A chilling wind swept across the massive stone platform as Alex stepped forward, his heart pounding like a war drum.
The air crackled with an ominous energy, the floating arena suspended in an endless void, surrounded by glowing runes that pulsed with an unknown force.
Standing at the other end of the platform was his opponent—a towering figure clad in ancient battle-worn armor.
His face was obscured by a hood, but his presence radiated an overwhelming sense of power. In his hand, he held a sword unlike any Alex had ever seen.
Its blade shimmered and shifted between elements, flickering between fire, water, wind, earth, space, and lightning. The sheer pressure it emitted sent a shiver down Alex's spine.
The warrior's voice echoed through the vast space. "I will match your level, as is the rule of this trial. Otherwise, this battle would end in an instant."
Alex exhaled sharply, gripping his sword tighter. "And if I don't give it my all?"
"Then you will die."
The weight of those words settled in Alex's chest, but he smirked despite himself. "No pressure, huh?"
Without warning, the warrior lunged.
---
Alex barely had time to react before the warrior's blade came crashing down like a thunderbolt. He twisted his body, activating [Shadow Step] to teleport backward just in time to avoid the devastating strike.
The ground where he had stood cracked and shattered from the sheer force of the blow.
"Too slow," the warrior said, vanishing from sight.
Alex's instincts screamed at him, and he threw himself to the side just as a flaming sword strike slashed past him, leaving behind a molten scar on the ground.
He barely had a moment to recover before a gust of wind sent him skidding back, nearly toppling over the platform's edge.
"Damn it! This guy's relentless!" Alex gritted his teeth, flipping his dagger into his left hand while keeping his sword in his dominant right. His breathing was already ragged, but he pushed forward.
He lashed out with [Heavy Strike], aiming at the warrior's torso, but the attack was effortlessly parried.
The warrior countered with a barrage of slashes, each infused with a different element.
Fire burned his arm, water chilled his bones, and lightning sent painful shocks through his body. His wounds piled up, but he gritted his teeth and fought through the pain.
[Titan's Resilience] kept him from collapsing, but only barely.
The warrior remained calm, his movements smooth and controlled. "Control, Alex. Strength without control is nothing but wasted potential."
---
Alex wiped the blood from his lips, panting. He couldn't win in a head-on clash—his opponent was too skilled. But that didn't mean he was out of options.
He activated [Phantom Shift], making his body lighter and increasing his agility for ten minutes. His movements became sharper, his reactions faster.
He dodged a fire-infused slash, sidestepped a water spear, and countered with a flurry of dagger strikes aimed at the warrior's blind spots.
For the first time, the warrior's movements hesitated, a flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Alex smirked. "Got you."
He activated [Dodge], weaving through the warrior's attacks, then used [Shadow Step] to appear behind him. He swung both his sword and dagger at full force.
But the warrior turned at the last second, blocking with his blade.
"Impressive," he admitted. "But not enough."
A powerful shockwave erupted from his sword, sending Alex flying backward. His body hit the ground hard, rolling to the edge of the platform.
His wounds screamed in agony, but he forced himself to stand, gripping his weapons tightly.
The warrior walked forward, his blade crackling with raw energy. "You have talent, Alex. But talent alone will not help you win. Control your pain. Control your fear. Only then will you survive."
Alex took a deep breath, his mind racing. He had to adapt. He had to control everything—his mana, his movements, his fear.
---
Summoning every ounce of strength, Alex charged again, weaving through the elemental onslaught with newfound precision.
His attacks became more calculated, his dodges more fluid. He was learning. He was growing.
But the warrior was still one step ahead.
With a final strike, infused with pure energy, the warrior's blade slashed through the air, colliding with Alex's weapons. The impact was too much.
Alex felt his feet leave the ground as the force sent him flying off the platform.
Time seemed to slow as he plummeted into the abyss below, his mind reeling.
The last thing he saw was the warrior standing at the edge, watching him with something resembling approval.
"Control, Alex. Without it, even the strongest warriors fall."
Darkness swallowed him whole.