Chapter 13:Trials of the Heary

The days leading up to the Weapon Selection Ceremony were filled with an intense buzz of excitement at the Nexus of Luminaris. Yet, for Levi, Kaizo, and Aric, the anticipation felt like a heavy cloud looming over them.

Levi sat by the window of their shared dormitory, gazing out at the distant mountains, lost in thought. The academy's students were busy with their final preparations, but the trio found themselves in a quiet moment of reflection. They had trained relentlessly, pushing their limits in every way possible. But the uncertainty of what lay ahead weighed heavily on them, more so on Levi, who felt the pressure of choosing a weapon that could make him strong enough to get the relic of liveweaver. Though,He could not get any information about the artificat from books, he was too scared to ask any god about it, and, even his friends.

Kaizo, leaning against the wall, stared at the ceiling, deep in thought. "I still don't know what I'm going to choose," he admitted, breaking the silence.

Levi turned to him. "Honestly, I'm just gonna stick to a sword," he said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "It feels right."

Kaizo nodded, but his expression remained conflicted. "I wish I had that certainty. I've been pondering it for days, but nothing feels… right."

Aric, sitting cross-legged on his bed, smiled faintly. "I've been thinking of using martial arts. No weapon, just my bare hands. My father is not happy with it, but it feels like the right choice for me."

Levi and Kaizo exchanged looks, both impressed by Aric's resolve. It wasn't an easy path he was choosing, but they knew Aric had the strength to back it up.

"I've also been experimenting with something new," Aric added, his eyes flickering with a hint of excitement. "I'm trying to use my family's divine flame art. It's still rough, but I think it can be a real game-changer."

Kaizo raised an eyebrow. "Divine flame art? I'm sure nobody was able master it completely except your father,but that's something I'd like to see you do."

Levi says, "Who Is your father aric? Is he strong?"

Aric and Kaizo laughs. Kaizo says "Aric"s family is one of the oldest, his father is Ignis Pyrokin, the legendary Pyrokinetic Lord."

Levi says "I see. No wonder aric is so strong." All of the three laugh.

After they chit chatted for a bit,The night arised, Levi was unable to sleep, Levi found himself in one of the academy's empty training rooms. The cold sword in his hand felt reassuring, but the doubts in his mind were harder to shake off. As he swung the blade, memories of his family flooded back—images of their smiling faces, now forever etched in his heart as painful reminders of what he had lost.

Sweat dripped down his brow as he practiced, each swing of the sword an attempt to carve out the grief and anger that gnawed at him. He was so focused that he didn't notice Eugene standing at the entrance of the massive training ground, watching him with a concerned expression.

"You're pushing yourself too hard," she said softly, stepping into the room.

Levi paused, lowering his sword. "I have to be strong enough. If I'm not…"

Eugene placed a hand on his shoulder. "Strength isn't just about how well you wield a sword. It's about the heart of the one who wields it. You've been through more than anyone should have to endure, but don't let that pain consume you. Let it guide you."

Levi looked into her eyes, finding comfort in her words. He nodded, though the doubts still lingered. But for now, he was content with the sword in his hand.

Meanwhile, Kaizo wandered the academy grounds, trying to clear his mind. He had always been confident, knowing his royal blood and powerful mana set him apart. But now, with the Weapon Selection Ceremony looming, he felt lost. What if he no artificat chooses him? What if he failed to live up to his lineage?

He found himself at the edge of a cliff overlooking the academy. The view was breathtaking, but it did little to calm his nerves. Levi found him there, sensing his friend's turmoil.

"You've always seemed so sure of yourself," Levi said, standing beside him.

Kaizo sighed. "I've always known what was expected of me. But this… I don't know. I've been training with different weapons, but none of them feel like… me."

Levi placed a hand on Kaizo's shoulder. "Maybe the best warriors are the ones who forge their own path. Not the ones who follow what others expect of them."

Kaizo looked at Levi, his friend's words resonating with him. "Maybe you're right," he said, a small smile forming. "I just need to trust myself."

Aric, on the other hand, faced a different kind of challenge. His decision to fight bare-handed was met with skepticism by many at the academy. Weapons were revered, and to choose none was seen as foolish.

One afternoon, as he practiced his martial arts in the courtyard, a group of older students approached him. They sneered at him, their expressions full of disdain.

"So, you think you're too good for a weapon?" one of them taunted.

Aric met their gaze, unflinching. "I'm choosing to rely on my own strength. That's my decision."

The students laughed, circling around him. "And how do you expect to stand against someone armed, with just your fists?"

Aric smiled, his eyes suddenly glowing with a fiery light. "Why don't you find out?"

With a swift motion, Aric's hands ignited in flames, swirling around his fists like living serpents of fire. The students' laughter died in their throats as they watched the flames dance with a life of their own, controlled by Aric's will.

