Chapter 10: The Trial of Kings
📖 Chapter 10: The Trial of KingsA Battle Not Yet Won
Ryosuke exhaled, trying to steady his breathing.
His arms ached, his grip tight on the worn hilt of his sword.
The revenants lay scattered around him, their armor cracked, their violet flames flickering into nothingness.
He had fought smarter—used Nyx as an extension of his will.
And yet—
🔹 [Trial Progress: 53% Completion]
Not even halfway.
Ryosuke's fingers twitched.
Then, the ground trembled.
The Second Wave – A Test of Endurance
The battlefield shifted, the mist swirling violently.
From the shadows, more revenants emerged.
🔹 [Enemies Remaining: 7]
But these ones were different.
Stronger.
Each one wielded dual weapons—swords, axes, glaives.
Their armor was darker, thicker—designed for war.
Ryosuke's heart pounded.
They had adapted.
The Warden's test wasn't just about survival.
It was about proving he could lead through war.
And right now—
He was losing.
The Cost of Dominion
The revenants attacked immediately.
Two came from his left, three from his right—one leapt from behind.
Too fast.
Ryosuke pivoted, barely raising his buckler in time to deflect a twin-blade strike.
His legs buckled from the impact.
Nyx darted forward, intercepting a glaive strike aimed for his back.
The force sent Nyx skidding across the battlefield, screeching.
For the first time, his summon was struggling.
🔹 [Nyx's Condition: 87% Integrity]
Ryosuke's mind raced.
His body was already nearing its limit.
But if he let Nyx take too much damage—it would shatter.
He couldn't let that happen.
He had to adapt.
A Scrivener's Mind – Analyzing the Battle
✔ Revenants are faster, but their movement patterns are predictable.
✔ They fight in formations, but rely on raw power instead of strategy.
✔ They don't react fast to redirections.
He could use that.
He had spent years watching Hunters document enemy behavior.
It was time to apply it.
He shifted his stance.
Instead of blocking, he deflected.
Instead of meeting their strength, he redirected it.
The next attack came fast.
A revenant's blade came down toward his skull—
He didn't block.
Instead, he sidestepped—the revenant's momentum carried it forward.
Before it could recover—
Nyx struck.
A flash of violet energy—teeth sinking into plated armor—
The revenant collapsed.
One down.
The Trial Nears Its End
🔹 [Trial Progress: 78% Completion]
His stamina was nearly drained.
His body screamed for rest.
And yet—
Only two revenants remained.
One was missing an arm, its movements sluggish.
The other was unscathed.
The strongest.
The Warden watched, its burning violet gaze unblinking.
This was the final test.
The moment to prove—
He was worthy.
Ryosuke tightened his grip.
He wasn't leaving this place without winning.