Chapter 95: The first Trial

Chapter 95: The First Trial

Silence engulfed Natasha and Alison, as well as the thick green foliage that breathed on both sides of the jaws. The trees appeared to grow even closer; the dry and gnarled branches created a barrier almost impenetrable from above. There was a soft buzz of power Bay now out of sight, but the sounds of the night av animations crept in the background, the cries of nocturnal creatures.

"This place is alive," Alison grumbled under his breath. He held the axe firmly, scanning the space around him, shifting his eyes from one corner to another. "Someone said it is like it's watching us and we've done something wrong to deserve it."

Natasha just nodded her head in agreement while looking intently at the thick growth around the forest. She could feel the artifact's pulse, and now it was influencing her movements. 'The Heart of the Jungle' is challenging us. It's important to clarify that those shadows told us that we would experience some difficulty, and I believe that we are about to experience that first challenge.

Just when we thought it would remain still for a few moments, the forest suddenly came alive. The twining touched their boots like serpents' slithering around two trees, coiling around the trunk. The floor up and down, they moved, the ground opened up in front of them, a glowing stone path.

Alison frowned. "Ah, that doesn't sound scary at all," I said to myself, as I read the words staring back at me with wide, somewhat suspicious eyes.

Tan feet by tan feet, still and cautious as a stalking beast, Natasha moved slowly forward with the artifact pressing against the coarse fabric of the pack that lay wedged firmly between her shoulders. "We don't have a choice. Stay close."

By following the glowing path, they ended up in front of an enormous meadow. There was one thing and only one item in the center of the room: a stone pedestal with an elaborated box made of wood on it. Surrounding the pedestal were four massive statues, each depicting a different creature: a tiger, snake, bird, and monkey.

When Natasha and Alison came near the statues, they began to animate, and the eyes of the statue burnt faintly.

In a bass tone, a voice without a hint of the warm-up penetrated the timbered glade. "To proceed, you need to qualify yourselves." Confront strength, wit, wisdom, and solidarity tests. As we mentioned, they who know their path in the secret directions, and only in this way, as I have heard, can one unveil the path to the Heart.

Both Natasha and Alison looked at each other. "Four trials?" Alison muttered. "That's just great."

Natasha stepped forward; she was angry, and her jaws tightened. "We'll face them together."

The voice boomed again. "The first trial: Strength. Step forward, challenger."

Natasha never had the chance to react to the question before the solid ground beneath her seemed to give way. It hooked her, pulling her along with it and leaving Alison out of it for the drive.

"Natasha!" Alison screamed but could not pursue since an invisible barrier stopped him.

"I'll be fine!" When Natasha returned the call by attempting to gather herself as the clearing changed. The trees started to disappear and wane, giving way to an open ground, a large, round-shaped ground. Mankind saw that she was enclosed by enormous stone walls, and at one side of the statue of the jaguar, it became alive.

The jaguar took a shape, or more accurately, fell into one, growing to a hulking mass of muscle and darkness. It had two glowing eyes, then it fixed them on Natasha, and then it went on to let out a loud roar—the loudest I have ever heard in my life.

Natasha pulled out her saber, adrenaline coursing within her. "You want a fight? Fine. Let's see what you've got."

The jaguar attacked; the sharp talons extended as they were rapidly capable of tearing anything apart. Natasha tilted to the side of the woman's strike and barely escaped. With a grace that might have almost been studied, she pushed off the perch and twisted to stand before the thing.

It came at her again, this time a little faster than the time before. Natasha tensed her lips and hacked at it with her weapon, trying to hit it in the side. The weapon clung, but rather than sever, it hit the jaguar's shadowy figure.

"Well, of course it is not that easy, she fumed, getting up and moving backwards.

That jaguar was stalking her, never taking its glowing eyes away from her own. As the forces were not enough for Natasha to overcome the beast, she understood that she would have to outsmart it.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to pay attention to the immediate environment. There were sharp rocks and ruins of stone columns around the perimeter of the arena. She saw hanging from one of the walls a growth of vines, and an idea came into her mind.

Once more the jaguar attacked, and Natasha immediately dashed toward the wall, pretending as if she would run parallel to it. The beast hit the stone with force and fell still for what felt like a few seconds. Natasha stood up without delay, holding the branches, and went up the perimeter wall.

The jaguar jumped up again after her, and the jaguar was back on its feet shortly. Natasha hopped onto a neighboring pillar, and again the jaguar missed her by a whisker, its claws raking her dress. She took another vine, then wrapped it across the base of the pillar as she swung herself up to the next.

The jaguar followed, and in the process, its actions were getting more and more panicky as it began to harbor a feeling that it was being cornered. Natasha pushed off the ground and let go of the vine, causing it to snap vertically.

With the power of breaking the pillar, she hit the jaguar with a force. Screaming a loud roar, the jaguar faded, and the males saw a statue of a jaguar, and they knew it was lifeless.

The arena disappeared, and in front of her Natasha saw Alison again in the clearing. He rushed to her side. "Are you okay? What happened?"

"I made it through the first test," she uttered between pants. This was a test of strength, but not only the latter; otherwise, Jet Li would've stood no chance here. I had to outsmart it."

The deep voice echoed again. You have shown your power where not many words are spoken and less is done. The next trial awaits: Cunning."

This time, Alison was pulled forward again; the gauze between them was established again.

Natasha spread her hand out automatically." "Alison!"

He then looked at her and phase it confidently, 'I'm merely accustomed to getting my way.' "Don't worry. I've got this."

Round him the clearing changed, and Natasha was left alone. She tightened her fists in her pockets to restrain herself from getting angry.

It spoke again and the voice was much more gentle than before. 'The love of the jungle pushes it harder to make it become powerful.' As it goes; only those who will venture to face the challenges that go with it will be able to get to the bottom of the situation.

Natasha stared at the lighted box placed on the stand. It appeared to be very weak, florresponding in what seemed like the distance of her beckoning arms. Such a strange, long building and what could be hidden behind its closed door – freedom and a chance to start a new life?

There was nothing that she could do but wait in order to hope that Alison would make the expected moves and would have proved worthy.