Chương 96: Chapter 95: The First Virtue — Conviction

The world stood still. Not a single soul spoke. Not Rayan. Not Kael. Not Michael. Not even the World Turtle. All eyes remained fixed upon the crack beyond the heavens. The impossible presence watching from the other side. The being Atlas had called... The Author. The white-haired youth lowered his hand.

"It isn't looking at the world." His emotionless eyes slowly shifted toward Rayan.

"It's looking..."

"... at you." The words struck everyone like thunder. Cassian immediately stepped in front of Rayan.

"Then it'll have to look through me first." Despite the terrifying atmosphere... Rayan couldn't help but smile.

"You're impossible." Cassian shrugged.

"I've been told that." Suddenly— BOOOOOOM!! The crack across the sky sealed itself. The terrifying presence disappeared. The blood-red eclipse returned to normal. The suffocating pressure vanished. Everyone finally breathed again. The World Turtle slowly exhaled. Its ancient voice echoed across the sea.

"The Observer has withdrawn."

"The Trial shall continue." The crystal bridge lit up. Nine circles surrounded the candidates. Golden runes spread across the shell of the World Turtle, revealing an enormous temple hidden beneath the forests. Ancient pillars stretched toward the heavens. At the center stood a single pedestal. Floating above it... Was a small golden flame. It looked ordinary. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Gentle. Fragile. Yet every candidate instinctively knew...

It could burn entire civilizations. The World Turtle spoke.

"This is the Flame of Conviction."

"The Third Virtue."

"Only one may claim it." Without warning— The temple disappeared. So did the other candidates. Rayan blinked. He now stood alone. A vast grassland stretched endlessly before him. A warm breeze carried the scent of spring. Children laughed nearby. He slowly turned. His breath caught. Ayanor. Not the ruined capital. The peaceful kingdom from his childhood. The palace stood untouched. The markets overflowed with people. His mother smiled from a balcony. His little sister Luna chased butterflies across the gardens.

King Dasrath laughed as he sparred with a young prince. No war. No Black Sun. No Dharma Astra. Nothing. Everything he had ever wished for.

"Rayan!" Luna ran toward him. She hugged him tightly.

"I missed you!" His hands trembled. She felt real. Warm. Alive. His mother walked closer.

"You've been training too hard."

"You should rest." Dasrath placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You've already done enough." The old king smiled proudly.

"You don't need to fight anymore." For one beautiful moment... Rayan wanted to believe. To stay. To forget. To live the ordinary life destiny had stolen from him. Then... Atlas' voice echoed faintly within his heart.

"Conviction is not choosing the easier path."

"It is walking the harder one... willingly." Rayan slowly closed his eyes. A single tear escaped. When he opened them again... He smiled. Not because he was happy. Because he had accepted the truth. He gently hugged Luna.

"I'm sorry."

"I can't stay." She looked confused.

"But we're together now."

"I know." His voice cracked.

"And that's why this isn't real." His mother reached toward him.

"This is the life you wanted." Rayan nodded.

"It is." He looked around the peaceful kingdom one last time.

"But..."

"... not the life everyone else deserves to lose." Golden Astra slowly surrounded his body. He stepped backward. One step. Then another. The illusion began cracking. His mother's smile remained gentle. His father nodded proudly. Luna waved with tears in her eyes.

"Come back someday..." Rayan smiled through his own tears.

"I promise." The world shattered into countless fragments of light. Back inside the ancient temple... The golden flame floated before him. The World Turtle's voice echoed.

"You abandoned your greatest desire..."

"... for the sake of others."

"Your Conviction has been acknowledged." The tiny flame slowly drifted toward Rayan. It entered his chest. Warmth spread through every part of his soul. A brilliant golden pillar erupted into the heavens.

WORLD SYSTEM Virtue Acquired CONVICTION Current Virtues ✓ Courage ✓ Leadership ✓ Compassion ✓ Wisdom ✓ Conviction Synchronization Rate 87% → 92% Golden energy exploded across the World Turtle. Every forest bloomed. Every river sparkled. The ocean itself glowed with golden light. Outside the temple... The other candidates looked toward the heavens. Kael smiled.

"So..."

"You won the first Trial." Auriel silently closed her eyes. Michael smiled for the first time in centuries. Lyra whispered softly,"Congratulations..."

"... Your Majesty." Suddenly— The celebration ended. A deafening scream echoed across the ocean. Not from the temple. Not from the sky. From beneath the World Turtle. The ancient guardian's eyes widened.

"No..." The sea split apart. A gigantic black spear burst from the abyss. It pierced completely through the World Turtle's shell. Golden blood poured into the ocean. The colossal guardian roared in agony. Mountains collapsed. Forests burned. The temple shook violently. Everyone stared in horror. Something... Had just wounded a being that had survived since the beginning of the world. A deep, monstrous voice echoed from the darkness below.

"Move aside..."

"Old Guardian." A colossal shadow began rising from the abyss. Its body was larger than entire kingdoms. Only two crimson eyes became visible beneath the endless black ocean. Even Kael's expression froze. He whispered a name that had not been spoken for ten thousand years.

"... Leviathan." The King of the Abyss... Had awakened. To Be continue....