One of the older students, a burly demon with an ax slung over his shoulder, stepped forward, his expression a mix of curiosity and disdain. "Alright, let's see what you've got, fire-boy."

The fight was brief but intense. Aric's movements were fluid and precise, each strike accompanied by bursts of fire that forced his opponent to stay on the defensive. The demon swung his ax, trying to overpower Aric with brute strength, but Aric's pyrokinesis gave him the edge he needed. He ducked under a wide swing and unleashed a torrent of flames from his fists, engulfing the demon in a blaze that forced him to retreat.

The demon, angered and embarrassed, tried to press his attack further, swinging his ax in a wide arc. But Aric, now fully embracing his pyrokinesis, created a shield of fire that absorbed the impact of the ax, the flames hissing as they met the cold ax. With a powerful push, Aric sent the flames surging forward, knocking the demon off balance. Seizing the moment, Aric delivered a fiery punch to his opponent's chest, the force of the blow sending him sprawling to the ground.

The onlookers watched in awe as Aric stood his ground, the flames around his fists flickering before dissipating. The demon, now thoroughly impressed, nodded in grudging respect. "Not bad, kid. Not bad at all."

Aric simply bowed in response, his confidence unwavering. The demonstration had silenced any doubts about his unconventional choice, and he felt more certain than ever that he was on the right path.

As the nights before the Weapon Selection Ceremony drew to a close, the trio shared a quiet dinner in the academy's grand dining hall. The hall, usually filled with chatter and laughter, felt eerily quiet as the weight of the upcoming trial hung in the air.

Eugene joined them at their table, her presence bringing a sense of calm to the group. She had been a steady source of support for them, especially for Levi, who found himself drawn to her strength and kindness.

"I've heard rumors about tomorrow's trial," Eugene said, breaking the silence. "It's going to be unlike anything we've faced before."

Kaizo looked up from his meal, his expression serious. "Do you think we're ready?"

Eugene smiled, her eyes filled with determination. "You've all trained harder than anyone I know. Just remember what you've learned, and trust in your abilities."

Aric nodded, his resolve firm. "We'll be ready."

Levi, too, felt a sense of determination rising within him. He had faced countless challenges since arriving at the Nexus, but tomorrow's trial would be different. It would be the ultimate test of everything they had learned, and he knew they couldn't afford to fail.

The next morning, the students gathered in the central courtyard, where Headmaster Arion awaited them. His presence commanded attention, and the students fell silent as he addressed them.

"Today, you will face a trial that will test your resolve, your strength, and your heart," Headmaster Arion began, his voice echoing across the courtyard. "This is not a trial to be taken lightly. You will be pushed to your limits, and only those who are worthy will achieve success"

With a wave of his hand, the headmaster summoned a massive portal that swirled with dark energy. The portal pulsed with an ominous light, and a sense of foreboding filled the air.

"Enter the portal, and face the trial that awaits you," the headmaster instructed. "Remember, this trial is not just about physical strength, but about the strength of your spirit."

One by one, the students stepped forward and entered the portal, disappearing into the swirling darkness. Levi, Kaizo, and Aric exchanged determined looks before stepping forward together.

As they entered the portal, they were immediately enveloped in a blinding light, and when it faded, they found themselves in a vast, ethereal arena. The sky above was a swirling mix of colors, with distant constellations twinkling in the dark void. The ground beneath them was solid yet seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, as if it was alive and breathing in rhythm with the cosmos.

All around them, floating platforms made of shimmering light and darkness drifted in the air, connected by glowing pathways. On each platform stood a figure—each one a formidable opponent that radiated immense power. The figures were avatars of legendary warriors, god,and demons from ages past, summoned to test the mettle of the students.

Levi, Kaizo, and Aric stood in the center of the arena, their senses heightened and their hearts pounding with anticipation. The trial had begun.

The three friends found themselves on separate platforms, each facing their own unique challenge. Levi's platform was bathed in a cold, blue light, with an icy wind whipping around him. Across from him stood a towering figure clad in silver armor, its eyes glowing with a fierce blue light. The figure wielded a massive sword of ice that seemed to freeze the very air around it.

Levi tightened his grip on his own sword, the weight of it grounding him as he faced the icy warrior. The figure charged at him with blinding speed, the sword of ice swinging down with a force that could shatter mountains. Levi narrowly dodged the attack, feeling the cold bite of the blade as it passed by him. He countered with a swift slash of his own, but the icy warrior blocked it effortlessly, the clash of steel ringing through the arena.

The battle was intense, with Levi relying on his agility and quick thinking to avoid the crushing blows of the warrior. He knew that brute strength alone wouldn't be enough to win this fight. As he dodged another attack, he focused on the flow of mana within him, recalling the lessons on control and balance that Professor Elara Voss had drilled into him. He channeled his mana into his sword, his blade sparked, Levis hold on lightning was getting better and better each day.

