Author's notes:
<>.
— I use this for dialogue.
<
With only three hours of rest before his next mandatory training with the recruits, Yariel knew he couldn't afford to fail. The penalty for not showing up could mean expulsion from the academy. If he waited until after training, there wouldn't be enough time to complete the challenge, so the only option was to do it before.
<
He grabbed a long-sleeved thermal shirt, made from a technical fabric that retains body heat without trapping moisture, fitted to keep the cold out without restricting arm or torso movements.
A lightweight waterproof vest designed to cut the wind and resist water. Not too thick so it wouldn't limit his mobility, but resistant enough to withstand freezing temperatures and contact with water.
Tight-fitting thermal pants, also insulated. They needed to allow freedom of movement for climbing and quick maneuvers in the water. Something similar to climbing pants but with an added layer of insulation.
<
Yariel looked at his reflection in the mirror and gave his outfit one last glance. Everything was in place, designed to maximize his chances of success without sacrificing comfort.
Lastly, he put on a matching jacket. It was a tracksuit he hadn't had the chance to wear before, but today, facing the challenge of [Cold Waters], it seemed like the perfect moment. With a determined sigh, he left his room and headed to the academy's reception, where they could tell him the way to the trial.
Upon arrival, Yariel recognized Hernández, the girl he had seen the first time he crossed the gates of the academy. Though she had seemed distant at first, her attitude now felt more understandable. Over time, Yariel realized she wasn't rude; she simply measured her words with precision. After all, how many people must she attend to each day? With that thought in mind, he approached her, ready for the trial.
Hernández looked at Yariel with a mix of doubt and curiosity. She held his ID badge as if she couldn't believe he was there to enter the circuits. For a few seconds, she seemed to study him, as if she wanted to make sure this wasn't some mistake or joke.
—Do you have credentials for this? —she finally asked, with a skeptical smirk, turning the badge over in her fingers.
Without waiting for an answer, she looked up at the giant screen that displayed the names of the ranked recruits. Her eyes scanned the list quickly, and suddenly, she paused on a name that made her blink in surprise.
—Yariel, number 200? —she murmured, clearly surprised. Her tone shifted from doubt to astonishment in an instant.
Yariel, feeling uncomfortable under the scrutiny, scratched the back of his neck, trying not to appear too nervous. Hernández looked at him again, this time with a bit more respect in her gaze, though her laid-back attitude remained.
—Wow... how on earth did you get here? —Hernández said, crossing her arms with a half-smile—. Yesterday, you weren't even on the map, and now... bam! Here you are, in the top 200. Amazing, right?
—I've been training hard, —Yariel responded, trying to sound calm, though inside he felt the pressure of the eyes on him.
Hernández laughed, now more relaxed, and patted him on the shoulder. She explained that the academy had a complex underground system dedicated exclusively to the training circuits, where each recruit with the proper credentials could enter. She also explained the consequences of not showing up to a circuit after enrolling. Basically, they would take away half of the points he currently had.
—You understand that?
Yariel nodded, feeling uneasy but grateful that the tension had eased. She accompanied him to the entrance. They were in the hallways, within the main wing of the academy. But the doors wouldn't open unless his identification gave him access.
—Well, champ. Here's the path to glory... or disaster. Your choice. But don't worry, only half your points are at stake... nothing too important, right? —she added with a mocking smile.
Yariel sighed, realizing that despite her light tone, there was some truth in what she was saying. Hernández finally handed back his identification and led him to the entrance, which wasn't far away.
He placed his ID, and the access was granted almost instantly:
[Access granted]
The entrance to the tunnels was a sturdy door, forged in steel.
<
—Are you sure you want to go in? —she asked as she scanned his card—. It's not common for newly ranked recruits to take on a trial so soon. Most prefer to train with the team and accumulate points in a safer way.
—I don't have time to waste, —Yariel replied with determination, though deep down, he knew he was stepping into unknown territory.
—Alright, I've warned you. It's your call. —she said as she stepped aside, letting him see the open door—. Good luck! —Hernández shouted as Yariel began walking towards the entrance, descending a set of stairs that seemed endless—. If you don't make it back, at least leave a farewell note, don't be shy!
As he descended the stairs, the air grew colder, and a faint echo reverberated with each step he took. Finally, he reached a wide corridor, constructed with solid, minimalist architecture. The walls were adorned with ancient symbols, while spherical lights embedded in the ceiling illuminated the path.
Once he was below, every few meters, Yariel noticed entrances to different circuits. They were shimmering portals, like veils of water suspended in mid-air. Each portal had a unique aura indicating the type of challenge it held within. Some entrances radiated an intense red glow, others a cold blue, and some dimly flickered, as if danger lurked in the shadows.
At each entrance, there was a metal plaque engraved with the name of the circuit, who held the record, and a credential reader. Yariel paused in front of a few of them, reading the names with fascination and a hint of unease.
