Chapter 8:The trials of the Grox part-1

As the boys entered the portal, the kingdom held its breath. All over the land, enormous, magical screens lit up, broadcasting the event. Nobles, commoners, warriors, and scholars gathered in town squares, markets, and inside the vast halls of castles, all focused on the floating displays that showed the progress of the seven contestants.

Inside the mystical realm, each boy was transported to a different location. The landscapes varied—dense forests, jagged mountain ranges, arid deserts, and eerie swamps. It was clear that each setting would test the participants differently.

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**Kateku's Forest Trial**

Kateku found himself in the middle of a thick, ancient forest. The towering trees cast dark shadows, and the air was thick with humidity and the sounds of creatures lurking within. Moss and vines draped over the branches, and the only light came from slivers of sunlight that fought to break through the dense canopy above.

Just as he took his first step forward, a shimmering system window appeared in front of him, its glowing blue letters hovering in mid-air.

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**System Alert: Welcome, Contestant.**

**First Objective: Craft a sword.**

**Second Objective: Survive.**

**Final Objective: Defeat the Boss and become a full-fledged GROX.**

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Kateku's eyes narrowed as he read the objectives. In his mind, he pondered what it truly meant to be a "Grox." He had heard the term countless times, but this trial was designed to prove it—to prove what it meant to be worthy of the name Grox.

Looking around, Kateku quickly assessed his situation. He noticed various resources around him: fallen branches, stones, and vines. Without hesitation, he gathered what he needed and began crafting a basic sword. His mind, sharp as ever, worked methodically as he used the vines to bind the stones to the branch, creating a sturdy, albeit crude, weapon.

His first task completed, Kateku allowed himself a brief moment to think about his next step: survival.

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**Elsewhere in the Realm**

Each of the other boys was facing their own trial in their respective environments.

**Drakon (5th Family Representative)**

Drakon, transported to a barren, volcanic wasteland, struggled to find resources for his sword. The ground beneath him cracked and sizzled with heat, but he remained undeterred. His sharp instincts as a warrior from the 5th family kept him focused. Using a shard of obsidian, he quickly fashioned a blade. But survival here was different—the land itself was hostile, and the creatures that lurked in the craters were unlike anything he had faced before. His trial would not only test his strength but also his endurance in an unforgiving environment.

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**Kieran(6th Family Representative)**

Kieran, a representative from the ninja clan of the 6th family, found himself in a dark, mist-filled swamp. The ground squelched beneath his feet, and the air was thick with the smell of decay. His clan had specialized in stealth and assassination, and here, those skills would be put to the ultimate test. The mist made it difficult to see, but Kieran thrived in such conditions. Quickly, he crafted a small, nimble sword using the sharpened bones of a creature he had already slain. His mind raced as he navigated the swamp, his every sense heightened, knowing that in this realm, danger could strike at any moment.

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**Clashing Paths**

Two days had passed, and the trials grew more intense. Each contestant struggled with their surroundings, fending off creatures and searching for the elusive cave where the final boss awaited.

Kateku, having survived multiple ambushes by wolves and strange creatures in the forest, sharpened his skills with each encounter. His focus remained unshaken, but his thoughts drifted to the weight of his family name, the legacy of the Grox, and what it meant for him personally. As he continued onward, he spotted a familiar figure ahead.

It was Kieran from the 6th family.

Kateku's heart tensed. The memories flooded back—his hatred for the 6th family, the ninja clan responsible for the death of the slave girl he had cared for deeply. The anger was palpable, his grip on his sword tightened.

Kieran turned, sensing Kateku's presence immediately. The two boys locked eyes.

"Kateku Grox," Kieran said coldly, unsheathing his blade. "I won't let you stand in my way."

Without another word, Kieran lunged forward, his sword gleaming in the dim light of the forest.

Kateku reacted swiftly, parrying the strike with ease. Their blades clashed, the sound of metal on metal echoing through the trees. Kieran was quick, darting in and out of the shadows, trying to land a blow on Kateku. But Kateku's combat instincts, honed through years of training and countless battles, kept him on the defensive, blocking each strike with precision.

The battle raged on, neither boy willing to yield.

As the fight continued, something inside Kateku began to shift. He had been fighting with anger, with hatred, but now he was starting to realize something—something that weighed heavily on his heart.

This was not just a battle between two contestants. It was a battle with himself.

He remembered the slave girl. He remembered how she had died at the hands of the 6th family. But standing here now, facing Kieran, Kateku understood that continuing to hold onto his hatred would make him no different from those he despised.

As Kieran made another swift strike, Kateku blocked it, but instead of countering, he stepped back.

"Why are you hesitating?" Kieran spat, his eyes burning with determination. "Fight me!"

Kateku lowered his sword slightly, his voice calm. "I will fight you—but not with hatred. The past cannot be changed, Kieran. I won't let the sins of your family define you, just as I won't let them define me."

Kieran faltered, confusion flashing across his face. He hesitated for just a moment, but in that moment, Kateku's words sank in.

"What… are you talking about?" Kieran muttered.

Kateku sighed, gripping his sword tightly once more. "If you want to fight, then fight me. But know this—I won't be consumed by my anger anymore. We are not our families. We choose our own path."

Kieran stared at him for a long moment before lowering his blade.

"You… are different than I thought," Kieran said quietly. "But this isn't over."

With that, Kieran turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Kateku alone in the forest.

Kateku stood still for a moment, his heart heavy but his mind clear. The fight had been more than just a physical battle. It had been a battle for his own growth as a person—a step toward understanding what it truly meant to be a Grox.

As the sun began to set, Kateku continued his journey through the forest, knowing that the final challenge—the boss—still awaited him. But now, he was ready, not just to fight, but to grow into the person he was meant to become.

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**End of Part 1: The Trials of the Grox**