The portal spat me out onto a cold, marble floor, the impact jarring my already weakened body. My muscles ached, heavier than ever after the System's latest toll: Physical strength reduced. I could barely stand, my breaths shallow and ragged. Vyrn landed a few feet away, his armor clinking as he rose with ease, his smirk as sharp as a blade. The air around us was thick with an oppressive weight, like the gaze of a thousand unseen eyes.
The arena was a grand hall, its ceiling lost in shadows, with towering statues lining the walls. Each statue depicted a warrior in a victorious pose, their stone faces twisted with arrogance. At the far end of the hall sat a massive throne, carved from black obsidian, its surface shimmering with a faint red glow. The System flashed before my eyes:
Fourth Floor: Pride Trial
Task: Face your pride. Claim the Throne of Pride.
Reward: Tını Points +125, Ability Unlock
Penalty: Soul Bind
Claim the throne? I glanced at Vyrn, who was already eyeing the obsidian seat with a hungry glint. "A throne for a king," he said, his voice dripping with confidence. "This trial was made for me, Sacrifice. You'll be nothing but a stain on my path."
Before I could respond, the ground trembled, and the statues came to life. Their stone forms cracked, revealing warriors clad in shimmering armor, each one wielding a different weapon—a spear, a bow, a scythe. Their eyes glowed red, and they spoke in unison: "Only the proud may claim the throne. Prove your worth." The System identified them:
Enemies: Guardians of Pride
Tını Points: 200 each (5 Guardians)
Warning: These enemies feed on your pride. The more you boast, the stronger they become.
Vyrn laughed, drawing his sword. "I am Vyrn, leader of the Cosmic Hunters, a Reaper chosen by the System! You stone puppets are nothing to me!" As he spoke, the Guardians' red eyes flared brighter, and they moved faster, their weapons slashing through the air. Vyrn's pride was making them stronger.
I stayed silent, my mind racing. If pride fueled these Guardians, I had to fight without it. But what did that mean? I'd never thought of myself as proud—I was a Sacrifice, the lowest of the low. Yet, deep down, I felt a flicker of something. I'd survived three floors, defeated Shadows, and defied Vyrn. Wasn't that something to be proud of?
A Guardian with a spear charged at me, its speed blinding. I tried to dodge, but my weakened body betrayed me, and the spear grazed my shoulder. Blood spilled, and the familiar burn of Tını Resonance kicked in:
Tını Resonance Activated
Enemy Ability Copied: Spear Thrust
A spear materialized in my hand, but it felt heavy, useless in my weakened state. The Guardian struck again, and I barely blocked the blow, the impact sending me skidding across the marble floor. Vyrn, meanwhile, was cutting through two Guardians with ease, his sword flashing as he laughed. "This is my trial!" he roared, and the remaining Guardians grew even stronger, their attacks more ferocious.
Warning: Pride detected. Guardians of Pride growing stronger.
The System's warning hit me hard. Vyrn's pride wasn't just fueling the Guardians—it was affecting me too. I realized I'd been proud of my survival, of my Tını Resonance, of defying the odds. That pride was now my enemy. I dropped the spear, forcing myself to think. I couldn't fight with strength—I didn't have it anymore. I had to be smarter.
I focused on the throne. The System said to claim it, not to defeat the Guardians. Maybe the trial wasn't about fighting at all. I dodged another attack, weaving through the Guardians as they focused on Vyrn, who was still boasting. "I'll crush you all and take what's mine!" he shouted, his pride feeding the enemies endlessly.
I reached the throne, my hand hovering over its surface. The red glow intensified, and a voice echoed in my mind: "Only the humble may sit. Cast aside your pride, or be bound forever." I hesitated. Humble? Me? I'd spent my life fighting to survive, clinging to every scrap of worth I could find. But the System had taken so much—Mira, my strength, my memories. What did I have left to be proud of?
I closed my eyes, letting go of the thought that I was special, that I deserved to survive. I was just Kael, a Sacrifice, nothing more. With that, I sat on the throne. The red glow vanished, and the Guardians froze, their stone forms crumbling to dust. The System flashed:
Task Completed
Reward: Tını Points +125, Ability Unlocked: Humble Strike
Total Tını Points: 385
Humble Strike? I felt a new power in my hands—a quiet, steady strength, unlike the chaotic fury of Blood Fury. But before I could test it, Vyrn charged at me, his sword aimed for my heart. "You don't deserve that throne!" he roared.
I raised my hand, and Humble Strike activated. A wave of force, simple but unyielding, shot from my palm, knocking Vyrn back. He crashed into the wall, his armor dented, his eyes wide with shock. "What… what was that?" he stammered.
I didn't answer. The System flashed again:
Warning: A new price paid. Emotional resilience reduced.
My heart sank. Emotional resilience? I felt a wave of despair wash over me, stronger than ever. The System was breaking me, piece by piece. Before I could dwell on it, a new portal opened, its pull dragging us in. The System's voice echoed:
"Fifth Floor: Sloth Trial awaits."
But as we were pulled through, Vyrn's voice cut through the void. "I'll kill you, Kael," he growled. "And I'll take everything you have."