The ship floated in the middle of the storm, surrounded by rolling black clouds and streaks of lightning that flashed like veins in the sky. Thunder rumbled deep and loud, making the ship vibrate beneath them. The Storm Warden—a massive, silver-scaled serpent—circled them, its glowing eyes watching their every move.
Ren, Sakayanagi, Shigan, and Kaelen stood on the deck, their gazes fixed on the creature. Raidon, however, remained calm, his arms crossed as if this were nothing unusual.
Ren turned his head toward him, suspicion clear in his expression. "You told us that we needed to go thunder speed to enter the Thunder Skies," he said. "But this thing just told us we have to prove ourselves. Were you lying?"
Sakayanagi took a step forward, her blue flames flickering faintly around her hands. "Yeah, what's the deal, Raidon? If it was just about speed, we'd figure something out. But now there's some kind of test?"
Shigan scoffed, shaking his head. "Should've known there was something you weren't telling us."
Kaelen remained silent, his sharp eyes observing the situation.
Raidon sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Listen, I wasn't lying, alright? I just… left out a few details."
Ren's glare deepened. "Start talking."
Raidon exhaled and leaned against the ship's railing, looking up at the storm above them. "Yes, to physically break through the barrier to the Thunder Skies, you need to move at thunder speed. But that's only part of it. The real challenge isn't just about speed—it's about worthiness."
Kaelen narrowed his eyes. "Worthiness?"
Raidon nodded. "The Thunder Skies don't let just anyone in. If you try to force your way through without proving yourself, the lightning barrier will disintegrate you instantly. No second chances."
Ren clenched his fists. "So, what? We fight that thing?" He pointed at the Storm Warden, which was still circling them, waiting.
Raidon shook his head. "Not necessarily. The test is different for everyone. Some people have to fight. Some have to endure the storm itself. Some have to prove their willpower." He looked at them seriously. "The Thunder Skies decide what kind of test you face. It all depends."
Shigan let out a sharp breath. "Great. So we have no idea what we're up against."
Sakayanagi frowned. "You should've told us this earlier."
"I figured I'd explain when we got here," Raidon said with a shrug. "Not like you had another choice."
Ren clicked his tongue, frustrated, but he turned back to the Storm Warden. "Fine. We'll prove ourselves."
The serpent's deep, rumbling voice echoed through the air, vibrating in their chests.
"Then face the trial. If you fail… you will never reach the Thunder Skies."
A massive bolt of lightning struck the sea beneath them, making the entire ship jolt. The clouds above swirled faster, and the winds howled louder. The temperature dropped as an invisible force pressed down on them, making it hard to breathe.
Suddenly, the Storm Warden stopped circling and faced them directly. Its silver eyes glowed brighter, and its enormous body began to coil around the ship. The moment it did, everything changed.
The storm around them vanished. The sky turned pitch black, the winds disappeared, and all sound was gone. The ship itself no longer felt like it was moving. It was as if they had been thrown into a void, a place beyond reality.
Ren looked around, confused. "What the hell just happened?"
Sakayanagi stepped closer to him. "I don't know… but I don't like it."
Shigan's hand went to his sword, his body tense. "This doesn't feel right."
Kaelen gritted his teeth. "This is part of the test, isn't it?"
Raidon didn't answer. His face was unusually serious.
Then, the Storm Warden spoke again, but its voice was no longer deep and rumbling. Instead, it was a whisper that seemed to come from every direction.
"Your trial begins now."
Ren blinked—and suddenly, he was alone.
The ship was gone. The sky was gone. His friends were gone.
He was standing in the middle of an empty, dark space. A fog-like mist swirled around him, moving unnaturally, almost alive. He could hear nothing except his own heartbeat.
Then, a voice called out.
"Ren…"
His breath caught in his throat.
He knew that voice.
It was soft, familiar, filled with warmth he hadn't felt in years.
He turned around slowly.
Standing before him was his mother.
Ren froze. He couldn't speak. His mother looked exactly as he remembered her—gentle, kind, with that same soft smile. She reached out a hand to him.
"Ren," she said again. "Come here, my son."
His hands trembled. His whole body felt numb.
This wasn't real. It couldn't be.
But it felt real.
Ren's instincts screamed at him to move, to run, to summon his shadows—but he couldn't. His feet wouldn't move. His mind was at war with itself.
Then, just before he could take a step forward, something flickered inside him. A familiar presence.
From the depths of his consciousness, his shadows whispered.
"It's a trick."
Ren's eyes widened.
His mother's face flickered.
For a split second, her warm smile twisted into something monstrous.
His heart pounded as reality snapped back into place.
It wasn't real.
None of it was real.
It was the trial.
Ren clenched his fists, summoning his strength. He knew what he had to do.
Meanwhile, in a different illusion, Sakayanagi and Shigan were facing their own worst memories—Sakayanagi seeing her dead friend, and Shigan facing the uncle he had lost.
Their trials had only just begun.
—To be continued...