"Shit, I think I'm gonna to vomit" tought Kieran, "Never again"
When he blinked, he was no longer in the ruins but standing at the edge of a massive chasm.Steel platforms hovered in a chaotic web over an abyss shrouded in thick, swirling mist. Each platform trembled like it was barely holding itself together, and jagged, shifting walls lined the sides of the gorge. Sparks of blue lightning danced across certain surfaces, crackling with deadly energy.
"Welcome, initiate," the voice echoed through the canyon. "Your second trial: The Path of Peril."
Kieran rolled his eyes. "Real subtle name. Lemme guess, cross without getting fried, smashed, or falling to my doom?"
"Precisely," the voice said, unbothered by the sarcasm. "Survival is key. Failure means death."
"Obviously," Kieran muttered, flexing his fingers. The markings along his arms pulsed faintly, a reminder that he still had access to the strange energy coursing within him. Good—he was going to need every spark of it.
The first platform creaked ominously as he tested its stability with one foot. "All right, here goes nothing." He leaped onto it, knees bending to absorb the impact. The platform wobbled but held.
The next jump was trickier—a narrow ledge crackling with blue energy. Kieran gritted his teeth, timing the rhythm of the lightning strikes. One... two... GO! He sprang forward, heart racing as a bolt of energy sizzled past his shoulder.
"Close," he muttered, landing in a crouch. The platform beneath him rumbled, shifting unexpectedly. Kieran's eyes widened. "Oh, come on—give a guy a break!"
He sprinted as the platform tilted dangerously to one side, feet pounding against the slick metal surface. Ahead, spinning gears jutted out from the walls, their razor-sharp edges gleaming ominously.
"Fantastic," Kieran grumbled. "What's next, flying sharks?"
The gears spun faster, their rotations synchronized to create fleeting gaps. Kieran took a steadying breath, focusing on the Veil's energy. The markings along his arms flared, sharpening his senses. Time seemed to slow as he calculated the precise moment to dash through.
"Now or never," he whispered.
He launched himself forward, twisting mid-air to avoid the first set of gears. Sparks flew as the metal teeth grazed his boot. Landing with a grunt, he rolled smoothly to his feet, momentum carrying him to the next platform.
"Made it," he gasped, adrenaline pumping through his veins.
The victory was short-lived. A low rumble echoed through the gorge. Kieran glanced up just in time to see a wall section detaching, descending toward him like a massive hammer.
"Seriously?!" he shouted, sprinting toward the edge.
With no time to think, he hurled himself off the platform, twisting to avoid the crushing slab. Wind roared past his ears as he fell toward a distant platform far below. Panic clawed at his throat, but Kieran forced himself to focus.
"Come on, work," he urged, reaching for the energy within. Silver light flickered around him, slowing his descent just enough for him to hit the platform with a bone-jarring thud.
Groaning, Kieran pushed himself up. "I've really gotta figure out how to fly with this stuff," he muttered.
Ahead, the final stretch loomed: a gauntlet of swinging pendulums and collapsing platforms. Kieran's lips curled into a defiant grin despite the sweat dripping down his face.
"All right, canyon of death," he said, cracking his knuckles. "Let's finish this."
Channeling every ounce of energy he had left, Kieran dashed forward. He ducked under a pendulum, leaped over a collapsing platform, and narrowly avoided a pillar that shot up from the abyss like a piston. His body moved on instinct, driven by sheer determination.
The last platform was within reach. Kieran poured everything into a final leap, soaring through the air. Time seemed to freeze as he extended his arms, fingers brushing the edge—
He slammed down, gripping the platform with both hands. Muscles burning, he hauled himself up, collapsing onto the solid surface.
A deafening silence followed. The swirling mist began to clear, revealing a narrow path leading upward.
"Congratulations, initiate," the voice intoned. "You have passed the second trial."
Kieran groaned, rolling onto his back. "I swear, if the next trial doesn't come with a vacation, I'm out."