Raven was still nursing sore muscles from the Blood Control trial as he trailed behind the others in the dimly lit hallways.
His blood-stained clothes hadn't even dried before they entered the grand hall, leaving him no chance to wrap his head around what had just happened or the lives he'd taken.
As Raven entered the grand hall, she was struck by the beautiful ceiling with paintings of famous battles and magical deeds from the past.
The light from the torches danced across the polished marble floor, casting long shadows of the other seven participants.
They stood quietly, their faces showing both exhaustion from the previous challenges and a mix of determination and nervousness
Raven locked eyes with Lyra on the other side of the hall. She nodded to him subtly, a silent acknowledgment of their shared ordeal in the last trial.
The bond forming among the survivors was fragile but genuine, created through shared experiences of blood and desperation.
While the others murmured among themselves, Raven took a moment to collect his thoughts, mentally going over his stats and capabilities:
- Level: 3
- Class: Rogue
- Title: Blood Seeker
- Health: 80
- Mana: 50
- Strength: 8
- Agility: 11
- Intelligence: 9
- Skills:
- Bloodcraft:
- Blood Manipulation: Trial
- Blood Chain: Level 1 (25/100)
- Blood Sense:
- Poison Resistance: Level 1 (5/100) - Reduces poison damage
- Basic Combat: Level 1
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden shift in the atmosphere. Out of nowhere, a masked figure appeared in front of them, golden eyes cutting through the ornate mask. The figure scanned the group with an unsettling calm.
"Congrats on getting this far," the masked man said, his voice commanding enough to make the everyone quiet. "But here's the deal—your final trial starts now."
Raven stiffened. Final trial? He stole a glance at the others, who shared his surprise and hesitance. They didn't expect this to be the last challenge so soon.
In one smooth motion, the masked figure pulled out a rolled-up parchment from his dark cloak and revealed it to show a detailed map. "You're tasked with infiltrating the Southern Imperial Fortress, right on the border of Nefaria and Arcana."
The group exchanged uneasy looks. Raven looked at the map, taking note of the fortress's design—layers of defenses, guard towers at strategic spots, and what looked like a moat surrounding everything.
And there seemed to be a moat encircling the entire fortress.
"Once get in, you need to find and rescue a prisoner named Kaelin, the Blackblade." The masked figure's golden eyes narrowed.
"Kaelin's a crucial player in the rebellion against the empire, known for his bravery and knowledge. He will be executed tomorrow."
A woman from the group—lanky with a scar down her left cheek—stepped up boldly. "You want us to storm an imperial fortress? That's like signing our death warrants, not a trial." Her hand clenched the hilt of her sword, knuckles tight with stress.
"Not storming," the masked figure corrected. "Infiltration. Stealth. This is all about testing your stamina, control, and teamwork."
He pointed to the map, highlighting the fortress's strong defenses. "It's heavily guarded. You'll need all your skills and cleverness to succeed."
Raven frowned. "Why us? There must be better operatives who can pull this off."
The masked figure's gaze shifted to him, cool and evaluating. "Because you guys are fresh faces—they don't know you. And those who make it through this will have proven they're ready for what's next."
The air was thick with tension. This wasn't just some trial—it was all about recruiting.
As the masked figure moved around the circle, he handed out black masks that covered everyone's faces and a mix of weapons tailored to their fighting styles.
When it came to Raven's turn, he got a curved dagger covered in weird runes. The moment he wrapped his fingers around the hilt, he felt a strange connection to it, like it was tied to his blood somehow.
"Your contacts are waiting for you in Nefaria," the masked guy said. "You've got until dawn. You can't afford to mess this up."
Lyra, a soft-spoken woman who is an earth user, raised her hand shyly. "Do we need to rely on stealth?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Exactly," the masked man replied, nodding. "No need for direct conflict.
Your best tools will be strategy and cleverness.
If we get detected, it'll be game over—or even worse." He scanned the group again, finally landing on Adrian, a tall guy with sharp looks and a calculated vibe. "You're in charge," he said decisively.
Adrian straightened up, a confident grin creeping onto his face as he accepted the challenge.
"Why him?" the scarred woman challenged, her eyes narrowing in skepticism.
The masked figure remained unfazed. "Because he gets what's really on the line." With that, he turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving an air of mystery behind.
---
The trip to Nefaria stretched through most of the day, as they hopped on enchanted carriages that zipped along hidden paths. While traveling, Adrian tried to assert his leadership, gathering everyone to brainstorm a plan.
"Okay, let's jump into it," he said, calmly outlining routes on the map handed out by the masked man. "We should split into two teams for better efficiency."
Mira, the scarred woman, rolled her eyes. "Why should we follow you? We've all made it this far on our own."
Adrian met her gaze without flinching. "Because if we're split, we're done for. Together, we might have a shot."
He paused for effect. "I've looked at fortress layouts like this before. Two teams mean redundancy and better chances overall."
Raven noticed the friction brewing. "I'm on board with that plan," he finally spoke up, wanting to break the stalemate. "But I'd like the whole strategy laid out before jumping in."
Adrian appreciated the input and kept explaining. "We'll come at it from different sides and meet at a spot marked 'Old Cypress Tree'—it's about 500 meters east of the fortress's eastern gate, where the forest starts to get thick."
Raven leaned in, checking the map to lock in the location. Yep, there was a small symbol right at the edge of the woods.
"We should strike as a unit once we're all in position," Adrian continued. "Two teams, one goal. If one team runs into trouble, the other can still get it done."
As the conversation went on, Raven observed Adrian closely. There was something measured about how he spoke, like he had more info than he let on.
When their eyes locked for a moment, Raven felt a flicker of recognition, even though they hadn't spoken until the trials.
After some thought, Raven picked his crew: Lyra, who could use her earth magic to cover them and sense any hidden traps underground; Finn, a nimble guy with unmatched talent for lock-picking and taking down security systems; and Lena, an eagle-eyed archer whose shots hardly ever missed.
Adrian, on the other hand, assembled his own team: Mira and Kyros, a quiet dude who had a knack for manipulating shadows, making him perfect for sneaky operations.
As they geared up to leave, each person headed to their rooms to grab what they needed and mentally prep for what was ahead. Raven spotted Adrian slipping into his room and shutting the door.
Peeking through the crack at the bottom of the door, he saw a soft blue light—Adrian seemed to be in deep conversation, holding a small crystal that projected a figure Raven couldn't quite identify.
Looks like he's reporting to someone, Raven thought. This mission is more than just a test.
Feeling bold, Raven knocked softly on Adrian's door. The blue light disappeared in an instant.
"Come in," Adrian said after a brief pause.
Raven entered and closed the door. "Who are you really working for?" he asked without beating around the bush.
Adrian kept his face blank. "The same folks you are, as long as you make it through tonight."
"And what if I tell the others about what I just saw?"
"You won't," Adrian replied, calm and steady. "Because deep down, you're curious about what this is really about—the trials, the blood magic, the rebellion. You need answers more than you want to shake things up."
Raven locked eyes with Adrian, weighing the truth in his words. Eventually, he nodded. "For now, we're on the same page. But after tonight, I expect answers."
"Just make it to tomorrow," Adrian said simply, "and you'll get what you want."
---
The teams went their separate ways but ended up at the meeting spot exactly as planned.
The Old Cypress Tree loomed at the forest's edge, its gnarled trunk shaped by years of wind and rain. The sky lit up with the vibrant colors of sunset, casting long shadows as the sun sank below the horizon.
From their lookout, they could see the Southern Imperial Fortress in the distance—a massive building of dark stone and iron, its walls patrolled by guards holding torches that flickered like ominous stars against the twilight sky.