Chapter 13: The Gatekeeper's Trial

Elias stood at the entrance of the final chamber on the first floor, his body heavy with exhaustion. The trials thus far had taken their toll, each battle leaving its mark on him-cuts, bruises, and fatigue weighing him down. He felt the weight of every step, every inch of progress he had made. His muscles screamed in protest, and his sword felt heavier than ever.

But just before he could step forward into the heart of the chamber, a strange energy filled the air, unlike anything he had felt before.

A soft hum resonated around him, and the ground beneath his feet seemed to tremble with an unseen power. Elias's vision blurred for a moment, and as he blinked, a wave of warmth spread through his body. His breathing steadied, the pain in his chest, arms, and legs fading as his wounds began to close, and his energy surged back,

In the span of a heartbeat, the exhaustion, the bruises, and the wounds he had accumulated over the course of his journey vanished. His strength was fully restored, and his mind sharpened to a razor's edge. He felt... whole again.

He raised his head, looking at the entrance to the chamber where the first boss awaited him. The Gatekeeper. Aros.

There was no time to dwell on the strange, healing force that had just washed over him. Elias could feel Aros's presence in the air, and he knew the god would not wait. The fight was imminent, and there was no room for hesitation.

Elias steadied his breath, his sword gripped firmly in his hand. He was ready.

The moment Elias stepped into the chamber, the oppressive presence of Aros filled the air. A deep voice, echoing like thunder, resonated through the room.

"Mortal, you have reached the end of this layer. But to pass, you must defeat me. I am Aros, the Gatekeeper. Prepare yourself."

Elias's eyes narrowed. Standing at the far end of the chamber, a towering figure appeared, clad in dark, ancient armor that shimmered ominously. The god held a massive iron halberd in his hands, its blade gleaming with deadly intent.

"I will test your strength, mortal. Only the worthy pass through the gates. You will either die or prove you are worthy."

Without another word, Aros surged forward, the ground shaking with each of his steps. His massive halberd swung down with terrifying speed, its weight enough to crush any who dared face it. Elias barely managed to parry the strike, the sheer force of it pushing him back. But he was faster now-his body, once weakened by his previous battles, was now restored to peak condition, and his mind was sharp with focus.

He countered with a series of quick strikes, each one aimed at finding a weakness in the god's defense. Aros was relentless, his halberd cutting through the air with blinding speed, but Elias moved with precision and agility. Each strike from the god was met with a swift parry or dodge, and each counterattack Elias delivered seemed to land with increasing accuracy.

The fight was a brutal dance-Elias's sword clashing against the iron halberd, the sound echoing through the chamber like the tolling of a bell. Aros's divine strength was overwhelming, but Elias was not intimidated. He had come too far to fail now.

With every strike, Elias grew more confident. The god's defenses began to falter, cracks forming in the once impenetrable armor. Elias saw an opening, a small flaw in Aros's defense, and he seized it.

With a swift and precise motion, Elias drove his sword into Aros's side, breaking through the armor and striking at the heart of the god's form. Aros let out a guttural roar, staggering back, but Elias was already on him. He followed

up with a series of rapid strikes, each one cutting through the weakening god's armor until, with one final thrust, Elias pierced Aros's chest.

The god staggered, his body beginning to dissipate, the divine energy fleeing from his form. Aros's eyes widened in disbelief, and with one last, lingering breath, he collapsed to his knees.

"You are worthy, mortal..." Aros's voice echoed as his form crumbled, his divine essence fading into the ether.

The ground beneath Elias's feet trembled as the air around him thickened with the power of Aros's defeat. The battle was over, but Elias had little time to rest.

A soft pulse of energy surged through him, and without warning, the room began to dissolve. The walls faded, the stone beneath his feet vanished, and Elias felt his body being lifted by an unseen force.

His surroundings blurred, and before he could comprehend what was happening, he found himself standing in a completely different place.

The surface.

Elias blinked, disoriented for a moment. He looked around, realizing he had been returned to the surface. The towering gates of the Trial. loomed behind him, the vast, open world stretching out in front of him.

His body felt different-refreshed, restored. The aches and wounds from his battle with Aros had been completely healed, leaving him feeling as though he had never fought at all. His sword was at his side, and his resolve was stronger than ever.

He stood at the edge of the Trial, back on the surface, but he knew this was only a temporary reprieve. The victory against Aros was only the beginning. The real test was ahead, and the next layer would be even more difficult than the last.

Elias took a deep breath, his mind already focused on the journey ahead. The Trial had given him a moment of peace, a brief retum to the surface, but he knew it wouldn't last. He would soon enter the next layer, stronger than before, ready to face whatever awaited him.

The path to power, to revenge, and to claiming his place among the gods was still far from complete.

And Elias would stop at nothing to reach the top.