The southern gate was quiet at dawn, the air still cool with lingering night fog.
Singh arrived early, his Silent Kunai tucked under his coat, Eternal Sun Lotus sleeping beneath his palm. He wore travel leathers this time—lighter than the cool, stylish outfits he preferred, but easier to move in.
A lone Spirit Hall attendant waited for him by the gate. The man looked utterly ordinary—short, stocky, with plain brown robes—but there was a certain sharpness in his gaze that marked him as more than just a messenger.
"You're Singh?" the man asked without greeting.
"Yes."
The attendant handed him a small bronze token stamped with the Spirit Hall crest. "Keep this with you. It's your proof of participation."
"And the trial?" Singh asked.
The man simply pointed toward the open countryside. "Follow the road for half a day. When you reach the river with the red rocks, you'll find your instructions."
Singh frowned. "That's it?"
"That's it," the man said, and turned to leave.
---
Into the Countryside
The road south was wide at first, then narrowed into a dirt trail flanked by wild grass and scattered trees. The morning sun slowly burned away the fog, and the sound of distant birds filled the air.
Singh moved at a steady pace, his mind half on the scenery, half on Selene's words from the night before.
Adaptability is as important as strength.
What was she testing for? Combat skill? Endurance? Or his ability to read a situation with incomplete information?
The farther he went, the quieter it became. Even the birds seemed to avoid the path now.
---
The Red Rocks
By midday, Singh spotted the river—a narrow, fast-moving current cutting through the land. The stones along its banks were indeed red, iron-rich and slick with spray.
At the water's edge, a sealed scroll rested under a small stone. Singh picked it up, breaking the wax seal.
The message was short:
> Proceed upriver until you find the broken bridge. There, your trial begins. Survive until sundown.
No further details. No hints at what "survive" meant.
Singh exhaled through his nose. "Of course."
---
The Broken Bridge
The trek upriver took another hour. Singh's eyes were sharp, scanning for signs of movement. The Silent Kunai felt almost eager in his hand.
The broken bridge was exactly what it sounded like—half of an old wooden structure, rotting and collapsed into the water. Across the river, dense forest loomed.
Singh stepped onto the bank. The moment his boot touched the red stone, something shifted in the air—like a ripple of killing intent washing over him.
A voice spoke from somewhere unseen. "So you're the boy Selene wants to keep."
Singh didn't turn toward the voice immediately. "And you are?"
From the treeline emerged a man in black leather armor, a crimson scarf wrapped loosely around his neck. His hair was pale blond, his eyes the color of wet steel. Two spirit rings—yellow and purple—floated beneath him, though Singh could feel his true power was being hidden.
"Name's Kael," the man said casually. "Hunter. My job is to see if you live through today."
Singh narrowed his eyes. "By trying to kill me?"
"Not exactly," Kael said with a faint grin. "But I won't be making it easy."
---
The Hunt Begins
Kael's martial soul appeared in a shimmer of air—twin curved blades, their edges glinting faintly with blue light. Without warning, he moved.
One moment he was standing still; the next, he was on Singh's left flank, his blade already arcing downward. Singh barely managed to raise the Silent Kunai in time, the clash ringing sharp in the open air.
Kael's grin widened. "Good reflexes."
He vanished again, reappearing on Singh's right. This time, Singh didn't block—he teleported a step backward, forcing Kael's blade to cut empty air.
"That's interesting," Kael said, eyes narrowing. "Short-range blink. Useful. Dangerous, too."
Singh didn't answer. His mind was already working—Kael wasn't trying to finish him quickly. This was a test, but that didn't mean it was safe.
---
Pushing Back
They clashed again and again, Kael's movements fast but measured. Singh alternated between shadow strikes from the Kunai and bursts of heat from the Eternal Sun Lotus, testing whether Kael had a preference for avoiding light or darkness.
The answer? Neither. Kael adapted instantly to both.
"You're balanced," Kael said mid-fight. "That's rare. Means you'll either be a genius… or dead before you're twenty."
Singh ducked under a blade swipe, then used Teleport Step to get behind Kael, striking at his back. But Kael twisted mid-air, parrying without even looking.
The man's combat sense was unreal.
---
The Shift
Hours passed. The sun moved toward the western horizon, shadows lengthening over the broken bridge. Singh's breath was steady, but his muscles burned from constant movement.
Kael stepped back finally, lowering his blades. "Good. You're stubborn."
Singh frowned. "Is the trial over?"
Kael shook his head. "Not quite."
From the treeline opposite them, rustling began. A low growl rolled through the air, deep enough to make the stones underfoot tremble.
A massive wolf emerged—its fur silver-white, eyes glowing faintly blue. Spirit energy radiated from it in waves. Three spirit rings floated around its body—yellow, yellow, purple.
"A Frostfang Wolf King," Kael said, sheathing one blade. "Mid-tier Spirit Elder class beast. I could kill it for you… but then what would Selene learn about you?"
Singh's pulse quickened. "So this was the real trial."
Kael smiled faintly. "Survive until sundown. That's the deal. Your prey doesn't care about tests."
---
The First Strike
The wolf moved like lightning, its claws slashing down toward Singh. He rolled to the side, heat flaring from the Eternal Sun Lotus to scorch its paw. The beast howled, but it didn't slow—its breath misting the air in a freezing cloud.
Singh countered with the Silent Kunai, vanishing in a teleport step and reappearing above its back. He slashed, but the wolf's fur was thick, almost armor-like.
It spun, snapping its jaws where he'd been a second before.
From the riverbank, Kael watched with interest. "Show me, boy. Show me why she thinks you're worth keeping alive."