Chapter 13: The Trials Of The Apex Realm

The Gathering Storm

The city pulsed with life, a chaotic blend of warriors, merchants, and battle-hardened veterans moving through the streets like a living organism. Floating platforms carried Saiyans across towering structures, while battle arenas crackled with energy, filled with combatants testing their strength.

I walked through it all, taking in the sights with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. This place was unlike any Saiyan settlement I'd seen before—far more advanced, far more structured.

And yet, the hunger for battle remained the same.

"Alright," I muttered. "Time to figure out where the hell I stand in this mess."

Before I could take another step, a powerful presence surged toward me from above.

BOOM!

A shockwave slammed down from the sky as a massive figure landed right in front of me, cracking the ground beneath his feet.

He was a towering Saiyan, muscles like boulders, his battle armor adorned with golden accents. A crimson cape flowed behind him, his piercing silver eyes locked onto me with intensity.

"So, you're the so-called Lord of Chaos," he said, his voice like thunder.

I crossed my arms, unimpressed. "That's what they keep telling me."

He scoffed. "I am General Korr, Warden of Pasuta's gates. And I don't bow to anyone who hasn't proven themselves."

I smirked. "Oh? And how do you expect me to do that?"

"By surviving the Apex Trials," Korr said, his aura flaring around him. "Only the strongest rule here. If you truly are the one our people have awaited, then you will claim victory."

"And if I refuse?"

His smirk mirrored my own.

"Then you will die."

Well. That escalated quickly.

---

The First Trial – The Coliseum of Kings

Korr led me through the city toward a massive coliseum, its structure carved from obsidian and pulsating with raw energy. Inside, thousands of warriors gathered, their roars shaking the ground as they awaited the spectacle.

I stepped into the arena, scanning the competition.

There were eight other combatants, each radiating immense power. Some had tails, others bore strange markings across their skin. All of them, however, had one thing in common—battle-hardened eyes.

A floating droid hovered above us, its mechanical voice echoing through the coliseum.

"Welcome, challengers! The first trial is simple—last warrior standing wins!"

The crowd erupted in cheers.

I sighed, rolling my shoulders. "Alright. Let's get this over with."

The moment the signal rang out, chaos ensued.

A massive Saiyan lunged at me from the right, his fists crackling with golden energy. I ducked beneath his swing, grabbing his arm and twisting—hard.

CRACK!

He screamed as his arm snapped like a twig, but before I could finish him off, another fighter hurled a blast of energy at me. I spun, deflecting it with a flick of my wrist before blasting forward and driving my fist into his gut.

One by one, they fell.

Their movements were fast, their attacks precise, but they lacked the raw ferocity I had honed over years of battle.

Within minutes, only two of us remained.

My final opponent was different.

She was tall, her black hair streaked with silver. Her eyes glowed an eerie blue, and her aura burned with a power I hadn't seen before.

"You fight well," she admitted, rolling her shoulders. "But I'm not like the others."

I grinned. "Good. I was getting bored."

She vanished—only to reappear right in front of me.

BAM!

Her knee drove into my ribs, sending me skidding backward. I barely had time to react before she unleashed a barrage of energy blasts, each one precise, each one designed to kill.

I dodged, weaving through the explosions, but she was relentless.

"Not bad," I admitted, wiping blood from my lip. "But let me show you what a real attack looks like."

I raised my hand, gathering energy into a single point. The entire coliseum trembled as my power surged.

Her eyes widened.

BOOM!

A shockwave erupted as I released the blast, the sheer force of it tearing through the air. She barely managed to block it, but the impact sent her flying.

I appeared behind her in an instant.

CRACK!

One punch to the back of her head, and she was out cold.

The coliseum fell silent.

Then—

"THE LORD OF CHAOS CLAIMS VICTORY!"

The crowd erupted into deafening cheers.

I exhaled, shaking the dust from my hair.

"That was fun," I muttered.

But as I turned to leave, I felt it.

A presence. A dark, overwhelming force watching me.

I looked up toward the highest balcony of the coliseum, and there—

A lone figure stood, their power unlike anything I had ever felt before.

Their eyes met mine.

And they smiled.

---

A New Enemy – The Shadow King

The celebrations were brief.

That night, as I rested in the chamber granted to me, I felt the disturbance again.

I opened my eyes.

A figure stood at the edge of my room.

Cloaked in darkness, their golden eyes gleamed.

"You fight well," they said, their voice eerily calm. "But you are not the only one with a prophecy, Akuma."

I tensed.

"Who the hell are you?"

They stepped forward, the shadows around them shifting unnaturally.

"I am King Xyros, ruler of the Shadow Saiyans. And you…"

His smirk widened.

"You are my greatest threat."

Before I could react, he vanished, his presence disappearing as if he had never been there.

I clenched my fists.

This just got interesting.

---

Next Time on Ancient Legends…

A hidden war in the Apex Realm?!

Who is King Xyros, and what are the Shadow Saiyans?

And what trials still await Akuma?

Find out next time on Ancient Legends!