The air was thick with anticipation as Lei Zhen walked deeper into the forest. The woman's cryptic words still echoed in his mind. "The trials await you, Celestian. Do not falter."
Every step seemed to pull him closer to something he couldn't quite grasp. The trees around him had grown denser, their trunks twisted and gnarled as though they, too, were aware of the forces converging around him. His senses were heightened, every rustle of leaves, every distant sound sending waves of tension through his body.
The first trial…
What was it? How would he face it? The more he thought about it, the more he realized how little he understood about what was happening to him. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion, his heart a storm of emotions. But he knew one thing—he had to face whatever came next. There was no turning back.
Suddenly, the forest opened up to reveal a wide, mist-covered lake. The surface of the water was perfectly still, reflecting the pale moonlight above. At the edge of the lake stood a solitary stone altar, ancient and weathered, its surface covered in strange symbols that seemed to pulse with a faint light.
Lei Zhen's heart skipped a beat. This was it. The first trial. He could feel it—the air grew heavier, thick with magic and the weight of something ancient.
As he approached the altar, the mist parted, revealing a figure standing at its center. It was a man, tall and cloaked in dark robes that seemed to absorb the light around him. His face was hidden beneath a hood, but Lei Zhen could feel the intensity of his gaze even from a distance.
The man spoke, his voice low and resonant. "You have come seeking the power of the Celestial Flame. But do you understand the cost? Do you understand the price of what you seek?"
Lei Zhen stepped forward, determination setting in. "I don't fear the cost. I only need to know what I must do."
The figure raised a hand, and the ground beneath Lei Zhen's feet began to tremble. The mist around the lake thickened, swirling like a storm. The man's voice grew louder, more commanding.
"Then you must face yourself, Celestian. You must confront the darkness within you. Only by doing so can you awaken the flame that lies dormant inside your soul."
Lei Zhen's breath hitched. The darkness within me? He had no idea what that meant, but a cold chill ran down his spine. The memories of his past life were fragmented—painful flashes that made his heart ache. He couldn't remember the details, but he knew there had been betrayal, loss, and a deep sense of guilt.
The man's voice cut through his thoughts. "The first trial is not one of strength, but of heart. Only by confronting the demons that dwell within your soul can you hope to awaken the power of the Celestial Flame."
The mist around the altar began to swirl violently, and suddenly, the lake's surface rippled. From the depths, something emerged—a shadow, taking form. It was a reflection of Lei Zhen, but distorted, twisted. The figure in the water was an exact replica of him, but its eyes burned with a malevolent red light. It stepped out of the lake, its movements jerky and unnatural.
Lei Zhen took a step back, his heart pounding in his chest. The figure before him was not just a mere reflection—it was something darker. A manifestation of his fears, his regrets. A part of himself that he had tried to bury.
"Fight it," the hooded figure commanded.
But Lei Zhen couldn't move. The shadowy version of himself advanced slowly, a twisted grin forming on its face.
"You cannot run from yourself, Lei Zhen," it hissed. "You cannot escape the darkness inside. It is a part of you, and it will consume you, just as it consumed your past life."
Lei Zhen's hand shook as he gripped his sword. This was more than just a battle of strength. It was a battle of will, of facing the darkest parts of himself and refusing to let them define him.
He took a deep breath and stepped forward. "I am not afraid of you," he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside.
The shadow lunged at him, and Lei Zhen's instincts kicked in. He blocked the attack, but the force of the blow sent him stumbling backward. The dark figure's eyes gleamed with malice, and it slashed at him again, faster this time.
Lei Zhen's sword met the shadow's in a clash of steel, the sound echoing across the lake. For a moment, everything felt real—the pain, the struggle, the fear. But Lei Zhen held his ground. He knew that this was not just an enemy he had to defeat. This was a part of himself that he had to confront.
"You cannot outrun your past," the shadow taunted.
With a roar, Lei Zhen pushed the shadow back, his sword glowing with an intense light. The Celestial Flame began to stir within him, a warmth spreading through his chest. He could feel it—this was the power he had been searching for, but it would only awaken if he could overcome the darkness that had followed him from his past life.
With a final, powerful strike, Lei Zhen cut through the shadow, the figure dissolving into mist. The lake's surface calmed, and the mist around the altar began to dissipate. Lei Zhen stood, panting, his heart racing, but the weight on his chest had lifted.
The hooded figure nodded in approval, his voice now softer. "You have passed the first trial. The darkness within you is no more. The flame is yours to command."
Lei Zhen's hand hovered over his chest, where he could still feel the warmth of the Celestial Flame. It was no longer distant. It was part of him. His journey had just begun, and with it, a new power had awakened.
Cliffhanger:
Just before the trap sprung, a flash of red light illuminated the dark corridor, and a voice called out to Lei Zhen. "You don't want to fight this battle, not yet," the voice warned, its tone laced with urgency. But it was too late—the ground beneath him gave way.