Lucas stood in the empty courtyard, his heart still pounding violently. That inexplicable force seemed to have led him to a deeper level, but he knew that he had only taken the first step. The trial was far from over, and the peace before him was just the calm before the storm. The thunder in the sky still echoed, and an oppressive feeling that foretold a change filled the air.
He raised his head. There was no change around the courtyard in front of him. It was still that ancient space, as if there was no trace of the passage of time. However, Lucas knew very well that what he was facing was not the external environment but a deeper dilemma - his own heart.
Suddenly, a corner of the courtyard vibrated slightly, followed by an unknown whispering sound, as if it came from a distance but was close enough to make one's hair stand on end. Lucas's heart tightened suddenly. He vaguely sensed that something was approaching him. He quickly drew his long sword, and the edge of the sword sliced through the air, creating a cold light, ready to face any possible threat.
"Who is it?" Lucas asked in a low voice, his eyes sharp. He didn't miss any slight movement around him.
The whispering sound still echoed in the air, getting clearer and clearer, as if a blurred voice was gradually taking shape in his ear. The voice was so familiar yet carried a trace of indescribable fear. Lucas frowned tightly, and a premonition vaguely rose in his heart. It seemed that this time, he was facing not just the ghosts in his heart.
"Lucas, turn back... You shouldn't have come this far," The voice finally came clearly into his ears, with a hint of urging and warning.
His heart rate suddenly accelerated, and his face turned pale instantly. He was all too familiar with this voice - it was Alyce's voice!
"Alyce?" Lucas's voice was low and trembling, and a trace of confusion and pain flashed in his eyes.
"It's me..." The voice carried a trace of indescribable sadness. "You should know that I can't leave you, but I can't help you either. You must face all this alone to go further."
"Where are you?" Lucas looked around, trying to find the source of the voice. However, it was deathly silent around, and there was nothing.
"You... You're already very close to the truth," Alyce's voice came again. This time, it seemed to carry a deeper sense of despair. "But you shouldn't touch that taboo. You'll regret it..."
Lucas's gaze suddenly tightened. He gripped the hilt of his sword even more tightly, knowing exactly what taboo Alyce was referring to. It was the past he least wanted to remember - the dark secret he had been trying hard to ignore. Everything that had happened in the past had finally made him who he was now, a person constantly wandering in the shadows. And this secret had long been buried in a corner of his heart.
"I don't regret it," Lucas finally spoke, a trace of determination flashing in his eyes. "I'm no longer running away. I have to face it to be free."
"Are you really ready?" Alyce's voice became cold and piercing, like a sharp blade stabbing into his heart. "Do you think you can break these shackles and truly step into the light?"
Lucas didn't answer. He had already made a decision in his heart. He had no time to hesitate any longer, nor did he have more room to doubt. The truth of that taboo was already like a time bomb, ready to explode at any moment. And he had to face it, even if the cost was everything he had.
Deep in his heart, a voice told him that only by facing the darkest part could he touch the real light. Just as Alyce said, only in this way could he possibly surpass the trial, break free from the shadow of the past, and move towards a real future.
"I didn't come here to run away," Lucas raised his head, his gaze firm, and the tip of his sword pointed forward again. "I'm here to face you and embrace my destiny."
As soon as the words were spoken, the surroundings of the courtyard were instantly plunged into endless darkness. Lucas only felt the ground under his feet begin to shake violently, and the air around him became heavy, as if the whole world had collapsed in an instant. He suddenly opened his eyes and found that he was already in a completely different space.
This was a desolate ruin. There were the remnants of dilapidated buildings all around. The once glorious city had now become a ruin. And in the center of the ruin, there was a solitary tower. There seemed to be a faint light coming from the tower, attracting Lucas's attention.
"The tower..." He murmured to himself, and a familiar feeling suddenly welled up in his heart. "This is..."
Suddenly, a strong sense of crisis hit him. He didn't have time to think anymore. The air around him fluctuated violently. Then, several black shadows suddenly rushed towards him with an inescapable speed.
Lucas reacted quickly. Without hesitation, he drew his sword and faced those rushing black shadows. With each swing of the sword, he could feel his strength constantly increasing, as if an unprecedented awakening was emerging. He accurately predicted the movements of each enemy, and the edge of the sword traced curved trajectories in the air, like the scythe of death.
However, although each of his attacks was accurate and deadly, those black shadows didn't seem to be afraid of death. Their figures were even faster, as if they possessed some kind of incomprehensible power, and even Lucas's sword blade couldn't really harm them.
Just then, a deep whisper sounded again, piercing through the chaotic sounds of the battle: "You're already close to the truth, but you still haven't truly understood the essence of this trial..."
Lucas was shocked. The familiar voice rang in his mind again. That voice actually belonged to... himself!