The atmosphere in our camp was tense.
The memory of the trial lingered, each of us reflecting on our individual struggles and triumphs.
But Zhang Hao—usually the first to crack a joke or lighten the mood—was unnaturally quiet.
His gaze seemed distant, his hand resting idly on the hilt of his blade.
"Something on your mind?" I asked, taking a seat beside him.
The campfire cast flickering shadows across his face, emphasizing the furrow in his brow.
He hesitated, his fingers drumming against his knee.
"It's... nothing. Just thinking."
"You've been quiet since the trial," Liu Ying said, joining us.
Her sharp eyes missed nothing.
"It's unlike you."
Zhang Hao sighed, leaning back against a tree.
"It's strange. During the fight, I had these flashes—memories, I think—but they didn't feel like mine.
It was like watching someone else's life unfold."
"Memories of a past life?" Tian Lan asked, her staff glowing faintly as she approached.
"The Spirit Guardians' trials are known to unearth such things."
"Maybe," Zhang Hao muttered.
"But if they are, I'm not sure I want to remember."
The next morning, we continued our journey toward the second Guardian's domain.
The path wound through a desolate canyon, the walls rising like jagged teeth on either side.
An unnatural silence hung over the place, broken only by the crunch of our boots on gravel.
The system's screen broke the tension.
[System Notification: Entering Trial Zone – The Guardian of Truth.
Objective: Confront the truth hidden within.
Reward: Fragment of the Celestial Emblem – Essential for unlocking the Celestial Gate.
Power fragments: 7% ]
"Great," I muttered.
"More trials."
"This is what we came here for," I said to myself.
"Stay focused."
As we stepped into the trial zone, the air shimmered, and the world around us shifted.
I found myself alone in a vast, featureless expanse.
Before me stood a mirror-like surface, its polished surface reflecting not just my appearance but my thoughts, fears, and memories.
When we regrouped after what felt like hours, the weight of our trials was evident.
Liu Ying's usual composure was shaken, and even Tian Lan's calm demeanor was strained.
But Zhang Hao's expression was the most troubling.
His eyes were shadowed, and his hands trembled as he sheathed his blade.
"Zhang Hao?" I asked cautiously.
"What did you see?"
"Nothing," he snapped, his tone harsher than intended.
"Let's just keep moving."
The system appeared again, breaking the uneasy silence.
[System Notification: Group Trial Activated – The Choice of Loyalty.]
Before we could react, the ground beneath us rumbled.
The canyon walls parted, revealing a towering figure clad in obsidian armor.
The Guardian's voice boomed, carrying a weight that shook the air.
"To proceed, one must choose.
The path forward demands sacrifice."
The Guardian's hand extended, and a spectral image of a young girl appeared between us.
She looked no older than twelve, her wide eyes filled with terror.
"This child is bound by the darkness," the Guardian said.
"Free her, and one of you must take her place.
Choose wisely."
"What kind of sick trial is this?" Liu Ying hissed, her fists clenched.
Tian Lan's face was pale, but her voice remained steady.
"The Guardians test not just our strength but our hearts.
This is a trial of sacrifice."
Zhang Hao's gaze was fixed on the girl, his expression unreadable.
"I'll do it," he said finally.
"Zhang Hao, no!" I protested.
"There has to be another way."
He shook his head.
"This is my choice. I... I need to atone."
Before any of us could stop him, he stepped forward.
The Guardian raised his hand, and chains of light spiraled around Zhang Hao, lifting him into the air.
The girl's image faded, her form dissolving into light that flowed into Zhang Hao's chest.
The Guardian's voice resonated again.
"You have chosen. Proceed."
The trial zone shimmered, and we found ourselves back in the canyon.
Zhang Hao lay on the ground, his breathing shallow.
But something was different.
A dark aura clung to him, pulsing faintly with each breath.
As we made camp that night, the mood was somber.
Zhang Hao sat apart from us, his usual energy replaced by a heavy silence.
"What happened back there?" I asked, sitting beside him.
He didn't meet my gaze.
"I'm not sure. When I took her place, I felt... something.
Like a piece of me was torn away."
"The darkness left a mark on you," Tian Lan said, joining us.
"You'll need to fight it, or it will consume you."
"Why did you do it?" Liu Ying demanded, her voice sharp. "
You didn't have to take the risk."
"I had to," Zhang Hao replied, his tone firm.
"Because I remembered. In my past life, I was a coward.
I betrayed those I cared about to save myself.
This time, I had to make it right."
The system appeared again, its tone more subdued than usual.
[System Notification: Temporary Corruption Detected – Zhang Hao.]
Effect: Increased vulnerability to dark influences.
Faith Points : 100.]
"Great," I muttered. "We're paying for his heroics now."
"Enough," I said, cutting off.
"We're a team. We face this together."
"I'll find a way to fix this. I swear."
As the fire crackled and the stars emerged, I couldn't shake the unease settling over us.
The Shadow Devourer's influence was growing, and now it had touched one of our own.
The path ahead was darker than ever, but we couldn't afford to falter.
"Get some rest," Tian Lan said softly.
"Tomorrow brings another trial."
But as I lay down, Zhang Hao's haunted expression lingered in my mind.
The betrayal he feared wasn't behind us; it was still unfolding. And the hardest choices were yet to come.