Yeo's heart pounded like a war drum as the surge of divine energy began to settle within his core. The faint golden glow from his hands dimmed, but its warmth lingered—proof that the blessing from the god of equilibrium was no dream.
He had awakened.
And the trial wasn't over.
The dungeon around him twisted. Cracked walls mended. Statues lining the hallway turned, their once-dead stone eyes flickering with crimson light. One of them stepped forward—its greatsword scraping across the stone floor like a metal scream.
A system message appeared before Yeo in faint blue text:
[Trial Phase 2 Initiated: Defeat the Stone Sentinel.]
He barely had time to read it before the statue lunged.
Yeo dodged on instinct. His body felt light, faster than before—reflexes that weren't his own had taken over. As the blade sliced through the space where he stood, he rolled and kicked off the wall, landing behind the sentinel.
"Move. Strike. Retreat." The instinct spoke like a second voice in his head.
His hand reacted. Golden energy crackled along his fingers, forming a short blade of light.
Shing!
The blade struck the sentinel's back. Sparks flew. A shallow gash—not enough. The sentinel whirled around and backhanded him. He flew back, crashing into a pillar, pain lancing through his ribs.
He groaned, but the fear in his chest was already burning into resolve. "If I can't beat one, how can I save a world?"
The energy pulsed again. This time, he felt the system's presence, more than just words—it was adapting to him. Empowering him.
> [Skill Unlocked: Flash Step Lv.1]
[Skill Unlocked: Radiant Blade Lv.1]
Yeo didn't hesitate.
He vanished in a blink, reappearing behind the sentinel mid-strike. His blade lengthened, glowing brighter, humming with divine energy. He slashed across the sentinel's neck.
Crack.
The stone split. A roar echoed through the chamber as the statue crumbled, falling into dust.
Yeo dropped to one knee, panting.
> [Trial Phase 2 Complete.]
[New Title Earned: First Blood.]
[Reward: System Integration Unlocked. Class: ??? (Hidden)]
"First blood, huh?" he muttered, staring at the dust cloud where the statue once stood. "Guess that means I'm really in the game now."
But his smile didn't last.
The floor beneath him shook again. More statues began to move.
And this time, there were five.