The cheers from the crowd still echoed in Ethan's ears as he stepped off the arena platform. The first trial had been a spectacle, but now the atmosphere had shifted. Candidates whispered amongst themselves, stealing glances at him. Some were impressed; others carried the unmistakable air of envy.
Ethan ignored it all, keeping his focus ahead. He had passed the first test, but the tension in the air suggested the trials were far from over.
The silver-armored instructor appeared once more, his stern expression unchanged. He raised a gauntleted hand, commanding silence.
"Well done to those who have made it this far," he began. "However, the next challenge will test more than your physical strength. The trial ahead delves into your mind. It will strip away pretense and reveal your true mettle."
Ethan frowned. 'What does that mean, exactly?'
[ System Alert: Second Trial Information Detected. Preparing Analysis... ]
'Always cryptic,' Ethan thought. He waited as the instructor continued.
"This trial is not one you can fight your way through," the instructor said. "You will face illusions, projections, and visions. Some will tempt you. Others will break you. The goal is simple: overcome the obstacles in your mind and emerge with your resolve intact."
Candidates murmured uneasily, the weight of the instructor's words sinking in. Ethan felt the system chime again, its calm, methodical tone reassuring in the midst of uncertainty.
[ Trial Objective: Confront and overcome psychological manifestations. Time Limit: Unlimited. Success Criteria: Maintain mental stability and complete all scenarios presented. ]
'Illusions and visions, huh?' Ethan thought. 'So, no straightforward combat this time.'
[ Note: Mental projections may utilize personal fears and past experiences. Unfamiliar data fields detected. Exercise caution. ]
Ethan stiffened. 'What's that supposed to mean?'
Before he could press further, a gate opened at the edge of the platform, and the instructor called out his name. Ethan stepped forward, his Mystic Sword strapped to his side, though he suspected it would be of little use here.
The gate led into a darkened hallway that seemed to stretch endlessly. As he moved forward, the air around him shifted, and the corridor faded into a vast expanse of misty nothingness. He was alone.
Or so he thought.
From the mist emerged a familiar figure—tall, with unruly dark hair and a confident smirk that mirrored his own. Ethan froze as he stared into his own reflection.
"Well, well," the doppelgänger said, its voice dripping with mockery. "Look who thinks he's invincible."
Ethan tightened his grip on his sword. 'This again?'
[ System Alert: Projection detected. Analyzing... ]
The doppelgänger moved suddenly, closing the distance with alarming speed. Ethan barely had time to react, drawing his sword to block a strike identical to his own. The clash sent a jarring vibration through his arms.
"You can't beat me," the projection taunted, its eyes glowing an eerie red. "I'm everything you are. Every strength, every flaw."
Ethan gritted his teeth, pushing back against the blade. "If you're me, then you should know I don't give up that easily."
The doppelgänger laughed, leaping back with an agility that matched Ethan's. "You think this is about giving up? No, this is about showing you the truth. You don't belong here. You're a fraud."
The words hit harder than any blade, and Ethan hesitated for a fraction of a second. The doppelgänger noticed and pressed the attack, its strikes relentless and precise. Ethan struggled to keep up, his mind clouded by doubt.
[ System Alert: Mental stability compromised. Countermeasures recommended. ]
'Countermeasures? Like what?' Ethan thought, his frustration mounting.
[ Advice: Do not engage with the projection's narrative. Focus on disrupting its form. Use abilities that are unique to you. ]
Ethan took a deep breath, steadying himself. The system was right—this wasn't just a fight. The doppelgänger was trying to wear him down, mentally and physically.
'Fine,' he thought. 'If it's my mind, I set the rules.'
Channeling energy into the Mystic Sword, Ethan activated Light's Special Strike. The blade radiated a brilliant glow, cutting through the mist. The doppelgänger hesitated, its form flickering for a moment.
"Cheap tricks won't save you," it growled, lunging forward.
But Ethan was ready. Instead of meeting the attack head-on, he activated Illusion Magic, creating duplicates of himself that surrounded the projection. The doppelgänger faltered, its eyes darting between the illusions.
"Let's see how you like fighting yourself," Ethan said, smirking.
The illusions attacked in unison, their strikes coordinated and relentless. The doppelgänger struggled to keep up, its form growing more unstable with each clash. Ethan seized the opportunity, teleporting behind it using Sky Path. With a decisive swing, he delivered a strike infused with both Lightning's Special Strike and Light's Special Strike.
The doppelgänger let out a distorted scream as it shattered into fragments of light, the mist around him dissipating. Ethan stood there, breathing heavily, his sword still glowing faintly.
[ System Alert: Projection neutralized. Trial Progress: 50% Complete. ]
'Wait, there's more?' Ethan thought, his relief short-lived.
The mist began to shift again, forming new shapes. This time, it wasn't a reflection of himself but a shadowy figure cloaked in darkness. It whispered cryptic words Ethan couldn't understand, but their tone carried a sense of foreboding.
He raised his sword defensively, his mind sharp. 'Whatever this is, it's not getting in my head.'
The figure moved with unnatural speed, but Ethan didn't flinch. Channeling his energy, he released another wave of light, dispelling the darkness with a single decisive strike.
The mist cleared entirely, revealing a path forward. Ethan sheathed his sword, his steps heavy but determined. The trial had tested more than his strength—it had forced him to confront his fears and doubts. But he had prevailed.
As he emerged from the trial chamber, the instructor was waiting, his expression unreadable.
"Impressive," the instructor said. "Few make it through the Trial of the Mind unscathed. You've proven yourself once again."
Ethan nodded silently, his thoughts still lingering on the visions he had faced.
[ Quest Update: The Second Trial completed. Final Trial unlocked. ]
'One more to go,' Ethan thought, stepping forward. 'Let's see what else this world has to throw at me.'