Azai walked into his next trial door for his Shadow essence test.
Walking into the door He found himself in a classroom with all different students from his test before, looking at the front of his class he saw a tall middle aged man with glasses at the front.
"We're all here." The man said as he looked at Azai who was last to arrive.
*Clickk*
The new instructor snapped his finger engulfing the room with his shadow essence
*Blubbb
In a split second Azai who was once in a classroom was now outside in a forest in front of a huge door which we seemed to be an entrance to a labyrinth.
As everyone arrived at the same time as Azai they looked around in surprise to see the new setting they were at.
"My name is Instructor Jermaine… Students, those of you of you possessing the Shadow Essence will undergo a special trial to test your mastery and control over this elusive power."
"This place is called the Shadow Labyrinth once you go everyone will be in different places of the Labyrinth,
Your goal is navigate to the central chamber where your true test awaits with many challenges getting in your way such as past memories, fears, or doubts.
Once you get to the center there will be new knowledge of a skill meant for you waiting." Instructor Jermaine explained the test.
"You may all go in now." He told his group opening the door with his Shadow Manipulation.
*Creaakkk*
Azai walked in with the rest of the students hearing the door behind him close, it become pitch black inside with no light anywhere.
"I can't see a thing.." Azai said as he looked at nothing but darkness
'Where did everyone go, I can't sense anyone…' He thought.
Not dwindling on it for long Azai extends tendrils of shadow energy from his fingertips allowing them to snake sense any traps, corridors or obstacles ahead.
Azai walks further down avoiding all dangers with his Shadow Essence as he continued on with his journey.
Deeper into the labyrinth, Azai comes across a chamber having a very dim light inside.
'I can finally see..' Azai thought before hearing an eerie sound.
*CCRRR
noticing it coming from behind he quickly put his hand on his sword turning around with the speed of light to see three shadowy figures taking the shape of the demons that attacked his village.
He quickly rushed towards the slicing one's head off while stabbing one in his heart.
*CLANG*
*KKRR*
Finishing those two off he found the other one going to attack from behind, however not fast enough Azai extended his left arm backwards
"Night fire..!!" Azai casted a spell of black flames that were intensely hot and difficult to extinguish than normal fire since his shadow Essence amplifies his elemental powers which is why his elements are always black.
*FFFSSHH
The final demon shadow burned to ashes blowing away.
"Why..??" Azai heard a voice infront of him causing him to look up to see both his parents with the injuries they got from the night they were killed.
"Why didn't you use your powers in the beginning..??!!" His Dad asked.
"You could've saved us..!!" His Mom told him.
"We hate you..!!" They both exclaimed in unison.
"You're not real, you died that night." Azai told the shadows not feeling a thing towards them because of his lack of emotions and also knowing his reality of them being dead.
Azai used his Shadow Essence to dissipate the illusions, focusing on the truth, one by one the two shadows dissolved into nothingness, leaving Azai standing alone in the chamber.
Azai began to walk towards the middle with the help of his Shadow Tendrils he was able to easily navigate to the center chamber if the Labyrinth.
Finally entering, the room was vast and circular, with a single faintly glowing orb in the center. This orb was the heart of the Labyrinth
"To complete the trial, you must merge your essence with the heart of the Labyrinth. Only by doing so will you start to understand and control your Shadow powers a little bit better."
Azai approached the orb, feeling immense powers, he extends his hand towards the orb allowing his Shadow Essence to flow into it. The orb fills with dark energy and Azai feels a deep connection forming.
He looked up to see letters forming into words in thin air
"Umbral Shield.." Azai read out loud looking at the words formed.
The words rush into his head.
"Ughhh…!" Azai voiced feeling a little bit of pain once his pain was relieved he now had knowledge on a new skill.
As Azai completed his orb merging process, the labyrinth began to shift and dissolve, guiding him back to the entrance. When he stepped out of into the light, Instructor Jermaine was the only one there.
'nobody else finished huh…' He thought to himself
"Congratulations Azai, You have proven yourself worthy of Shadow Essence. You're mastery and control has become a little better. Continue to hone your skills, and you will become a formidable force." Instructor Jermaine voiced.
"You may now head to your third trial." Instructor Jermaine voiced as he snapped his fingers engulfing Azai in his shadow teleporting him back to the academy.
*BRRRBB