Chapter Three: The Test of Life and Death
With the sunrise, Elias began to feel the weight of the previous night. Inside his new village, the atmosphere was unfamiliar, filled with raw energy that he could feel in every corner. The forest surrounding the village appeared even harsher, and the air was cold, charged with a power he still didn't understand.
In this new time and place, survival depended on the ability to control these mysterious forces. Although his artificial intelligence was guiding him, there was something else becoming clearer in his mind: he needed to learn how to handle this power on his own.
"Elias, remember that fighting here isn't just about weapons. The energy you possess, even if it's new, must merge with your body." said the voice inside his mind.
Elias took a deep breath. In the training arena, the opponent he was to fight today awaited him. He was a muscular man with sharp features, exuding an evil energy that was clearly visible. In his eyes, there was a clear intention to destroy Elias.
"This is your first test. If you can't control your power, you will have no place in this world." said the voices of the warriors in the background.
As the fight began, Elias felt as if his body was no longer his own. There was something strange about the movements his opponent made, as if every move carried a part of the dark energy controlling the place. But Elias wasn't weak, even though his body wasn't yet accustomed to the power he possessed.
"Focus. Use your inner energy, then merge it with your opponent's movement. If you're hesitant, you'll perish." said the familiar voice in his brain.
In a brief moment of focus, Elias felt something change. His opponent's energy was flowing toward him, but he began to absorb it and direct it back against his foe. It was strange energy, perhaps similar to what he felt the first time he entered this world.
The fight continued for several minutes, and as it progressed, the opponent grew fiercer. But in the end, after moments of struggle, Elias mastered his energy and knocked his opponent to the ground. He didn't kill him, but left him unconscious.
After exchanging some glances, the old man turned to Elias and said, "You've passed your first test... but this isn't everything. There's something greater waiting for you."
"This is just the beginning." said the familiar voice inside his mind.
In that moment, Elias felt something strange in his mind. It was a feeling of heightened awareness, as if every step in this world was being closely watched. He had thought this was just a preliminary test, but the reality was much larger than that.
Before Elias could discover more, the voice suddenly returned: "Elias, you need to know something. Someone is tracking you in the shadows. And you may have entered a much larger network than you realize."
As the sun began to set, Elias felt something he hadn't expected. In this new world, he wasn't just in a test for survival, but part of a bigger game, where every step could lead him to something more lethal and mysterious than he had thought.