Chapter 55 The Third Trial
### Chapter 55: The Third Trial
Bren stood at the edge of the molten pond, her breath steady despite the tension coursing through her. The ground beneath her feet vibrated faintly, signaling the arrival of her next opponent. The sparrows' cryptic warning hung heavy in the air:
"The third trial is the fiercest. Only the worthy may pass."
Trill, Lyra, Ares, and Vas watched from a safe distance. The group stood silent, their expressions tense, but none dared interfere. This trial was Bren's alone to face.
From the depths of the molten lake came a deep rumble. The liquid fire churned violently, sending waves of lava sloshing against the blackened rocks. A shadow moved beneath the fiery surface, its size far larger than the Molten Titan.
"Brace yourself," Ares muttered. "That's no ordinary creature."
Trill's gaze narrowed. "It's a drake. A pure earth-fire drake."
---
The creature erupted from the lake in a geyser of molten lava and flame. Its immense body was coated in molten rock, each scale glowing with an internal fire. Massive claws dug into the ground, and its tail, long and whip-like, lashed out, scattering sparks and embers. Its head was angular and crowned with jagged, flame-lit horns. The creature's molten eyes locked onto Bren, and it let out a roar that shook the entire grove.
Bren tightened her grip on her sword, which gleamed faintly from the heat in the air. She had faced many opponents before, but none quite like this.
---
The drake lunged, its massive maw snapping shut mere inches from Bren as she dove to the side. The ground where she'd stood cracked and melted under the heat of its breath. Bren rolled to her feet and slashed at its flank, her blade carving through molten scales and drawing a spray of liquid fire.
The drake roared in fury, its tail whipping around toward her. Bren raised her sword to block, the force of the strike sending her skidding backward across the scorched earth. Her arms trembled from the impact, but she remained standing.
---
"She's holding her own," Lyra said, her tone a mixture of awe and concern.
"For now," Trill replied, his hands clenched tightly.
Ares watched the battle with a sharp eye. "The drake is testing her resilience. It's not just brute strength she needs—it's strategy and control."
---
Bren dodged another swipe of the drake's claws, her mind racing as she tried to find an opening. The creature was relentless, its attacks leaving her little room to breathe. She darted around its massive form, using her agility to stay one step ahead.
She noticed something: the drake's movements were slower when it stepped away from the molten pool. The creature seemed to draw power from the fiery lake, its strength waning the farther it strayed.
Bren gritted her teeth, formulating a plan. She had to lure it away from the pool, but doing so would require every ounce of her skill and focus.
---
The drake inhaled deeply, the air around it heating to unbearable levels. Then it exhaled, releasing a torrent of molten flame. Bren dashed to the side, barely avoiding the inferno as it scorched the ground in its path. She leaped onto a nearby boulder and launched herself at the drake's neck, her sword glowing brightly as it absorbed the heat around it.
Her blade struck true, slicing into the vulnerable joint between its head and shoulders. The drake bellowed in pain, rearing back and shaking its massive body in an attempt to dislodge her.
Bren held on tightly, driving her sword deeper into its molten flesh. The creature thrashed wildly, its movements becoming more erratic as it moved farther from the pool.
---
"She's doing it," Lyra said, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"She's clever," Ares said, a hint of admiration in his voice. "Using the terrain to her advantage."
Trill's expression remained tense. "But the drake isn't done yet."
---
The drake twisted violently, finally throwing Bren off its back. She hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of her. She rolled to her feet, her sword still in hand, and prepared for the drake's next attack.
The creature turned to face her, molten blood dripping from its wounds. Its fiery gaze burned with renewed fury, and it charged at her with incredible speed.
Bren braced herself, planting her feet firmly on the ground. As the drake closed in, she focused all her energy into her blade, channeling the heat and power around her into a single, devastating strike.
At the last moment, she sidestepped the drake's charge and swung her sword in a wide arc. The blade connected with the creature's exposed side, the force of the strike sending a shockwave through the air.
The drake roared in agony as its molten form cracked and shattered. It staggered, its massive body collapsing to the ground.
---
Bren stood over the fallen creature, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. Her sword glowed faintly, the heat dissipating as the air cooled around her.
The sparrows reappeared, their fiery forms hovering above the clearing. "You have passed the third trial," they said in unison, their voices filled with reverence. "You are worthy."
---
As Trill, Lyra, Ares, and Vas approached, Bren turned to face them, a faint smile on her lips.
"Still in one piece," she said, her tone light despite her exhaustion.
"That was incredible," Lyra said, her admiration clear.
"You've earned your place here," Ares said, his expression respectful.
Trill stepped forward, his gaze searching hers. "Are you okay?"
Bren nodded. "Tired, but okay."
The sparrows spoke again, their voices gentle but firm. "The Earth's heart has accepted you, Earth-Blooded warrior. Your bond is sealed."
Bren felt a warmth spread through her chest, a deep connection to the grove and the power it held. She closed her eyes, letting the sensation wash over her.
---
Before anyone could celebrate, the ground beneath them rumbled again, a deep and foreboding tremor.
"What now?" Vas muttered, his hand on his sword.
The sparrows turned their fiery gazes toward the molten lake. "Something stirs. Something ancient and powerful."
The group exchanged uneasy glances as the tremors grew stronger.