[Torment of Steel] Record: Marcos Alonso - 12:35
[Labyrinth of Flames] Record: Eris Kirkov - 18:22
Just seeing the names of the greatest on those plaques made his heart race. Some of these circuits weren't just legendary for their difficulty, but for the stories of those who failed to complete them. Few dared to enter, as the price of failure wasn't just the loss of points.
Yariel wondered if he was truly ready for something like this, but his thoughts were interrupted when he reached the entrance he was looking for.
[Cold Waters] Record: Caleb Levine - 00:42:10
<
The doubts dissipated, and only the excitement of surpassing Caleb convinced him that it was now or never. Plus, the penalty for not taking the test was worse.
The entrance glowed with a soft, almost hypnotic blue light. The cold emanating from the portal grew in intensity, as if the air itself were freezing around it. He felt a chill run down his spine, but it wasn't just the cold that unsettled him.
He placed his card on the credential reader. The device let out a soft beep before lighting up in green.
<
After stepping through the portal:
Yariel found himself in a vast underground cavern, lit only by the reflection of light on the icy walls. At the center of the cavern stretched a massive, dark, and freezing lake, its cold waters hiding an even greater challenge. In the distance, a frozen waterfall fell in silence, adding a sense of desolation to the atmosphere.
<
As he approached the lake, the sensation of extreme cold was palpable. With every breath, the air condensed in the frigid environment, causing vapor to escape from his mouth.
<
<
The objective of the trial was simple: dive into the icy depths of the lake, retrieve a submerged relic, and then bring it to a stone altar on the other side of the cavern.
<
''...deposit it on an altar after a vertical climb...''
<
However, the real challenge lay in surviving the extreme cold, overcoming the hidden obstacles beneath the surface, and facing an unforeseen threat.
<
Yariel removed his clothes, leaving only his underwear as his body braced itself against the cold. Sitting on the edge of the frozen lake, he seemed insignificant against the vastness of the cavern, but inside him burned an unyielding will. The Arctic wind lashed at his skin like a thousand blades, trying to break his spirit. Each breath was a battle, a challenge that sought to subdue him before he even took the first step. But Yariel was not someone who gave in easily. With iron determination, he closed his eyes, concentrating on the rhythm of his heart, and slowly, he controlled his breathing. The cold that sought to invade him became his ally.
He took a deep breath.
—Ha...
He took another deep breath.
—Ha...
One more breath.
—Ha...
With the last breath, Yariel felt his body and mind reach a state of absolute relaxation. Every beat of his heart resonated like a drum in his chest, and he could feel the blood coursing through his veins. In that instant, his perception sharpened beyond human limits; he could feel the faint creak of ice beneath his feet and even the tiny movements of insects around him. A moment of perfect stillness until, suddenly, he opened his eyes.
<
Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the water and dived in. The impact of the cold was immediate. His body tensed instantly. The water was dense, and darkness enveloped him, but Yariel knew he had to remain calm. His only option was to reach the bottom.
Through the darkness, he managed to spot a faint glimmer. A few meters below. Something was shining among the shadows.
<
The sensation of cold was overwhelming. As Yariel descended, his heartbeats slowed, and every movement seemed like a titanic struggle against the freezing temperatures. The pressure of the water grew, draining his strength, but Yariel, recalling everything he had learned, knew he had to use his gift.
At that precise moment, he stopped. It wasn't about escaping the cold but fighting it from within. He had to raise his body temperature to avoid hypothermia. With titanic effort, he channeled his internal energy, focusing on the deepest part of himself.
Yariel's brow furrowed. His concentration reached its peak, and he felt a subtle warmth begin to spread from within. That warmth, barely perceptible at first, slowly increased. It was as if something inside him had awakened, a spark. He continued, glancing to the sides as water and ice creatures slithered in the shadows, stalking him, their blurry forms casting a latent threat. But Yariel pressed on.
Finally, he reached the bottom. There, among the shadows, the crystal gleamed like a beacon in the darkness. He grasped it with both hands, and at that moment, he felt the immense power of the relic. A sensation of relief and comforting warmth began to emanate from the crystal, as if it were responding to his presence, offering a small reprieve.
<
He grabbed hold of a nearby rock, planting his feet in the sandy lakebed, and with a powerful push, his body surged upward. After over four minutes submerged in the depths, his head finally broke through the surface, gasping for air:
—Ha!
sigh*
—Ha!
sigh*
—Ha!
sigh*
<
The real challenge began now. After emerging from the water with the crystal in his hands, he quickly put his clothes back on. The water was so cold that he actually felt warmth and relief when his body touched the air inside the cave. The lake was just the beginning; now, he had to climb an imposing frozen waterfall that led to the altar where he had to deposit the relic. But suddenly, a deep roar shattered the silence of the cave, reverberating off the icy walls.
GRROAAARR!
A massive polar bear emerged from the shadows, its white fur contrasting with its glowing, supernatural blue eyes. Its claws slammed into the ice with devastating force, and with each breath, steam billowed into the frigid air of the cave.
—What the hell...? —Yariel muttered, armed only with his body and wits.
