Dianna's voice grew heavy. "The Forbidden Crystals can only be found in Mount Vajai, the tallest mountain on this continent. They are filled with corrupted energy, granting immense power to those who use them."
She paused, her face darkening like a storm rolling in. "But there is a reason they are forbidden. Anyone who depends on them will eventually be consumed by corruption, turning into a mindless monster, just like those who run out of Willpower."
Her voice grew heavy. "Thousands of years ago, there was a civilization called Atzeri. They were the first known users of these crystals. They exploited the power of the crystals to become the mightiest empire the world had ever known. But then… their entire empire was wiped out instantly in a single event known as the Cataclysm. Legend has it that the crystals were the trigger of this event."
Zephyr frowned. "That's terrifying." What kind of disaster could erase an entire civilization? His mind raced through possibilities, but only one thing came to mind—something as destructive as a nuclear explosion.
Dianna nodded, her voice laced with concern. "Learning from Atzeri's downfall, these crystals have been outlawed since the founding of the Eternal Empire a thousand years ago. But now, under King Draven's rule, they are being used once more. He has forged a fearsome army, conquering the entire continent with the power of these cursed crystals."
Zephyr's mind raced. "And the corruption? Did the Eternal Empire find a way to resist it?" He narrowed his eyes. "Who would want to command an army of mindless beasts?"
Dianna shrugged. "Maybe they found a way to slow or suppress the corruption. All I know is that the crystals are no longer used in their raw form. They are refined into gems and embedded into flesh, creating what they call the Gemforged soldiers." She gestured toward his wrist. "You've already seen one—the Executioner. He seemed unstable, but he was far from mindless."
Zephyr nodded slowly, his stomach twisting as he recalled staring into the Executioner's gem—glowing like a sick, twisted eye. It pulsed with a vile energy that made his skin crawl. It felt ... alive as if it were watching back at him.
"How strong are these Gemforged soldiers?" he asked, his voice a hushed rasp.
Dianna's eyes darkened, laced with both fear and sorrow. "Even without the gems, they are already elite fighters, trained in countless battles. But with the gems fused into their flesh, they become something else entirely ... unstoppable war machines." Her voice wavered. "There's an unspoken rule on the battlefield—never face a Gemforged unless you have at least three Beyonders of the same rank."
Zephyr exhaled slowly. No wonder they conquered the whole continent.
He swallowed hard before asking, "If they're that powerful, are there a lot of them?"
Dianna shook her head, a flicker of relief in her eyes. "Thankfully, no. The implantation process is brutal. Many die before they can even wield the power, and ... " Her voice softened, heavy with pity. "Mining the crystals is just as dangerous. Countless slaves have lost their life digging for them."
"This world is brutal." Zephyr processed the weight of her words, a heaviness settling in his chest.
After a moment, he shifted his gaze to her, a new question surfacing in his mind.
"So, there's a power ranking system for Beyonders?"
Dianna gave a slow nod. "Yes. The true way to expand your Willpower is by overcoming the worst this world can throw at you. Since the time when the Gods walked among mortals, they created the Divine Trials. A series of challenges meant to push Beyonders beyond their limits. Those who conquer a trial not only gain tremendous growth in Willpower but also receive divine titles as proof of their ascension."
She lifted a finger and began listing them.
"There are six trials, each more difficult than the last, and each awarding a new title:
Seeker of Power – The first step toward unlocking one's true potential.
Warden of Will – Those who have proven their unbreakable resolve.
Harbinger of Change – A potential force capable of reshaping the world.
Paragon of Dominion – Masters of Willpower.
Transcendence of Ascendancy – Those who walk the path beyond mortality.
Sovereign of the Unbound – The pinnacle, where even gods must acknowledge one's strength."
"You can call them simply as Seeker, Warden, Harbinger, Paragon, Transcendence, and Sovereign or, as some say, Demi-God for the last rank. Passing these Trials is also one of the requirements to gain access to the sacred rituals granted by the churches—six Trials for the six sequences of rituals."
