THE BETRAYER'S TRIAL
A FORGOTTEN BATTLEFIELD...
Elias stood frozen.
The air around him crackled with power, thick with the sent of burning Ash and blood. The sky above was black and endless, split apart by streaks of violet lightning.
And in front of him-
The betrayer.
A towering figure, shrounded in a long, tattered cloak. His face was hidden Beneath a black Iron mask, but his Golden eyes gleamed through the darkness.
Eyes that felt two familiar .
"You have chosen poorly." The betrayer's voice was like rusted metal grinding together.
"But you are not the first."
Elias swallowed hard. " who are you?"
The Betrayer took a step forward. The ground shattered Beneath his feet.
"I am the one who killed the Arcane king."
Elias's heartbeat Thundered in his ears.
"And if you are not worthy-"
The betrayer raised his hand.
" you will join him."
THE TRIAL BEGINS...
The sky darkened further. Shadows swirled around the betrayer, forming massive black chains that coiled like living serpent's.
Elias barely had time to react before-
The chains attacked.
BOOM!
The first strike ripped through the battlefield, sending dust and Debris flying. Elias dodged rolling to the side just in time to avoid being crushed.
"Fast."
The betrayal tilted his head slightly, intrigued.
" but not so enough."
Another chain lashed forward. This time, Elias Blocked it with his magic, sending a blast of energy to counter-
It didn't work.
The moment his power clashed against the chains, a strange force absorbed it.
Elias's eyes widened.
"What-?"
The Next strike hit directly.
A chain wrapped around his arm, searing his skin like molten fire. The pain was unbearable.
The betrayed didn't Slow Down.
He pulled.
Elias was yanked off his feet, crashing into the ground with a force that nearly knocked the air from his lungs.
The betrayer loomed over him, his glowing Golden eyes cold an unbearable.
" you seek power." His voice was calm. "Yet you do not understand it's cost."
Elias gritted his teeth, pushing against the pain.
"Then show me."
The betrayer let out a low chuckle.
"Very well".
And then-he unleashed his full power.
THE WEIGHT OF POWER...
The battlefield quaked as the betrayer raised both hands. The sky cracked apart, revealing something worse than darkness.
It was nothingness.
An empty void, endless and consuming.
And from it- a shadow emerged.
No. Not a Shadow.
A figure.
It took Elias a second to realize what he was looking at.
It was him.
A perfect copy of himself, except for one thing his eyes.
They were Pitch Black. Void of all humanity.
The betrayer's voice echoed through the air.
"Defeat yourself, Nightshade."
" Or be erased."
Elias barely had time to react before his dark self attacked.
THE BATTLE WITHIN...
The first strike came fast. Too fast.
Elias barely dodged before a blast of black energy slammed into his chest, sending him skidding backward.
His doppelganger moved without hesitation, its attacks brutal and relentless.
Elias fought back, summoning his magic to counter, but-
Every move was matched .
Every attack was mirrored.
" you cannot fight what you refuse to accept. The betrayer's voice echoed in the background.
" You fear this power."
Elias clenched his fists.
"No. I don't."
The doppleganger smirked.
" then prove it."
It lungked forward.
And this time-Elias didn't run.
He met the attack head- on.
BREAKING THE ILLUSION...
Their fists collided, shaking the battlefield.
Dark energy surged around them, but Elias didn't hold back.
For the first time, he didn't resist the power inside him.
He controlled it .
Black lightning crackled through his veins.
The doppleganger's smirk faltered.
Elias pressed forward, overpowering it.
And then- with a final strike, he shattered the illusion.
The world around him collapsed.
The battlefield, the betrayer, the chains- all of it faded into dust.
And when he opened his eyes-
He was back.
But in Vladis office.
The ring was still in his hand.
But something had changed.
He had changed.