The air was thick with tension as the trials continued. Unlike before, these weren't battles of strength, but battles of self—ones that tested their core beliefs, emotions, and personal struggles.
Sakayanagi stood in front of a glowing flame, but this time, it wasn't hers. It took the form of a young girl, no older than twelve, with soft blue eyes that reflected sorrow. The girl stepped forward.
"You left me," she whispered.
Sakayanagi froze, her heart pounding. This wasn't an illusion. It was her—Mai. The friend she lost long ago.
"Why didn't you save me?"
The words hit harder than any fire she had ever faced. Guilt surged through her, her flames dimming as memories of that day resurfaced. The day Mai fell, the day Sakayanagi swore she would become stronger, yet deep down, she had always feared facing this truth.
But she didn't run. She clenched her fists.
"I didn't save you, and I regret it every single day. But running from this won't bring you back."
The girl smiled faintly before her form dissolved into embers, drifting into Sakayanagi's chest. The trial had ended, but the weight of it remained.
Kaelen's trial wasn't visible to anyone else. He was in a vast forest, his footsteps echoing as he walked toward a figure kneeling beside a tree. As he got closer, his breath caught. It was his father.
Kaelen took a step back. No, this isn't real.
His father turned around, his face solemn.
"You abandoned us, Kaelen. You left your people when they needed you most."
Kaelen gritted his teeth. "I didn't abandon them. I had no choice."
His father's gaze hardened. "A leader always has a choice."
A deep pain settled in Kaelen's chest. His whole life, he had avoided this moment—facing the truth of what he had left behind. But he wasn't the same person anymore.
"I will return," he said, his voice steady. "And when I do, I won't run from my responsibility again."
With that, the illusion faded, leaving only the whisper of the wind. His trial had ended.
Shigan found himself standing in a vast, open field under a moonlit sky. But he wasn't alone. A familiar figure stood before him—his uncle, the man who raised him.
"You always said you wanted to protect others," his uncle said, looking at him. "But can you protect yourself?"
Before Shigan could answer, his uncle rushed forward, attacking with blinding speed. Shigan barely dodged, his body moving on instinct.
"You're too reckless," his uncle's voice rang out. "You throw yourself into danger, thinking you're invincible. But what happens when you're not there to save them?"
Shigan gritted his teeth, panting. He had always fought with the belief that he could endure anything, but this trial made him question himself.
"Then I'll become stronger." He steadied his stance. "Not just for others, but for myself."
His uncle smiled before vanishing into the wind. The trial had ended, and Shigan had found his answer.
Meanwhile, Raidon stood apart from the group, watching their struggles in silence. He knew he wouldn't have to face a trial, and for good reason. The guardian of the Thunder Skies already knew him.
Raidon's gaze lifted toward the storm above. The massive serpent coiled around the sky, its presence both awe-inspiring and terrifying. But Raidon's eyes held no fear—only familiarity.
"It's been a long time, old friend," he murmured.
But he didn't say more. Not yet. He would reveal everything soon. For now, he simply watched as the others emerged from their trials, forever changed.
To be continued…