The warrior's next attack came with a roar, but Levi was ready. He parried the blow, his mana-infused sword cutting through the icy energy of the warrior's blade. The impact sent a shockwave through the platform, and for a moment, the icy warrior faltered. Seizing the opportunity, Levi unleashed a flurry of precise strikes, each one aimed at the warrior's weak points.

With a final, powerful slash, Levi shattered the warrior's sword, the icy blade breaking into shards that dissolved into the air. The warrior staggered back, and with a burst of energy, Levi drove his sword into the ground, sending a wave of yellow light rippling through the platform. The icy warrior crumbled into a pile of frost, defeated.

Levi took a deep breath, the cold air filling his lungs. He had passed the first challenge, but he knew the trial was far from over.

On another platform, Kaizo faced his own opponent—a fiery demon with crimson skin and eyes that burned like molten lava. The demon wielded a pair of fiery whips that crackled with intense heat, and the platform itself seemed to smolder under its presence.

Kaizo felt the heat of the demon's flames, but he remained calm, his moon-like mana pulsing steadily within him. The demon lashed out with its whips, the flames roaring as they streaked through the air. Kaizo dodged the first whip, then the second, his movements fluid and precise. The demon snarled, its frustration evident as Kaizo continued to evade its attacks.

But Kaizo knew he couldn't stay on the defensive forever. He needed to find a way to overpower the demon, and he knew just how to do it. Drawing upon his royal blood and the deep well of mana within him, Kaizo raised his hand, summoning a swirling vortex of water. The water coalesced into a massive wave, crashing down onto the platform and dousing the demon's flames.

The demon roared in anger, its fiery whips sizzling as they made contact with the water. But Kaizo wasn't finished. He summoned the power of the wind, whipping up a fierce gust that blew the water into the demon's face, blinding it temporarily. Seizing the moment, Kaizo summoned lightning, his hands crackling with electricity. With a fierce cry, he unleashed the lightning, the bolt striking the demon with a thunderous crack.

The demon convulsed as the lightning surged through it, its fiery body flickering and sputtering. Kaizo didn't let up, sending another wave of water crashing into the demon, extinguishing its flames completely. The demon collapsed to the ground, defeated.

Kaizo exhaled, his body buzzing with the energy of the elements. He had mastered the challenge, but like Levi, he knew that the trial was only just beginning.

Aric stood on a platform engulfed in flames, the heat radiating from the ground beneath him. Across from him stood a shadowy figure, its body wreathed in dark flames that seemed to consume the very light around it. The figure held no weapon, but the intensity of its aura was enough to make the air around it shimmer with heat.

Aric clenched his fists, feeling the familiar warmth of his pyrokinesis stirring within him. The flames around him responded to his will, dancing and swirling as if alive. The shadowy figure made the first move, lunging at Aric with a speed that defied belief. Aric met the attack head-on, his fists igniting as he struck out with a series of fiery punches.

The flames collided in a burst of heat and light, the force of the impact shaking the platform. Aric's pyrokinesis was powerful, but the shadowy figure's flames were unlike anything he had faced before. They were dark and twisted, consuming everything they touched with an insatiable hunger. Aric knew he had to be careful—one wrong move, and he could be engulfed by the darkness.

But Aric wasn't one to back down. He focused his mind, drawing upon the deepest reserves of his power. The flames around him flared brighter, their color shifting from orange to a brilliant white. With a shout, Aric unleashed a torrent of white-hot fire, the flames roaring as they surged toward the shadowy figure.

The figure responded with its own dark flames, and the two forces clashed in the center of the platform. The heat was unbearable, the flames so intense that they warped the very air around them. But Aric held his ground, pouring every ounce of his will into the flames. Slowly, he began to overpower the shadowy figure, his white flames pushing back the darkness.

With one final push, Aric sent a wave of fire crashing into the figure, consuming it in a blaze of light. The shadowy figure let out a final, anguished cry before it was swallowed by the flames, leaving nothing behind but a pile of ashes.

Aric breathed heavily, his body drenched in sweat. He had triumphed over the darkness, but the exertion had taken its toll. Still, he stood tall, knowing that he had passed his challenge.

As the three friends regrouped in the center of the arena, they saw other students, some failing their trials, some winning and some getting tormented.But suddenly,they felt the air around them shift. The floating platforms began to converge, forming a single, massive platform that pulsed with a radiant energy. From the center of the platform, a blinding light emerged, taking the shape of a towering figure clad in golden armor.

The figure was the embodiment of the trial's final challenge—a guardian of unimaginable power, forged from the very essence of the cosmos. It wielded a massive spear, its tip crackling with divine energy. The ground trembled as the guardian took a step forward, its presence overwhelming.