She glanced at Zephyr, her gaze serious. "Not everyone has the courage to face the Trials, but those who do… and succeed… are truly worthy of their titles. They're not just names; they set the standard of power."
Her voice grew softer. "I have never heard of anyone who failed a Trial defeating someone who earned the title of that same Trial. The difference in power is… overwhelming."
Zephyr's curiosity blazed like a wildfire, impossible to tame. His eyes sparkled with wonder as he leaned closer. "So… can I take part in these trials?"
Dianna's lips curved into a sly smirk, her expression tinged with respect. "The Trials? They're nothing short of miraculous," she said, her voice low and reverent. "It's like stepping into a secret realm—a world you can reach from anywhere on this continent. But you'll need this to get there."
"A Djinn coin." She reached into her pouch and drew out a golden coin, its surface alive with strange, shifting symbols that seemed to ripple like water caught in sunlight. With a gentle flick, she placed it in Zephyr's hand.
Zephyr's fingers curled around the coin, his breath hitching at its cool, smooth weight. It was no ordinary metal—liquid light seemed to shimmer beneath its surface, as if it held a heartbeat of its own. He turned it over, captivated. "How does it work?" he asked, his voice soft with awe.
"Grip it tight," Dianna replied, her tone steady but edged with intrigue. "Focus your mind and think out loud, 'By the Gods' will.' Dianna explained "It can also help estimate your current level of Willpower,"
Zephyr's heart raced, his hands trembling slightly. "Can I try it?" he asked, barely holding back a grin. This was the first magical artifact he'd ever held in this strange new world—and the thrill of it surged through him like a storm.
Dianna gave a small nod. "It's fine, as long as you don't accept the challenge."
A surge of excitement ignited in Zephyr's chest. He grinned broadly, the kind of grin a child wears when handed a shiny new toy.
Closing his eyes, he steadied his breath, the words rising in his mind as if whispered by the wind itself.
"By the Gods' Will."
A jolt pulsed through him, sharp and electric, as though the universe had turned its ancient, unseen eyes upon his very soul. His body felt weightless, almost as if he were floating, while the air around him thickened, slowing to a stillness that felt heavy and alive.
When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in the same place.
He stood instead upon a vast, circular platform—or rather, a massive Djinn coin, its surface shimmering with the same cryptic, shifting symbols etched into the smaller coin still clutched in his hand. It hovered weightlessly in a boundless cosmic sea.
All around him, galaxies swirled like luminous whirlpools, and stars glittered like scattered jewels. Vast nebulae stretched across the void, their deep blues, purples, and inky blacks blending together in an ethereal dance. The sight was breathtaking, overwhelming—a realm of infinite beauty and silent dread.
A voice broke the silence—deep, resonant, and timeless—rumbling through his mind.
"Mortal, do you seek to challenge the Trial of Strength?"
The words jolted Zephyr from his trance, snapping his attention away from the mesmerizing void. His heart pounded. A flicker of temptation sparked within him—he wanted to say yes, to test himself against the unknown.
But then Dianna's warning echoed in his mind, grounding him. Clenching his fist around the coin, he took a steady breath and whispered, "No."
Dizziness swept over him, the edges of the cosmic expanse softening into a blur. The voice dissolved into a faint hum, and the stars melted away like mist under the morning sun. When the world settled, he was back on the beach, the Djinn coin warm and solid in his palm.
He blinked, heart still racing, and turned to Dianna, his eyes gleaming with awe. "It's truly a miracle. It asked if I wanted to challenge the Trial of Strength."
Dianna's brows lifted in surprise. "The Trial of Strength is the second of the Divine Trials," she explained. "If you were to complete it, you'd earn the title of Warden. Skipping the first Trial ... that is highly unusual for a newly awakened like you."
