The moment Eren crossed the threshold, the world around him shifted. The hall disappeared, replaced by an endless expanse of shifting darkness. The ground beneath his feet felt unstable, as though it were a mere illusion, but he remained firm, his eyes scanning the new environment. The air was thick, oppressive, and cold, carrying a palpable sense of dread.
Before him stood a colossal figure—an imposing, armored silhouette, standing motionless at the far end of the void. The figure was shrouded in an ethereal, golden aura that pulsed like a heartbeat. As soon as Eren's gaze locked on it, a voice echoed through the vastness, reverberating in his very soul.
"You seek to wield the heart's power," the voice intoned, rich with centuries of authority and sorrow. "But you must prove yourself worthy. Only those who can endure the Trial of the Heart may claim its true potential."
Eren clenched his fists, the crystal still firmly in his grip. He had anticipated challenges, but this—this felt different. The air was heavy with ancient magic, and he could feel the weight of countless souls watching, judging.
"Show me your resolve," the voice continued, the ground beneath him beginning to tremble. "Show me your heart, and only then will you understand the true meaning of power."
The golden figure moved. With a swift motion, it raised its hand, and the world around Eren morphed. The ground beneath his feet cracked open, and in the darkness, shapes began to take form—visions of battles fought, sacrifices made, and endless struggles for dominance. Each vision appeared like a fleeting shadow, only to vanish the moment Eren tried to focus on them. He felt their weight, though—each image a part of a greater history, each moment a piece of a puzzle that had yet to be completed.
The figure raised its other hand, and a bright flash of light blinded him momentarily. When his vision cleared, he found himself standing alone in the center of a battlefield, surrounded by corpses. The scent of blood filled the air, and the cries of the fallen echoed in his mind.
The scene shifted again, this time to a vast, empty city—a ghost town where the buildings were in ruins, and the skies above were blackened with ash. He could almost feel the loneliness in the air, the weight of abandonment hanging like a thick fog.
"You will face not only your past, but your future," the voice rumbled. "The heart grants power, but power comes at a cost. To wield it, you must understand its consequences. Witness the broken promises of those who sought it before you."
Eren's mind raced as he struggled to make sense of the shifting visions. This was no ordinary trial—it was testing his very soul. He could feel the weight of each image pressing against his consciousness, each one reminding him of the burdens he carried. But he stood firm, refusing to falter.
The battlefield faded, and Eren was back in the center of the void, the golden figure still looming before him. The voice spoke again, its tone tinged with a note of approval.
"You have faced your fears, your regrets, and the consequences of seeking power. But there is one final trial—a trial of the heart."
The figure raised its hand once more, and a new vision materialized in front of Eren. This time, it was a single image: a young girl, sitting alone in a dark room, her face obscured by shadow. The air around her was thick with sorrow, and her hands trembled slightly as she held something—something small and fragile.
Eren's heart skipped a beat. He recognized her—she was a reflection of himself. The girl was him, or at least a version of him from the past. Her sorrow mirrored his own.
"She is your heart," the voice said softly. "The part of you that remains after all the pain, all the loss. If you truly wish to wield the heart's power, you must first reconcile with what lies within you. Face your guilt. Face the weight of your decisions."
Eren's hand tightened around the crystal. This was the final test. Not just of strength or resolve, but of his very self. He had fought for so long, pushing forward without truly acknowledging the consequences of his actions.
The girl in the vision looked up, her eyes filled with an emptiness that mirrored his own. For a moment, Eren saw a reflection of himself in her gaze—someone broken, someone lost. But as the vision continued, something shifted. The girl's eyes began to fill with light, slowly, as if she were healing, as if the sorrow was fading.
"You must forgive yourself," the voice whispered. "Only then will you understand true power."
Eren felt the weight of the words, the depth of their meaning. He had carried so much for so long, the guilt, the fear, the loneliness. But maybe, just maybe, it was time to let go. To forgive himself for all that he had done, and all that he had failed to do.
He took a deep breath, closing his eyes. The weight in his chest began to ease, and the vision of the girl began to fade, replaced by a sense of peace he hadn't felt in years.
When he opened his eyes again, the golden figure was gone, and the void around him had lightened. The oppressive weight that had hung in the air was lifted, and for the first time since he had entered this place, Eren felt a sense of clarity.
The Trial of the Heart had been completed.
The voice returned, softer now, tinged with something like approval. "You have passed the trial. You are worthy of the heart's power."
Eren looked down at the crystal in his hand. It was glowing brighter than ever before, its energy now harmonizing with his own. It was as though the heart had chosen him—not just because of his strength, but because of his understanding. His willingness to confront the darkness within himself and make peace with it.
He turned, ready to move forward. The path ahead was still uncertain, but now, he was no longer alone. The heart had given him something far more valuable than power—it had given him the strength to face himself.
And with that strength, he was ready for whatever came next.