WARNING: VIOLENCE AND GORE
The Three Trials occur in succession, a grueling test that allows no respite. They separate the strong from the weak, shaping every Ixorym into what they are meant to become—or culling those who cannot rise to the challenge. For the second trial, the Hunt of the Ravager, I would be tested on strength, instinct, and resilience. My task: hunt and kill an Ascendant-level beast alone.
This was no small feat. Creatures in Tulmyria were ranked by their power:
Lesser → Common → Greater → Elite → Royal within the mortal realm,
Ascendant → Evolved → Sage → Transcended in the transcendent realm, and
Demi-God → God → Primordial in the divine hierarchy.
From my father's grim instructions, I learned that we Ixorym are born at the Royal level—a significant advantage, but not nearly enough to ensure survival in this trial. An Ascendant beast was an entirely different league.
I entered the Twilight Forest, where trees reached impossibly high, their dense canopy blocking every sliver of light. The shadows here were alive, twisting and shifting with the faint sounds of creatures that would sooner devour me than flee. I had to rely on every skill I'd sharpened in the past year. My exoskeleton, dark as onyx, helped me blend seamlessly into the gloom, a natural camouflage that had saved me countless times before.
The air was thick, damp, and charged with the faint hum of power. I moved silently, every step calculated, every breath controlled. Soon, the sounds of the forest grew louder: the guttural croaks of massive frogs, the piercing cries of giant birds, and the constant rustling of unseen predators. And then, I felt it—a presence so overwhelming it made my carapace itch.
In a small clearing, I saw it: an Ascendant Ape, its hulking form radiating raw power. Its fur shimmered faintly, as though absorbing the scarce light, and its muscles rippled with every move. My claws flexed instinctively. This was it.
I inhaled deeply, grounding myself, and leapt from the shadows, claws aimed for its throat.
I missed.
The ape reacted faster than I anticipated, dodging to the side. My claws tore through a massive tree instead, splintering it with a deafening crack. Before I could recover, the beast counterattacked. Its colossal fist slammed into my side, sending me hurtling into another tree. The impact drove the air from my lungs, pain lancing through my body.
The world spun. My vision blurred. But I couldn't stop. I wouldn't stop. Adrenaline surged through me, sharpening my senses. I swiped back blindly, my claws grazing its arm.
The result was catastrophic.
The shallow cut caused the ape's arm to explode in a spray of blood and bone, the sheer force of my claws far exceeding what I had anticipated. The ape howled a sound of pure agony and rage, its eyes glowing blood-red as it entered a frenzy. It charged me with terrifying speed, its remaining arm swinging wildly.
But I was faster.
I met its charge head-on, tackling it to the ground. It thrashed beneath me, its massive hand slamming into my body repeatedly. Pain blurred my focus, but I held firm, claws driving into its skull. Again and again, I struck, each blow met with sickening cracks.
Until the thrashing stopped.
When I finally snapped out of my daze, the beast was silent. Its head was... gone, reduced to an unrecognizable pulp of blood, bone, and gore. I stumbled back, gasping for air, the adrenaline fading as nausea overtook me. My stomach churned, and I collapsed to my knees, retching.
My first kill.
I stared at the mangled corpse, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. I had won, but at what cost? Was this what my resolve truly meant—to destroy without hesitation? Could I truly bear the weight of my ancestors' vengeance, the burden of reclaiming our people's honor?
No. I had to. Life was not a restriction; it was an opportunity. My opportunity. I would seize it, no matter the cost.
As I steadied my breath, something unexpected happened. A faint hum resonated around me, and then a glowing blue panel materialized before my eyes:
SYSTEM ACTIVATION: FIRST KILL (ELITE LEVEL)
Reward for Early System Activation: Common Skill of Choice
A pause. Then the screen glitched.
ERROR ERROR ERROR
Host's Power Level: ROYAL
Reward Adjusted: Elite Skill of Choice
A massive list of skills appeared before me, scrolling endlessly. My heart raced. Was this my "cheat"? Back in my old life, I'd read countless stories of systems, but I never thought I'd have one of my own. I skimmed the list, finally settling on a skill called Rend, a ranged slashing attack.
As I confirmed my choice, another message appeared:
SYSTEM DISABLED: A Higher Power Has Manually Deactivated It.
"..." I stared at the message, dumbfounded.
Finally, I sighed, muttering the only thing I could.
"Bruh."
As I sat there, blood still dripping from my claws, I reflected on the battle. The system had classified the ape as only an Elite-level beast. I had struggled against something two ranks below my task. If this was just the beginning, I had a long, dangerous road ahead.
Unbeknownst to me, I had already begun walking a path few could survive. On this island, creatures were far stronger than their counterparts elsewhere. My trials were just beginning, and the island's brutal lessons would shape me into something far beyond what I could have imagined.