The chamber trembled softly.
Golden runes along the stone pedestal awakened one by one like ancient stars lighting the night sky.
Kael knelt in front of the structure, his palms pressed against the cold stone surface.
The moment his Origin Energy flowed outward, the pedestal reacted violently.
A deep humming sound filled the chamber.
Then a voice echoed inside Kael's mind.
Not the Primordial System.
Something older.
Something buried within the ruins themselves.
"Candidate detected…"
"Energy signature… unknown."
"Trial of Origin… initiating."
The entire chamber suddenly brightened.
A massive formation circle spread across the floor, surrounding Kael completely.
He opened his eyes just as the ground beneath him cracked.
From the darkness beneath the pedestal, a stone creature slowly rose.
A Guardian Golem.
Its body was made of ancient rock, glowing with faint golden lines similar to the runes on the walls.
Two burning eyes locked onto Kael.
The system instantly reacted.
Ancient Guardian Detected
Threat Level: Moderate
Trial Objective: Defeat the Guardian to awaken Origin Core (Stage 1)
Kael stood up slowly.
"So this is the test."
The golem suddenly moved.
Its massive stone fist crashed downward toward Kael's head.
BOOM!
Kael rolled aside just in time as the ground shattered beneath the impact.
Dust filled the chamber.
"Strong," Kael muttered.
The golem attacked again, swinging its massive arm sideways.
Kael activated Origin Rush instantly.
His body blurred forward.
The stone fist barely missed him.
Kael leaped upward and struck the creature's chest.
"Origin Strike!"
CRACK!
The impact sent shockwaves across the chamber.
But the golem barely moved.
Instead, its glowing runes brightened further.
Inside Kael's mind, the system spoke calmly.
Warning
Guardian Defense extremely high.
Recommended tactic: Target Core Node.
Kael quickly scanned the creature.
There.
At the center of its chest.
A small glowing crystal embedded within the stone.
"The heart," Kael whispered.
The golem raised both arms and slammed them down again.
BOOM!
The entire chamber shook violently.
Kael dodged again, sliding across the cracked stone floor.
Then he focused all his Origin Energy.
"Origin Body."
His muscles tightened as power surged through his veins.
He dashed forward.
"Origin Rush!"
His speed doubled again.
The golem attempted another strike.
But this time Kael moved faster.
He jumped onto the creature's arm and ran up its massive stone body.
The crystal heart glowed brighter as Kael approached.
The golem tried to grab him.
Too slow.
Kael clenched his fist.
"Origin Strike!"
BOOM!
His punch slammed directly into the glowing crystal.
For a moment
Everything froze.
Then the crystal shattered.
CRACK!
The golem stopped moving.
Golden energy exploded from its body like a collapsing star.
The massive stone creature crumbled into rubble.
The entire chamber fell silent.
Then the pedestal began glowing again.
And the system announced something Kael had been waiting for.
Trial Complete
Origin Core Awakening: Stage 1 Initiated
Kael felt an overwhelming surge of energy entering his body.
His bones vibrated.
His muscles burned.
Something deep inside him was finally beginning to change.