Stepping cautiously into the structure, Finn was immediately greeted by a chime in his mind. Startled, he instinctively froze as glowing text appeared before him, floating like a projection against the dimly lit walls.
[You have discovered an Inheritance.]
[Would you like to take part?] [Y/N]
Finn squinted at the words, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Inheritance?" he muttered under his breath. This was a term he'd never encountered before. The system, which had guided him through this strange world, had been cryptic in the past, but this was something entirely new.
"What in the world is an inheritance?" he said aloud, his voice echoing faintly in the empty chamber.
There was no immediate answer, but a familiar presence stirred in the back of his mind. Riven. Finn reached out mentally, hoping his enigmatic patron might provide some insight.
"Inheritance, you say?" Riven's voice drifted into his thoughts, carrying a note of intrigue. "Fascinating. I hadn't expected you to stumble upon something like this so soon."
"That doesn't tell me what it is," Finn replied, his irritation slipping into his tone. "Should I accept it or not?"
"Calm yourself, little goblin," Riven said, a hint of amusement coloring his words. "An inheritance is a relic of this world's ancient past. Powerful beings—heroes, warlords, mages—leave behind trials like this to pass their legacies to those they deem worthy. Think of it as a... test. If you succeed, you may claim what they've left behind. If you fail..."
Riven didn't finish, but Finn understood the implication. Failure was rarely forgiving in this world.
"But I've never heard of this before," Finn said, his gaze flicking back to the glowing text. "What if I'm not strong enough?"
"That's always the risk, isn't it? But consider this: even the weakest goblin can grow into something formidable if they survive. This could be an opportunity to gain power beyond what you've ever imagined."
Finn clenched his fists. The idea of gaining power was enticing, especially as he reflected on how far he'd come since awakening in this world. Still, his stomach churned at the thought of what kind of trial he might face.
"Fine," he said after a long pause. "I'll do it."
With a deep breath, Finn reached out and pressed [Y].
The world around him shifted immediately. The air grew heavy with an oppressive energy, and the walls began to glow with ancient runes. A low hum resonated through the chamber, growing louder and deeper until it felt like the very ground beneath his feet was vibrating.
[Trial of the Forgotten Heir initiated.]
[Objective: Prove yourself worthy of the inheritance.]
Before Finn could fully process what was happening, the room around him twisted and expanded. The simple stone hallway transformed into a vast chamber, lit by an eerie, pulsating light emanating from a pedestal in the center.
On the pedestal sat a sphere of pure energy, its surface swirling with shifting colors. Finn's breath caught as he instinctively took a step back. The power radiating from the sphere was palpable, almost suffocating.
Around the pedestal, shadowy figures began to materialize, their forms shifting and flickering like smoke caught in a breeze. Their eyes glowed a menacing red, and the moment they turned toward Finn, he felt a wave of hostility wash over him.
[Trial Phase 1: Defeat the Guardians.]
Finn's heart raced as he prepared for battle. He didn't know what these "Guardians" were or how strong they might be, but he had no choice now. Whatever this inheritance was, it would be his first true test in the desert—and possibly his greatest challenge yet.
"Alright," Finn muttered, his voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through him. "Let's do this."
The shadows charged, and the trial began.
The Guardians moved with an unnatural fluidity, their bodies shifting between solid and incorporeal forms as they closed in on Finn. Their glowing red eyes seemed to pierce through the dim light of the chamber, locking onto him with predatory intent.
Finn's instincts kicked in. Summoning his magic, he extended both hands, weaving a barrier of energy in front of him just as the first shadow lunged. The creature struck the barrier with a soundless impact, its form dissipating momentarily before reforming, more menacing than before.
"Physical attacks won't work," Finn muttered to himself. He released the barrier and switched to fire magic. Flames erupted from his hands, their heat illuminating the room as he launched a focused burst at the nearest Guardian. The fire hit its target, and the creature let out a soundless scream, its smoky body writhing in the flames.
[Guardian defeated. Remaining: 4.]
The notification flashed in Finn's vision, but he barely had time to process it before the other four Guardians attacked simultaneously.
"Damn it!" he hissed, diving to the side as a pair of shadowy tendrils lashed out where he had just stood. Rolling to his feet, he unleashed another burst of fire, targeting the closest two Guardians. One evaporated instantly under the assault, but the second twisted its body to avoid the flames, retaliating with a swipe that nicked Finn's arm.
A sharp pain shot through him, and he stumbled back, clutching his arm. The wound wasn't deep, but the cold, searing sensation left by the Guardian's attack unnerved him. "These things are faster than they look," he muttered, forcing himself to focus.
Switching tactics, Finn began combining his elemental spells. With a quick chant, he summoned a gust of wind to scatter the approaching Guardians, momentarily throwing them off balance. He followed up with a barrage of icicles, targeting the ones that were regrouping.
Two more Guardians dissolved into nothingness, leaving only two remaining.
[Guardians defeated. Remaining: 2.]
The remaining creatures adapted quickly, their forms becoming denser and more solid as they charged Finn. He narrowly avoided a swipe to his legs, rolling away and summoning a surge of electricity. Lightning crackled between his fingers as he released it in a blinding arc. The bolt struck one Guardian squarely, shattering it into a mist of shadow.
The last Guardian didn't flinch. It lunged at him with increased ferocity, its tendrils extending like whips. Finn conjured a quick barrier, but the creature shattered it with a single strike, forcing him to retreat further.
"Persistent, aren't you?" Finn growled, wiping sweat from his brow. He gathered his remaining energy for one final attack. Flames and electricity swirled together in his hands, creating a chaotic sphere of destructive energy.
The Guardian charged again, and Finn hurled the sphere with all his might. The explosion rocked the chamber, illuminating the space in a blinding flash as the last Guardian disintegrated into nothingness.
[Trial Phase 1 complete.]
The room fell silent. Finn stood panting, his hands trembling from the exertion. The sphere of energy on the pedestal pulsed gently, as if acknowledging his success.
Before he could catch his breath, another notification appeared.
[Trial Phase 2: Face the Heir's Judgment.]
The pedestal began to glow brighter, and the shadows in the room coalesced into a single figure—a humanoid shape clad in ethereal armor, its features obscured by a shimmering veil. It stepped down from the pedestal, the ground shaking with each step, and drew a weapon made of pure light.
Finn's eyes widened. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered.
This was no ordinary opponent. This was a fight that would push him to his limits.
Summoning what remained of his strength, Finn braced himself for the battle ahead. The Trial of the Forgotten Heir wasn't over yet, and failure was not an option.
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