THE TOWER OF TRIAL BEGINS

THE TOWER CALLS...

The tower of trials loomed over Elias like a silent Titan. It was ancient- older than the Academy itself- whispering secrets of those who had enter before him. And never returned.

Cold wind howled as he stepped forward. The Academy students had gathered outside watching in tense silence. Some were curious. Some expected him to fail. And a few.... were hoping he wouldn't come out alive.

BOOM!

The giant stone doors swung open on their own, revealing a Pitch- Black void inside.

"Enter, and be judged."

The voice wasn't human. It wasn't even spoken- it echoed directly in Elias's mind.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside. The door slammed shut behind him.

There was no turning back.

THE FIRST TRIAL: THE LABYRINTH OF SHADOWS...

Darkness swallowed everything.

Then-a single torch ignited.

The dim flame revealed a Maize of ancient stone corridor, stretching and endlessly in every direction. The walls shifted, pulsing like a living creature.

A shiver ran down Elias's spine.

"A labyrinth?" He thought. "No... something worse."

Thrn, without warning-

SHING!

A blade sliced through the air, missing his face by inches.

Elias spun around, his heart hammering a shadowy figure had emerged from the walls, featureless except for its glowing white Eyes.

And it wasn't alone .

One by one dozens of shadow Warriors materialised, their weapon glinting under the torch light.

Elias took a step back.

This isn't real...isn't real. its just an illusion-"yes".

But the next moment, a dagger grazed his shoulder-searing pain short through him. His blood drift onto the stone floor.

Real pain.

This was no illusion. This was a fight.

"Fine," Elias thought, clenching his fists. " let's see if you can bleed too."

The battle began.

THE BATTLE OF LABYRINTH...

The first Shadow Warrior lunged.

Elias dodged, spinning to its blind side before striking with a blast of raw Mana. The impact shattered the creature into mist.

But the others didn't stop.

Two more charged from opposite directions. Elias ducked under a sweeping sword, then flipped backward to avoid another Strike.

" I need a plan," he realized. " I can't fight them all forever."

Then, out of the corner of his eye- he saw it.

A door.

The exit.

Summoning his strength, Elias dashed toward it, weaving between Enemies, dodging their strikes. He was almost there-

But then-

The floor vanished Beneath his feet

And he fell.

THE SECOND TRIAL: THE MIRROR OF TRUTH...

Elias landed hard on a stone floor.

His vision blurred as he pushed himself up.

But when he looked ahead- his breath caught in his throat .

Standing before him...

Was himself.

But this version wasn't normal.

The doppelganger's body pushed with black energy, his eyes burning like twin voids. His posture was relaxed- yet something about him felt Unstoppable.

" I am what you could become," the dark Elias said his voice eerily calm. "If you stop holding back."

Elias tensed. " you are not me."

The dark version smirked. " Not yet."

Then-he attacked.

Elias barely raised his guard before a fist slammed into his ribs, sending him skidding across the stone. The lain was instant.

"He's strong-too strong."

The doppleganger didn't hesitate. Black tendrils of energy erupted from his hands, twisting through the air like living chains.

Elias barely dodged the first wave, but the second wrapped around his arm-searing into his skin like fire.

The dark Elias tilted his head. " you fear this power, don't you?"

Elias gritted his teeth. " I don't fear it."

"Then use it."

Elias hesitated.

And in that single moment- his copy struck.

A punch crashed into Elias's chest lifting him off the ground. He hit the floor hard, gasping for breath.

His doppelganger stepped closer. " you deny what you are. That's why you will lose."

Dark tendrils curled around Elias's throat.

" accept the power. Let it consume you. Only then will you survive."

Elias's vision blurred. The weight of the energy, the pressure-it was overwhelming.

Then, a Memory flash through his mind.

Vladis's warning.

" power without control is a curse."

No.

Elias gritted his teeth.

" this power doesn't control me."

His own aura flared, pushing back against the darkness.

The doppleganger hesitated.

And Elias struck back.

A blast of raw mana collided into his copy, sending him flying. The dark tendrils shattered, and the mirror image begin to fade.

The last thing it whispered-

"We'll meet again."

Then the darkness vanished.

Elias gasped, finding himself back in the labyrinth.

But something had changed.

He could feel it. The tower had accepted hm.

The second trial was over.

But the final challenge was just beginning.