Lucas's mind was churning violently, and the beating of his heart almost merged with the hissing sound in his ears. The suffocating pressure made it difficult for him to breathe. In that instant just now, it seemed that the whole world had fallen into an endless darkness, and only he himself and that strange figure were confronting each other in the void. And at this moment, the words of that mysterious person still echoed in his mind: "Face the deepest shadow in your heart. Only you can save yourself."
The darkness pressed in like a tide. Lucas felt a strong suction force dragging him into a deeper unknown realm. An eerie atmosphere filled the air, and the surrounding scenery began to change rapidly - from nothingness to a familiar place, a place he had once been to. In the distance, strange sounds came from the misty forest, as if something was approaching quietly.
"Where is this...?" Lucas murmured to himself, and his steps hesitated to a stop.
He recognized this forest. He had once fought a life-and-death battle here, and deep in his heart, there were also many memories that he couldn't reach. With every step, he seemed to be stepping into his former nightmare, and those painful scenes flashed before his eyes from time to time - the image of Alyce lying in a pool of blood, his comrades beside him being swallowed up by the shadows, leaving only cold corpses and empty eyes.
Each scene cut at Lucas's heart like a blade. His vision became more and more blurred, and his thoughts in his mind also began to become chaotic. These memories, those lingering pains, seemed to be devouring all his rationality.
Suddenly, a low laugh came from behind, breaking his inner struggle. Lucas spun around sharply, his alertness immediately rising. His sword was out of its sheath, and the tip of the sword pointed towards the source of the sound.
"Do you really think all of this is your fault?" That voice was still cold and empty. Lucas saw a blurred figure gradually emerging from the mist in front of him - it was that mysterious person.
"Who... are you?" Lucas's voice was tense, and the tip of his sword trembled slightly. He no longer had any extra questions and just wanted to end this trial quickly.
The person didn't answer immediately. Instead, he slowly approached, his steps light and strange. His face loomed in the mist, as if he didn't belong to this world. That familiar oppressive feeling swept over again, and Lucas's heart rate accelerated, but he didn't take a step back.
"I am the embodiment of your heart," The person finally spoke, his voice coming from the abyss, coldly. "The greatest fear and the greatest pain in your heart are exactly the reasons for my existence. What you have been avoiding all this time is the truth of your heart."
Lucas's heart tightened. He didn't speak, but every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting his fragile heart. All kinds of past memories swept over again - the pain of losing his lover, the death of his comrades, the despair of being constantly betrayed... These experiences had made him lose himself and unable to get out of the darkness.
"Do you want to be free?" The person continued. "You must face all this, face the truth that you can't escape. Only in this way can you break through this labyrinth and get out of this darkness."
A trace of hesitation flashed through Lucas's mind. He knew very well that all this in front of him was just an illusion, but he still couldn't escape the shackles of these memories. Every failure,
every feeling of powerlessness, was deeply engraved in the depths of his soul and became a shadow that he couldn't get rid of.
However, suddenly, he felt a strange force rushing into his body. That force didn't come from the outside world but from his own heart. Driven by that force, every painful memory became more and more blurred and farther away. Lucas closed his eyes, concentrated, and tried not to let those memories control his emotions.
"You're doing well," The mysterious voice suddenly became gentle. "You're finally starting to understand. The shadow in your heart has never truly defeated you. It's just a part that you couldn't face. You must accept it to truly surpass it."
Lucas's heart was pounding violently, and that force became more and more surging, as if guiding him in an unknown direction. With an inexplicable spin, the whole scene began to collapse, the mist dissipated quickly, and the surrounding darkness also disappeared in an instant. The scene in front of him disintegrated like a torn canvas, and a beam of light shot into his eyes. He felt an unprecedented clarity.
When he opened his eyes again, he found that he had returned to that mysterious courtyard. The originally blurred figure had disappeared, replaced by a boundless peace. Lucas took a deep breath, sheathed his sword, and his body no longer felt heavy.
However, he didn't relax because of this. On the contrary, this peace made him more alert. He understood that what he was about to face was not just external enemies but also more inner challenges. Whether he could truly overcome himself and break these invisible shackles was the key to whether he could finally surpass the trial.
"All of this is just beginning," Lucas said to himself, his gaze firmly fixed ahead.
Suddenly, a thunderclap came from the sky, as if indicating that some huge change was about to take place. A strong sense of unease welled up in Lucas's heart. He knew that the truth of this trial still hadn't been fully revealed.
And this time, he was no longer a passive observer. He would face the upcoming challenges with a brand-new attitude.