The next chamber opened before him, revealing a vast arena. Kael's breath hitched as he realized the stakes. A timer appeared in his mind, ticking down from three minutes.
"Welcome to the Trial of Speed!" the overseer announced. "Defeat these foes using only your movement skills."
From the shadows, a swarm of spectral foes materialized—wraiths that flickered in and out of existence. They lunged at him, and Kael immediately activated Shadow Dash.
With a surge of adrenaline, he darted forward, weaving between their attacks. He felt the cool energy of the void coursing through him, urging him to move faster, to outmaneuver them.
Kael unleashed his agility, darting left and right, each movement precise. He dashed past a wraith just as it swung its claw, feeling the rush of air as it missed. Kael spun around, using Enhanced Strike to deal a swift blow to the creature behind him. It disintegrated into shadowy dust.
"Good! Keep it up!" Limo shouted.
Kael continued to evade the remaining wraiths, his heart racing as the timer ticked down. He utilized the environment, leaping off stone columns to gain height and strike from above. With every successful dodge and counterattack, he felt the exhilaration of mastery surging through him.
With just ten seconds remaining, Kael summoned all his strength. He executed a final Shadow Dash, landing squarely among the last two wraiths. With a swift movement, he struck them down in one fluid motion, the echoes of their defeat resonating in the arena.
The timer buzzed, and a brilliant light enveloped him.
SYSTEM ALERT!
Congratulations!
You have successfully completed the Trial of Speed!
Your agility and swift reflexes have unlocked new skills:
Spectral Presence
Leave behind a shadowy decoy in your place when using Void Step, confusing enemies and drawing their attention.
Duration: 6 seconds
Cooldown: 45 seconds
Effects: The decoy has low health but can deal minor damage if attacked.
Echoing Strike
The first strike following a Void Step inflicts additional damage and has a chance to cause a lingering shadow effect, dealing damage over time to the target.
Damage Increase: +25% on the initial hit.
Damage Over Time: Deals damage over 4 seconds.
A wave of satisfaction washed over Kael as the notification faded. This newfound power would not only enhance his stealth tactics with the decoy but also allow him to strike with greater force.
As the light faded, Kael found himself in a new chamber, this one filled with swirling mists and shadowy illusions. "This is the Trial of Illusions. Create and control decoys to defeat the mini-boss without taking damage," the overseer instructed.
Kael surveyed the room, noting the giant shadow creature looming at the center—its claws sharp and glinting ominously in the dim light.
"Use your skills wisely, Kael," Limo advised. "Position your decoys to distract the boss while you strike from the shadows."
Kael closed his eyes, envisioning the decoys he could create. He summoned his Spectral Presence, leaving behind a shadowy image of himself that stood still, a perfect imitation.
The shadow creature approached, drawn to the decoy. Kael moved quietly behind a pillar, focusing on his next move. As the creature lunged at the decoy, he activated another decoy, causing it to appear on the opposite side.
"Now! Strike!" Limo urged.
With precise timing, Kael darted forward, striking the creature's flank while it was distracted by his decoys. The blade pierced through the shadowy form, sending ripples through its body. The creature howled in frustration, thrashing around in confusion.
Kael used this chaos to activate his Echoing Strike, infusing his weapon with void energy. He struck again, and the shadow creature's form began to dissipate under his relentless assault.
He danced around it, avoiding its claws and repositioning as necessary. The decoys kept it occupied long enough for him to land a final, decisive blow. The creature shattered into a cloud of shadows, and Kael's heart swelled with triumph.
SYSTEM ALERT!
Congratulations!
You have successfully completed the Trial of Illusions!
Your mastery of deception and strategy has unlocked new skills:
Veil of Shadows
Upon activation of Void Step, gain a temporary cloak that renders you invisible to enemies for 3 seconds.
Effects: Attacking or casting spells while cloaked will break the invisibility, but you gain a damage bonus on your first attack after re-emerging from invisibility.
Cooldown: 30 seconds.
A surge of excitement coursed through Kael as he read the details of his new abilities. With Veil of Shadows, he could slip into invisibility, allowing him to reposition himself strategically during combat.
