The third round finished earlier than expected. We barely had time to catch our breaths before the aswang's eerie laughter filled the arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" he announced, his sharp teeth glinted as he grinned. "The final round is now upon us! And its a free-for-all between teams! Only four teams will emerge victorious, and they shall claim the prize of this sacred trial!"
A silent fell over the arena as the aswang snapped his fingers. The center of the arena shifted, the ground rumbling as a massive stone slab rose from below. When the dust cleared, the prize was revealed and it was four enormous stones, each the size of a door, glowing faintly with an otherworldly light.
Han San gasped, his eyes wide with disbelief. "That's... that's a Giant Spirit Stone! It's priceless! Even the wealthiest clans can't buy one!"
The announcement sent a ripple of excitement through the remaining contestants. The stakes were now higher than ever. Winning wasn't just about survival anymore and it was about gaining an artifact of immense value.
I glanced at my team, then at Han San's group. His team had raw strength and experience, but we had synergy as we trust one another. It didn't take long for me to make a decision.
I approached Han San, keeping my voice low. "We should join forces. Clint's team is the only threat left here and he make grudges before the ruins opened earlier. If we work together, we can secure two of the four stones."
Han San looked at me, his brow furrowed in thought. After a moment, he seem to hae been made a decision and nodded. "I agreed to your terms. Clint's team is dangerous, but if we combine our strength, they will not stand a chance. Once we eliminate them, we can focus on securing the stones for ourselves."
With our alliance solidified, we quickly discussed tactics. The aswang, meanwhile, raised his hand and snapped his fingers again. The ground beneath us shifted, expanding outward until the arena had grown to an impossible size, large enough to fit the 99 participants still standing.
"The arena has been enlarged to test your endurance, wit, and strength!" the aswang cackled. "The final round begins... now!"
Chaos erupted instantly. The weaker teams scattered, trying to avoid being caught in the crossfire of stronger opponents. Clint's team, however, wasted no time. They cut through the weaker teams with ruthless efficiency, their leader barking orders that kept them coordinated as if machines.
Han San's team and mine moved strategically, keeping close to one another as we made our way toward Clint's group. The battlefield was chaotic, with energy blasts, weapons clashing, and desperate shouts filling the air.
Corpses was everywhere, as the smell of iron surrounded the whole arena.
"Clint's team is up ahead!" Emilia shouted, pointing toward the center of the arena.
"Stick to the plan!" Jose called out, his tattoos glowing faintly as he readied himself for battle.
Han San's team engaged Clint's fighters head-on, drawing their attention while my team flanked them from the sides. The synergy between our two teams was immediate and effective. Han San's brute strength and tactical mind complemented our speed and precision perfectly.
Clint's team, however, proved to be as formidable as we expected. Their coordination rivaled the triplets, and their raw power was undeniable. Clint himself was a force of nature, wielding long nails as sharp as the sharpest knife that crackled with ominous energy.
"You think you can take me down with tricks and teamwork?" Clint sneered, his voice booming over the chaos. "I'll crush you all!"
Han San stepped forward, his sword gleaming with a sharp aura. "Your arrogance will be your downfall, Clint."
As the two leaders clashed, the battlefield seemed to erupt with power. Han San's strikes were precise and relentless, but Clint's brute force made him difficult to overwhelm.
Meanwhile, the rest of us focused on taking down Clint's team. Emilia's energy aura disrupted their formations, while Jose's raw strength overwhelmed their defenses. I used Phantom Prowl to slip through their ranks, delivering swift and decisive blows.
Despite our combined efforts, Clint's team fought like cornered beasts, refusing to yield. But the alliance between Han San's team and ours proved too much. One by one, Clint's teammates fell, until only he remained.
Realizing he was outnumbered, Clint let out a furious roar, his nails slamming into the ground and sending a shockwave across the arena.
"Stay back!" Jose shouted as we dodged the attack.
Han San took the opportunity to deliver the final blow, his sword slicing through Clint's defenses and forcing him out of the arena.
The aswang's laughter echoed once again as the dust settled. "Well done! Four teams remain! The trial has been passed... for now."
The giant spirit stones pulsed with energy, a silent testament to our victory. But I couldn't shake the feeling that the true challenges were just beginning.
As we don't have any storage to store the spirit stones we got as the prize my forehead is also indicating that this stone will be a huge help for me,
Han San walked towards me and asked why didn't we store it. "Why don't you guys store the spirit stone?"
"We don't have any space magic or artifacts that can store objects." I replied with a sour face.
Han San produced a ring from thin air and handed it to me. The ring glimmered faintly, engraved with intricate runes that seemed to shift and pulse with a subtle energy. I held it carefully, feeling its weight and power. Tang Lin stood beside Han San, his jaw tight and his eyes narrowing as though he wanted to protest, but no words came.
"Looks like we're lucky to have a friend like Han San," Emilia said, her voice carrying a rare lightness as she smiled. "Otherwise, we'd have to leave this giant Spirit Stone behind."
