The Final Thirty
One by one, the remaining students awoke from their trials. Many collapsed to their knees, gasping for breath, their spirits shattered. Their eyes, once filled with determination, now carried a deep, lingering fear.
Only thirty remained standing.
Kaïdën steadied his breathing, still feeling the phantom pressure of the illusion. Had it really taken him almost an hour? He had thought he broke free in mere minutes, yet time had warped within the trial. The realization unsettled him, but he quickly pushed the thought away. He had passed. That was all that mattered.
Before him, Apprentice Thorne stood with his hands behind his back, surveying the survivors. His sharp gaze flicked across each of them, assessing not just their bodies but their souls.
Finally, he spoke.
"You have faced the ultimate test—the test of your own will. You have seen your weaknesses, your fears, and your doubts."
A long pause.
"And yet… you still stand."
Silence stretched between them. The weight of his words settled in their chests like a stone.
A few of the students clenched their fists, their expressions hardening with renewed resolve. Others still trembled, as if the nightmare of the illusion had not yet released them.
"You are now students of the Silver Fist Martial Studio."
Kaïdën exhaled sharply, his heart pounding—not from exhaustion or fear, but from sheer exhilaration.
He had passed.
The path ahead was unknown, but he could feel it. This was only the beginning.