I stood over Arachne, Crimson Requiem raised high. With a swift swing of the sword, I ended her life. Her body crumpled to the ground, defeated.
The countdown stopped at 0:00.
I stood there, panting, my body covered in sweat and blood. But I didn't waste any time celebrating. I knew I had to keep moving.
I approached the pedestal, where a glowing orb awaited me. I took it, feeling a surge of energy and a sense of accomplishment.
_Stage 1 Complete_
_Reward: 100 Cultivation Points_
_Congratulations, you have survived the first trial. Prepare for the next stage._
I walked away from the trial grounds, my mind focused on the next stage. I had proven my strength, and I was ready for whatever came next.
I looked down at Crimson Requiem, still clutched in my hand. The sword seemed to pulse with energy, and I could feel its power coursing through me.
I smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction. I had taken the first step on my journey to become the strongest.
I made my way back to the System's hub, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
SYSTEM !
*STAGE 2: ENDLESS ASSAULT*
*INITIATING TRIAL SEQUENCE*
*SURVIVE THE ENDLESS WAVE OF MONSTERS*
*LAST AS LONG AS YOU CAN*
I stood at the entrance of the trial grounds, my eyes scanning the horizon. The air was thick with tension, and I could sense the weight of the trial ahead.
Suddenly, a wave of monsters emerged from the distance, their eyes fixed on me. I gripped Crimson Requiem tightly, ready to face the onslaught.
The dragon-like creatures, known as "Inferno Wyrm", charged towards me with a fierce roar. Their scales glistened in the sunlight, and their flames illuminated the darkening landscape.
I fought valiantly, Crimson Requiem slicing through the Wyrm's flames and striking true. But for every Wyrm I killed, two more took its place.
The horde was endless, a never-ceasing tide of teeth and claws. I fought until my arms ached and my breath grew ragged, but still they came.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world in a bloody orange glow, I stumbled backward. My vision blurred, and my sword trembled in my hand.
But I refused to fall. I gritted my teeth and charged forward, Crimson Requiem flashing in the fading light.
The darkness consumed the landscape, and the only light came from the Inferno Wyrm's flames. I fought on, my senses heightened as I navigated the treacherous terrain.
The Wyrms seemed to grow stronger in the darkness, their flames burning brighter as they sensed my fatigue. I stumbled, my foot catching on a hidden rock, and a Wyrm seized the opportunity to strike.
Its claws raked across my chest, tearing through my armor and into my flesh. I screamed, but the sound was lost in the cacophony of battle.
I rolled to my feet, Crimson Requiem flashing in the dim light. I struck down the Wyrm, but more took its place.
As the night wore on, the Wyrms grew more aggressive, their flames illuminating the dark sky. I fought until my body burned with exhaustion, my mind numb from the endless slaughter.
And yet, I refused to yield.
_TIME ELAPSED: 4 HOURS_
_MONSTERS KILLED: 1,000_
_ENERGY REMAINING: 10%_
I stood alone, my body battered and bruised, my energy almost depleted. The Inferno Wyrms surrounded me, their flames burning brighter as they sensed their victory.
But I had one last trick up my sleeve. I focused my mind, calling upon the Skill I had been saving for this moment.
"Light of Death," I whispered, feeling the power coursing through me.
A thin red line suddenly appeared in the sky, slicing down from the heavens like a needle piercing the earth. It struck the ground with incredible force, creating a massive shockwave that knocked me off my feet.
The impact zone erupted into a colossal explosion, a blast of energy that obliterated everything within a 1-kilometer radius. The shockwave ripped through the air, a deafening roar that shook the earth.
Flames engulfed the landscape, a sea of fire that seemed to stretch on forever. The heat was intense, a blast furnace that melted steel and scorched the earth.
The explosion continued to grow, fueled by the blood of the fallen Wyrms. The radius expanded to 3 kilometers, then 5, then 10. The flames reached higher, a towering inferno that seemed to touch the sky.
The shockwave ripped through the air, a hurricane-force wind that leveled trees and shattered rocks. The earth trembled, a seismic event that shook the foundations of the world.
And I stood at the center, my body glowing with the power of Light of Death.
I had survived....