Chapter 15: The Field of Blades
The translucent screen flickered before me, its faint blue glow casting a surreal light over the endless grasslands.
[Analyzing Player]
[...]
[Analysis Complete]
[Player Class: Swordsman]
A sharp whistle pierced the still air, followed by the dull thud of steel meeting earth. A black blade embedded itself at my feet, its force shaking the ground. I flinched, stepping back as the echoes of the sound faded. My eyes locked on the weapon, and a strange familiarity settled over me, a fleeting, fragile sense of belonging.
I reached out, my hand trembling as I gripped the hilt. It felt solid, grounding, as if this sword was an extension of myself. The weight was perfect, the balance flawless. For a moment, its cool surface steadied the whirlwind in my chest. The translucent screen blinked to life:
[Aeladrian Black Steel Sword]
[Details: Forged in the smithies of Aeladria from the resilient Black Steel, this blade is a masterpiece of balance and durability. Indestructible within the Field of Blades.]
I gave it a few cautious swings. It moved through the air as though it were parting silk. The faint whistle it produced was oddly comforting. A prompt appeared, drawing my gaze away:
[You may now perform the first trial.]
[Proceed? Y/N]
I stared at the screen, my chest tightening. How many times had I steeled myself for horrors, only to find new depths of torment? My body ached for rest, but my mind knew better. This world wasn't kind to hesitation. With a sigh that felt more like a surrender, I pressed Y.
The grasslands around me dissolved, replaced by a charred, decrepit battlefield. The statues of blades were gone, replaced by mounds of lifeless bodies. The air reeked of decay, thick and choking. The cries of war and the clash of steel tore through the silence.
A firm hand yanked me backward. "Get your head straight, soldier!" a man barked, his bloodied face inches from mine. Before I could respond, he shoved me forward. "CHARGE!"
The ground trembled beneath the pounding boots of soldiers surging past me. Their war cries mingled with the anguished screams of the dying. My legs moved, unsteady and heavy, as though I were dragging chains behind me.
[First Trial]
[Objective: Lead the human forces to victory against the Demon King's army.]
[Progress: 0/100%]
A commander's voice broke through the chaos: "Archers, FIRE!"
Arrows hissed through the air, their deadly tips raining down on the grotesque creatures before us. My gaze followed their trajectory to the Demon King's forces. They were monstrous, humanoid beasts with unnatural skin tones and crude weapons. They closed in with terrifying speed, their guttural roars drowning out everything else.
I raised my blade and charged. The first swing bit deep into flesh, spraying dark, viscous blood. The stench was overpowering. Around me, men fell, some struck down by arrows, others torn apart by the enemy. My arms moved on instinct, the sword slicing through limbs and torsos, but my mind felt detached, a spectator in my own body.
A guttural roar shattered my focus. A towering beast lumbered forward, trampling friend and foe alike. Each step shook the earth. Its iron club, smeared with fresh blood, swung with a force that sent bodies flying.
"Hold the line!" someone shouted, their voice tinged with desperation.
The beast's club descended, shattering shields and soldiers alike. I froze, watching helplessly as it crushed a man beneath its weight. The sickening crunch and splatter of blood made my stomach churn.
It turned its eyes to me. I couldn't breathe. The weight of its presence bore down on me like a physical force. My legs refused to move.
The beast charged, its club raised high. Instinct screamed at me to dodge. I stumbled to the side, narrowly avoiding the first swing, but it was too fast. The club's redirected strike slammed into my ribs. Pain erupted through my body, and the world went black.
When I opened my eyes, I was back in the Field of Blades. The serene grasslands stretched endlessly, mocking me with their calm. My breathing was shallow, my chest tight.
[First Trial Failed]
[Details: The human forces were crushed under the might of the Demon King's army. The world is engulfed in carnage.]
[Progress: 0,6/100%]
[Retry available in: 23:59:37...]
I collapsed to my knees, the sword slipping from my grasp. I stared blankly at the screen, its cold, unfeeling words hammering at the fragile remains of my resolve. My shoulders sagged as a hollow laugh escaped my lips.
"Again?" I whispered, my voice hoarse. "Of course."
The weight of it all pressed down on me, suffocating. I wasn't angry. I wasn't even frustrated anymore. I was tired, tired of fighting, tired of failing.
I reached for the sword, my hands trembling as I gripped it once more. "If this is all there is... then let it come."
The realization was bitter but final: there would be no reprieve, no mercy. Only the unending cycle of death and rebirth until I either succeeded, or broke completely.