The forest buzzed with an electric tension as the air shifted, signaling the start of the Trial of Elements. Leon stood still, feeling the earth beneath him tremble. His pulse quickened as he focused on the vibrations around him. The Origin Games thrived on unpredictability, and this trial promised no less.
A notification flickered in his vision, accompanied by the familiar monotone voice of the Will of the Universe:
"Trial of Elements: Survive the elemental onslaught for ten phases. Each phase grows progressively stronger. Reward: Points, Elemental Tokens, and Talent Enhancements."
Leon exhaled slowly, steadying his thoughts. Elemental Tokens were valuable—they could be used to unlock new abilities or enhance existing ones, essential for surviving later trials. He had to collect as many as possible.
Around him, the forest had transformed. The dense canopy gave way to an open field surrounded by towering elemental obelisks—each pulsing with raw elemental energy. Fire crackled at one, water surged at another, air spiraled at a third, and the ground rumbled beneath the fourth. The trial arena was alive, each element waiting to be unleashed.
A sharp crack split the air as the first elemental phase began. From the obelisk of fire, searing flames erupted, spreading across the battlefield. Leon reacted instinctively, tapping into his Cosmic Resonance to manipulate the earth beneath his feet. A barrier of stone rose, shielding him from the onslaught of fire. The heat was intense, but he held firm, maintaining his focus.
To his left, another competitor wasn't as fortunate. A man with a talent for speed tried to outrun the flames but miscalculated the expanding radius of the fire. His scream echoed through the air as he was engulfed, his figure vanishing in the inferno. Leon grimaced, tightening his grip on his sword. The Origin Games were ruthless, and this trial was a stark reminder.
The flames subsided, and a brief calm followed. Leon lowered his barrier, scanning the field. Other competitors had survived the first phase, their talents evident in how they had defended themselves. Some wielded water to douse the flames, while others used wind to redirect the fire's path. Each survivor represented a potential threat—or ally.
Before he could dwell further, the second phase began. The water obelisk pulsed, and a torrent of water surged across the arena. The ground quickly turned to mud, making movement treacherous. Leon knew this phase was designed to test their adaptability. He couldn't rely on just his earth manipulation here.
Summoning his Cosmic Resonance, he altered the terrain around him, raising stone platforms to keep himself above the rising water. His breath was steady, his eyes constantly scanning for the next threat. The water wasn't just a hazard—it carried elemental creatures within it, serpentine forms made entirely of liquid, their glowing eyes locking onto the competitors.
One lunged at Leon, its watery form shifting into a spear-like shape mid-air. He sidestepped, driving his sword through its core. The creature burst into a spray of water, but another took its place almost immediately. They were relentless, their attacks synchronized with the surging flood.
Leon gritted his teeth. He couldn't afford to waste energy on each creature. Instead, he focused on the obelisk itself. If he could disrupt its energy flow, the phase might end faster. He gathered his strength, channeling his resonance into the ground, creating a fissure that extended toward the obelisk. The earth cracked beneath the water, destabilizing the elemental pillar.
A surge of power exploded from the fissure, and the water phase abruptly ended. The flood receded, leaving behind a drenched, muddy battlefield littered with the remains of defeated elemental creatures. Leon's chest heaved with exertion, but there was no time to rest. He knew the third phase would come swiftly.
Sure enough, the air around him grew heavy as the wind obelisk activated. Gale-force winds swept across the field, uprooting trees and hurling debris in every direction. Competitors scrambled to protect themselves, some using their talents to create protective barriers, others clinging to whatever solid ground remained.
Leon crouched low, anchoring himself with his earth manipulation. The winds tore at his cloak, threatening to lift him off the ground. His mind raced, searching for a strategy. The wind wasn't just a force of nature—it was a weapon wielded by the obelisk. He needed to counter it directly.
He focused on the obelisk's base, driving his resonance into the ground once more. This time, he created a network of cracks that absorbed the wind's energy, stabilizing the ground beneath him. The winds howled, but Leon held firm, his connection to the earth stronger than ever.
As the phase continued, he noticed several competitors working together to weaken the wind's power. They combined their talents—one manipulating air currents to slow the wind, another using water to dampen the force. It was a coordinated effort, and for a moment, Leon considered joining them. But trust was a luxury he couldn't afford.
Instead, he waited until the winds began to subside, then used the opportunity to gather Elemental Tokens scattered across the battlefield. Each token pulsed with energy, their glow signifying their worth. He grabbed as many as he could, his fingers tingling from the raw power they contained.
When the winds finally died down, the arena was eerily quiet. Survivors stood scattered, their expressions a mix of relief and exhaustion. Leon clutched his tokens, feeling the weight of the trial pressing down on him. Three phases down. Seven to go.
The Trial of Elements was far from over, and the stakes were only rising.