The towering armored figure loomed over Alex, its massive ether-infused sword crackling with dark energy.
Every instinct in his battered body screamed at him to dodge, to run, but his legs felt like stone, his breath ragged and labored.
Blood trickled from countless wounds, staining the ground beneath him. His body was on the verge of collapse, his vision blurred, yet he refused to fall.
With a roar, the armored warrior swung its colossal blade down at him. Alex mustered the last of his strength and twisted his body, barely escaping the devastating slash.
The force of the attack shattered the stone beneath him, sending shockwaves through the battlefield. Dust and debris clouded the air, but Alex couldn't afford to stop.
Shadow Step!
His body flickered as he reappeared behind the towering figure, both dagger and sword slashing toward the gaps in the armor.
Sparks erupted as his weapons struck true, but the figure barely flinched. Instead, it whirled around with inhuman speed, its blade carving a deadly arc toward Alex's midsection.
Too fast!
His instincts screamed, and he barely managed to raise his dagger in time. The impact sent him flying, his ribs cracking under the force.
He crashed onto the hard stone floor, gasping as pain shot through his body like wildfire. His vision darkened at the edges, his limbs sluggish, his mind teetering on the brink of unconsciousness.
Get up.
A voice echoed in his mind, deep and resolute. His Dual-Soul Resonance flared once more, forcing his body to respond despite the overwhelming pain.
I can still move. I can still fight!
Summoning every ounce of willpower left, Alex forced himself to his feet, swaying but still standing.
The armored figure lifted its sword once more, preparing the final strike. This was it—his last chance.
Alex tightened his grip on his weapons. If raw strength wouldn't work, he would have to rely on speed and precision. He controlled his breathing, his mind racing.
He had to be faster.
Titan's Resilience!
His passive skill flared to life, dulling the pain just enough to let him move fluidly. The armored warrior lunged, and this time, Alex was ready.
He ducked under the incoming slash, twisting his body in an impossible maneuver.
His agility, honed through sheer survival, pushed beyond its limits. His dagger in his left hand moved first—
Slash!
A precise strike to the warrior's knee joint. The armor cracked.
His sword followed, an upward strike aimed at the exposed gap—
Heavy Strike!
The impact sent a tremor through the enemy's form, causing it to stagger.
Shadow Step!
He disappeared and reappeared behind it, delivering another brutal slash across its back. The figure stumbled, its movements faltering. It was weakening, but so was Alex.
One last move...!
Summoning every last ounce of strength, Alex leaped into the air. He flipped midair, rotating his body with every bit of agility he had left.
His dagger found purchase at the base of the warrior's neck, piercing through the weakened armor.
CRACK!
The armored figure froze, then collapsed onto one knee, its energy fading. It let out a deep, distorted growl before finally shattering into light, its dark energy dispersing into the void.
Silence filled the air.
Alex stood there, chest heaving, his vision swimming. His hands trembled as he released his grip on his weapons.
His knees buckled, and he fell forward, barely catching himself. His body was at its absolute limit, but he had won.
A deep rumbling echoed through the chamber as the air shimmered. The trial was over.
A golden light engulfed him, his wounds slowly closing, though the exhaustion remained. In his blurry vision, two sets of text appeared before him:
---
New Skill Acquired!
[Unyielding Will (D) – Growth Type] (Passive)
Your sheer determination allows you to resist mental and physical fatigue beyond normal limits. Effects increase with Willpower.
---
New Skill Acquired!
[Phantom Shift (D) – Growth Type] (Active)
A high-speed movement technique that allows the user to momentarily accelerate 3x beyond normal speed, creating an afterimage.
Duration: 10 minutes
Cooldown: 30 minutes
---
Alex barely managed a weak grin. Two skills... it was worth it.
His vision blurred.
His body, however, had reached its limit. Darkness crept into the edges of his vision, and before he could celebrate, his legs gave out.
His body hit the stone floor, and exhaustion finally consumed him.
Everything faded to black.