Chapter 11: The Trial of Blood
The mist parted once more, but this time, Lin Tian wasn't met with the familiar shifting landscapes of the Hidden Valley. Instead, the air around him grew cold, frigid even, and the once oppressive heat of the valley's trials seemed to vanish, replaced by an unnerving chill that seeped into his bones.
Lin Tian's breath became visible, a thin wisp of vapor escaping from his lips as he surveyed the unfamiliar surroundings. The ground beneath his feet was no longer cracked and barren, but instead, it was soft and wet, the earth slick with blood. The scent hit him first—sharp, metallic, the unmistakable tang of iron. He looked down and realized that his boots were stained, the blood soaking into the soil as far as the eye could see.
The air was thick with the weight of something ancient, something primal. It was a darkness far different from what he had faced before, one that pulled at the very core of his being. It was a place of carnage, a place where life and death collided with brutal force.
As Lin Tian took a step forward, the sound of footsteps echoed from the distance, heavy and purposeful. His heart began to pound in his chest, every muscle on edge, his senses alert. The blood-soaked earth beneath him seemed to tremble, as if it, too, were anticipating something terrible.
From the shadows, a figure emerged.
It was a man—or rather, a beast of a man. Taller than any mortal, his skin was marred with jagged scars, and his eyes burned with a ferocious intensity that made the air itself seem to tremble. His armor, a dark red steel, gleamed with the sheen of freshly spilled blood. His presence was overwhelming, suffocating, and Lin Tian instinctively knew that this was not just any foe. This was the embodiment of bloodshed, a living nightmare, a trial unlike anything he had faced before.
The man grinned, revealing sharp teeth, his eyes locking onto Lin Tian with a predatory gleam.
"You've come far," the man said, his voice deep and menacing. "But here, there are no rules. No mercy. Only blood. And you must spill it if you are to survive."
Lin Tian's grip on his sword tightened as his heart raced. The air around him thickened with the promise of violence. He had been through trials of the mind, body, and spirit, but this—this was different. This was a trial of blood, a trial that would test the very limits of his endurance, his morality, and his will to keep moving forward.
"You've come to face the Trial of Blood," the man continued, stepping forward with slow, deliberate movements. "But first, you must prove you have the strength to wield the flame, to claim your birthright as the Flame Sovereign. Only then will you truly understand the cost of power."
Lin Tian's pulse quickened as the figure continued to approach. He could feel the energy in the air shifting, and he knew with certainty that this wasn't just another illusion or mental construct. The man before him was real. The blood around him—the blood that soaked the ground—was real.
The man reached down and gripped a massive, blood-stained axe that lay at his feet. The weapon was as large as a tree trunk, the blade gleaming with a deadly edge that promised destruction.
"Do you have the courage to face the truth?" the man asked, his voice low and dripping with malice. "Do you have the strength to spill blood, to take life, in order to survive?"
Lin Tian stared at the man, his breath coming in shallow bursts. He could feel the weight of the question pressing down on him. The flames inside him roared to life, burning brighter with each passing moment, but the man's words cut deep into his psyche. In all his years of training, in all the battles he had fought, Lin Tian had never faced the true cost of power.
The flame he wielded was mighty, yes—but at what cost? What would he sacrifice to achieve his destiny? What would he be willing to do to become the Flame Sovereign?
"You will have to answer that for yourself," the man said, his grin widening as he raised the massive axe. "Because here, there is no turning back. There is only blood."
Without warning, the man charged forward, the ground trembling under the weight of his steps. Lin Tian barely had time to react as the massive axe came crashing down toward him. The force of the blow sent a shockwave rippling through the air, and Lin Tian instinctively parried, his sword clashing against the blade of the axe with a deafening ring.
The force of the impact nearly knocked him off his feet, but he steadied himself, gritting his teeth as the flames within him surged. His body felt alive with the power of the flame, but there was something else—something darker—that seemed to fuel the man's attack. Each strike was driven by the brutal, unrelenting force of bloodlust, and Lin Tian could feel the weight of it, the overwhelming desire to end him.
The man swung the axe again, faster this time, aiming for Lin Tian's head. But Lin Tian was faster still. He ducked under the swing, his body moving with the precision of a predator. He retaliated, slashing his sword toward the man's side, but the attack was blocked, the axe catching his blade with a sickening screech.
The man let out a guttural laugh, his eyes wild with bloodlust. "You're strong, I'll give you that. But strength alone won't save you here."
Lin Tian's breath was ragged, his mind racing as he pushed himself back, distancing himself from the brutal onslaught. He could feel his body aching from the force of the blows, but it wasn't the pain that gnawed at him—it was the realization of what was at stake. This battle wasn't just about survival. It was about choice. The man before him represented the part of him he feared most—the part that reveled in the bloodshed, the violence, the cost of power.
The trial of blood wasn't just about fighting for survival. It was about confronting the darkness that lurked inside him, the darkness that wanted to destroy, to conquer, to spill blood in the name of power.
As the man closed in again, axe raised high, Lin Tian steadied his breath. His grip on his sword tightened. His mind cleared.
I will not let the bloodshed define me.
With a fierce cry, Lin Tian launched himself forward, his sword blazing with the full force of his flame. He met the axe with a crushing blow, the flames engulfing the weapon as he twisted, forcing the man back. The ground beneath them shattered, the force of the clash sending shockwaves through the air. Lin Tian could feel his strength faltering, but his will was stronger. He was not just fighting to survive—he was fighting to overcome the darkness within.
The man staggered back, his grin fading as Lin Tian pressed the attack. Each strike, each movement, was driven by a single, unyielding resolve: he would not let the cost of power consume him.
In a final, decisive move, Lin Tian leapt into the air, his sword raised high. The man swung his axe one last time, but Lin Tian was faster. With a single slash, he cut through the blood-soaked air, his blade meeting the man's armor with a violent explosion of flame.
The man let out a final, defeated roar as he was engulfed by the flames, his body disintegrating into ash before Lin Tian's eyes.
The blood-soaked earth around him began to fade, the mist rising once more, and the valley fell into an eerie silence.
Lin Tian stood alone, his breath heavy, his body battered but resolute. The Trial of Blood had tested him in ways he never could have imagined, forcing him to confront the very nature of his power. But he had survived. He had chosen to rise above the darkness.
As the valley began to shift once more, Lin Tian knew that the path ahead was far from over. There were still more trials to face, more battles to fight. But with each victory, each challenge overcome, he was one step closer to claiming his destiny as the Flame Sovereign.
To be continued…