The void around Lei Chen darkened, and the oppressive pressure intensified. His vision blurred, and he struggled to remain standing. But the trial had already begun.
Lei Chen's heart raced as the void around him swirled, thickening into an overwhelming force that pressed down on him. It was suffocating. He gasped for air, feeling as though the very essence of his being was being tested. But this was not merely a physical test. The weight that bore down on him wasn't just against his body—it was against his soul.
His mind flashed with memories. Visions of the Lei Clan's disdain, of his uncle's betrayal, and the elders' cold, heartless words surged forward, threatening to consume him.
"You're nothing without your cultivation," a voice echoed inside his head. It was Lei Han's voice, mocking him. "You're a cripple, a waste."
Lei Chen's knees buckled under the invisible pressure, his hands clutching his head as the voices multiplied, assaulting him from all sides. It wasn't just Lei Han's voice—it was the voices of all those who had scorned him.
"You'll never regain your strength." "You're a disgrace to the Lei Clan." "No one will ever believe in you again."
The pressure increased, and Lei Chen felt his spirit weakening. His resolve was fading, and despair threatened to drag him into darkness. His vision blurred further, and it became harder and harder to hold onto his consciousness.
"Is this it?" he whispered, his voice faint.
No.
The thought pierced through the haze of negativity. He couldn't let them win. He couldn't allow the voices to control his fate. They had tried to crush him before, and now, once again, they were trying to break his spirit. But he had survived then, and he would survive now.
"I… refuse…" Lei Chen gritted his teeth, forcing the words out through the crushing pressure. "I refuse to be broken… again!"
The voices grew louder, but Lei Chen pushed back, drawing from the deepest parts of his soul. Images of his father, Lei Tian, flashed before his eyes. His father's unwavering belief in him, the quiet moments of training, the words of encouragement.
"I am not weak…" Lei Chen growled, struggling to his feet, though his body trembled under the weight. "I am not finished…"
His resolve burned brighter, and with each passing moment, the pressure around him seemed to ease. He straightened his back, his fists clenching at his sides. "I'll prove to all of you… that I'm still worthy!"
Suddenly, the void around him shattered like glass, and the oppressive weight lifted. Lei Chen collapsed to his knees, panting heavily, but he was alive. He had passed the first trial.
"You survived," the War God's voice rumbled from the darkness. "But surviving is not enough. The next trial will test your strength."
Before Lei Chen could even respond, the scene around him shifted once again.