Chapter Four: The Dark Path
Days passed quickly since Elias fought his first battle. Things were becoming clearer, but there was still an eerie feeling that lingered with him. He was learning how to interact with the forces in this world, but at the same time, he realized that there was something bigger than mere survival.
On the fourth day after the battle, Elias was training in the village's arena. His movements had become smoother, and his strength was growing rapidly. He felt something strange in his body, as if an invisible energy was seeping into every cell. He was mastering the internal energy techniques he had discovered, but there was always something missing.
"Elias, the more you learn, the more important balance becomes. Your power here means nothing if you don't know how to maintain balance." The voice in his mind expressed concern.
But Elias wasn't ready to heed that warning yet. He believed he could uncover the truth on his own and that he could control everything.
The next day, the old man came again. "You've proven your ability to survive, but now there's another test."
Elias followed him to a distant area in the forest, where the ground grew rougher and the trees seemed to close in. The area was dark, and the energy here was denser than anywhere else.
"You are now at the threshold of another world. A world full of challenges. This test will require you to face your inner power to the fullest. If you can control it, you will become one of us. If you fail, you will remain a lost soul in this world."
Elias felt a tinge of anxiety. The old man's words carried an unspoken threat, but he decided not to give up.
After minutes of silence, the test began. Elias had to face a group of warriors. But this wasn't a typical battle. They directed their energies in unpredictable ways, as though testing his abilities on a deeper level. The energies clashed, collided, and intertwined in ways that made it hard to predict what would happen next.
"Elias, you must merge your energy with your opponents' energy. Using only your own power won't be enough here."
Elias felt the pressure, but he chose to listen. He began absorbing his opponents' energy and combining it with his own, creating a new, powerful mixture. Over time, he realized that the power he possessed was evolving unusually, but it was also unstable.
At the peak of the battle, Elias felt something different. There was someone else watching the fight from the shadows. Their energy was greater and more intense than anything he had felt before. And when Elias was on the verge of inevitable victory, the warriors suddenly disappeared, leaving him alone in the arena.
"Elias, you are not the only one here seeking power. There are those who wish to use you."
Elias trembled for a moment of doubt. These words hinted at something bigger than he had imagined.
Then the old man appeared again, his eyes holding a trace of caution. "You've succeeded, but you must know that this is just the beginning. A greater power awaits you in the shadows. And this test wasn't just to measure your strength, but to test whether you can handle what's coming."
Elias looked at the old man, but he felt that there was something still unsaid. There was a feeling in his heart that the story didn't end here, and that something dark was waiting for him.