Trial of Power
The Machine's inner chamber hummed with energy, its glowing walls pulsating with an unnatural rhythm. The brothers—Adewan, Kane, and Akane—walked cautiously into the vast hall, their weapons at the ready. Strange glyphs etched into the walls radiated an ominous light, casting fleeting shadows on their tense faces.
"This place feels alive," Akane muttered, his crimson eyes darting around as if the walls themselves were watching.
"It's alive in a way," Adewan replied, his voice calm. "The Machines aren't just ancient—they're sentient. They're designed to test the unworthy."
"And Sylis knows that," Kane growled, tightening his grip on his halberd. "She threw us into this chaos for her own glory."
Ahead, faint echoes of footsteps and whispers suggested that Sylis and her team were already deep within the Machine.
Sylis and Her Team
Sylis led her group with purpose. Her eyes glowed faintly green as she used Verdant Command to manipulate the limited plant life around them. Even in this barren, stone labyrinth, tiny roots emerged from the cracks, slithering ahead to disarm traps and shield her team from sudden dangers.
"Keep moving," Sylis ordered, her voice sharp but measured. "The relic is close, and we're not letting those brothers take it from us."
Zane, her second-in-command, cracked his knuckles as faint red energy rippled along his arms. His ability, Crimson Impact, allowed him to channel explosive energy into devastating strikes.
"We're ready for anything they throw at us," Zane said confidently.
Sylis smirked. "Good. Let's show them what real strength looks like."
The Relic Chamber
The brothers arrived just as Sylis and her team reached the relic. The chamber was massive, its ceiling disappearing into darkness. In the center of the room, the relic rested on a pedestal, glowing with golden light.
"You're late," Sylis called mockingly, her team forming a protective circle around the relic.
Adewan stepped forward, his golden eyes narrowing. "Step aside, Sylis. This relic belongs to the clan, not to you."
Sylis laughed. "You're awfully bold for someone who's always been carried by his reputation. Maybe it's time someone reminded you what real power looks like."
Kane clenched his fists, his halberd sparking with faint electricity. "Say one more word, and I'll show you what we're made of."
But before the tension could erupt into a fight, the chamber roared to life. The floor lit up with glowing runes, and from the walls, massive stone guardians emerged, their eyes blazing with fiery light.
The relic's activation had begun.
The Guardians' Trial
The stone guardians moved with terrifying speed, their heavy limbs leaving cracks in the ground with every step. Sylis cursed under her breath.
"Team, formation! Zane, take point!"
Zane charged forward, his fists blazing red. He struck the nearest guardian with a thunderous blow, sending shockwaves through the room. The guardian staggered but didn't fall.
Lyra, Sylis's swiftest ally, vanished into the shadows, her Shadow Veil cloaking her movements. Reappearing behind a guardian, she drove her daggers into its joints, trying to disrupt its movement.
Meanwhile, the brothers sprang into action.
Adewan activated Imperial, his golden domain spreading out around him like a shimmering field of light. Inside the domain, the guardians slowed, cracks spreading across their bodies as they struggled against its oppressive force.
"Focus your attacks in my domain!" Adewan commanded, his voice steady.
Kane nodded, his halberd glowing with electric energy. With a single swing, he shattered a guardian's knee, causing it to collapse. His ability, Stormforge, crackled with destructive precision.
Akane, however, fought differently.
He summoned Dominion Flames, dark, flickering fire that seemed to burn in and out of existence. With every punch and kick, bursts of the chaotic flames erupted, searing both the guardians' stone bodies and the energy animating them.
"Akane, control your flames!" Adewan called out.
"I've got it!" Akane snapped back, though the toll of his power was evident in his labored breathing.
The Rivalry
As the last guardian fell, the chamber grew silent once more. Both teams stood on opposite sides of the relic, glaring at each other.
Sylis stepped forward, a smirk playing on her lips. "Not bad. But let's see how you handle me."
Adewan held up a hand to stop Kane, who was already stepping forward. "Let Akane handle this."
Akane blinked in surprise. "Me?"
"You've been holding back," Adewan said simply.
Sylis laughed. "Oh, this'll be fun. Let's see what the youngest prodigy is made of."
The two stepped into the center of the room, the relic glowing faintly between them.
Akane vs. Sylis
Sylis struck first, her vines lashing out like serpents. Akane dodged, his movements fluid. As he twisted away, his body shimmered briefly, and one of his arms morphed into a jagged, bladed edge—a manifestation of Shapeshifter's Edge.
He countered with a slash, his blade-like arm cutting through Sylis's vines. But she was relentless, summoning more to shield herself.
"You'll need more than that to keep up," Sylis taunted, launching another barrage of vines.
Akane's eyes darkened as he released Malignant Aura, a wave of cursed energy that rippled through the chamber. Sylis froze for a split second, her body stiffening under the weight of the oppressive aura.
"Not so confident now, are you?" Akane growled, flames flickering to life around him.
Summoning Dominion Flames, he unleashed a torrent of fire that surged toward Sylis. She countered with a wall of vines, but the flames were too powerful, burning through her defenses.
Sylis leapt back, her smirk faltering. "Not bad… but let's see how you handle this!"
She thrust her hands forward, and massive roots erupted from the ground, surging toward Akane like a tidal wave.
Akane grinned. "Let's end this."
His body shimmered again as he activated Devour, the roots disintegrating into wisps of energy that he absorbed. His form glowed faintly as the stolen energy enhanced his strength.
In a blur of movement, he appeared behind Sylis, his bladed arm poised to strike. She barely had time to react, summoning a shield of vines to block the attack.
The clash sent shockwaves through the room, the force throwing them both backward.
The Aftermath
Both fighters stood, breathing heavily. Sylis's confident smirk had faded, replaced by a grudging respect.
"Not bad, kid," she admitted, brushing herself off. "But don't think this means you've won."
Akane said nothing, his crimson eyes blazing with determination.
Adewan stepped forward, placing a hand on Akane's shoulder. "That's enough."
Sylis crossed her arms. "Take the relic. But next time, it's mine."
As the brothers left the chamber, relic in hand, Akane glanced back at Sylis. For the first time, he saw her not as an enemy, but as a rival—a challenge he was determined to overcome.
And deep down, Sylis felt the same.