as he crouched behind the root, using the Astral Eyes to watch the Warden's every move. He could see the creature's movements slowing, the ripples in the air becoming more pronounced. The beast had no idea where he had gone.
The moment he saw the Warden turn its back, Dawn dashed forward, his footfalls nearly silent as he weaved between the massive roots, heading straight for the first cluster of celestial fruit. He could feel the strange pull of the tree's energy, the soft hum of the fruits calling to him. Each fruit radiated a strange light, casting an almost hypnotic glow.
He needed to stay calm.
As he neared the first fruit, he took a moment to steady his breath, preparing himself. The Warden's form continued to flicker in the distance, still searching for him. He wasn't sure how much longer it would take before the illusion fully unraveled, but he knew he couldn't afford to wait.
Now.
With a swift motion, Dawn reached up, grasping one of the fruits with his free hand. The moment his fingers closed around it, a shock of energy shot through him, the raw celestial power nearly knocking him off his feet. But Dawn gritted his teeth, forcing the surge of energy to settle within him. He had the fruit. Now he needed to escape.
Suddenly, the Warden's roar sounded behind him again. It was closer this time, and its form was becoming more solid, its appearance less of a flickering shadow. Dawn didn't hesitate. He turned, sprinting towards the nearest branch of the Celestial Tree, leaping upward with all the strength he could muster. The tree groaned as his weight shifted, the branches bending beneath him.
The Warden, its form now coalescing into something far more solid, leaped after him, but Dawn was already out of reach. He gritted his teeth and pushed himself higher, using the Eternal Twins ability to amplify his agility. He was fast now—faster than he had ever been before.
The Warden's claws scraped the bark of the tree below him, the celestial energy surging around it like a storm. Dawn could feel the oppressive weight of its presence, but he didn't slow down. He had to keep climbing.
Branches reached out like grasping hands, but Dawn dodged them with ease, using his newly gained power to move like a shadow. His body was on fire with celestial energy, his focus razor-sharp.
With each leap, he could feel the distance between him and the Warden growing. He wasn't just running away—he was outsmarting it. The creature's illusions, its tricks—none of it mattered now. He had stolen what he came for.
Finally, with a final burst of effort, Dawn reached the highest point of the tree. From this vantage, he could see the entire landscape below, the Warden standing at the base, raging in defeat. It was clear now—the illusion had unraveled completely.
Dawn clutched the celestial fruit tightly in his hand, feeling the strange power pulsating from it. He had done it. He had succeeded.
But as he looked down at the Warden, now flickering like a fading star, something gnawed at the back of his mind.
The illusion had unraveled—but had the test really ended?
With a final glance at the Warden, Dawn took a deep breath and began his descent. There was still more to this journey, more he had yet to discover. And the Warden's disappearance didn't sit right with him.
Something was off.
The true nature of his trial was still shrouded in mystery, and as Dawn turned to leave, he knew this was only the beginning. The celestial fruits were his, but there were still more trials ahead. And the Warden's deception had been only the first of many challenges that awaited him.
The chapter closed with Dawn disappearing into the distance, the Warden's form flickering one last time before it vanished entirely. The forest seemed to hold its breath.
The game had only just begun.