---
The moment Alen stepped forward, the earth trembled beneath him, and the sky darkened. The towering dragon statue, which had stood silent and imposing at the heart of the **Valley of the Elders**, began to glow. Its eyes, once stone, now blazed with a fierce, golden light. Ancient draconic magic swirled through the air, thick and heavy, as the final stage of the **Rite of the Ancients** began to unfold.
Even in the face of this overwhelming power, Alen remained calm, his white hair shimmering under the light of the dragon's gaze. Confidence surged through him. He had faced countless challenges to get here, but this was the final test, the one that would determine whether he was worthy of the title **Saint of Dragons**.
Standing to the side, the **Dragon King** watched silently, his expression unreadable. Alen could feel the weight of his grandfather's expectations, but they did not burden him. If anything, they sharpened his focus. This trial was for him—not for anyone else. Alen would rise, as he always had, and conquer whatever came next.
The **guardian** appeared, stepping forward from the mist. Its ethereal form was draped in energy, eyes glowing with the same intensity as the statue.
"This is the **Trial of the Soul**," the guardian's voice boomed, echoing through the valley. "It will test not just your strength, but your will, your purpose, and your control. Only by overcoming these challenges can you awaken your true potential. Fail, and your connection to the **Dragon Bloodline** will be severed."
Alen's heart beat steadily in his chest. He was ready.
The **System** chimed softly in his mind.
**[Final Challenge: Trial of the Soul. Overcome the trials of power, purpose, and control to unlock your full potential. Failure will sever your connection to the Dragon Bloodline.]**
The ground shifted beneath his feet, and the world blurred.
---
When the world around Alen cleared, he found himself standing on the top of a grand mountain peak, overlooking a kingdom that stretched as far as the eye could see. But this was no ordinary kingdom—it was one where Alen ruled as the ultimate authority, his power unmatched and absolute.
Before him stood a future version of himself. This Alen radiated power beyond imagination. His aura was overwhelming, his eyes blazing with the dominance of a ruler who had conquered the world. He wore regal, battle-hardened armor adorned with dragon symbols, and a crown sat on his head. This was the **Alen of Absolute Power**.
"You've always wanted this," the future Alen said, his voice smooth and commanding. "To be the strongest. To rule over all. This is what lies ahead for you—unparalleled strength, control over all kingdoms, and a world shaped by your will."
The future Alen raised his hand, and the entire kingdom bent to their knees in submission. Dragons roared in the skies, and the lands trembled under his command.
"Imagine," the future Alen continued, "no one to oppose you. A world without war, without conflict, where your word is law. All you have to do is embrace it."
For a moment, Alen felt the pull. The allure of absolute power was intoxicating. He had always desired to be the strongest, to shape the world into a better place. And here it was, laid before him—the chance to bring order, to end chaos, and to ensure peace through sheer dominance.
But something in him resisted.
"This isn't the path I want," Alen said, his voice firm.
The future Alen's eyes narrowed. "What you want is irrelevant. This is what you deserve. This is the natural progression of power. To bring peace, you must have total control."
Alen shook his head. "Control without balance leads to tyranny. I won't become the kind of ruler who forces peace through fear. That's not the strength I seek."
The vision of future Alen stepped closer, his aura pulsing with oppressive energy. "You think compassion will change the world? You think being soft will stop war and suffering? You must rule with an iron hand, or the world will fall apart."
Alen's eyes burned with determination. "I will be the strongest, yes. But I will not rule through fear. I will protect the world, not dominate it. Power means nothing if it's used to crush others."
With that declaration, the vision of future Alen flickered, his form starting to crack and dissolve. The landscape around them shattered, and the oppressive weight of absolute power lifted from Alen's shoulders.
"You'll regret this," the future Alen said, his voice fading into the void. "One day, you'll wish you had taken control."
The world around Alen dissolved, and the **System** pinged.
**[Test of Power Completed: You have rejected the path of absolute control.]**
---
The world shifted again, and this time, Alen found himself in the midst of chaos. He stood on the battlefield of his kingdom, flames licking at the sky, the sound of war drums echoing in the distance. His people were scattered, their homes destroyed, their lives hanging by a thread. The kingdom he had fought so hard to protect was on the verge of collapse.
And at the heart of it all stood his family.
The **Demon Queen**, his father Raiden, his cousins, all surrounded by enemies. They were trapped, caught in the crossfire, and the decision lay squarely on Alen's shoulders. Save his family, or save the kingdom.
The **System** pinged, offering him two choices.
**[Save your family and lose the kingdom, or sacrifice your loved ones to protect your people.]**
Alen's heart clenched. The weight of leadership crashed down on him like a tidal wave. No matter what choice he made, people would die. If he saved his family, his kingdom would burn. If he let his family perish, the kingdom would survive—but at what cost?
The voices around him grew louder, the screams of his people blending with the cries of his family. Alen's mind raced, his soul torn between duty and love. The burden of responsibility pressed down on him, threatening to crush him under its weight.
For a moment, he hesitated. The thought of losing his family was unbearable. They had been his constant, his support, and the very reason he fought for strength in the first place. But letting his kingdom fall would mean the destruction of everything they had worked for.
"I won't choose," Alen whispered, his fists clenching.
The battlefield around him raged, but in the midst of the chaos, a new determination rose within him.
"I won't let this world force me into an impossible choice."
The **System** pinged again, pushing him to make a decision. But Alen refused to bend. He would find a way to protect both—no matter what it took.
With a roar, Alen summoned all the power within him. His draconic energy surged, his aura flaring with defiance. The sky above him crackled with lightning, and the ground beneath him trembled as his will bent reality itself.
"I will save them all," Alen declared, his voice filled with unshakable conviction.
The battlefield quaked, the enemies dissolving into mist. The fire and destruction vanished, leaving behind only the echoes of Alen's words.
**[Test of Responsibility Completed: You have rejected the idea of sacrifice and embraced your will to protect everything.]**
---
The world returned to the **Valley of the Elders**, but now, everything had changed. The ancient dragon statue before Alen blazed with light, its eyes locked onto him as though recognizing him for the first time.
Alen's body surged with power. His **Dragon Bloodline** fully awakened, unleashing a torrent of draconic energy that spread through his veins. His white hair glowed with an ethereal brilliance, and his golden eyes burned with the intensity of the dragons.
The **System** pinged as his abilities expanded:
**[New Abilities Unlocked: Dragon Sovereign Transformation, Enhanced Elemental Mastery (lightning, ice, and fire), Absolute Draconic Authority.]**
His aura expanded, filling the valley with an oppressive force that made even the ancient dragon statues tremble in acknowledgment. The **Dragon King**, watching from a distance, felt a swell of pride. His grandson had completed the impossible trial.
---
As Alen stood in the valley, feeling the surge of newfound power, the **guardian** reappeared, bowing deeply.
"You have passed the most difficult trial," the guardian said. "Your soul is strong, your purpose clear. You are now truly the **Saint of Dragons**."
The **System** pinged once more.
**[New Quest Unlocked: Unravel the Secrets of the Dragon God. Your next journey lies in uncovering the ancient mysteries of your lineage and the looming calamity.]**
The mists parted, revealing a distant mountain range where the **Dragon God's Shrine** awaited. In the distance, a shadowy figure watched from the peaks, waiting for Alen to take the next step in his journey.
The trial was over, but Alen's path was only just beginning.
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