> [Tower Access – Floor 2: Duo Trial Unlocked]
[Participants: Lohan Ardyn & Winter Elshade]
[Trial Name: Trial of Balance – Elemental Resonance Required]
[Recommended Sync Rate: 40% or higher]
Lohan glanced at Winter. "You ready for this?"
Winter smiled slightly. "I was born ready. Or… reborn, apparently."
---
[Tower – Floor 2: Elemental Divide]
The room was split in two halves—one engulfed in searing flames, the other frozen in eternal ice.
> [Trial Objective: Sync and stabilize both elements before they collapse the chamber.]
The temperature fluctuated violently.
"I'll take the fire," Lohan said without hesitation.
Winter didn't argue—ice was her domain.
They split off.
---
Flame Side – Lohan
Lohan moved through walls of fire, absorbing and bending them with his magic. The system buzzed.
> [Skill Copied: Infernal Step (C+)]
[Skill Upgrade: Cyclone Fang -> Cyclone Inferno – Tier A]
His battle instincts kicked in. This wasn't a battle—it was a dance with destruction. But Lohan owned destruction.
---
Ice Side – Winter
Winter's control over ice was nearly divine. The moment her boots touched the frozen ground, the storms calmed slightly.
But she wasn't the same Winter from this life. Visions surged through her mind—a throne of ice, an army of frostborn soldiers… and him beside her.
Her magic flared.
> [Awakening Skill Triggered: Frost Queen's Domain (Partial)]
[Trait Unlocked: Resonant Memory – Lohan Ardyn]
---
Central Platform
As both reached the core, a wall of blazing wind and bitter frost clashed.
> [Warning: Instability Detected – Synchronization Below 40%]
Winter extended her hand.
"Trust me."
Lohan hesitated. Then reached out.
The moment their fingers touched, something clicked.
> [Sync Rate: 42%... 50%... 63%... Stable.]
[Dual Resonance Achieved.]
[Trial Complete.]
[Rewards: Dual Skill – Stormheart (Passive), Shared Trait – Elemental Link]
[Memory Core x2 Retrieved.]
---
Outside the Gate
They emerged breathless—but victorious.
Winter smirked. "So… we're officially a team now?"
Lohan didn't answer. But he didn't walk away either.
That was answer enough.
---
Meanwhile – Celestial Realm
Justine watched their trial playback.
She didn't speak.
But behind her, a divine sword floated into the air—her old blade.
The one Lohan forged for her.
"It's time he remembers," she whispered. "What it means to lose everything."
---