She studied him for a moment, curiosity flickering in her gaze. "I can't help but wonder ... what kind of hardships have you faced in your past?"
Zephyr forced a casual shrug, keeping his true thoughts hidden. He had no intention of revealing anything about his past, not in this world, not to anyone. Instead, he handed the coin back to Dianna and smoothly deflected, "I'd like to know that too."
He then quickly changed the subject. "So each trial must have a minimum and maximum Willpower threshold for those attempting it. My Willpower is at Warden rank. I suppose they exist to force growth through struggle, not to be cleared effortlessly . That means they likely test more than just strength, I guess intelligence, resilience, mastery over Willpower and even the ability to improvise must all be factors, right?"
Dianna's lips curled into a small smile. "You're sharp," she said. "That's exactly right, sheer strength alone won't get you through them."
Zephyr felt his face grow even hotter, and it had nothing to do with the nearby fire. He was used to being praised by others, but for some unknown reason, when Dianna complimented him, a small thrill ran through his nerves, his heartbeat quickening in response.
Not wanting to dwell on the feeling, he quickly changed the subject. "Have you ever taken any of the Trials? And where can I get a Dinar Coin?"
Dianna nodded. "I completed the first Trial, but for the second, I want to prepare more carefully. I can't afford to fail. It's not something to take lightly. If you fail a Trial, you won't be able to attempt it again for six months, and some who fail even develop a fear that weakens their Willpower."
She turned the golden coin between her fingers. "As for the coins, they're highly valuable. They are not just the key to the Trials. They serve as currency among Beyonders. Only the Six Great Churches that oversee the trials have the knowledge to produce them, and even then, only a few thousand are minted each year."
Zephyr sighed, disappointment settling in his chest. He had been eager to witness the miracle of the Trials firsthand. Obtaining a coin seemed far more difficult than he would expected.
Dianna stood up, brushing sand from her clothes. "It's time to move," she said. "If Count Geofri's men are tracking us, they'll catch up soon. Where do you want to go?"
Zephyr hesitated, uncertainty settling deep within him. He barely knew this land, its people, or even what he should do next. Where did he belong in this world? Everything was new, unfamiliar. The only person he could rely on was Dianna.
He looked up at her and admitted, "I don't know. I don't remember anything about this place. Can I go with you?"
A flicker of anxiety crept into his chest as he waited for her answer. Dianna was the first person he had spoken to in this world, the only one who had treated him with kindness. She had saved his life. The thought of being left alone in this unfamiliar world unsettled him more than he cared to admit.
Dianna studied him for a moment. If she hadn't seen his Willpower in action, she might have simply pointed him toward a quiet, hidden place to stay out of danger. But now, she hesitated.
"You should know," she said finally, "that I have a plan. I intend to resist Count Geofri and free my people ... and it will be dangerous. If you come with me, you'll be walking into a war. Are you sure you want that?"
Zephyr didn't need to think. "Yes, I want to go with you," he said firmly. "There's no true safe place for me now. And besides, you saved my life...not once, but three times. Let me repay that debt. I may not know much about this world, but I know I can do something to help."
He had a guess that the warmth that had healed him in the prison, the force that had pulled him from his nightmare. It had come from Dianna's magic, not whatever had brought him to this world.
A bright smile crossed her lips, and Zephyr swore it was the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. "I'm glad to have your help. You don't know how special you are," she said, extending her hand to him.
Zephyr took her hand, feeling the warmth and softness of her palm. It was the first time he'd held a girl's hand, and a strange longing stirred in his chest. He didn't know what it was. Maybe it was his body's reaction, without the usual constant headache to suppress the hormones, they were affecting him now. Damn it, how young was this body? Zephyr couldn't tell.
As she pulled him to his feet and let go of his hand, he found himself unexpectedly missing the touch.
Dianna turned, her expression sharpening with focus. "Hurry up. We need to find shelter before nightfall. I know a place."