Ch-182 the second trial to lose humanity

[Inside the Gate]

Victor's breath sharpened as the oppressive weight of the Guardian's aura pressed down on him like a crushing tide. The dark mist coiled unnaturally around the cracked stone beneath his feet.

The Guardian's silver mask glinted faintly beneath the flickering violet light.

"Prove your worth." The Guardian's distorted voice echoed through the darkness.

Victor's crimson gaze narrowed. His breath steadied.

"And if I refuse?"

The Guardian's voice darkened.

"Then you die."

Victor's jaw tightened.

Ruby's red eyes flashed dangerously as her crimson aura crackled faintly through the mist.

"Tch." Ruby's smile sharpened. "Seems like you don't have much of a choice."

Victor's gaze didn't waver.

"I never needed one."

Victor's muscles tensed. His breath steadied. His crimson eyes burned beneath the dark haze.

The Guardian raised a hand.

Suddenly—

The dark mist surged violently.

Crack!

The ground beneath Victor's feet split open as jagged tendrils of shadow erupted from the depths of the gate.

Victor moved.

His body twisted as the first tendril lashed toward him—

Boom!

Victor's fist shot out. The tendril shattered beneath the impact.

A second tendril lunged toward his chest—

Victor sidestepped, twisting his body as his heel slammed down—

Crack!

The tendril snapped beneath the pressure.

"Tch—!"

Victor's gaze sharpened as the Guardian's figure dissolved into dark mist.

Suddenly—

Victor's instincts screamed.

"Behind you!" Ruby's crimson eyes flashed.

Victor twisted—

A dark spear shot toward his back—

Clang!

Ruby's hand shot out. A crimson barrier ignited around Victor's body, deflecting the spear.

Victor's gaze sharpened dangerously.

"Thanks."

Ruby's red eyes gleamed.

"Don't mention it."

Suddenly—

A surge of dark energy erupted through the chamber.

Victor's gaze sharpened as the Guardian's figure materialized in front of him.

"Not bad." The Guardian's distorted voice darkened. "But not enough."

Suddenly—

The Guardian raised their hand.

A dark sigil ignited beneath Victor's feet.

Victor's muscles tensed—

Crack!

Chains of violet light erupted from the sigil, twisting around Victor's limbs.

"Tch—!"

Victor's breath hitched as the chains tightened violently.

"What the hell—!"

"Binding Seal." The Guardian's voice was calm. "Let's see if you can escape."

Victor's crimson gaze darkened.

"You bastard—"

Suddenly—

A dark figure emerged from the mist.

Tall. Cloaked in shadows. Its eyes glowed faintly with pale violet light.

Victor's instincts sharpened.

"What the hell is that?"

"A projection of your weakness." The Guardian's tone sharpened. "Fight it."

Victor's breath steadied. His muscles screamed beneath the weight of the chains—

But his crimson gaze didn't waver.

"Fine."

Victor's muscles tensed. His breath sharpened.

Suddenly—

The dark figure lunged toward him.

Victor twisted—

His muscles strained beneath the pressure of the chains. His movements slowed—

The figure's fist shot toward his chest—

Boom!

Victor's body slammed into the stone wall with brutal force.

"Tch—!" Victor's breath sharpened. Blood pooled at the edge of his lips.

"Victor!" Ruby's red eyes narrowed dangerously.

The dark figure moved again—

Victor's breath steadied.

"No."

Victor's crimson gaze burned.

His hand shot out—

Snap!

Victor's fist connected with the figure's chest.

Boom!

The figure stumbled backward—

Victor's breath sharpened.

"This weakness—" Victor's crimson gaze darkened. "—isn't real."

Victor's muscles tensed. The chains trembled beneath the weight of his strength.

"You think I can't break this?"

The Guardian's voice darkened.

"Prove it."

Victor's crimson eyes flashed violently.

Suddenly—

A pulse erupted from Victor's chest.

Crack!

The chains trembled.

"Tch—!"

Victor's muscles tensed. His breath sharpened.

"Break—!"

A violent crimson pulse erupted from Victor's body.

Shatter!

The chains exploded into fragments.

Victor's crimson gaze sharpened dangerously.

"Now."

Victor lunged forward—

His fist shot toward the dark figure's chest.

Boom!

The figure's body shattered beneath the impact.

The Guardian's silver mask glinted beneath the dark light.

"Impressive."

Victor's crimson gaze sharpened.

"Enough games."

The Guardian's voice darkened.

"Very well."

Suddenly—

A dark sigil ignited beneath Victor's feet.

"What now—?"

Victor's gaze sharpened.

The Guardian raised a hand.

"The final trial."

Victor's crimson gaze darkened.

Suddenly—

The darkness surrounding them dissolved.

Victor's breath sharpened. His crimson gaze narrowed—

They stood beneath a dark sky.

The ground beneath them was cracked and broken. Jagged cliffs rose toward the distant horizon.

A figure stood at the edge of the cliff.

Tall. Familiar.

Victor's breath sharpened.

"No—"

The figure turned slowly.

Crimson eyes gleamed beneath the dark haze.

Victor's breath hitched.

"Leona?"

Leona's golden eyes flashed beneath the dark sky.

Her expression was cold. Empty.

"Victor." Her voice was hollow.

Victor's breath steadied.

"What the hell is this?"

The Guardian's voice echoed faintly through the air.

"Your greatest weakness."

Victor's breath sharpened.

"No—"

Leona's gaze darkened.

"Fight me."

Victor's crimson gaze burned.

"I'm not fighting you."

Leona's golden eyes narrowed.

"You have no choice."

Suddenly—

Leona's golden aura surged violently.

Golden chains ignited around her arms. The ground beneath her feet trembled beneath the pressure of her power.

"Victor."

Leona's golden gaze sharpened.

"Prove you're strong enough to save me."

Victor's breath sharpened.

"Damn it—!"

Leona lunged forward—

Victor's muscles tensed.

"Tch—!"

Victor's hand shot out.

Clash!

Leona's golden fist connected with Victor's arm.

A violent shockwave erupted through the air.

Victor's crimson gaze sharpened.

"I'm not fighting you!"

Leona's golden eyes darkened.

"Then you'll die."

Leona's aura surged violently.

Victor's breath sharpened.

"Damn it—"

Suddenly—

Ruby's crimson aura flared.

"Victor!"

Victor's breath steadied.

"This isn't her."

"It doesn't matter."

Victor's crimson gaze darkened.

"You think I can't handle this?"

Victor's muscles tensed.

"Fine."

Victor's crimson eyes burned beneath the dark haze.

"Come on, Leona."

Leona's golden gaze darkened.

"As you wish."

Suddenly—

Leona's golden aura erupted violently.

Golden chains ignited beneath her feet.

Victor's crimson gaze sharpened.

"Let's finish this."