Chapter 4 – The First Strategy
Kairo moved swiftly but carefully through the dense forest, keeping his footsteps light. The fog no longer felt ominous, just another part of the challenge—a test to see how well he could adapt and survive.
The Watchers, as the Trial called them, weren't ghosts or supernatural horrors. Now that he had seen them up close, they looked like mechanical beasts, made of sleek black metal with glowing red eyes. They moved with incredible precision and speed, scanning their surroundings like advanced sentries.
This was no ordinary trial.
It was a battlefield, a proving ground for warriors, testing every skill a fighter needed.
And right now, the test was stealth, patience, and strategy.
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Breaking Down the Trial
Kairo reviewed everything he knew so far:
The Watchers track movement. If he moved too fast, they would lock onto him.
They have sharp senses. Running blindly would get him caught.
The objective is survival until sunrise. That meant no fighting, just outlasting the hunt.
He crouched behind a massive tree, breathing slowly. Surviving didn't mean just hiding in one place. The Trial likely had mechanisms in place to keep challengers from staying still too long.
And there it was—a soft vibration beneath his feet.
The ground beneath him shifted slightly, almost as if the Trial was forcing him to keep moving.
"So that's how it is," Kairo muttered.
He had to stay ahead of the Watchers while avoiding detection—a perfect balance of movement and concealment.
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The First Plan – Outsmarting the Hunters
He looked up at the towering trees. The branches stretched high, creating a complex network of natural pathways.
Could he use the trees to his advantage?
Kairo scanned the Watchers below. They moved with perfect synchronization, scanning the forest floor. But he noticed something—they never looked up.
They weren't designed to track movement above them.
That was his way out.
He took a slow, deep breath and calculated his next steps. Climbing directly up would make noise. But if he could reach a branch quietly, he could stay out of their line of sight.
He spotted a vine-covered rock a few meters away. If he stepped onto it carefully, he could reach the first branch without making a sound.
One chance.
With precise movements, he stepped onto the rock, grabbed the lowest branch, and lifted himself up slowly, making sure not to shake the leaves.
The moment he was off the ground, the hunting patterns of the Watchers remained unchanged. They hadn't noticed.
He smirked.
"Got you."
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Moving Through the Canopy
Kairo stayed in the upper branches, carefully navigating the treetops. His training from climbing trees as a kid came in handy. The higher he went, the safer he felt.
Below, the Watchers continued their patrol, unaware that their target had already escaped their detection range.
It was a small victory, but an important one.
This wasn't just about strength or combat—it was about understanding how to outmaneuver opponents smarter and stronger than him.
And he was learning fast.
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The Trial's True Purpose
As he moved silently through the trees, Kairo's mind worked through everything he had discovered.
The Infinite Trial wasn't just throwing random challenges at him.
Each floor tested a different skill set:
Floor One: Combat → Strength & Reflexes
Floor Two: Intelligence → Logic & Decision-making
Floor Three: Survival → Stealth & Strategy
Which meant…
The later floors would test even greater aspects of battle—maybe tactics, leadership, endurance, or even adaptability against powerful foes.
And that meant something even bigger—this was all preparation for something greater.
The Trial wasn't just a game.
It was training him for a war, a mission, or a destiny he didn't yet understand.
And for the first time, instead of fear…
Kairo felt excited.
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The Final Hours – Holding His Ground
Hours passed.
Kairo remained in the trees, shifting locations slowly to avoid being tracked. The Watchers continued their patrol, unable to find him.
His body ached from the long hours of remaining still and careful, but he could see the first light of dawn breaking through the mist.
He had done it.
Survival until sunrise.
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Trial Completion – Reward & Next Step
The moment the first ray of sunlight pierced through the trees, a golden light enveloped him.
A new notification appeared.
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[Floor 3 Cleared!]
[Survival Test Complete – You have passed the Trial of Instinct.]
[Reward: Stealth Proficiency Increased, Enhanced Reflexes Unlocked.]
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Kairo's eyes widened.
He felt a sudden lightness in his body, as if his reflexes had been sharpened. He could sense his surroundings more clearly, react faster, and move more precisely.
These weren't just abstract rewards.
The Trial was actually improving him, sharpening his skills permanently.
"This place…" Kairo whispered, looking at his hands.
It wasn't just a challenge.
It was a path to something greater.
And he was ready to see where it led next.
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End of Chapter 4
To be continued-