Chereads / Secrecy Of The Truth / Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Trials

Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Trials

In the kaleidoscopic void, Xaide found himself suspended, the vibrant hues of an otherworldly panorama surrounding him. The disorienting transition from the mundane to the fantastical left him speechless. A torrent of thoughts surged through his mind as he grappled with the surreal nature of his predicament.

"Did I fall into a portal accidentally? This is madness; I am going to die in the first realm. Fate, fate, fate—how can you do that to me?" His inner monologue echoed the anxiety that reverberated through his very core.

As if to respond to his silent turmoil, the mysterious voice resonated once more, offering cryptic explanations for the bewildering environment.

["This is the portal to the first realm! Only the awakened can enter it! As a mortal, you can challenge the trials! Each trial will bestow upon you a temporary ability! After completing all the trials, you'll have the chance to acquire a permanent ability! The better your performance in the trials, the more potent the ability you'll receive! A well-executed performance might even earn you a bonus! But beware, if you make a single mistake and fail a trial, the temporary ability will not become permanent!"]

The weight of the revelation settled on Xaide's shoulders, but his apprehension gave way to an exhilarating realization.

"Yoo, this is it! This is what I've been waiting for my whole life. I won't let it slip away." Determination coursed through him, igniting a fervor for the challenges that lay ahead.

Excitement brimming, Xaide eagerly queried, "So when do we start?"

The enigmatic voice responded promptly, unveiling a set of three intriguing options for his initial choice.

[You can choose one of three abilities!]

[Eternal Flame {Description: The flame can burn for as long as the caster wants.}] [Scorching Sun {Description: As long as you are near a hydrogen atom, the heat will grow more.}] [Thousand Year Chilling {Description: The fire is so cold that it can ice the sun; the people around the fire user will feel chilling coldness.}"] The gravity of the decision hung in the air, with each option carrying the promise of a unique power. A sense of anticipation rippled through Xaide as he mulled over the possibilities.

["Choose wisely, mortal,"] the voice cautioned, as if aware of the weight inherent in the forthcoming decision.

With a deep breath, Xaide made his selection, a fire of determination kindling in his eyes.

"I choose the Thousand Year Chilling."

As his words reverberated in the void, the surroundings shifted. The next chapter of his journey unfolded with a proclamation from the enigmatic voice.

["You can die in the trial once; the second you die, you really die! Are you ready for the first trial?"]

With a resolute nod, Xaide affirmed, "I'm ready."

And so, the stage was set for the inaugural trial, a challenge that bore the intriguing title,

["The Despair Of Fire's."]

The unknown beckoned, and Xaide stepped forward into the maelstrom of trials, his fate now intertwined with the enigmatic forces that governed the first realm.

The ethereal surroundings transformed into a surreal landscape, where pillars of crystalline ice stood juxtaposed against flickering flames. Xaide found himself in an arena that seemed to embody the dichotomy of fire and ice, an elemental battleground for the trials ahead.

The voice echoed through the frozen air, ["Survive the Despair Of Fire's. Conquer the elements, and the Thousand Year Chilling shall be yours."]

With a determined gaze, Xaide faced the imminent challenges, knowing that each trial would push him closer to the coveted awakening. The dance of fire and ice awaited, and the Unawakened Warrior embraced the trials with a resolve that burned as fiercely as the flames and chilled as deeply as the ice that surrounded him.