Chapter 13: The Trials of the Forgotten
Derek and his group were traveling more into unknown terrain when they made the decision to go with The Serpent. The surrounding woodland became more dense, with longer shadows that gave the impression that everything was working against them. The Nexus's promise propelled them on despite the treacherous journey ahead.
Entering the Darkness's Heart
The air became colder and the trees appeared to be speaking in whispers as the squad continued further. Derek saw that his buddies were becoming more tense. With nothing but the words of a monster they could not trust to lead them, they were venturing into the unknown.
Derek scanned the deep bush, warning, "Keep your guard up." The Serpent mentioned competitors. We are unaware of our opponents nonetheless; we must be prepared for anything.
Kai nodded, electricity pulsating from his palms as he readied his spells. Derek, I've got your back. We'll overcome anything together, no matter what.
With graceful silence, Lila advanced, her daggers ready. "There's something off about this location. As like someone is watching us. We must continue to be vigilant.
Emma, the group's emotional center, put a comforting touch on Derek's arm. We'll tackle this as a team. We've progressed too far to turn back now.
The woodland started to shift as they continued their journey. The bark of the trees darkened to an almost black color as they twisted into strange forms. The surface grew uneven, strewn with broken bones and the remains of long-forgotten conflicts. Clearly, they were getting closer to the territory of The Serpent's adversaries.
The Historical Guardians
Soon after, the group discovered a huge stone gate that was partially submerged in the ground and covered with old runes. Two sculptures, each representing a monstrous hybrid of a person and a beast, stood guard on either side of the gate.
Derek said with amazement, "This has to be it." "The threshold of their territory."
The statues moved as if in reaction to his words, their eyes gleaming with an almost furious brightness. As the statues descended from their pedestals and blocked the way forward, the ground shook.
"Who is brave enough to step foot on the Forgotten's hallowed grounds?" One of the sculptures roared, its voice resounding around the area like thunder in the woodland.
Derek moved forward, placing his palm on his sword's hilt. "We want to go through. We have come to confront the people in charge of this location.
The statues stared at him with unwavering ice eyes. It is only the good who may pass. You have to demonstrate your heart, courage, and commitment in order to get admitted. Be ready for an unbelievable test; the Trials of the Forgotten will put you to the test.
The statues withdrew at that point, and the gate creaked slowly open to expose a dim tunnel that appeared to go on forever. Now, there was no going back.
Derek sighed, bracing himself for the ordeal that lay ahead. "This is it." **"Lead the way."
Test of Strength
Just past the gate was the first test for them. The passageway led to an enormous chamber with old armor and weaponry along the walls. A huge stone golem, whose body was pocked with wounds from innumerable conflicts, towered above the chamber.
"You want to get through?" The golem bellowed with a deep, rich tone. "Then show me how strong you are against me."
The golem suddenly sprang at them, its gigantic fists hitting the floor so forcefully that the whole chamber shook. Derek and Kai launched themselves into action, their combined blows barely grazing the golem's armored skin.
"It is excessively potent!" Lila yelled as she escaped the golem's arm swipe. "We must identify a weak point!"
Derek's thoughts were racing, trying to come up with a plan. The golem was almost unbreakable, but all living things possessed a flaw. His gaze swept over the space, searching for anything—anything—that may provide them an advantage.
It was then that he observed the fissures in the golem's armor. They were there, albeit dim and nearly undetectable. "Go for the fissures!" Derek yelled. "Stop attacking the vulnerable areas!"
The group focused their attention on the golem's broken armor with a newfound resolve. Kai launched a flurry of energy blasts, and Lila's daggers managed to penetrate the golem's vulnerable spots. Derek struck the golem one last time, his blade blazing with force, shattering its chest in the process.
The golem fell to the ground and vanished into dust. The initial trial was finished.
"We succeeded," Derek exhaled sharply. But we must not drop our defenses. There is and there will be more.
Trial of Resolution
The second room was not at all like the first. It was full of a heavy gloom, the type that hung heavily on the heart and permeated into the soul. A mirror stood in the middle of the room, its surface undulating like water.
The mirror started to glow as the crew got closer, and pictures of their worst fears and most traumatic experiences started to appear on its surface. Their worst regrets and worst mistakes were reflected back at them in the mirror.
"This is an assessment of determination," Derek acknowledged, his tone charged with feeling. "We must address our history and face our anxieties. Then and only then can we proceed.
The group turned to face the mirror one by one. Kai saw it that way the remorse he carried with him every day from the time he lost his family. Lila saw it as a buddy being betrayed and a trust she would never be able to rebuild. Emma was terrified of losing the people she cared about and felt powerless to stop them from dying.
When Derek's time came, the mirror revealed to him the exact moment he had let his brother down—the one person he had vowed to defend. Even though the agony was nearly unbearable, he knew he had to deal with it. He apologized to the mirror in a whisper as tears filled his eyes. "I'm sorry I was not able to save you."
The pictures started to disappear as the surface of the mirror shimmered. Although they had won the trial, the psychological cost was high. The group, their resolve bolstered by their experiences, entered a new room as the darkness fell.
The last room was calm, almost quiet. The chamber was filled with a soft light, and in the middle of it stood a young woman who appeared dazzling and ethereal, wearing a crown of flowers around her head.
The woman continued, "This is the Trial of Heart," in a calm and gentle manner. You have to be open to one another and to yourself in order to pass. Even in the face of suffering and loss, you have to be willing to love.
A sensation of warmth that Derek hadn't felt in a while began to sweep across his chest. It was genuine love, pure, a reminder of the cause they were defending.
Emma moved forward, tears welling up in her eyes. "Derek, I've always been scared of losing you. However, I've come to realize that love is worth the danger. I'm not going to let fear stop me now.
Derek grasped her hand and felt their relationship deepen. Emma, we're all in this together. We'll deal with whatever comes our way together.
With a smile, the woman's figure started to disappear. You've prevailed in the last trial. Your love will lead you through the darkness because your hearts are sincere. Now leave and confront your fate.
The chamber vanished around them as the lady vanished, and they were left standing in front of a huge stone door covered in old runes. This was the Nexus's entrance.
Derek said, "We're here," with a determined tone in his voice. "This concludes it. Now is the time for the decisive fight to begin.
Note from the Author:
The Trials of the Forgotten in Chapter 13 of "Universal Ascension: The Path of the Outlier" push Derek and his group closer to their ultimate objective. They put their character to the test in a different way with each hardship, and they come out stronger and closer than before. But as they are ready to face the Nexus and the Shadows of Ambition, the real test is still to come. The voyage is far from done, and the stakes are bigger than ever. As the team tackles their biggest obstacle to far, stay tuned for the next part!