Test (2)

The pain had eased a bit, but Han Yue knew she was pushing herself too hard without proper rest. Taking a deep breath, she straightened up, her resolve hardening.

She wiped the blood from her side, careful not to smudge the ice that had formed around the wound, and stood ready.

Her mind quickly switched back to the technique she had been studying – the Phantom Veil Technique she had found earlier. It was a clever way to mask her aura, to hide from others. If she was going to face something tougher ahead, she needed every advantage she could get.

She'd bounced back as much as those pills would let her, and with her trusty Frostbite Needles and Glacial Rain in hand, plus that icy determination she always had, Han Yue felt ready for whatever was coming next. Her chest still hurt with every breath, but she just ignored it. The trial wasn't over, and neither was she. The orb's energy surged again, and Han Yue stepped into the next challenge, her focus sharp, her resolve unbreakable. She was far from finished fighting.

Han Yue crept towards the orb, the fading light around it making the cavern floor look spooky. The air felt heavy, like every breath was coming from deep inside her. Her ribs still hurt, and her side was burning from the broken bone, but she ignored it. She couldn't be weak, not now, not here. The trial wasn't over yet.

The orb pulsed again, this time with more power, and a wave of cold hit her. Her Ice Veil Barrier sprang up, the frosty wall wrapping around her like a second skin, keeping the cold away. But even the barrier couldn't stop the energy coming from the orb. It felt like the place itself was alive, testing her, pushing her to her limits.

Han Yue stood still for a moment, letting the weird feeling wash over her. She focused on her breathing, keeping it steady and calm. The healing pills had helped a bit, but she needed proper rest to heal. And that wasn't going to happen anytime soon.

Suddenly, the ground shook. She looked around quickly. The cavern walls started to move, cracks appearing like the whole place was changing. From the darkness ahead, shadowy figures appeared – more ice beasts, but bigger and scarier than before. Their glowing eyes stared at her, and their chilling growls echoed through the cavern.

Han Yue gripped her Glacial Rain sword tighter, the cool metal helping her stay calm as she got ready to fight. Her body was still recovering, and she knew she couldn't make another mistake. She needed to finish this fight quickly and decisively.

The first beast jumped at her, super fast, its icy claws slashing through the air. Han Yue reacted instantly, dodging to the side with a quick move from her Glacial Phantom Steps, just avoiding the attack. She could feel the force of the creature's claws as they missed her by a hair's breadth.

In one smooth move, she fired back with a strike from the first style of Frostfeather Sword Art, the Feather Light Slash. The blade zipped through the air so fast it barely made a sound, but the aftermath was brutal. The creature's arm was cleanly chopped off at the joint, its severed limb crashing to the ground like a heap of jagged ice.

But there wasn't a moment to celebrate. The beast howled in rage, thrashing about with its remaining limbs, its body stitching itself back together in no time. Then, another beast came charging at her from behind, its sharp, jagged teeth ready to rip her apart.

Han Yue's heart pounded. She didn't have time to mess around with these creatures. She needed to finish this, and fast.

She raised her sword and took a deep breath to trigger the Frozen Moon Slash, the second style of her sword technique. The blade turned into a blur as she swung it wide. The air around her felt like it was freezing up as icy energy swirled around the blade, forming a sharp crescent wave of power. The cold slash sliced through the air with a sharp crack, completely obliterating the beast in front of her, turning its body into a shower of frozen fragments.

However, as the first creature crumbled, Han Yue sensed the atmosphere growing thicker and more oppressive. The orb pulsed again, even stronger this time, and the remaining beasts surged forward with a fresh burst of energy.

She clenched her jaw. This was no longer just about battling the creatures; the environment itself felt like it was ganging up on her.

Her instincts told her to retreat and regroup, but there was no time for that. The only way out was through. She lifted her sword once more, the cool metal of Glacial Rain shining in the low light, and as the creatures closed in around her, she braced herself to unleash the full power of her Frostfeather Sword Art.

With a flick of her wrist, she unleashed the Second Style – the Frosted Dance Slash. The blade whizzed through the air, leaving a trail of frozen mist in its wake. She followed up with the Third Style, the Snowfall Piercer, aiming straight for the heart of the nearest beast. The blow was spot on, piercing deep into the creature's chest before it collapsed into a heap of ice and snow.

But even as the beast fell, the other two charged. She could feel their energy ramping up. Her Glacial Phantom Steps moved her out of harm's way, her body flowing with a grace that defied the pain in her side.

She glanced down at the beasts as they regrouped. They were still relentless, but they were also becoming more predictable. Their movements were slower now, more deliberate. Han Yue realised this was her chance – she needed to finish this quickly before they had a chance to overwhelm her.

She pushed herself forward with a final, decisive strike – a Frostfeather Slash that combined the force of all five styles of her technique. The air cracked with the power of the strike as her blade cut through the creatures, sending shards of ice flying in every direction. The beasts shattered into thousands of frozen fragments, falling to the ground in an explosion of cold.

Breathing heavily, Han Yue stood over the remains of the creatures, the remnants of ice and snow swirling in the air. The orb's pulse softened, but the pressure didn't let up. She could still feel the energy pressing in on her, suffocating her every movement.

