Chapter 5: The Final Test
Aiden stood in his room, staring at the system notification hovering before him. The glowing text seemed more ominous than ever, like a challenge he couldn't refuse.
System Notification:
Final Test Initiated
Objective: Kill 100 monsters within the portal.
Reward: Unlock Unlimited Stats.
Failure: Death.
Before he could fully process the gravity of the message, a swirling portal of dark energy appeared in front of him. Its violet and black hues pulsed like a heartbeat, and a faint, otherworldly whisper emanated from within.
"Guess I don't have a choice," Aiden muttered, gripping his spear tightly.
He stepped forward, the portal engulfing him in an instant.
The Portal: A Nightmarish Arena
When Aiden emerged, he found himself in a vast, barren wasteland. The ground was cracked and dry, with jagged rocks jutting out like broken teeth. The sky was a swirling mass of red and black, casting an eerie glow over the land.
All around him, monsters began to appear, crawling out of the ground or materializing from the shadows. Wolves with glowing red eyes, hulking ogres with spiked clubs, and shadowy figures that seemed to flicker in and out of existence surrounded him.
System Notification:
Monsters Remaining: 100
Warning: You cannot leave the portal until the task is complete.
The Endless Battle
For an entire week, Aiden fought tirelessly. Each monster he killed added to the tally, but the challenges grew harder with every encounter.
Day 1:
A pack of Shadow Wolves attacked first, their speed and coordination forcing Aiden to rely on his agility and quick reflexes. He mimicked their movements, darting and weaving, eventually outpacing and outsmarting them.
Day 3:
A massive Stone Ogre nearly crushed him with its spiked club. Aiden learned to read its heavy, telegraphed swings, using precise strikes to weaken its joints before delivering a fatal blow.
Day 5:
Spectral Wraiths descended upon him, phasing in and out of reality. He struggled at first, but after studying their patterns, he mimicked their teleportation ability, turning their own tactic against them.
Abilities Acquired:
Shadow Step: Teleport short distances in the blink of an eye.
Stone Resilience: Gain temporary invulnerability by hardening your body like stone.
Wraith's Glide: Move silently and quickly, becoming almost invisible for a brief period.
By the seventh day, Aiden was battered, his body and mind pushed to the brink. Yet, he was determined. Only one monster remained.
The Final Boss: The Ancient Dark Martial Artist
The ground trembled as the final foe emerged. A dark figure stepped forward, cloaked in swirling shadows. His stance was unmistakable—balanced, precise, and brimming with deadly intent.
Monster Identified:
Name: Ancient Dark Martial Artist
Level: Unknown
Abilities:
Darkstep Teleportation: Instant movement over any distance within the arena.
Shadow Blades: Summon weapons made of pure darkness that can cut through anything.
Umbral Shield: Create a barrier of shadows to block or absorb attacks.
Void Pulse: Emit a shockwave of dark energy, pushing enemies back and causing internal damage.
Death's Grasp: Conjure shadowy tendrils to immobilize and crush opponents.
Aiden tightened his grip on his spear, sweat dripping down his face.
"So, this is the final challenge," he said, forcing a grin. "Bring it on."
The dark martial artist didn't reply. Instead, he disappeared in a blur, reappearing behind Aiden with a Shadow Blade aimed for his neck.
The Fight Begins
Aiden barely dodged, rolling to the side as the blade sliced through the air where his head had been. The dark martial artist pressed the attack, teleporting again and again, his strikes coming from unpredictable angles.
Aiden relied on his reflexes and agility, using Shadow Step to evade the deadly onslaught. But the constant movement was draining, and the dark martial artist seemed tireless.
System Notification:
Warning: Opponent's ability cannot be copied until combat reaches 100% synchronization.
The battle raged on. Aiden countered with everything he had, using his mimicry of other abilities to keep up. He summoned a Stone Resilience shield to block the Shadow Blades, glided silently with Wraith's Glide to reposition, and used his spear with martial precision.
The dark martial artist retaliated with devastating force. A Void Pulse knocked Aiden off his feet, sending him sprawling. Before he could recover, Death's Grasp tendrils wrapped around him, constricting his limbs and crushing his ribs.
"Argh!" Aiden cried out, struggling against the tendrils.
System Notification:
Synchronization: 95%... 96%... 97%...
As the shadowy tendrils tightened, Aiden felt his vision darkening. He was on the brink of death, his body screaming in agony.
System Notification:
Synchronization Complete. Ability Copied: Darkstep Teleportation, Shadow Blades, Umbral Shield, Void Pulse, Death's Grasp.
A surge of energy exploded within him, shattering the tendrils and throwing the dark martial artist back. Aiden stood, his body glowing faintly with dark energy.
"Your tricks… are mine now," he said, his voice cold and resolute.
The Turning Point
With newfound power, Aiden fought back. He teleported behind the dark martial artist, striking with a Shadow Blade. The enemy blocked with an Umbral Shield, but Aiden countered with a Void Pulse, shattering the barrier and forcing the martial artist to retreat.
The battle became a deadly dance of teleportation and shadowy attacks. Aiden used Death's Grasp to immobilize his foe, following up with a spinning roundhouse kick infused with dark energy.
The final blow came when Aiden combined all his abilities. Using Shadow Step, he teleported above the martial artist, summoning twin Shadow Blades and driving them into the enemy's chest.
The dark martial artist let out a guttural roar before dissolving into shadows, his form scattering into the wind.
Victory Achieved
Aiden collapsed to his knees, his body trembling with exhaustion.
System Notification:
Congratulations! You have passed the Final Test.
Unlimited Stats Unlocked.
Current Level: 10
EXP Gained: 500 Points
New Stats:
Strength: 250/Unlimited
Endurance: 250/Unlimited
Agility: 250/Unlimited
Reflex: 250/Unlimited
Focus: 250/Unlimited
Strategic Thinking: 250/Unlimited
Willpower: 250/Unlimited
Reward Points: 500
Aiden smiled weakly, pouring the reward points into his stats to balance his growth.
Final Stats:
Strength: 300
Endurance: 300
Agility: 300
Reflex: 300
Focus: 300
Strategic Thinking: 300
Willpower: 300
As the portal began to dissolve, Aiden stood tall, his body renewed with strength and his heart burning with determination. The final test was complete, but he knew this was only the beginning. The world was vast, and with his newfound power, he was ready to face whatever came next.