"Well, well, it seems the desert trial is finally beginning. A week has passed, and Aryan has held up surprisingly well so far. Who would have thought that black egg would turn into one of the rarest creatures on earth—a Shadow Wolf. Let's see what these two can do!"
Below, where Shadowlf and Aryan were, the scorching heat of the desert was intensifying, with the golden sands amplifying it even more. Gradually, the number of lizards and scorpions appearing around Aryan increased, constantly trying to get closer. "Shadowlf, stay alert! I think it's time for the Amourna trial to finally reveal itself!" Two hours passed in a calm-before-the-storm kind of silence, and at last, the battle between Aryan and the desert creatures began! "Hey, buddy, watch out! These tiny black six-legged things are dangerous. Their tails are venomous." "I know, Shadowlf; they're called scorpions. Thank goodness it's daytime, or we wouldn't be able to see them in the dark..."
Aryan stood still for a brief moment, leaving the battle to Shadowlf. "Hmm, okay, let me focus. My mana reserves are limited, so if I activate all my mana channels, while it protects my entire body, my attack power decreases. So, let's redirect all my mana into my hands and the soles of my feet... Alright! I'm an enhancer. I can't cast grand magic, but punches? That, I can do! Shadowlf, move aside!"
After a brief pause and a sharp command, Aryan leapt high into the air and slammed his fist into the ground. His punch radiated with a red glow, causing a rain of sand to rise slightly around him, and a mild tremor shook the earth. This tremor momentarily stopped the scorpions! "Alright, Shadowlf! Now, attack!"
With his small yet agile body, Shadowlf moved like a shadow within the dust stirred by Aryan's punch, shredding the scorpions with his sharp claws.
"Hmm, good, good. This boy recognizes his weaknesses and knows how to use his body effectively. But because of his smaller frame, he can't fully utilize what's in his mind. And that wolf? You'd never guess it was just born! Aryan, you're lucky to have such a great companion! Let's see how you survive this next phase, my boy!"
After hours of continuous battle between Aryan and the scorpions, the sun began to set, painting the sky a reddish-golden hue, as if the desert's image was reflecting in the heavens. "Dad, I'm exhausted. I can't go on... It's getting dark. I'm hungry... and thirsty..." "It's alright, Shadowlf. I know; I'm tired too... It seems they've stopped attacking. Alright, you rest, and I'll keep watch. Then you can take over while I get some sleep."
After their conversation, Aryan sat cross-legged and began meditating. Shadowlf lay down beside him, soon drifting to sleep. As Aryan meditated and absorbed the surrounding mana, he started expanding his senses, scanning the environment.
"Alright, so far, I don't know how long it's been since I entered Amourna. But judging by the fact that my rations have run out, it seems about a week has passed. I spent about a day motionless when I first arrived, and the rest wandering almost three tarns. But I can't seem to locate the outer environment. My senses previously extended to five tarns, but now it's just this much, and I still haven't found the entrance!" (Note: A tarn equals one kilometer.)
"Today, for the first time, I managed to throw a real punch—a strong punch at that! But clearly, it wasn't my strength alone; it's because I used the wind element. Reflecting on the battle, by redirecting my mana into my hands and feet and sealing the other channels, I managed to increase its density in those areas. This caused the interaction between my mana and the environment to act like a positive pressure pump, generating propulsion. That's how I achieved both a higher leap and a stronger punch. But it's not enough—my mana concentration isn't high!"
"Quiet down, Shadowlf! Your snoring will wake up the entire desert... Okay, it's clear—I'm weak. I don't understand how that witch thought I could handle this trial!" Aryan, after cursing Zynarfil, switched places with Shadowlf and lay down to sleep.
"You're clearly trying, Aryan. Based on the flow of mana around you after the battle, it's evident your mana veins are absorbing more. You also successfully used the wind element. Sure, wind is weak, but even that's challenging for an eight-year-old—especially if you're an enhancer relying on a mage's body magic. Focusing mana in a single point as a trigger, not a shield!"
The cold, dark winds of the desert began to blow, making Shadowlf's black fur dance. The sands, once as hot as a furnace during the day, now turned into shards of glass carried by the wind, attacking Aryan and Shadowlf's bodies. The desert, indeed, was home to venomous scorpions by day and razor-sharp winds by night.
"What's going on, Shadowlf? Why are you howling!?" "Shadowlf! Hey, boy, where are you? Or better yet, where am I!? Wait... how do I know this is the border of Cilandrin!? Hold on... I've never been here before!