The voice that filled the cave was ancient, laden with the weight of centuries. Its sheer presence was suffocating, as though the walls themselves vibrated with power. Lei Chen stood frozen before the altar, the scroll glowing faintly in the dim light, tantalizingly close, yet separated by an invisible barrier of will.
"I… I seek power," Lei Chen stammered, his voice trembling. "To reclaim my honor… and to punish those who wronged me."
The voice chuckled, the sound reverberating through the cave like thunder. "Power? You speak of power as though it is something easily grasped by the unworthy. What makes you think you, a fallen, broken cultivator, deserve the War God's technique?"
Lei Chen's fists clenched, his teeth grinding together in frustration. "I will do whatever it takes. I've been abandoned by my clan, my own family. They've left me to die. But I refuse to give up. I'll climb from the depths of hell if I have to."
There was a pause, the cave growing eerily silent. Then, the voice spoke once more, its tone sharp and commanding. "Very well. You seek power, but power is not given—it is earned. You wish to claim the War God's legacy? Then prove yourself."
The ground beneath Lei Chen's feet trembled, and the walls of the cave shifted. In an instant, the altar vanished, and Lei Chen found himself standing in a vast, empty void. The air was thick with pressure, making it difficult to breathe.
Suddenly, a figure appeared before him—a towering silhouette, cloaked in shadows, its eyes burning with an intense, golden light. It was a figure of overwhelming power, and Lei Chen knew instinctively that this was the War God himself.
"You will face three trials," the War God's voice boomed. "Survive them, and you may claim my legacy. Fail, and your soul will be crushed into oblivion."
Before Lei Chen could respond, the first trial began.