Chapter 7: Into the Depths of the Red Trial

Ash stood on the edge of the canyon, eyes narrowed, breath still from the wind that howled like a beast. The red skies shimmered above her, a sign that the next trial would not be mere combat. It would test the heart.

She adjusted her scarf and stepped forward. This was the place known as the Red Trial—a realm born of the emotions one tried to bury. It was said that within this space, one's thoughts and regrets would take form, their most painful truths wielding blades sharper than steel.

Lucifer's twelve servants had warned her.

"The Red Trial doesn't just test your body. It shreds your spirit. Survive it, and you earn more than power—you gain clarity."

Ash wasn't sure if she wanted clarity. But she walked forward anyway.

The moment her foot crossed the border, the world shifted.

The desert became a hall of crimson mirrors, her reflection staring back at her a thousandfold. In one mirror, she was younger, scared, bloody from a fight she didn't win. In another, she was cruel, eyes devoid of remorse, the ashes of her enemy smearing her blade.

And then came the voice.

"Why do you want power so badly, Ash? Why do you lie to yourself every night, pretending your rage isn't the thing keeping you alive?"

She didn't flinch. "Because I'm tired of being weak."

The mirrors began to twist.

One by one, her regrets stepped out of the glass. Her past self. Her dead comrades. Her former lover. A girl who had once believed in her. All stood before her, not as illusions, but as solid, breathing reminders.

They attacked in unison.

Ash blocked the first strike, rolled under a sweep of shadow, parried a strike from the image of her former self. Her blade clashed with theirs, sparks flying. The red trial wasn't about winning. It was about surviving herself.

Pain built up. Her heart pounded. She could hear the AI in her head murmuring readings:

BiQ: 2500 and rising

Combat Speed: Pushing immeasurable

Endurance threshold: Surpassed

Soul Resistance: Stable

"You're doing it, Ash," Kara's voice echoed softly. "But don't forget, this is your pain. You can't kill it. Only accept it."

Ash screamed. A scream not of rage, but of acknowledgment. She allowed one of the mirror versions to strike her. It sunk its blade into her chest—and vanished. As did another. And another.

She wasn't fighting them.

She was letting go.

Soon, only one remained—the girl who had once believed in her. Her expression was soft.

"You still feel guilty for letting me die?"

Ash nodded. Tears streaked down her cheeks. "I do."

The girl embraced her. "Then live better. For both of us."

The final fragment disappeared.

Ash fell to her knees, gasping. The crimson mirrors cracked and shattered, revealing a vast staircase leading to the heart of the Trial.

And there stood one of the twelve servants. Clad in gray armor and wielding twin glaives, they bowed.

"You have passed the Red Trial, Ash. Welcome to the next phase."

She rose slowly, her power readings spiking.

Durability: Increased by 27%

Intelligence: +600

Narrative Speed: Initialized

Hax Potential: Unlocked

Ash walked toward them.

"What comes next?"

The servant smiled. "Hellfire combat. Pure, unrefined technique. No magic. No speed. Just skill."

Ash cracked her knuckles. "Then let's see what these fists can really do."