Judgement was the moment that made Rizki squint in surprise. Inside a chamber adorned with eerie weapons, he felt a shiver run down his spine. Among the array of peculiar artifacts, a magnificent silver halberd stood out, its surface covered in cryptic symbols and runes. It held an uncanny allure, unlike anything he had ever encountered.
As Rizki cautiously approached the gleaming halberd, he couldn't help but be drawn to it. Liora, his companion, voiced her concern, her tone laced with unease. "You used your divine scroll again, didn't you?"
Rizki chuckled softly, shaking his head. "It's a phone, not a scroll," he replied, pulling out his modern device. With nimble fingers, he opened the camera application and took a quick picture of the enigmatic halberd. He then sent the image to Faye, the goddess who had become an integral part of his life.
As he attached the image, curiosity overcame him, prompting him to type a message. "I found this, and it looks like some sort of your rune magic. Can you translate it for me?"
In the realm where Faye resided, she was preparing to leave her divine abode, dressed in her full regal attire as a goddess. But just as she was about to step out, a notification rang on her phone. She couldn't resist checking it.
Her eyes widened as she read the message: "To Rizki Irawan, for the man to pass the Trial of Judgement." A radiant smile broke across her face as she realized the significance of those words. Swiftly, she tapped out a reply, excitement bubbling within her. "Congratulations, Rizki! You've earned the right to wield a hero's weapon!"
Rizki received her response and sent a voice note in return, his voice filled with both amazement and anticipation. "Really?" His free hand gripped the halberd's shaft, and in his realm, Liora channeled her holy magic into Aqua, Rizki's trusty horse, to keep her calm and secure.
Liora's voice carried a hint of exhaustion as she continued to pour her magic into Aqua. "It's much more sinister than I thought," she admitted. "Centuries ago, it wasn't this corroded."
Rizki pondered for a moment, drawing on his modern knowledge. "It's like there's been a nuclear leak," he mused aloud.
Determined to uncover the secrets of the ancient halberd, Rizki strained against its weight, pulling with all his might. Just as he felt a glimmer of progress, his phone rang with an incoming call.
"Hello?" Rizki answered, releasing his grip on the halberd to accept the call.
Faye's voice sounded urgent on the other end. "Skip pulling the halberd, Rizki. You must walk alone. I'll find a way to transport my blessings to Alice so she can safely bring your horse."
Rizki's brow furrowed, and he protested, "I can't just leave someone behind. I have to try..." But before he could finish his sentence, the call abruptly ended.
Suddenly, a nightmarish scene unfolded before Rizki's eyes. Liora, who had been aiding him moments ago, now stood before him, her body bloodied and her head severed. She murmured desperately for him to save her, her gaze filled with fear, while nearby, his beloved horse Aqua lay sliced in two.
Rizki's heart raced as he surveyed the gruesome tableau, his mind reeling. "What is happening?" he whispered, his eyes darting frantically from side to side.
In an attempt to regain his composure, Rizki holstered his gun and steadied his trembling hands. He inched past Liora, offering a silent prayer for her safety, and continued forward with determined steps. He reminded himself that what he was witnessing was likely an illusion, a cruel trick designed to test his mettle.
As he ventured deeper into the eerie shadow that surrounded him, Rizki felt a growing sense of unease. The darkness seemed to stretch endlessly before him. He reached into his pocket and retrieved his phone, activating its flashlight to pierce the oppressive gloom.
He proceeded cautiously, each step taking him further into the unknown. The tension in the air was palpable, and his heart pounded in his chest as he pressed on.
Eventually, Rizki reached what appeared to be the end of the shadowy abyss. He brought his phone closer, illuminating his surroundings, only to be met with a shocking sight that made his head spin.
With a gasp of astonishment, Rizki dropped his phone, and the world went black.
When Rizki regained consciousness, he found himself in a dire situation. He was bound, his wrists secured by iron cuffs. The elf who had accompanied him earlier was also present, unconscious and similarly bound in front of him.
"Liora!" Rizki exclaimed, his voice filled with urgency as he strained to see if she was still alive.
Then, a sinister figure emerged from the shadows. It held a gleaming knife to Rizki's throat, its voice dripping with malevolence. "So, you are Rizki Irawan? The Hero from the Southeast of the Earth?"
Rizki's eyes narrowed as he stared at the enigmatic figure, his voice steady and determined. "Who are you?" he demanded, his gaze unwavering as he attempted to free himself from his restraints. He issued a warning, "You'd better uncuff me, or you'll regret it."
The shadowy figure chuckled ominously, its eyes gleaming with malice. "Oh, by all means, try me," it taunted.
Rizki clenched his jaw and focused his strength on removing the chains that bound him. But as he struggled, his gaze fell upon Liora once more, and his heart sank. She lay on the ground, pale and unmoving, blood seeping from her wounds.
"Liora!" Rizki cried out in disbelief, his voice cracking with anguish. He watched in horror as the figure reached into Liora's chest and extracted her heart, a gruesome display of its power.
The sinister trial had only just begun, and Rizki found himself trapped in a nightmarish ordeal where his every move was scrutinized and tested. As he faced the enigmatic figure and the shadows that surrounded him, he knew that he had to summon every ounce of his strength and courage to survive and uncover the truth behind this harrowing trial. The threat lingered in the shadowy figure's voice: "Try to move, or your wives are next!"