The golden light swallowed Ochieng whole.
For a brief moment, there was nothing—no sound, no air, no ground beneath his feet. Just an endless void of warmth and power.
Then—BOOM!
He landed on solid ground.
His vision cleared, and what he saw stole his breath away.
A city of gold and silver stretched before him, bathed in an eternal twilight. Towering spires pierced the sky, bridges of light connected floating islands, and beneath it all, a massive waterfall of stardust flowed into an abyss.
This was no ordinary place.
It was the Forgotten Realm.
---
The air trembled. A deep voice resonated through the city.
"You have arrived, descendant."
Ochieng's body tensed. His blood boiled again, reacting to the voice.
Then—figures appeared.
Ethereal beings, clad in robes woven from the cosmos, their faces hidden beneath golden masks. Their presence was suffocating, their aura so vast that even a single breath felt heavy.
One of them stepped forward.
"Kneel."
A command—not a request.
But Ochieng… did not kneel.
He lifted his chin, his gaze sharp. "I bow to no one."
For a moment, silence.
Then—laughter.
Low and deep, like rolling thunder.
The elder who had spoken tilted his head. "Good. You are worthy."
The others nodded in approval.
Then, the elder raised his hand.
A surge of divine power flooded the air—and slammed into Ochieng's chest.
---
"Endure."
The power burned.
Every vein in his body ignited, his bones cracked, his soul shook.
Memories of his past—his pain, his suffering, his betrayals—rose to the surface.
He saw his childhood, the days of humiliation, the nights of loneliness.
He saw the faces of those who had wronged him.
His former lover, who had cast him aside.
His so-called friends, who had abandoned him.
His enemies, who had crushed him underfoot.
But above all…
He saw himself.
The weak, powerless version of himself—shackled by fate.
No more.
Ochieng clenched his fists.
He refused to be controlled.
He refused to be weak.
BOOM!
The energy exploded outward—but he did not fall.
He absorbed it.
And in that moment…
Ochieng was no longer the man he once was.
He was reborn.
---
The Trial of the Heir Begins
The golden-robed elder smiled.
"Now… prove yourself."
He raised his hand—
And the city itself came alive.
Statues moved. Shadows gathered. The sky darkened.
From the depths of the Forgotten Realm—a thousand warriors emerged.
Blades gleamed. Arrows were notched. Magic crackled in the air.
The elder's voice boomed:
"Survive… and claim your birthright."
Ochieng grinned.
His eyes burned with unmatched determination.
"Come."
"Let's see if you can kill me."
---