Kriss barely slept.
The bed was soft, almost cloudlike, but his thoughts were too loud—echoes of the Great Crystal's message looping through his head.
The Demon Lord stirs. Your time here is not limitless.
When dawn finally broke—if it could even be called dawn in a place veiled by shifting magical skies—a chime echoed through the room. A soft pulse of light rippled across the ceiling, and the crystal sphere on his table glowed again.
> Proceed to the training grounds.
> Guidance has been assigned.
Kriss rose, slipping into the clean robes laid out for him. The fabric shimmered faintly in the light, like it was woven from stardust and silk. He stepped out to find Michael and Leo already waiting.
Leo yawned. "They woke us up with glowing lights. Fancy alarm clock."
"You ready?" Kriss asked.
"No," Leo replied, "but that never stopped us before."
Michael adjusted his sleeves, eyes sharp behind his usual calm. "Let's find out what being a 'Wielder' actually means."
Their path led through a series of rising staircases and open walkways. The deeper they went into the sanctuary's heart, the more alive the walls became—glowing patterns shifting subtly, whispering in a tongue none of them recognized.
Then they reached it.
A vast circular arena, floating above a sea of mist.
Crystals hovered mid-air, casting radiant light onto the arena floor. Runes glowed at the edges, pulsing in rhythm with the boys' steps. At the center stood a lone figure—tall, armored, and motionless.
A voice echoed from above. Calm. Measured. Powerful.
"Welcome, Chosen. Today, you begin your Trials. You bear the marks of Versatility, Insight, and Intellect. But words mean nothing without proof."
The armored figure stepped forward. Its helmet bore no face—just a gleaming reflection of the three boys staring back.
"Your first trial: survive."
With a sound like cracking thunder, the floor beneath them shifted. Walls rose from the edges of the arena, forming an ever-shifting labyrinth of pillars and platforms.
The armored guardian lunged.
Kriss dove to the side, instinct leading him more than thought. A beam of energy tore through where he had stood.
"Split up!" Michael shouted. "Keep moving!"
Leo ducked behind a pillar, eyes darting. "Great, it's like a boss fight with no UI!"
Kriss rolled forward and came to his feet. "No weapon, no magic, and they expect us to survive?!"
> Wielder of Versatility: Trait triggered. Spatial awareness rising.
> Analyzing threat patterns... adjusting.
Kriss felt it—his body reacting, learning. Each movement of the armored foe became a little easier to predict.
Michael darted across the platform, touching glowing runes with purpose. "The arena's reacting to our movements. It's a test of perception."
> Wielder of Insight: Environmental decode active.
> Weak point detected: rear plate integrity compromised.
Michael's eyes widened. "Its back is exposed during the charge!"
"Say that sooner!" Leo snapped, throwing a loose chunk of stone toward the guardian to distract it. "Kriss, now!"
Kriss dashed forward, sliding under the creature's swing and leaping upward. He slammed a glowing hand against the rear plate.
The rune on his palm flared—blue and brilliant.
The guardian froze.
Then slowly, it stepped back... and knelt.
The arena stilled. The mist below receded. The runes dimmed.
A voice returned—calmer now.
"Trial One complete. You are not yet warriors. But you are no longer children, either."
The guardian's armor dissolved into motes of light, revealing a pedestal beneath it. Upon it lay three items—simple bracers, each etched with runes matching the ones that had marked them.
> Relic Accepted.
> Enhancement begins.
Kriss stared at his bracer as it locked onto his arm. It pulsed once—steady and warm.
"Guess we leveled up," Leo muttered, breathless.
Michael nodded. "This world isn't just magic. It's structured—like a system. And we're syncing to it."
Kriss looked to the sky above—where the mists were parting.
And somewhere beyond that veil…
He felt it.
A presence. Watching. Waiting.
The Demon Lord wasn't just stirring.
It was listening.