The void spear trembled in the masked warrior's grip.
His stance had shifted—not from injury, but from hesitation.
For the first time, he was uncertain.
The Transcendent Flame still burned in his opponent's hands, flickering between realities, defying the natural laws of fire and void alike.
He had fought countless challengers. Tested countless warriors.
But this was different.
"He is not simply strong. He is… changing."
The battlefield trembled, unable to contain the two opposing forces.
The next move would decide everything.
The Final Strike—or the End of the Trial?
The masked warrior moved.
The void spear lashed out, warping the very fabric of space. A single strike could erase entire worlds—yet he faced it without fear.
He stepped forward.
And vanished.
For a single moment, he moved beyond time itself.
Then—he reappeared directly in front of the masked warrior.
His fist, wreathed in pure white flame, struck.
BOOM!
The entire battlefield shattered.
The floating platforms, the stone arena, even the air itself fractured like glass. The force of the impact ripped through dimensions, opening rifts into unknown realms.
For a single breath, everything was silent.
Then—
The masked warrior collapsed to one knee. His void spear faded into dust. His robes, once pristine, were torn and burned.
And yet—he laughed.
A deep, knowing chuckle.
"You…" His voice was strained, but there was no malice. Only understanding. "You truly are beyond the ones who came before."
He looked up, his mask cracked, revealing a single glowing silver eye.
"The trial… is over."
The battlefield began to rebuild itself, reality stitching back together.
The Truth Behind the Test
He exhaled, his flames dimming as he stepped back. "So… what now?"
The masked warrior slowly rose to his feet. "You are no longer a mere traveler."
He gestured to the space around them. "This place exists outside of time, built to test those who seek power beyond their limits. Many have come. Few have survived. And yet, you…"
His silver eye gleamed.
"You have transcended even the ones I once called masters."
Elya, who had been watching from the sidelines, finally spoke.
"That means you pass," she said, crossing her arms. "Not bad, idiot."
He let out a breath. "So I won?"
The masked warrior shook his head.
"This was never about victory."
His body began to fade, dissolving into silver mist.
"You have awakened something far greater than strength."
His final words echoed through the battlefield as he vanished.
"But power alone is never enough. Learn, or you will be consumed by it."
And then—he was gone.
A Door to the Next Journey
The battlefield shifted once more. The sky darkened, the stars aligning into a new formation.
A gate of swirling energy formed before him, pulsating with an unknown force.
Elya smirked. "Looks like we're moving forward."
He took a deep breath.
He had changed.
But this was only the beginning.
Without hesitation—
He stepped into the unknown.