The forest surrounding Kuoh seemed unnaturally quiet, the kind of silence that warned of danger. Mikhael stood at the edge of a clearing, his crimson eyes fixed on Kael, who was adjusting a series of small, glowing devices they had placed in a wide circle around them.
Kael glanced up, their sharp features illuminated by the faint light of the devices. "This next step isn't about stabilizing the artifact. It's about seeing how far you can push yourself without losing control."
Mikhael smirked faintly, rolling his shoulders. "You've got a flair for the dramatic, Kael."
"And you've got a flair for ignoring good advice," Kael shot back, straightening. "The artifact feeds on ambition and desire. If you let it take over, it'll twist those feelings until there's nothing left of you. This test isn't just for the artifact—it's for you."
Shirone, perched on a low branch nearby, tilted her head curiously. "What happens if he fails?"
Kael's expression darkened. "Let's not find out."
Mikhael flexed his fingers, feeling the faint pulse of the artifact's energy against his chest. The whispers were quiet, but their presence was constant, like a predator waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
"I'm ready," he said, stepping into the circle.
The Trial Begins
Kael activated the devices, and the clearing was flooded with light as glowing runes formed a dome around Mikhael. Each rune flared briefly before releasing a pulse of energy that coalesced into humanoid constructs.
The constructs were featureless but moved with unnerving speed and precision. Mikhael counted seven of them—one for each of the Seven Deadly Sins.
"Let's see if you can handle your own desires," Kael said, their voice muffled by the barrier.
The first construct lunged, its movements erratic but deliberate. Mikhael shifted into a defensive stance, his body instinctively aligning with Aikido principles. As the construct struck, Mikhael redirected its energy, twisting its arm and using its momentum to send it crashing into the ground.
Aikido Technique: Irimi Nage
A redirection technique that uses an opponent's energy to unbalance and throw them.
The second construct came at him immediately, its strikes fast and relentless. Mikhael countered with Wing Chun chain punches, his fists a blur as he overwhelmed the construct's defenses.
He stepped back, catching his breath as the remaining five constructs circled him. The artifact's whispers grew louder, urging him to attack, to take control.
"Not yet," Mikhael muttered, forcing the whispers to the back of his mind.
Shirone's Perspective
Outside the barrier, Shirone watched intently, her golden eyes wide as she followed Mikhael's movements. His speed and precision were impressive, but she could see the strain in his posture, the slight hesitation in his strikes.
"Why does he need to fight them all at once?" she asked Kael.
Kael didn't look away from the clearing. "The artifact is testing him. If he can't handle this, he won't survive the real fight."
Shirone frowned. "Isn't this too much for one person?"
Kael's expression softened slightly. "It would be, for most people. But Mikhael isn't most people."
The Fight Intensifies
The constructs attacked in unison, their movements synchronized. Mikhael activated Shadow Step, disappearing in a blur of speed and reappearing behind one of them. He delivered a powerful Muay Thai elbow strike to its back, shattering its form.
Another construct lunged at him, its claws slicing through the air. Mikhael ducked low, sweeping its legs with a capoeira-style kick before flipping backward to avoid a second attack.
Capoeira Technique: Au Batido
A fluid, acrobatic kick that combines defense and offense, using momentum to destabilize opponents.
The artifact's whispers surged, filling Mikhael's mind with images of victory and power. He gritted his teeth, his focus wavering for a moment as a construct's strike grazed his shoulder.
"Focus, Mikhael!" Kael shouted.
Mikhael exhaled sharply, activating Charge to amplify his strength. His next strike—a devastating spinning heel kick—obliterated two constructs in a single motion.
The Final Construct
The last construct stood silently, its form shifting subtly as it mirrored Mikhael's stance.
Mikhael narrowed his eyes. "You're supposed to be me, huh?"
The construct charged, its movements perfectly replicating Mikhael's own. Each strike was met with an identical counter, the two locked in a deadly dance of precision and speed.
The artifact's whispers grew deafening, urging Mikhael to let go, to unleash its full power. For a moment, he considered it.
But then he remembered Kael's warning. The artifact's power wasn't a gift—it was a leash.
Mikhael smirked, lowering his stance into a Jeet Kune Do intercepting fist. As the construct lunged, Mikhael struck first, his fist connecting with its core in a burst of raw energy.
The construct shattered, its fragments dissolving into light.
The Aftermath
The runes surrounding the clearing faded, and the devices powered down. Mikhael stood in the center, breathing heavily, his body trembling from exertion.
Kael approached, their expression unreadable. "You passed. Barely."
Mikhael glanced at them, his smirk faint but defiant. "Told you I could handle it."
Shirone hopped down from her perch, her claws retracted. "That was... impressive," she admitted reluctantly.
Kael nodded. "You've proven you can control the artifact, for now. But this was just a test. Out there, you won't have a controlled environment or someone watching your back."
Mikhael's expression hardened. "Good. I prefer it that way."
A New Threat
As they packed up the clearing, Mikhael felt a familiar prickle of unease. He activated Mana Sense, his eyes narrowing as he detected several energy signatures approaching from the south.
"Looks like we've got company," he muttered.
Kael frowned. "Rogues?"
"Maybe," Mikhael replied, his hand moving to the hilt of his blade. "Or worse."
Shirone stepped closer, her golden eyes gleaming with determination. "What do we do?"
Mikhael's smirk returned, sharper than before. "We fight."
The artifact pulsed faintly against his chest, its whispers quiet but eager.