The shimmering lake stretched endlessly before Yuto and Kaito, its surface so still that it looked like polished glass. The sky above was a swirling canvas of vibrant colors, a stark contrast to the barren wasteland they had just left. A serene breeze swept across the water, carrying with it an unspoken promise of peace—yet Yuto could sense the gravity of the challenge that lay ahead.
"This is it," Yuto said, his voice steady despite the weight of the moment.
Kaito stepped up beside him, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "The Guardian said this would be the hardest trial. Are you sure you're ready?"
Yuto nodded, his Saiyan determination burning bright. "I've come too far to turn back now. No matter what this trial throws at me, I'll face it head-on."
As if in response to his words, the lake's surface began to ripple. The stillness was replaced by a slow, deliberate movement as the water swirled and twisted, forming a whirlpool at its center. From the depths of the whirlpool, a figure emerged, walking on the water's surface as though it were solid ground.
It was the Guardian of the Heart. Her silver hair flowed like liquid light, and her eyes gleamed with an otherworldly wisdom. In her hands, she carried a staff made of the same ethereal light as the glowing tree in the valley.
"You have faced your fears and embraced your shadow," she said, her voice resonating through the air. "But the final trial is not one of the mind or the heart. It is a trial of willpower and resolve—a test to see if your spirit is unbreakable."
Yuto stepped forward, his fists clenched at his sides. "I'm ready. What do I have to do?"
The Guardian smiled faintly, a trace of sadness in her expression. "The final trial will pit you against your greatest challenge yet—a reflection not of your fears, but of your limits. To succeed, you must surpass even yourself."
With a wave of her staff, the water beneath her feet surged upward, forming a towering pillar. The pillar split into two, and from within the water, a figure began to take shape.
Yuto's eyes widened as the figure solidified—it was another version of himself, but this time, it wasn't a dark doppelgänger or an illusion. This Yuto stood taller, his aura blazing with golden energy. His hair had turned a brilliant shade of gold, spiked upward in the unmistakable form of a Super Saiyan.
Kaito took a step back, his hand tightening on his sword. "That's... you. But stronger."
The Guardian nodded. "This is your potential, Yuto. The strength you could one day achieve. To pass this trial, you must overcome it—not through brute force, but through sheer will. Show me that your spirit is unyielding, even in the face of overwhelming power."
Yuto's heart raced as he stared at his Super Saiyan counterpart. The air around the doppelgänger crackled with energy, each pulse of its aura sending shockwaves through the lake. He could feel the raw power emanating from it—a power he had only dreamed of achieving.
"Let's do this," Yuto said, his voice firm as he powered up. His own aura flared to life, a fiery red-orange glow that pushed back against the golden radiance of his opponent.
The Super Saiyan Yuto smirked, its expression filled with confidence. Without a word, it vanished in a blur of speed, reappearing in front of Yuto in an instant. The first punch came faster than Yuto could react, slamming into his stomach and sending him flying backward.
Yuto crashed into the lake's surface, the impact creating a massive wave that rippled outward. He coughed, struggling to regain his breath as he pushed himself to his feet.
"Fast," he muttered, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.
The Super Saiyan didn't wait, launching another attack with relentless speed. Yuto barely managed to block the incoming punches and kicks, each strike feeling like it could shatter his bones. Despite his best efforts, he was quickly overwhelmed, forced to retreat under the onslaught.
Kaito watched from the shore, his fists clenched in frustration. "Come on, Yuto! You're stronger than this!"
Yuto gritted his teeth, summoning all his strength to counterattack. He ducked under a punch and landed a powerful uppercut, his fist connecting with his opponent's jaw. For a moment, the Super Saiyan stumbled, giving Yuto the opening he needed.
He followed up with a barrage of punches and kicks, pouring all his energy into the assault. The lake erupted around them as the two clashed, the force of their battle creating waves that reached the distant shore.
But no matter how hard Yuto fought, his opponent always seemed one step ahead. The Super Saiyan countered his attacks with ease, its movements fluid and precise. It was as if Yuto were fighting a version of himself that had mastered every technique he had only begun to learn.
As the battle wore on, Yuto began to feel his strength waning. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his movements grew sluggish. The Super Saiyan showed no signs of fatigue, its golden aura burning brighter with each passing moment.
"I can't..." Yuto whispered, dropping to one knee. "I can't keep up."
The Super Saiyan loomed over him, its expression unreadable.
The Guardian's voice echoed through the air. "Do you understand now, Yuto? This trial is not about defeating your potential. It is about proving that you are willing to rise, even when faced with insurmountable odds. Your strength is not measured by victory alone, but by your refusal to give up."
Yuto's eyes widened as her words sank in. This wasn't a battle he could win through sheer power. It was a test of his resolve—a challenge to see if he could keep fighting, no matter how hopeless it seemed.
He took a deep breath, his Saiyan instincts screaming at him to stand and fight. Slowly, he pushed himself to his feet, his aura reigniting around him.
"I'm not done yet," he said, his voice steady. "I'll keep fighting, no matter what."
The Super Saiyan tilted its head, as if acknowledging his determination. Then, for the first time, it spoke.
"Good," it said, its voice an exact mirror of Yuto's own. "Prove it."
With a roar, Yuto charged forward, his energy surging to new heights. He knew he couldn't win, but that didn't matter. What mattered was that he didn't stop—that he kept pushing forward, even in the face of defeat.
As their fists collided, the lake erupted in a blinding explosion of light, the force of their clash shaking the very fabric of the trial realm.