Chapter 14: Tower of Trials — The Path of the Beast God
The atmosphere within the Nightmare Fang camp was unusually quiet, the night thick with the weight of what was to come. The entire tribe had gathered at the ceremonial grounds, standing in reverent silence as Alpha Dreadfang stepped forward, his colossal form silhouetted against the flickering firelight. Fury stood near the center, his pulse steady despite the tension, golden eyes locked on the looming altar behind Dreadfang—a massive, moss-covered obelisk that shimmered faintly with ancient runes.
"This is the beginning of your true path," Dreadfang rumbled, voice like distant thunder. "The Beast God watches."
Behind him, the flames cast eerie shadows on a towering structure made of obsidian and bone—a half-real, half-ethereal monument known as the Tower of Trials. Its base was encircled by a perfectly symmetrical ring of fifty stone lamps, each embedded with a dormant soulflame.
"These lamps," Dreadfang began, motioning to the unlit circle, "represent the floors of the Beast God's Trial. Every floor conquered lights one flame. No one, not even among the great Beast Kings of old, has reached the final light."
The Alpha turned his piercing gaze upon the tribe. "I cleared thirty-two floors. That is the highest record among all Alpha in the history of this continent. I carry that burden proudly. But I... could not reach the summit."
Gasps rippled through the crowd, the weight of his words settling like a storm cloud.
"The Tower of Trials is sacred," he continued. "A gift left behind by the Beast God, the primeval ancestor of all beastkin. It exists outside time, outside space, hidden deep in the spiritual realm. You cannot enter it twice. Once per life. That is the law."
Fury's claws dug into the dirt, heart pounding. A trial only allowed once in a lifetime. The pressure of it throbbed against his mind like war drums.
"Within the Tower," Dreadfang said, "you will face your instincts, your fears, and the echo of every predator that came before you. Defeat means soul-crushing failure—not death, but something worse. You'll be expelled… stripped of strength, purpose, and the will to rise again."
His voice darkened. "Many never recover."
Fury met the Alpha's gaze without flinching. "And what lies at the top?"
"The Ascendance Flame," Dreadfang replied. "A spark of the Beast God's divine soul. To reach it is to become something... more. Something that can rival kings and command legions. You will not just lead the pack—you will dominate the wild."
The candles remained cold and dark, but Fury could feel their presence burning in his blood. His chimera soul trembled slightly: part wolf, part dark elf, part something else—a dormant wyvern, hidden and sleeping.
A system screen shimmered to life before his eyes.
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[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Beast God Trial Initiation
You are eligible to enter the Tower of Trials.
⚠ This can only be attempted once.
Failure results in soul-crushing rejection.
Do you wish to proceed?
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Dreadfang approached slowly, placing a clawed hand on Fury's shoulder. "You've shown me something, young one. That new skill—Feral Sovereign Claw—is proof of your evolving nature. You are no longer just a cub. But if you take this path, there is no turning back."
Fury's claws trembled with restrained hunger. "I'm ready."
"Then step into the flame."
The ground beneath the altar cracked open, revealing a swirling portal of crimson energy and obsidian light. The ring of fifty lamps hissed, and one of them flickered softly, as if acknowledging the birth of a new challenger.
Fury turned to the tribe—Varok, who had trained beside him; the elders who had doubted him; and the pups who had cheered for him. Then he stepped forward, toward the portal.
As he crossed the threshold, a storm of energy consumed him, and the world blinked out.
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[Tower of Trials – Floor 1]
Welcome, Challenger.
Face your primal self.
Begin.
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To be continued…