Darius yelled "Chrono Shield"
The shield appeared as a translucent, spherical barrier that surrounded them and radiated a faint golden glow.
And all of a sudden, the massive entity—Zaryx—was on the shield, and everything outside was blurry due to the shield.
The entity radiated an overwhelming surge of enormous black energy.
'If we all use our abilities together, the Ethereal Link will activate,' Arvian thought, his mind racing as he calculated the next move.
"Astrea, use your ability also," Arvian shouted.
'Can we attack from inside the shield, I must use Ethereal Lash.'
Sudden, though, Zaryx roared, and the dark energy surged more, and it appeared as though he was going to attack with the long sword from inside the shield.
"We don't even know how strong this entity is or what its powers are," Arvian said urgently. "The only option we have is the Ethereal Link."
"What the hell is that?" Darius inquired, his voice sharp and frustrated.
"I don't know either! The system notification mentioned it," Arvian admitted, his voice tense.
Abruptly, the sword ripped through the shield, its blade cutting through the barrier of protection like paper.
"Fury Infusion," Astrea intoned, her voice steady and commanding.
Around her, a red aura erupted, flaming like a raging fire. Her eyes burned with an intense, unforgiving glare, prepared to confront the creature directly, and her veins traced faintly beneath her skin, glowing a faint red.
Arvian stepped back and raised his arms and with a commanding voice, shouted, "Ethereal Lash!"
From his hand, a tendril of dark, shimmering energy shot outward, writhing like a living whip. Arvian focused his aim, lashing it around Zaryx's sword arm, coiling tightly around its wrist.
There were shocks in the air as the lash's binding energy sparked and sizzled as it tightened.
For a brief moment, the disruptive force caused Zaryx's grip on the sword to slacken.
◇_______________◇
[System Notification: Ethereal Link Activated]
[SYSTEM]:
The combined abilities of the team members have triggered the activation of the Ethereal Link.
Link Type: Teleportation Link
Effect:
A powerful teleportation connection is now formed between the team, allowing for instant relocation.
The team will be teleported to a safe zone, away from immediate danger.
[SYSTEM NOTE]:
CX
Ethereal Link has different types of connections based on the team's synergy and abilities. This instance has manifested as a Teleportation Link, allowing the group to evade the immediate threat.
The Ethereal Link's full potential will unlock as the team grows stronger and their bond deepens.
◇_______________◇
Suddenly, the boundaries of the beacon began to glow with an intense light, growing brighter and more blinding by the second.
All of them were suddenly drawn into the glow, and then they were teleported away from the collapsing chaos.
The ground was a mixture of rocky terrain and luminous crystal formations, casting a soft glow in the otherwise dark space.
Though the stars and galaxies whirl in a far-off emptiness far above, the immediate area seemed calm and remote, as if it were frozen in time.
The room seemed to be alive with the unnatural shifting of shadows, but there was no immediate threat, just the calm after the storm.
'So this is what happens when a team works together.'
"What happened exactly in the world...?" Darius muttered, his voice heavy with perplexity, looking around, trying to figure out why they had suddenly teleported.
Abruptly, a tremendous roar shook the ground beneath them, resonating deep and guttural through the air.
The ground shook, as though the sound itself might tear everything apart. It was Zaryx's roar, who detests fleeing fights.
Abruptly, the system screen appeared.
◇_______________◇
[System Notification: Stage One Completion]
[SYSTEM]:
Congratulations! You have completed Stage One: Shattered of the Trial.
Rewards:
Coins Earned: 500 Coins
Experience Gained:
Arvian Zapar: Level Up (Level 1 → Level 3)
Astrea Veyre: Level Up (Level 1 → Level 3)
Darius Kain: Level Up (Level 1 → Level 3)
◇_______________◇
As they read the trial completion notification, none of them showed any expression.
They stood still, processing the words, but their faces remained unreadable, the weight of the situation still settling in.
Arvian pondered, "Oh, 500 coins, I wonder if I can buy something useful from the store.' His thoughts straying.
◇_______________◇
[System Store]
[Items]
Ethereal Essence
Cost: 500 Coins
Increases a chosen ability or skill by 5 levels.
(and more )
[Weapons]
Abyssal Dagger
Cost: 500 Coins
Increases critical hit chance for melee attacks.
(and more )
[Armor]
Chrono Weave Cloak
Cost: 500 Coins
Reduces enemy projectile speed by 30%.
(and more )
[Skills]
Skill Enhancement Orb
Cost: 500 Coins
Boosts a chosen skill by one tier for a limited time.
(and more )
◇_______________◇
Arvian decided to use his 500 coins to increase his strength by level 5.
[Strength Level 12 → 17 ]
He experienced a rush of power as soon as he verified the purchase, his muscles tensing up as the increase went into effect.
"Where do we have to go now? Stage one is already completed," Astrea asked, her voice steady but with a hint of curiosity, her gaze shifting between Arvian and Darius.
"Of course, wait for the system notification," Arvian replied, his tone serious. "We don't know this world completely, and it could be dangerous."
The system screen in front of them abruptly flickered.
◇_______________◇
[System Notification: Stage 2 - Dance with the Winged Judgement.]
[SYSTEM]:
Stage 2 is preparing to commence. The challenge: "Dance with The Winged Judgement."
Time Until Commencement:
4 hours remaining
◇_______________◇
"Bloody hell!! How are we even supposed to confront that damn thing? We aren't even strong enough!" Darius yelled, pacing back and forth in frustration.
"That's the problem," Arvian said, his voice low but firm. "Without any strategy, we can't defeat Zaryx. We need to prepare a strategy and that strategy needs to be extraordinary and better prepared."
"We should use our abilities properly, not randomly," Arvian continued with his serious expression. "We need to coordinate, not just throw everything out there."
A powerful, enigmatic wind swept through the atmosphere, its motion elegant but forceful, like an invisible force whispering secrets.
As though it were emanating from another world, the sound it produced was like a resonating hum, a gentle, unsettling wave that seemed to vibrate deep in their chests and send shivers down their spines.