Volume 2: Shards of Unity
Chapter 36: Trial of the Forgotten
The glowing figures stepped away from the walls, their movements eerily fluid as though they were ancient spirits reborn from the carvings. Each one bore the visage of a warrior, their weapons gleaming with spectral energy. There were seven in total, one for each carving that had animated.
Eryth felt the tension ripple through the group. Their numbers had already been thinned, and now they faced yet another challenge. His fingers brushed against the relic, its warmth a constant reminder of the burden he carried.
"We've fought worse," the armored woman muttered, stepping forward with her sword raised. But her confidence was thin, her stance betrayed by the fatigue in her body.
The largest of the spectral warriors raised its weapon, a massive halberd that shimmered like liquid light. Its voice echoed through the chamber, low and resonant.
"Only the worthy may proceed. Prove your strength, or be forgotten."
Without warning, the warriors attacked.
The Trial Begins
Eryth barely had time to dodge as one of the figures lunged at him, its blade slashing through the air where he had stood moments before. Nyx leaped to his defense, intercepting the spectral warrior with a ferocious swipe of its claws. The impact sent ripples through the creature's form, but it reformed almost instantly, undeterred.
"They're not normal!" Eryth shouted, ducking another swing. "They're… different!"
"They're stronger," the armored woman growled, locking blades with one of the warriors. Sparks flew as their weapons clashed, the sheer force of the impact driving her back a step.
Eryth glanced around, his mind racing. The chamber wasn't just a battleground—it was part of the trial. The carvings that lined the walls seemed to shift and glow with each strike, as if feeding off the energy of the fight.
"The carvings," he realized. "They're connected to the warriors. If we destroy them, maybe we can weaken these things!"
"Easier said than done!" one of the survivors yelled as he narrowly avoided a spear thrust.
A Desperate Plan
Nyx roared, its form shimmering as it unleashed a burst of power, slamming into the warrior it faced. The creature staggered but didn't fall, its glowing eyes locking onto Nyx with renewed aggression.
"Nyx!" Eryth called. "Keep them off me!"
The bond between them pulsed, and Nyx lunged toward the nearest warriors, drawing their attention with a feral growl. Eryth sprinted toward the carvings, his heart pounding.
The nearest carving depicted a battle scene, its figures glowing faintly. Eryth raised his weapon and struck with all his might. The carving cracked under the force, and the glow dimmed.
One of the spectral warriors faltered, its form flickering before it recovered.
"It's working!" Eryth shouted.
The armored woman glanced over, her expression grim. "Then keep going! We'll hold them off!"
The Cost of Victory
The fight raged on, each strike a gamble. The group worked together, targeting the carvings one by one. But the warriors didn't relent, their attacks growing more ferocious with each loss.
The wiry man, still nursing the wound from the previous battle, was the next to fall. He had managed to destroy a carving but left himself exposed in the process. A spectral blade pierced his chest, and he collapsed with a choked gasp.
Eryth froze, his chest tightening. Another life lost. Another weight to carry.
"Don't stop!" the armored woman yelled, her voice cutting through his despair. "We can't save him, but we can finish this!"
Clenching his teeth, Eryth turned back to the carvings. The relic pulsed against his chest, urging him forward. He reached the final carving and slammed his weapon into it with all his strength.
The carving shattered, and the chamber was flooded with blinding light.
The End of the Trial
When the light faded, the warriors were gone. The carvings had crumbled into dust, leaving only silence in their wake.
Eryth dropped to his knees, his body trembling from exhaustion. Around him, the survivors regrouped. There were so few of them now—just him, Nyx, and the armored woman.
She knelt beside the wiry man's body, her expression unreadable. After a moment, she stood and looked at Eryth. "We survived. That's all that matters."
Eryth didn't respond. His gaze was fixed on the pedestal, where the shard still glowed faintly. Its light was softer now, almost inviting.
"Do we take it?" the armored woman asked.
Eryth hesitated, then nodded. "We didn't come this far for nothing."
He reached out and grasped the shard. The moment his fingers touched it, a surge of energy coursed through him, and his vision went black.
To Be Continued…