Chapter 4: The Trial of the Forgotten
Li Yan stood in the middle of the vast chamber, the air thick with a sense of ancient power. The walls, adorned with intricate runes and strange symbols, seemed to pulse with a life of their own, their energy swirling in currents that flowed around him like invisible currents. At the far end of the chamber, a massive, towering statue stood—its stone eyes seemingly fixed on him with an intensity that was both intimidating and... oddly welcoming.
"Trial of the Forgotten, huh?" Li Yan murmured to himself, rolling his shoulders as if preparing for a light stretch. "Sounds dramatic, but I'm sure it's just some old puzzle or a few too many traps. I've been through worse. Much worse."
The cloaked figure who had led him here remained silent, his gaze unreadable. He had stepped aside, allowing Li Yan to proceed at his own pace, though his posture was one of quiet anticipation. It was clear that he expected the carefree traveler to flounder in the face of such a trial, but so far, Li Yan had done nothing but show a casual interest.
"Let's get this over with, shall we?" Li Yan called, not even looking back. He walked forward, his footsteps echoing through the cavernous space as if the chamber itself were watching him closely.
The moment Li Yan moved, the ground beneath him began to tremble, and a series of strange runes flared to life along the walls. The glowing symbols twisted and shifted, rearranging themselves into an elaborate array of glowing patterns that seemed to form a circle around the young man.
"I suppose that's the cue," Li Yan muttered. He cracked his knuckles casually, his body already radiating an effortless power that seemed out of place in a place so steeped in ancient energy.
The cloaked figure spoke up, his voice more serious than before. "You are about to face the trial. It is a test of not just your strength, but your spirit. It will challenge your will to persist and your ability to think beyond your abilities."
Li Yan paused for a moment, turning his head to glance back at the man. "Spirit, huh? That's cute. But I'm mostly here for the fun of it. Don't worry, I'm sure I'll ace this. I've got plenty of spirit."
The cloaked figure's eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing more. With a deep breath, Li Yan turned his attention back to the center of the room, where the towering statue began to stir.
The massive stone figure shifted slightly, its hands raising as if to gesture to the very fabric of the chamber. A booming voice echoed throughout the hall, vibrating the air and causing the runes to flare brighter.
"You who stand before the Trial of the Forgotten—prepare to face the first challenge!"
The ground beneath Li Yan cracked open, revealing a swirling vortex of energy that spiraled downward into an abyss. From the darkness emerged a creature—an enormous, grotesque beast with multiple heads and an armored, scaled body. Each of its eyes glowed with an unsettling red hue, and its gaping mouths hissed with malicious intent.
Li Yan eyed the creature, his lips curling into an amused grin. "Well, that's new. I'm guessing this is the part where I'm supposed to be impressed?"
The beast roared, shaking the chamber as it lunged at him with lightning speed. Its jaws opened wide, aimed directly at Li Yan. The challenge had begun.
Li Yan, however, didn't even flinch. In the blink of an eye, he was already standing behind the beast, casually munching on an invisible snack. He looked over his shoulder, giving the creature a lazy glance. "Is this it? Really? I thought you'd bring out something with a bit more flair. I've fought monsters with more imagination in their attacks."
With a flick of his wrist, Li Yan sent a blast of energy that struck the creature square in the back, sending it flying across the room like a ragdoll. The beast crashed into a distant wall, its multiple heads howling in pain.
The cloaked figure watched, his eyes widening slightly in disbelief. "This power… It's beyond anything I imagined."
Li Yan yawned, walking over to the beast, which was slowly rising from the rubble. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm just that good." He grinned, clearly enjoying himself. "Alright, big guy. You want a real fight? I'll give you one."
The creature roared again, but this time, Li Yan's expression turned more focused. "Let's see if you can keep up."
He raised his hand, and an enormous wave of energy shot out from his palm, engulfing the creature in a blinding light. The beast screeched in pain, its massive form convulsing as the energy tore through its defenses. It thrashed and struggled, but Li Yan's power was absolute. With a final, defiant roar, the creature disintegrated into nothingness, leaving behind only a faint echo of its existence.
Li Yan lowered his hand, the glow of his energy dissipating into the air. He looked around at the remnants of the beast, his smirk never fading. "That was... boring," he said with a dramatic sigh. "Was that really supposed to be the first challenge? If that's the best you've got, I'm going to be so disappointed."
The cloaked figure stepped forward again, his expression one of awe mixed with concern. "I... I did not expect such power. But there is more to this trial. You've only faced the first test."
Li Yan stretched, cracking his neck as if he'd just woken up from a nap. "More? Oh, please. Let me guess—now you're going to throw some puzzles at me? Or maybe a deadly trap? Maybe a riddle-spouting sphinx?"
Before the cloaked figure could respond, the statue at the far end of the room began to glow, its stone eyes flaring with an ancient, mystical light.
"The first test has been passed. Prepare for the second challenge."
A massive stone door creaked open beside Li Yan, revealing a vast chamber beyond, filled with floating stones and shifting platforms. But this time, the air was thick with an oppressive, suffocating aura, and strange, ethereal creatures moved in the shadows, their eyes gleaming with hunger.
Li Yan looked over at the cloaked figure, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Now this looks like fun."
The cloaked figure's voice was low, almost fearful. "This... This is a test of your very essence. It is not just your physical strength that will be challenged here. This realm will test your ability to face the unknown, your very spirit."
Li Yan's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Spirit, huh? I'm starting to think you guys just like saying that word. But alright, if that's what this is about, then let's see if I can't make this trial a little more exciting."
As he stepped into the new chamber, the walls seemed to hum with energy, the creatures watching his every move. The second challenge had begun, and Li Yan's carefree grin only widened.
"Alright, let's get to work!"
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End of Chapter 4