The moment Lyra Solenne spoke her name, the air around us seemed to thrum with power. It wasn't just the weight of her presence—there was something more, something otherworldly about her. The coliseum we stood in, built from the essence of shadows themselves, seemed to recognize her as part of its fabric.
I took a slow breath, steadying my heart.
"So, you're my next trial?" I asked, my voice carrying in the eerie silence.
Lyra chuckled softly, the sound both melodic and unsettling. "Trial? No, Alden Draven. I am not just another step in your path—I am the path."
Before I could respond, she raised a single hand. Instantly, the shadows around her came alive. They slithered and coiled, forming tendrils that flickered like flames, and then—without warning—they attacked.
I barely had time to react. I dove to the side, rolling as a spear of darkness pierced the ground where I had stood moments ago. My pulse raced, but I forced myself to focus. This wasn't just a battle of strength—it was a battle of control.
Lyra didn't hesitate. She stepped forward, weaving through the shadows as if she were part of them, striking again and again with flicks of her wrist. Each motion sent another wave of dark tendrils my way. I dodged, evaded, but the attacks were relentless.
"Is this really all the 'Shadowborn' can do?" she taunted, her voice teasing yet sharp. "You may have impressed the darkness once, but it takes more than luck to wield it."
I grit my teeth. She was testing me—not just my combat skills, but my understanding of the shadows.
I took a deep breath and reached out—not with my hands, but with my mind.
Feel them.
The darkness around me wasn't just an enemy—it was a force, waiting to be directed. I had already formed a connection with the shadows during the first trial. Now, I needed to take it further.
Lyra struck again. But this time, instead of dodging, I raised my hand and—
Caught the attack.
The tendrils of shadow halted in my grasp, writhing like living serpents. For a moment, Lyra's eyes flickered with intrigue.
"Not bad," she admitted. Then, her smirk widened. "But let's see how far you can take it."
Before I could react, the entire coliseum came alive.
The statues lining the perimeter shifted, their eyes glowing as deep shadows pooled beneath them. From the darkness, figures emerged—warriors clad in pure obsidian, wielding weapons forged from the abyss. Each one moved in perfect synchronization, their presence exuding sheer menace.
Lyra stepped back, folding her arms. "Defeat them," she commanded. "Only then will you be worthy."
I exhaled slowly. This was it.
The warriors moved in unison, surrounding me with eerie precision. Their weapons gleamed with the energy of pure shadow. There were at least ten of them.
I didn't have time to hesitate.
"Argonax, take the air!" I commanded. My feathered companion screeched and shot upward, wings cutting through the darkness like a blade.
The first warrior lunged.
I met his strike with my own, summoning a blade of condensed shadows in my grasp. Our weapons clashed, the force sending shockwaves through the air. Another came from the side—I twisted, barely dodging the downward slash before countering with a precise kick to his midsection.
One down.
But the others didn't wait.
A second warrior swung for my back. Shadowfang intercepted, clamping down on his arm with fangs wreathed in darkness. The creature let out a low growl, eyes glowing with fierce determination. I took the opening, driving my blade through the warrior's chest. He dissolved into mist.
Two down.
But I was already breathing hard.
Lyra watched from a distance, her gaze unreadable. "You're holding back," she observed. "You can feel the shadows, but you're still treating them as tools. Let them become you."
Her words rang in my mind. Become the shadows?
Another warrior charged, but this time, I didn't just react. I let go.
I let the shadows flow through me.
Everything shifted. My movements became faster, more fluid. I wasn't just dodging—I was vanishing into the darkness, reappearing in unpredictable places. My blade moved like an extension of my will, cutting through the enemies like whispers in the night.
Five down.
Six.
Seven.
The last warrior swung—too slow. I twisted behind him, dissolving into a wisp of shadow before reforming with my blade pressed against his throat.
With a flick of my wrist, the final warrior dispersed.
Silence settled over the coliseum. My chest heaved, my skin tingling with the lingering energy of the battle.
Lyra studied me, then nodded. "Now you're starting to understand."
The world around us shifted once more. The coliseum faded, replaced by a vast expanse of night sky filled with floating islands of obsidian. In the center of it all, an ancient altar pulsed with violet energy.
Lyra turned to me. "You've proven yourself in battle. Now, it's time to claim what you came for."
I took a step forward, feeling the weight of everything I had just faced.
I was ready.