She took a moment to catch her breath. Her body was sore, her ribs still ached, but the pain was manageable. Her sword was still gripped tightly in her hand, the blade gleaming in the dim light of the cavern.

The orb pulsed once more, its energy now more insistent. It was clear – there was more to this trial, but Han Yue was ready.

She adjusted her stance, her eyes narrowing with determination. The next phase was coming, and she would face it head-on.

The air in the cavern was thick with tension. Han Yue wiped the sweat from her brow, her body aching and bloody from the fight with the ice beasts. Her side still throbbed, her broken ribs screaming with every breath. Even with the healing pills, she could feel the weight of her injuries – her bones weren't fully healed, and her muscles were aching from all the action. Every breath was a reminder of how much the fight had taken out of her.

The orb ahead pulsed again, even stronger this time, and Han Yue felt a surge of pressure in the air. It was getting harder to focus, as if the cavern itself were working against her, the energy building with every passing second.

The ground shook beneath her feet, and Han Yue's instincts kicked in. More creatures were emerging from the shadows, their growls getting louder, their presence more menacing. There was nowhere to run now. The only option was to fight.

She took a deep breath, her fingers instinctively reaching for the fire talisman at her waist. With a quick movement, she activated it, the talisman bursting into flames in her hand, its fiery energy dancing in the air. A wall of fire exploded in front of her, sending the first wave of creatures stumbling back in surprise. The fire seemed to consume the air itself, filling the cavern with heat and light as the talisman's energy created a barrier of scorching flames.

But even as the fire swirled around her, Han Yue could feel her strength fading. The fire talisman had bought her some time, but it wouldn't last long. She needed to finish this quickly.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a shadow move in the distance, and before she could react, a beast leaped towards her, claws extended. The force of the attack sent a shock of pain through her chest, and she barely managed to get her sword up in time to block the strike. The impact reverberated through her body, and Han Yue's ribs protested, the bones creaking under the pressure. She winced, but there was no time to feel sorry for herself.

She went for the wind talisman next, ripping it out of her pouch and slamming it onto the ground. A huge gust of wind kicked up, sending the beast flying and making the smaller ones scatter in all directions. The wind created a chance for Han Yue to strike, and without skipping a beat, she followed up with her Frostfeather Sword Art—the Feather Light Slash. The blade moved quickly, ice energy crackling along the edge as she sliced through one of the beasts cleanly.

But more were coming, and they were faster this time, relentless. Han Yue was starting to breathe harder as she raised her sword to defend herself again. Her injuries, mixed with the sheer number of beasts, were really taking their toll. Her body was wrecked in places—bruised and battered—but she couldn't afford to stop now.

Next, she grabbed another talisman—her wing talisman. With a flick of her wrist, she activated it, and in an instant, ethereal wings made of glimmering ice sprouted from her back, lifting her into the air. The talisman allowed her to fly, and those wings gave her the height advantage. As she soared above the creatures, she could see them below, circling in confusion, trying to find her.

But her strength was running low. The talismans were just a temporary fix, a way to buy her some time, but they wouldn't heal the damage she'd already taken. Her ribs were still cracked, and every move, every swing of her sword, sent a wave of pain through her chest. She gritted her teeth and pushed through, but it was getting harder to ignore the pain gnawing at her.

Then a big beast lunged at her from below, mouth wide open, teeth bared. Han Yue tried to dodge, but her wings faltered a bit, the strain on her body interfering with her control. The creature's claws raked across her side, ripping through her robes and making her bleed. The pain shot through her, and for a second, her vision blurred. She struggled to steady herself in the air, her breath hitching.

She felt the weight of her injuries pulling her down, but she couldn't afford to fall. She reached for her last set of talismans—the fire blast talismans. These were stronger than the rest, and Han Yue knew they were her final defence. She activated two at the same time and tossed them to the ground. The explosion of fire was deafening, lighting up the entire cavern in a blaze of fiery chaos.

The blast sent the beasts flying backwards, smashing into the cavern walls. Han Yue gritted her teeth and flapped her wings harder, trying to stay in the air despite the agony in her chest.

But the talismans, powerful as they were, only gave her a short break. She could feel the weight of the fight getting to her, the pressure on her body building with every second. Her injuries were too bad to ignore for much longer. Her ribs, broken and bruised, made it hard to breathe, and the pain in her side was unbearable.

She landed for a moment, her feet barely touching the ground before she was surrounded again. The creatures were relentless, and Han Yue was running out of options.

She had to fight smarter, not harder. Her Frostfeather Sword Art was powerful, but it wasn't enough to take down these creatures with her injuries. She needed to use her brains, her speed, and the few talismans she had left.

With a sharp breath, Han Yue activated her Ice Veil Barrier again, the shimmering wall of frost forming around her in a flash. She could feel the energy from the orb pushing against it, but the barrier would hold for now. She used the moment to take another healing pill, but it barely helped with her injuries.

The fight wasn't over, but Han Yue was determined to finish it, no matter what.

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