The Way to The Soul-Strengthening Realm

The skeletons were the first to reach Elion, their bony hands holding a variety of weapons—spears, swords, and even rusted scythes. 

Individually, they were no match for him, but the sheer number swarming toward him was overwhelming. The area around him was infested with them, and more were still emerging from the portals.

'This situation calls for a larger attack,' Elion thought, his eyes narrowing in focus.

Channeling his lightning energy, he poured it into his katana, the blade almost melting with the high temperature. 

In a single breath, Elion unleashed a massive horizontal slash, releasing all the accumulated power in one explosive wave.

The lightning-infused strike tore through the horde. Skeletons within its reach were instantly melted or divided in two, their bones disintegrating in a flash.

The zombies followed closely behind the skeletons. 

Though they wielded no weapons, their grotesque claws were sharp enough to rival any beast Elion had faced before. 

Their hollow screams filled the air.

Elion gathered his mana and formed a Void Fist, the energy swirling crazily around his hand.

As the zombies drew closer, he leaped high into the air, rising to the very limit of the arena's dome. Time seemed to slow as he hung above them for a brief moment.

With a powerful thrust, Elion drove his punch downward, unleashing the Void Fist's devastating power. 

The impact was immediate—everything below him was consumed in an instant, the zombies vanishing in the blast. Not even the sound of their scream escaped from being consumed by the void.

When Elion landed, he glanced down at the ground, and to his astonishment, the floor remained untouched, perfectly smooth, without so much as a scratch.

'What in the world is this ground made of?' he wondered in disbelief.

Elion didn't have time to wonder about that; more undead were already swarming toward him. 

From the portals, skeletal mages began to emerge, their hands crackling with energy. Unlike the first batch of monsters, they kept their distance, standing near the portals and conjuring spells.

A barrage of spells soon filled the air—fireballs, hurricanes, and dark tendrils of magic threatened to engulf the entire arena.

At the same time, the skeleton and zombie warriors continued their relentless march, indifferent to their own safety as they came to Elion.

'As if the warriors weren't enough trouble already,' Elion thought, irritation flashing across his face.

Elion wasted no time. He channeled his energy and cast a teleportation spell, vanishing from the spot just as the barrage of spells crashed down where he had stood.

Half of the undead died because of friendly fire, the other half faltered, confused by the sudden disappearance of their target.

Elion soon reappeared behind the mages, his katana gleaming with lighting energy. With one slash, he cut through half of them in an instant, their forms collapsing into dust before they could even turn.

The undead who survived the destruction of the mages quickly turned toward Elion, sensing his presence. 

More poured out of the portals behind him, their numbers endless.

'Damnit, does this ever end?' Elion thought.

'Valen said this is a trial and a reward, but what am I supposed to gain from these endless waves of monsters?' His thoughts raced as he fought to understand the purpose behind this relentless assault.

The monsters continued their attacks, giving Elion no time to breathe, let alone think. 

Their attacks were unceasing as if the very essence of the trial was to push him beyond his limits, forcing him to fight till exhaustion. 

Minutes soon turned to hours, and exhaustion weighed heavily on Elion's body. His mana reserves were long depleted, and every muscle in his body screamed in protest, begging for rest. 

As if sensing his weakening state, the relentless horde of monsters began to thin out. 

From dozens to a single one.

A single skeleton warrior stood before Elion, his last enemy.

Elion was now fighting without magic, relying solely on his beaten body. Each movement felt like lifting a mountain. 

'Damn it... my muscles won't respond anymore,' he thought, struggling even to keep his stance.

The skeleton slashed across Elion's chest, leaving a gruesome wound on him, blood flowing as a river.

The world around him began to blur, and his consciousness was almost on the edge of collapse.

A memory suddenly surfaced in his mind—Avandor, the mage whose world had been destroyed by demons. Elion could see his valiant fight against the invaders, the sheer will that had carried him to the end, even after death.

Gritting his teeth, Elion let out a scream. "I WILL NOT LOSE!"

With a surge of new determination, he planted his right foot firmly into the ground. 

He raised his katana one last time. His aching muscles responded.

In a final effort, he slashed diagonally, his blade cutting through the skeleton's weapon and splitting its body in half.

The skeletal warrior crumbled to the ground, and with it, Elion's strength gave out.

He collapsed, his body completely spent. 

As his consciousness faded, he felt something deep within him break, as though the chains that had held him back had finally been released.

—

[Elion…can… hear]

"Ugh, what a headache," Elion groaned as he slowly opened his eyes.

When he came to himself he noticed that he was lying in a soft bed.

'A hospital? Did I pass out in the trial?' Elion thought as he took in his surroundings. 

His gaze shifted to his bedside, where Valeria sat in a chair asleep. Her head rested on his bed beside him, her soft breaths steady and peaceful. 

The sight of her brought a faint smile to his lips. 

'It seems I made her worry,' he mused, his heart warming at the sight of Valeria. 

He gently caressed her head, the same way he always had when they were younger, his fingers brushing through her hair with tenderness.

"Mm... brother?" Valeria woke up from his touch. 

As soon as her eyes opened, she gave him a tight hug.

"Brother, I was so worried! You came out of the trial unconscious! You've been asleep for three whole days!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with relief.

"What? Three days?" Elion blinked in surprise.

"I'm sorry for making you worry, Val. But I'm fine now," he said softly, continuing to stroke her hair. 

Valeria closed her eyes, silently enjoying the affection.

Their peaceful moment was interrupted by a gentle voice. 

"I see you're awake now, young man," said a beautiful human nurse who had entered the room, smiling warmly at the sight of the siblings. 

"Your sister has been here every day, staying by your side. You've got an amazing sister, make sure you cherish her."

Elion glanced at Valeria and then back at the nurse. "I know. She's the best," he replied.

"So, how are you feeling? It's not common for people to pass out during the trial, you are a first for me."

"I feel fine, actually…" 

Elion just noticed, but he felt stronger, his body improved and his mana core enlarged. He has been stuck on the peak of the third stage for 3 years now, any power changes in his body could be instantly felt.

'What is going on, why do I feel stronger? But I didn't break through the Soul-Strengthening Realm yet. How is this possible?'

"What is it? Do you feel any pain?" The nurse asked once again, interrupting Elion's thoughts.

"Oh, no. I feel perfectly fine, I have never felt so good in my whole life. Hahahahah." Happiness was overflowing from Elion, he finally found a way to grow stronger.

The nurse saw the weird guy laughing to himself without a reason, and couldn't help but tilt her head.

"Well, since you are all right, you can go home. Classes have already finished by today, go home and rest, I'll tell your homeroom teacher that you will go back to classes starting tomorrow."

"Ok, thank you."

Elion left his bed, changed his clothes in a robe that he had stored inside his space inventory, and left with Valeria to their home in Eldoria.

'Valen, are you there?'

[I'm here, kid. Now tell me, what did you experience in the trial? Our connection was cut off the moment you stepped in.]

'A battle…a battle till exhaustion, and thanks to that I think I found a way to break through to the Soul-Strengtening Realm.'

[Interesting. And how would that be?]

'You will see tomorrow,' Elion couldn't help but smile again.