Warmth.
That was the first thing Alex felt as he floated in a hazy realm between consciousness and sleep.
A gentle heat wrapped around his battered body like a mother's embrace. He tried to open his eyes, but they felt like they had weights attached.
"Ugh... my everything hurts..." he mumbled.
His voice came out like a wheeze. Every muscle ached. His bones felt like they had been used as drumsticks in a goblin rock concert.
He had vague memories of fighting an armored monster, screaming his lungs out, and collapsing like a ragdoll.
Slowly, his eyes fluttered open.
He was lying on a soft bed made of shimmering blue energy in a serene chamber.
Warm ambient light glowed from the walls, and a pleasant scent like lavender mixed with mana filled the air.
"Where...?"
DING!
A soft chime echoed, followed by the familiar voice of the trial system.
> Congratulations, Alex Dragonheart. You have cleared the Third Trial: Trial of Will and Agility.
> As a reward, you have received the following skills:
> [Unyielding Will (D) – Growth Type] (Passive) – Your sheer determination allows you to resist mental and physical fatigue beyond normal limits. Effects increase with Willpower.
> [Phantom Shift (D) – Growth Type] (Active) – A high-speed movement technique that allows the user to momentarily accelerate beyond normal speed, creating an afterimage.
Duration: 10 minutes
Cooldown: 30 minutes
> You are granted one day to recover and prepare before the Final Trial begins.
Alex blinked, then grinned weakly.
"One day, huh... could've given me a week, you stingy old relic."
He groaned and sat up slowly, stretching his limbs.
CRACK.
"AH, OW, OKAY–maybe not stretch that hard!"
His body protested every movement, but after a few minutes and some light meditation, the pain dulled.
Titan's Resilience was doing its job. He stood up on shaky legs and took in the chamber. It was peaceful, almost unnaturally so.
Time to check these new skills.
First, he activated his passive.
Unyielding Will.
There wasn't a flashy effect, but he immediately noticed the difference. His mind cleared.
The mental fog from exhaustion lifted, and the aching in his limbs faded to a manageable throb.
"Huh... It's like having three espressos without the heart attack."
Next, he focused on his agility skill. He took a stance, then whispered:
"Phantom Shift!"
BOOM.
The world blurred around him, and in a blink, he was on the other side of the chamber. An afterimage of himself still lingered where he stood a moment before.
"Holy–!" he shouted, skidding into a wall and bouncing off it.
He groaned, sliding to the floor, "Okay... maybe warn me next time, super legs."
He tried it a few more times, getting the hang of it. The speed was insane.
It wasn't teleportation like Shadow Step, but it was practically instant movement.
"Combining this with Shadow Step... I'll be a ghost on the battlefield."
He imagined himself dashing between enemies like a blur, dodging attacks, countering from behind, vanishing before anyone could touch him.
"I could be... Phantom Ghost Step Ninja Man!"
A small silence followed.
"…Okay, that's a terrible name."
Still laughing at his own stupidity, he settled down cross-legged to meditate.
He focused on his mana, letting it flow calmly through his body. His Basic Mana Control was reaching its peak now—just a little more, and he could push it past Novice.
His breathing slowed. The pain faded. His mind entered a tranquil state.
The day passed like a peaceful dream.
Then, the chamber rumbled.
A soft golden light swirled in the air, and the voice returned.
> "Your time of preparation is over, Alex Dragonheart."
"Yeah, I figured you wouldn't let me nap forever."
> "Stand and follow the path. The Final Trial awaits."
The walls shimmered and faded, revealing a long, floating bridge made of glowing runes stretching into the void. Alex stepped onto it. Each step echoed with an ethereal hum.
After several minutes, the path ended before an awe-inspiring structure.
A colossal floating arena hovered in the sky, surrounded by cascading waterfalls of mana. Floating platforms circled it slowly, pulsing with energy. The entire place radiated ancient power.
Alex's eyes widened.
"This… this is some final boss level nonsense."
As he stepped into the arena, golden sigils lit up on the ground. The air grew heavy. Then, for the first time, the voice took form.
A man appeared.
He was tall, clad in silver armor laced with golden runes, his long black hair flowing like smoke.
His eyes glowed with cosmic light. Power rolled off him in waves.
Alex instinctively reached for his weapons.
The man smiled.
> "You have done well, Alex. But to clear the Final Trial…"
He raised a hand. A massive sword formed in it, shaped from pure ether.
> "…you must defeat me."
Alex's heart skipped a beat.
"What."
The man stepped forward, the ground trembling under his feet.
> "Show me the strength of your will. Show me the speed of your blade. Show me that you are worthy."
The air froze. Alex swallowed.
"…Welp, I'm screwed."
The man raised his sword and the trial started.