The Test from Forgotten Guardian

[Empire Calendar 421, 5th Month, 1st]

The moment I raised my sword, the Guardian took a step forward, her armored boots echoing across the chamber. Despite the weight of her obsidian-black armor, she moved with unsettling ease, her presence suffocating yet composed.

"I will fight you using only the elements you can wield—Ice, Fire, Earth, and Thunder. However, I will not use my sword."

Her gauntleted hand flexed slightly, the metal groaning under her strength.

"This should make things easier for you. I will also limit myself to 2% of my power. Let this be a test."

I swallowed hard. Even at such a small fraction of her strength, the pressure radiating from her made it clear—this was going to be hell.

She lunged.

A blast of wind erupted as she closed the distance in an instant. My instincts screamed, and I barely managed to parry as her armored fist slammed against my blade.

The force sent me skidding back, my arms rattling from the impact.

Leonard (thinking): She's fast—no, she's beyond fast! If that was just 2%…

I barely had time to think before she struck again.

Flames burst from her palm, searing toward me like a wildfire.

I countered, conjuring a wall of ice in response, but she shattered it effortlessly with a single punch, sending shards flying past me.

Leonard (thinking): I can't block her—I have to evade!

I focused, pushing my mana to its limit. Thunder crackled around me as I darted to the side, barely avoiding another strike. I retaliated with a spell....Earth Spikes shot from the ground beneath her, but she kicked off the stone effortlessly, leaping into the air and descending like a meteor.

"Too slow."

I barely raised my sword in time.

Boom!!!

The shockwave sent me flying. My back slammed against the stone wall, and I coughed up blood. My vision blurred, but I forced myself up.

Leonard (thinking): I can't keep up… but I have to try!

I shifted my stance.

Plum Blossom Sword Technique—First Form: Falling Petals in the Storm.

My sword danced, moving in delicate yet unpredictable arcs. I deflected her strikes, redirecting her attacks instead of meeting them head-on. For the first time, I wasn't just surviving—I was pushing back.

Her silver eyes gleamed. "Good. Adaptation is key."

She raised her hand, and lightning surged around her fist.

Leonard (thinking): Then I have to push further!

Plum Blossom Sword Technique—Second Form: Winter's Final Bloom.

I lunged, my blade piercing through the storm of energy. A precise thrust—swift, refined—aimed at her core. But she twisted at the last second, catching my sword between her gauntlets.

"Better," she acknowledged, before twisting her grip and tossing me aside like a ragdoll.

I rolled to my feet, my body screaming in protest. My mana reserves were depleting, but I couldn't stop. Not yet.

Leonard (thinking): If technique alone isn't enough…

Then I'll use power.

I shifted my stance, exhaling as I let my Qi surge.

Heavenly Shattering Demon Sword—First Form: Demon Monarch's Descent.

I swung down with everything I had. The force behind my blade howled, splitting the air with a roar.

The Guardian lifted her arm to block, but the impact sent a shockwave through the chamber, cracking the stone beneath us.

She slid back.

Leonard (thinking): It worked!

But she only smirked. "Not bad. But can you follow up?"

She charged again, faster than before. I met her head-on.

Heavenly Shattering Demon Sword—Second Form: Heavenly Demonic Severance!

A flurry of devastating slashes—each one heavier, sharper, wilder.

The air burned with each strike, the chamber shaking under the force. I forced her back, refusing to let up.

But then my body faltered. My muscles locked up, my breath ragged. My vision blurred.

Leonard (thinking): No… I can't…

My knees buckled. The last thing I saw was the Guardian stepping forward, catching me before I hit the ground.

Darkness swallowed me.

I awoke to warmth.

Something soft pressed against my head, fingers brushing through my hair. My body ached, but the pain felt distant...muted.

My eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim glow of the chamber. And then… I saw her.

She had removed her helmet, revealing hair as white as freshly fallen snow. It cascaded around her shoulders, shimmering under the faint light. Her silver eyes, piercing yet serene, studied me in silence. Her expression was calm, yet unreadable.

She was… breathtaking.

Leonard (thinking): She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen…

I barely managed to find my voice. "You…"

She smiled faintly, her voice softer now. "You passed."

I blinked, still dazed. Passed? I had lost. She had overwhelmed me completely.

As if reading my thoughts, she continued. "Strength alone is not enough. You adapted. You pushed past your limits. That is why you pass."

I stared at her, my mind still racing. Had I really…?

Her fingers brushed against my forehead. "Rest. You have earned it."

With my exhaustion weighing down on me, I had no choice but to comply. My eyes drifted shut once more, my last thought lingering on the Guardian's face.

Who… was she, really?