Jose chuckled, giving Han San a firm pat on the back. "You just saved our hides. Guess we owe you one."
Han San waved them off with a humble gesture. "No need for that. Survival matters more than treasure, and we're stronger together. Remember the ring can only hold up to 20 meters." His calm demeanor eased the tension that lingered between us after the intense battle.
I slipped the ring onto my finger and concentrated. A soft hum of energy coursed through me, and with a mere thought, the massive Spirit Stone shrank in size, dissolving into golden particles that vanished into the ring's storage space. The process was mesmerizing, leaving Emilia momentarily awestruck.
"Wow," she murmured, brushing a lock of hair from her face. "I didn't think it would work so smoothly. That's... incredible."
The aswang's mocking laughter shattered the moment, and he stepped forward, his movements fluid and unnerving. His sharp grin widened, exposing too many teeth. "Now, go to the next door," he said, his voice dripping with a mix of amusement and malice. "It will lead you to the final trial. Lucky you, boy."
We glanced at each other, our expressions shifting from relief to unease. The final trial loomed, and the aswang's words only added to the ominous atmosphere.
As we turned toward the revealed path, the air seemed to grow heavier. The remaining teams, battered and weary but determined, trudged toward the arched doorway that had materialized from the arena's shifting stone.
"Stay close," I said, my voice firm but quiet.
The narrow corridor stretched into darkness, illuminated only by faint, flickering torches embedded in the walls. The light danced on the stone, casting distorted shadows that made it feel like we were being watched. Emilia's hand brushed against the hilt of her sword, her eyes scanning every corner as though expecting an ambush.
Han San walked beside me, his face calm but his body tense. "That aswang," he muttered, his voice low enough for only me to hear. "He's hiding something. The way he looked at you... it's as if you're more than just another participant in his twisted game."
I nodded, my gut agreeing with his words. There was something about the aswang's gaze, the way he lingered on me, it was as if he knew something about me that even I didn't.
The silence was broken by Jose's voice. "Let's keep moving. This place gives me the creeps, and I'd rather not stick around to find out why."
We pressed on, the corridor eventually opening into a vast, dimly lit chamber. The air was thick, almost suffocating, and the ground beneath us seemed to pulse faintly, as though alive. Ahead, a new door loomed, ornate and foreboding, etched with runes similar to those from earlier.
At the bottom of the Arena, Clint got up and as if the minions of the Aswang who hosted the deathmatch didn't seem to attack him. The minions pounced at the participants who had fallen from it as if its a feast.
An altar emerge when Clint's blood was poured when he poked his finger with his sharp claws to drop one blood. He seems to bring out an artifact that looks like a doll and place it at the altar. The loud growls of the monsters stopped as the altar began to shine.
"Ancestor, it is time to get out of your cage. Nothing can bind you anymore." Clint laughed as if he is the final victor.
The altar began to crack as if a sacrificed has been done. Cracks also appeared at the arena where they fought earlier, as a loud roar could be heard outside the ruins.
The aswang who was hosting began to blur as if he was a soul being extinguished.
One by one, a coffin could be seen where the arena was once was. It was the aswang that was hosting the trial.
"Hahahahaha, At last after a hundred years in that godforsaken place and coffin, I'm finally free!!!" The aswang shouted as he laughs.
"Congratulations ancestor, its time to invade the mortal world too, our clan has the preparations that we could do." Clint celebrates the return of his ancestor.
"That's good. It's time to destroy this place, but we can't. The bakunawa guards this place because of a promise from a knight in the western country from the past." The aswang ancestor lamented.
"Well, the boy you always teased is still there ancestor. You said he has a special bloodline. It seems enticing and maybe we could use it to restore your strength at its peak." Clint added as he was scheming.
"Let's do that. I'll destroy the passage to the next trial so we can catch up to them. It will be a feast, and I'll give you the control of these monsters ive got in the time I was here." The ancestor gathers the blood that remained in the place and as if he could manipulate it he puts a bit of some kind of malicious energy then blast it at the door where Jiro and the others entered.
A big explosion occured at the back where we passed by earlier to get to the next trial, followed by the explosion an earthquake occur. My feelings and forehead is telling me that we had to hurry up so i told the others that we should and my instincts had never been wrong.
Before we could take another step, a faint rumbling echoed from the corridor behind us. It was distant at first, but the vibrations grew stronger with each passing second.
"What now?" Emilia muttered, gripping her sword tightly.
I turned back, my forehead burning faintly. It was a warning like I had earlier but its getting stonger. Something was coming. Something dangerous.
Without hesitation, I called out, "We need to hurry! Whatever it is, we don't want to be here when it catches up."
Han San nodded sharply, taking the lead as we sprinted toward the next door. Behind us, the sound grew louder, a cacophony of growls, roars, and something more sinister, a laughter, deep and guttural, echoing through the stone corridor like a death knell.