"Congratulations on completing the Trial of Illusions! Now, prepare for the Trial of Endurance!" the overseer announced, and Kael felt the weight of the challenge ahead.
The final chamber was vast, filled with an overwhelming darkness. Waves of shadowy enemies began to pour into the room, their eyes glowing like embers in the night.
"Survive the onslaught and defeat a set number of enemies using stealth!" the overseer declared.
Kael took a deep breath, his pulse quickening. He activated Veil of Shadows, cloaking himself in darkness. As the first wave of shadow creatures approached, he slipped through their ranks, striking from the shadows.
He dispatched the first few enemies with swift, precise movements, relying on his training. With each enemy he took down, he felt his resolve strengthening.
The waves kept coming, each more relentless than the last. Kael utilized every ability at his disposal, including Shadow Dash to reposition himself and evade incoming attacks. He struck from the shadows, minimizing damage and using his surroundings to his advantage.
"Keep going, Kael! You're almost there!" Limo encouraged, his voice a beacon in the chaos.
As the final wave approached, Kael felt fatigue setting in, but he pushed through. He unleashed Echoing Strike once more, channeling the void's energy into his final blows. The last enemy fell, and the darkness around him began to dissipate.
"Trial complete!" the overseer's voice echoed, and a brilliant light enveloped him.
SYSTEM ALERT!
Congratulations, Kael!
You have successfully completed the Trial of Endurance!
Your resilience and mastery of the Voidblade class have unlocked a new skill:
Dark Fusion
Enhance your weapons with void energy for a limited time, increasing attack speed and damage.
Duration: 10 seconds.
Effects: Increases attack speed by 15% and damage by 20%.
Kael stood breathless, panting as the light faded. The overseer appeared before him, their face still obscured by shadows. "You have completed the Void Step Trials and proven your worth. The skill Void Step is now yours."
With a wave of the overseer's hand, a shimmering icon appeared before Kael, glowing with ethereal energy. He reached out, feeling the warmth of the void seep into his veins.
"Congratulations. You are now a master of the void step," the overseer intoned before fading into the light.
As the reality of his victory settled in, Kael couldn't help but grin. He had faced the darkness and emerged stronger, ready to harness the powers of the void.
"Limo, I did it!" Kael exclaimed, feeling the exhilaration of his accomplishment.
"Of course you did! Now you're even more awesome! Let's check out your new skill!" Limo cheered.
Kael took a moment to compose himself, feeling the rush of energy coursing through him. With the Void Step unlocked, he was ready to embrace the challenges ahead.
Kael felt a surge of energy ripple through him, and his mind instinctively reached for the system interface. With a simple thought, the familiar screen materialized before him, displaying the newly unlocked skills associated with his Void Step ability. Each skill glowed with a faint, shadowy luminescence, their descriptions clear and precise:
Shadow Dash: Dash forward a short distance, enveloped in shadows, evading attacks and repositioning in battle.
Duration: 2 seconds.
Cooldown: 15 seconds.
Effects: During the dash, become untargetable, avoiding damage from all attacks.
Veil of Shadows: Activate to gain temporary invisibility to enemies for 3 seconds.
Effects: Attacking or casting spells while cloaked will break invisibility, but gain a damage bonus on the first attack after re-emerging.
Cooldown: 30 seconds.
Echoing Strike: The first strike following a Void Step inflicts additional damage and has a chance to deal lingering shadow damage.
Damage Increase: +25% on the initial hit.
Damage Over Time: Deals damage over 4 seconds.
Spectral Presence: Leave behind a shadowy decoy when using Void Step to confuse enemies.
Duration: 6 seconds.
Cooldown: 45 seconds.
Effects: The decoy has low health but can deal minor damage if attacked.
Dark Infusion: After completing a trial, enhance weapons with void energy for increased attack speed and damage.
Duration: 10 seconds.
Effects: Increases attack speed by 15% and damage by 20%.
A wave of satisfaction washed over him as he read through the descriptions. Each skill resonated with his newfound abilities, promising to elevate his combat prowess to unimaginable heights. With a determined nod, he prepared himself for the trials ahead, confident in the power that awaited him.