The suffocating weight of silence fell over Chen and Fenrir as they approached the massive black structure towering before them. The Obsidian Gates. Legends spoke of these doors as the entryway to another realm, where warriors were stripped of all pretense and laid bare before the trials of the damned.
Chen paused, gripping the hilt of his Growth Sword tightly. The blade hummed faintly in his hand, as if sensing the gravity of the moment. Fenrir trotted forward, sniffing at the base of the gates, its sharp claws clicking against the crystalline ground. The wolf tilted its head, its golden eyes narrowing at the intricate carvings etched into the obsidian.
"What do you think?" Chen asked, breaking the silence.
Fenrir turned back to him and let out a low, rumbling huff.
Chen smirked faintly. "Yeah, I don't trust it either."
The carvings on the gates depicted scenes of warriors in brutal combat, their faces twisted in anguish and determination. Above them, a great beast loomed, its features obscured by a shroud of darkness. The artistry was so lifelike it felt as though the figures might step out at any moment.
Chen reached out hesitantly, his hand hovering over the cold, dark surface.
"Last chance to turn back," he murmured.
Fenrir barked once, its expression somehow managing to convey both impatience and amusement.
"Fine, fine," Chen muttered. "But if we end up trapped in some death maze, I'm blaming you."
He pressed his palm against the gate. The moment his skin touched the obsidian, a low rumble echoed through the air. The carvings began to shift and writhe, the figures on the gate seemingly coming to life. Chen instinctively stepped back, raising his sword.
The gates groaned as they slowly parted, revealing a swirling vortex of black and violet energy. A gust of wind burst forth, carrying with it a cacophony of distant screams and whispers.
"Great," Chen muttered. "A portal of doom. Just what I needed."
Fenrir growled softly, its hackles rising as it stepped closer to Chen's side.
With a deep breath, Chen tightened his grip on his sword and stepped forward. "Let's get this over with."
---
The moment they entered the vortex, the world spun violently around them. Chen felt a sensation like being stretched and compressed all at once, his vision blurring as the colors swirled chaotically.
When the sensation finally subsided, Chen found himself standing in an arena of sorts. The ground was made of cracked, blood-stained stone, and the sky above was a swirling mass of dark clouds streaked with crimson lightning. The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood and the faint echo of battle cries.
"Welcome, Challenger," a deep, resonant voice boomed.
Chen looked up to see a figure descending from the stormy sky. It was clad in dark armor that shimmered like oil, its face obscured by a helmet shaped like a snarling beast.
"You have been deemed worthy to face the Trials of the Obsidian Gates," the figure declared. "Prove your strength, or perish."
"Fantastic," Chen muttered under his breath.
The armored figure raised a massive axe, its blade gleaming with a menacing light. With a single swing, it struck the ground, sending a shockwave rippling through the arena.
From the edges of the arena, shadows began to rise, coalescing into humanoid forms. They carried weapons of various kinds—swords, spears, axes—and their eyes glowed with an eerie crimson light.
Fenrir let out a sharp bark, positioning itself in front of Chen, its golden eyes locked onto the nearest shadow.
Chen took a deep breath, raising his sword. "Here we go."
The first shadow lunged at him, its blade slicing through the air with inhuman speed. Chen sidestepped and countered with a swift strike of his own, the Growth Sword slicing cleanly through the shadow's form. The creature dissolved into black smoke with a guttural hiss.
Another shadow attacked, this one wielding a spear. Fenrir darted forward, its jaws clamping down on the spear's shaft before ripping it away and shattering it with a powerful crunch. The wolf then leapt at the shadow, its claws tearing through its chest.
Chen couldn't help but smirk. "Good boy."
Fenrir shot him a look that seemed to say, I'm not doing this for you.
The shadows kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless. Chen and Fenrir fought side by side, their movements fluid and synchronized. For every shadow they cut down, two more seemed to take its place.
"This is getting ridiculous," Chen grunted as he parried a blow from a shadow wielding twin daggers.
Fenrir barked in agreement, its tail flicking in irritation as it dispatched another shadow with a swipe of its claws.
Just as Chen was starting to feel the strain of the endless battle, the voice boomed again.
"Enough."
The shadows instantly dissolved into smoke, and the armored figure descended to the ground.
"You have passed the first trial," it said, its tone devoid of emotion. "But this is only the beginning."
Chen lowered his sword, panting slightly. "Of course it is," he muttered.
The figure raised its hand, and a new portal appeared at the center of the arena.
"Enter," it commanded.
Chen glanced at Fenrir, who was already sniffing at the portal with a mixture of curiosity and annoyance.
"After you," Chen said dryly, gesturing toward the portal.
Fenrir huffed and stepped through, disappearing into the swirling vortex.
Chen took a moment to catch his breath, then followed.
---
The next realm was a stark contrast to the arena. It was a dense forest, the trees towering above like ancient sentinels. The air was thick with the scent of moss and damp earth, and the distant sound of rushing water could be heard.
Chen looked around warily, his sword at the ready. Fenrir emerged from a nearby thicket, shaking its fur and glaring at him as if to say, This is your fault.
Chen chuckled softly. "Let's just find out what fresh hell awaits us here."
As they ventured deeper into the forest, Chen couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Shadows flitted between the trees, too quick to fully see but slow enough to make their presence known.
Fenrir growled low in its throat, its ears pinned back.
"Stay close," Chen said, his voice tense.
The forest seemed to close in around them, the trees growing denser and the shadows darker. The air grew colder, and the sound of rushing water grew louder.
Suddenly, a voice echoed through the forest, soft and melodic but carrying an edge of malice.
"Welcome, traveler. Do you seek salvation or damnation?"
Chen tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes scanning the darkness. "I'm not here for either. Just passing through."
The voice laughed, a chilling sound that sent shivers down his spine.
"Then you are a fool. In this place, there is no passing through."
Before Chen could respond, the shadows surged toward them, taking on grotesque, monstrous forms.
Chen raised his sword, a grim smile on his face. "Here we go again."
Fenrir barked sharply, its golden eyes blazing as it prepared to fight.
The trials of the Obsidian Gates were far from over.