Levi, Kaizo, and Aric exchanged determined looks. They had faced their individual challenges, but now they would need to work together to defeat this final foe.

The guardian moved with terrifying speed, its spear cutting through the air with lethal precision. Levi dodged to the side, his sword meeting the spear with a resounding clash. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the platform, but Levi held his ground, his muscles straining as he pushed back against the guardian's strength.

Kaizo summoned the power of the elements, his body surrounded by swirling winds and crackling lightning. He sent a bolt of lightning at the guardian, aiming for its exposed flank. The lightning struck true, but the guardian barely flinched, its golden armor absorbing the energy.

Aric, his fists still ablaze, leaped into the fray, his movements a blur of speed and fire. He targeted the guardian's legs, hoping to bring it down by weakening its foundation. His fiery punches landed with explosive force, but the guardian's armor seemed impenetrable.

The guardian let out a roar, its spear glowing with an intense light as it prepared to strike. But Levi, Kaizo, and Aric were ready. With a synchronized effort, they combined their powers, creating a vortex of energy that surrounded the guardian. Levi's sword infused in lightning, Kaizo's sword cowered in blue light, and Aric's flames burned with unmatched intensity.

The guardian swung its spear, but its movements were slowed by the vortex of energy. Seizing the opportunity, Levi charged forward, his sword cutting through the air with deadly precision. He aimed for the guardian's exposed chest, where the armor was weakest. With a powerful thrust, Levi's sword pierced the guardian's chest, the blade sinking deep into the glowing core of the guardian. A blinding light erupted from the wound, and the guardian let out a deafening roar as its form began to disintegrate. The radiant energy that had once empowered it now surged out of control, crackling and spiraling into the air like a storm unleashed.

Levi, Kaizo, and Aric were forced to shield their eyes from the brilliant explosion of light and energy. The guardian's immense power, now released from its containment, rippled through the arena, shaking the very foundations of the ethereal world they were in. For a moment, it seemed as though everything would be consumed by the chaos.

But as the light began to fade, the storm of energy calmed, and the arena settled into a peaceful stillness. The once-mighty guardian was gone, its golden armor reduced to nothing but dust, scattered across the platform by a gentle breeze.

The three friends stood together, catching their breath as the realization of their victory sank in. They had passed the final challenge, overcoming obstacles that tested their strength, will, and unity. The trial had brought them closer, forging a bond that would endure even the harshest trials to come.

As they looked around, the arena began to shift once more. The platforms of light and darkness slowly dissolved, and the swirling colors of the sky above coalesced into a single, blinding point of light. The world around them faded away, and they found themselves standing in the grand hall of the Nexus of Luminaris once again, with the high gods and demons looking down upon them.

The elder god with the sun-marked pupil stepped forward, his expression one of approval. "You three, are the first to complete the trial.You have proven yourselves worthy," he declared, his voice echoing through the hall. "Not only have you shown your strength, but also your ability to work as one. Such unity is rare, and it is what will set you apart in the trials to come."

The other gods and demons nodded in agreement, their earlier animosity towards Levi now tempered by respect for what he and his friends had accomplished. Even the younger gods, who had initially doubted the wisdom of the Book of Kaleostus, seemed to begrudgingly acknowledge the trio's success.

Levi, still feeling the adrenaline from the battle, bowed his head in acknowledgment of the elder god's words. He felt a sense of pride, not just for himself, but for Kaizo and Aric as well. They had all faced their fears and emerged victorious together.

Kaizo, always quick to lighten the mood, smirked and nudged Levi. "Not bad for a mortal, huh?"

Aric grinned, his usual seriousness momentarily replaced by the thrill of victory. "We might just survive this academy after all."

The elder god raised his hand, and the grand hall fell silent once more. "Your journey is far from over," he continued, his tone more solemn. "You have earned the right to advance, but the path ahead will be fraught with even greater challenges. Remember what you have learned here today. Trust in each other, and in the strength you have yet to fully realize. Now you three are allowed to leave"

With those final words, the elder god stepped back, and the grand hall returned to its usual state, the tension of the trial now replaced by a calm, almost reverent atmosphere.

Levi, Kaizo, and Aric exchanged a look, each one silently reaffirming their commitment to the journey ahead. They knew that the road would be difficult, but they had each other—and that, they believed, would be enough.

As they left the grand hall, their steps lighter and their hearts full of determination, Levi couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose. He had come to the Nexus of Luminaris seeking power and to get the Lifeweaver, but he had found something far more valuable: friends who would stand by his side no matter what, and the understanding that true strength came from unity.

With the memory of the trial still fresh in their minds, the three friends walked into the future, ready to face whatever the Nexus of Luminaris—and the cosmos itself—had in store for them.