THE TEST OF LETHALITY

A hush fell over the chamber as the final warrior stepped forward. The air thickened with an unspoken intensity, the flickering firelight casting jagged shadows across the stone walls. Ash met the warrior's gaze—what little of it he could see beneath the carved mask. This one was different. The stillness in their stance, the unreadable energy they projected. They carried no hesitation, no excess movement. This was not a test of endurance or instinct.

This was death refined to its purest form.

"Lethality," the elder's voice rang through the chamber, steady and absolute. "A warrior must be willing to kill. Not with anger, nor recklessness—but with purpose. A blade that wavers is a blade that shatters. There is no honor in mercy when survival is at stake."

Ash gripped his weapon, his breath slow and measured. He knew this test would be unlike the others.

His opponent drew their blade in a single, fluid motion, a whisper of steel gliding free. Ash barely had time to react before they struck.

The first slash came so fast that he didn't see it—only felt the air part as he twisted away at the last possible moment. A second strike followed immediately, faster, sharper. Ash parried, his arms vibrating from the sheer force. The warrior advanced, each attack an effortless continuation of the last, as if the blade itself willed them forward.

Ash was driven back, his feet skimming across the stone. He had no time to reset, no moment to reclaim control. His opponent was precise, overwhelming in their execution. They weren't trying to test him.

They were trying to end him.

Ash's heartbeat thundered. He was losing ground, barely keeping up. For the first time, doubt clawed at the edges of his mind.

Then, he heard Kaito's voice echo in his memory:

"You are Shirogiri. A legacy of warriors. Do not let them decide your fate. Take it."

Resolve snapped through him like lightning.

Instead of retreating, Ash surged forward. The shift in momentum caught his opponent off guard for half a second—just long enough. He intercepted their next strike, not just blocking it, but redirecting it, stepping inside their guard. His blade flashed upward, grazing the warrior's shoulder. A clean hit.

But it wasn't enough.

Pain erupted along his side as the warrior's own blade retaliated, cutting across his ribs. Ash gritted his teeth, ignoring the burning sensation. He couldn't afford hesitation. Not now.

He adjusted his stance, focusing everything into the next exchange. The warrior lunged, and this time, Ash didn't just evade—he read the movement. The intention. He met the attack head-on, countering at the last moment, his blade slicing through the air, aimed straight for his opponent's chest.

For an instant, neither of them moved.

Then, a sharp breath. The warrior looked down to see Ash's blade pressed against their torso, just shy of breaking flesh. Their own weapon rested at Ash's throat.

A perfect draw.

The elder studied the scene before raising his hand. "Enough."

The warrior sheathed their blade and stepped back, nodding in acknowledgment. Ash remained still, his breath heavy, his grip still firm around his weapon.

"Lethality is passed," the elder declared. "You have proven your resolve. You did not strike in blind fury, nor did you falter. You fought with purpose. The trial is complete."

A weight lifted from Ash's chest, but he did not allow himself to relax. Not yet.

The elder took a step closer, his gaze piercing. "You have earned the right to stand among us. But understand this—your journey does not end here. The Kaisho do not follow blindly. They follow strength, wisdom, and action. Continue to prove yourself, or lose everything."

Ash exhaled slowly and nodded. He had won the trial, but this was only the beginning.

Kaito stepped forward, placing a firm hand on Ash's shoulder. "You did well. Now, your real training begins."

The chamber remained silent, the Kaisho warriors watching. Judgment had been passed.

Ash was one of them now.