Breaking the Trial: Klaus Lionhart

Klaus stood still for a moment, his eyes tracing the path ahead. The oppressive energy of the runes lingered in the air, heavy and suffocating, wrapping around him like chains. The obelisk of the fourth checkpoint still hummed faintly behind him, its influence draining his strength with every passing second. Yet, as he watched Nicholas disappear over the horizon and Alex surge forward with newfound vigor, Klaus didn't feel frustration. Instead, relief washed over him.

They were all playing dirty.

Nicholas, ever the enigma, had somehow bypassed the runic mechanisms entirely, and Alex… Klaus's cousin had drawn upon some forbidden power to overcome his own limitations. Klaus knew that Alex's pride wouldn't allow him to lose—not to Klaus, not to anyone.

This meant Klaus no longer needed to restrain himself. He could fight fire with fire.