Chương 6: Chapter 5: The First Trial

Dawn. Before sunrise. Rayan found himself standing in the Hall of Origins once more. The Guardian waited. Arms behind his back. Expression serious.

"The first lesson." Rayan nodded. The Guardian pointed forward. The darkness parted. Thousands of warriors appeared. Each holding a sword. Each stronger than Aeron. Rayan's jaw dropped.

"You want me to fight them?"

"No." If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. Relief flooded him. Then the Guardian continued.

"You want to survive them." The warriors charged. Rayan screamed. And ran. The Hall erupted into chaos. Blades flashed. Golden lines filled his vision. He dodged one strike. Then another. Then ten. Then fifty. Hours passed. Or perhaps seconds. Time behaved strangely here. Eventually— A sword pierced his chest. Pain exploded. Rayan collapsed. Dead. Then instantly revived.

"What—" Another sword cut him down. Revived. Again. Again. Again. Hundreds of deaths. Thousands. The Guardian watched silently.

"Why?" Rayan roared.

"Why are you doing this?!" The Guardian's expression hardened.

"Because the future will not forgive weakness." Another warrior charged. Another death. Another revival. The Guardian spoke one final sentence. The words echoed throughout the Hall.

"The path of Dharma is not the path of heroes."

"It is the path of sacrifice." As darkness swallowed Rayan once more— A pair of crimson eyes opened somewhere beyond the Hall of Origins. Watching. Smiling. The first inheritor had finally appeared. And the enemies of the First Age had begun to awaken.