Visibility was nearly zero because of the rain and the guards stationed there were drenched to the bone. Thunder rumbled in the distance but it was the sheer silence between each crack of lightning that unnerved them.
"Where the hell are they?" One guard muttered, squinting into the downpour as he gripped his weapon tighter. His voice was barely audible over the storm.
"They have to be around here," another replied. "No way anyone could have gotten past the perimeter without us knowing."
"Then why is everyone on edge?" A third voice chimed in which was more nervous than the others. "It feels like something's… watching us."
A bolt of lightning flashed, illuminating the drenched forest and boulders surrounding the base of the mountain. For a second, the guards caught sight of shadows shifting in the rain but there was nothing there when the light vanished.
"Keep your eyes sharp!" Barked their general. "They're toying with us. Whatever or whoever it is, we'll find them and end this—"
But the words barely left his mouth before a strangled cry pierced the storm.
Everyone turned but it was too late. One of their own collapsed to the ground. His body hit the mud with a sickening thud.
"What—what was that?!" One guard shouted as he pointed his spear wildly into the darkness.
"They're here!"
The group huddled together with their backs to each other, trying to make sense of the unseen threat. This time, a brief glint of blue whizzed through the air and struck another soldier in the chest. The man gasped as his weapon fell from his hands and he crumpled to the ground lifelessly.
"They're picking us off! We can't see anything!"
The general snarled, trying to maintain order. "Hold your positions! Don't let them break us apart!"
But it didn't matter. The unseen assassin was relentless. One by one, soldiers fell. Chains lashed out from the shadows, wrapping around throats and pulling men into the darkness as though the storm itself had swallowed them whole.
"Where are they?! Where—"
Another soldier's words were cut off as a shimmering, sapphire spike impaled him from behind. The few remaining guards were no longer soldiers but prey.
"I don't want to die!"
One of them sobbed, stumbling through the mud as he tried to flee. But he didn't make it far before a chain wrapped around his ankle and dragged him back into the storm.
The general, now the only one left, stood in the middle of the chaos, had his sword drawn. His heart pounded in his chest as he turned in every direction, trying to see through the rain.
A deafening explosion of plasma erupted from above, bathing the mountain's base in a searing blue light. The shockwave obliterated the remaining structures and trees, sending debris flying in every direction. The general shielded his face. When the light faded, the silence that followed was absolute.
He lowered his arm. Through the rain, he saw them. Two figures emerged slowly from the shadows.
The first was tall and regal. Sapphire light pulsed faintly around him. His features were obscured by the rain yet carrying an undeniable sense of power. His irises were glowing in a golden hue. Beside him, the second figure was smaller but no less intimidating. The chains around her glinted in the dim light.
The general gritted his teeth. He wouldn't die cowering like the others. If this was the end, he'd face it head-on.
"You… who are you?"
The taller figure stepped forward as he raised his hand. A sapphire shard materialized and floated on his hand.
The general barely had time to react. The shard shot forward, piercing his heart with shocking speed. He staggered as the light faded from his eyes. He collapsed to his knees, then to the ground, completely lifeless. Vastarael let out a long sigh, lowering his hand as the sapphire shard dissolved into the air.
"Well, that's the end of the third test."
Chainless stood silently beside him. Vastarael glanced at her before he turned his gaze back to the mountain.
"Do you have any friends or family in the arena? Anyone you want to save?"
Chainless tilted her head. Slowly, she nodded.
"Alright. If you do, we can go save them. But you'll have to guide me a little. How many people?"
Chainless lifted her hand, holding up six fingers.
"Six? Who?"
Her hands moved, mimicking a small creature's movements and claws padding on invisible ground. Vastarael's lips twitched with a faint smile.
"A pet?"
She nodded quickly, then mimed a gesture that resembled holding something close—a cradle, perhaps. Her face, though hard to read, carried an unmistakable tenderness.
"A family that raised you?"
Chainless nodded once more. Vastarael rose to his full height, crossing his arms as he contemplated her answers.
"Alright. Then let's go get them."
But before he could take a step, the air around them shimmered. A blue hologram flickered to life.
[Fourth Test: Rescue the Hostages in the Arena. Success is mandatory. Failure results in losing the test.]
Vastarael stared at the glowing letters. The rain slid down his face as he slowly exhaled.
"Interesting."
He turned to Chainless.
"Do you see it? The first test," he began, speaking aloud as much for himself as for her, "was me fighting you in the arena. A test of combat to confront another potential ally. The second was to fight the lava monster. At first, it seemed like it was about stopping the eruption. But now I think it was about testing if I would face something catastrophic to protect others, even if I didn't know it yet. The third test was to eliminate the guards. A clear moral dilemma to kill people to survive, even if they were just doing their duty."
Finally, he pointed to the hologram.
"And now, the fourth test is to save the hostages. It's all connected, Chainless. The tests are escalating. They're not just trials of strength or skill. They're tests of my judgment and decisions. Each one forces me to make a choice and what lines I'm willing to cross."
Even Phaenora was silent.
"This system isn't just trying to see if I'm strong enough to pass through the academy. It's trying to break me or... maybe mold me into something specific. So, there are seven tests in total, aren't there? That's why you revealed the fourth so soon. You're setting me up for something bigger."
The hologram remained unresponsive. Vastarael's lips curled into a sardonic smile.
"Well, fine. Let's play your game."
He turned back to Chainless, who remained motionless.
"Ready to save your family?"
She nodded.
"Then let's go. But we'll need to prepare though. It would be great to kill everyone but they might use them as hostages or kill them so we can't risk that."
The two of them walked into the darkness of the rain, clearly unaffected by it as a barrier covered them, keeping them dry. Soon, the bodies of the guards they killed would soon be the delicacy of wild beasts.
Not that he cared at all.