Chapter 18: The Knight of the Abyss
I stood in the Field of Blades, my stance balanced and steady, each swing of my sword a deliberate effort to refine my technique. The recent triumph over the first trial was hard-fought, but there was no time to celebrate. My body still bore the ghostly aches of countless defeats, and my mind churned with thoughts of the next challenge.
The timer floated before me, unrelenting:
[Second Trial available in: 00:14:23...]
Every tick of the countdown weighed heavy on my resolve.
[Second Trial available in: 00:00:04...]
The world twisted, light collapsing into darkness as the familiar grassy expanse transformed. The sun vanished, replaced by a suffocating void. The ground beneath my feet turned coarse, sharp edges of blackened rock scraping my boots. Around me, a cavernous dome emerged, its jagged walls faintly illuminated by eerie, blue-flamed torches embedded in crude sconces. Shadows danced wildly, their shapes teasing the eye, as if the cave itself were alive and watching. A damp chill clung to the air, seeping through my clothes and making each breath feel labored. The acrid scent of burning oil from the torches stung my nostrils, mixing with the metallic tang of fear.
A figure sat motionless on a stone outcrop ahead, its armored form glinting faintly in the torchlight. The air felt heavy, suffused with an unspoken challenge. As I stepped forward, the figure rose, fluidly reaching for the shield propped against the rock and drawing a greatsword from its hip. The weapon gleamed menacingly, its blade lined with strange, glowing runes.
The knight's voice, deep and resonant, broke the silence, reverberating through the cavern. "So, you're the new challenger?" His tone was both a question and an assertion, carrying an unsettling calm.
I struggled to speak, managing only a hoarse reply. "Who… who are you?"
He paused, tilting his head slightly. "A better question would be: what am I?" A moment of silence lingered before he added, "Not that it matters. Even I do not fully grasp the depths of His plans." His words sent a shiver through me, though whether from fear or intrigue, I couldn't tell.
His gaze, hidden behind the blackened visor, seemed to pierce through me. "Now," he said, his grip tightening on his blade, "prove yourself."
With a sudden, calculated motion, he tossed his shield to the ground. It clanged against the stone, the sound echoing ominously. His greatsword rose high as he shifted into a battle stance, both hands gripping its hilt.
He lunged with a speed that defied his heavy armor. My instincts screamed, and I swung my blade in a desperate arc to intercept. For a fleeting moment, I thought I had matched him. The clash of steel rang through the cavern, and sparks flew as our blades met. But the moment was short-lived. Pain exploded in my gut. His sword had already found its mark, sliding through flesh and bone with surgical precision. Warm blood spilled from the wound, pooling at my feet.
I gasped, the taste of iron filling my mouth as I met his empty gaze. A faint flicker of regret seemed to pass through the knight's posture, but his voice remained cold and unwavering.
"May you succeed in your next life," he said, voice devoid of malice but heavy with finality.
The world faded to black.
I awoke in the Field of Blades once more, the serene expanse mocking me with its tranquility. My hands trembled as I gripped my sword, but there was no time to dwell on fear. This trial was different. It wasn't an insurmountable army or a swarm of beasts; it was a single opponent, albeit one far beyond my current strength. The faint scent of flowers on the wind and the gentle warmth of sunlight on my skin stood in stark contrast to the oppressive cave. It only served to deepen the frustration boiling within me.
The timer ticked down again: [Retry available in: 00:00:02...]
The world twisted once more. The cave reformed around me, its oppressive atmosphere wrapping around my chest like a vice. The knight stood waiting, his blade resting lightly against the stone. As I materialized, he turned to face me.
"So, you're finally back," he said, a faint scoff in his tone.
I blinked, stunned. He remembered.
"How… how do you know me?" I stammered.
He chuckled softly, though the sound was devoid of warmth. "Some things, you've yet to prove yourself worthy of knowing." His grip on his sword tightened. "Now, enough talk. Prove yourself."
He moved first, faster than I could track. His blade came crashing down with a deadly arc. I barely raised mine in time, the force of the clash sending shocks up my arms. Sparks flew as steel met steel, the cave echoing with the impact.
"Better," he said, his tone laced with faint amusement. "But still far too weak."
Before I could respond, his gauntleted fist struck my face with bone-crushing force. My vision blurred, and blood gushed from my nose. Staggering, I struggled to find balance, but he was already upon me. His sword rose again, its tip gleaming with the same ethereal blue light as the torches.
"You're too slow," he said as the blade descended. Pain seared through my body, and the world went dark once more.
The Field of Blades greeted me again with its infuriating serenity. The translucent screen appeared before me, its cold, emotionless text driving home my failure:
[Second Trial Failed]
[Details: You've fallen by the hands of the Twenty-Third Apostle of ERROR.]
[Progression: 0/1 foes defeated.]
[Retry available in: 23:59:43...]
I clenched my fists, my knuckles white against the grip of my sword. The word "apostle" lingered in my mind, heavy with unspoken meaning. But it was irrelevant now. My focus sharpened on the challenge ahead. This opponent wasn't just a mindless beast. He was faster, stronger, and more skilled, a true test of my will.
The faint floral breeze of the Field of Blades tickled my senses again, mocking me. I steeled my resolve. The timer counted down, and as it approached zero, I whispered a silent vow to myself:
I will prove myself. No matter how many tries it takes.