The bear charged at him with brutal force. Yariel dodged to the side just in time, but the bear's claws grazed his jacket, tearing it. The impact of the swipe against the ice created a deep crack.
—I can't keep dodging forever... —he thought, his eyes scanning for an advantage in the surroundings.
Yariel spotted a large ice formation hanging from the cave wall, right above them. With an improvised plan, he dashed toward the wall, climbing quickly. The bear, enraged, followed him, growling with a mix of fury and hunger.
GRRRROAAAAARRR!
Yariel clung to a nearby rock, and with all his strength, he began pushing against a large ice boulder that seemed loose.
—Come on, come on...! —he panted, battling the cold and exhaustion as the bear approached dangerously close.
Finally, the block of ice gave way. Pressing his back against the wall and using his legs for extra force, Yariel managed to dislodge the enormous ice rock. It fell directly onto the bear below, crushing it with a resounding crash that shook the entire cave.
The bear's roar was silenced under the massive chunk of ice, and the echo of the impact reverberated through the walls.
—Damn... —Yariel muttered, breathing heavily as he looked at the unmoving body of the bear trapped beneath the ice.
—Shit...
The path to the waterfall was finally clear, but he knew his challenge was far from over. After passing the waterfall on one side, a vast sight took him by surprise. Before him stretched a white desert, an endless landscape of snow, cold, and ice that surrounded him completely. The silence was so deep that only the roar of the waterfall broke the stillness, adding to the sense of isolation. The only exit from this frozen desert was an imposing wall that rose several meters into the sky, made of black, jagged rock.
<>
With numb hands, he began to climb. Every step was dangerous, as the slippery walls seemed to betray every movement.
Yariel reached the top with great effort, and in the distance, he spotted the altar, the possible receptacle for the object he needed to place to complete the trial. After walking a few steps, he realized that the ground beneath his feet wasn't made of snow or rock as he had expected. It was a vast sheet of ice, stretching as far as the eye could see. Seemingly stable, but the latent danger was clear. One wrong move, and that ice could break. He advanced with extreme caution, leaving behind pieces of rock of various sizes that interrupted the almost otherworldly serenity of the place.
Suddenly, without him noticing, the small rocks he had left behind began to vibrate, as if they were alive. They dragged themselves across the ice, scratching the surface with a spine-chilling screech. The ground trembled beneath his feet, and a sense of imminent danger flooded his senses.
<
Thinking the worst had passed, the sound of rocks grinding against each other filled the air. The stones gathered, forming a massive, ominous figure between the altar and him. Before his eyes, a colossal golem emerged, radiating a brilliant light from its core.
—Shit...
It was much bigger and more threatening than Yariel had ever imagined. Its eyes shone with an intense blue glow, shooting devastating energy beams.
<
This being was unlike anything he had faced before. There was no way to escape, no walls to hide behind, no escape points. Just an endless frozen plain that stretched toward a precipice. The ground beneath his feet was unstable, and facing the golem head-on would be suicide.
<
But the golem wasn't going to give him that chance. As soon as Yariel made the slightest move, the golem's eyes lit up, and it fired a beam of pure energy toward him. Yariel jumped with all his might, barely dodging the attack.
KRZOOOM!
He understood that every time he moved, the golem would follow him with its menacing gaze, ready to unleash another beam that would turn him to ash. Exhausted and with his strength nearly depleted, he knew he couldn't face this beast head-on. But his mind, though weary, kept working.
<
Suddenly, an idea flashed in his mind, one that might be his only chance. If he could get the golem to break the ice beneath its own feet, maybe he could make it fall.
<>
Preparing his hands and body for the decisive move, Yariel took a deep breath.
<
With a precise motion, he tossed his jacket in one direction and sprinted in the opposite. The golem, confused by the distraction, fired its beam at the jacket.
KRZOOOM!
The jacket was pulverized in an instant, but Yariel was already running toward the golem. His plan wasn't over. The golem turned its gaze, and the beam followed. With one last leap, he narrowly dodged the impact, sliding across the ice and colliding directly with the golem's massive legs.
PUMBA!
The colossus, without hesitation, lowered its gaze toward him, its eyes glowing once again, preparing to fire the lethal shot.
—Shit!
KRZOOOM!
With all his effort, Yariel jumped again, barely escaping the beam, which this time grazed him, leaving a burn on his arm. The pain was sharp, but not fatal. The beam struck the ice, creating a deep crack that spread rapidly beneath the golem's feet.
CRAC... CRASH!
The ground began to give way, and the gigantic being, powerless against its own power, slowly began to fall into the abyss. The beams from its eyes, still firing uncontrollably, illuminated the scene as it disappeared into the darkness.
Yariel, panting and wounded, had achieved the impossible. With cunning, determination, and a bit of luck, he had defeated the colossal creature that had threatened to destroy him. Though injured and exhausted, he knew the battle wasn't over yet. The altar was just a few steps away. As best as he could, injured and exhausted, he walked toward the altar.