Chapter 49 – The Trial of Endurance

  The party moved forward. The road grew more challenging—hills gave way to rocky trails, and the air grew colder, signaling their approach to the mountains. Peteru was still far away, but with each step, they drew closer to their goal.

  Reyna walked ahead, carefully scanning the surroundings. Her golden eyes occasionally flickered, as if reflecting hidden magic.

  — The next trial could be anywhere, — she said.

  — Yeah, I’ve had enough of the last one, — Ethan stretched, smirking.

  — I thought you liked that trial, — Mirellis muttered, stopping abruptly.

  At that moment, the ground trembled beneath their feet. A deep sound, like distant thunder, rolled across the land. Stones began to crumble, and the air grew thick, heavy—like the calm before a storm.

  — I don’t like this, — Leonel frowned, clenching his fists.

  Stan took a step forward but barely managed to pull his foot back as the ground beneath him rippled. A crack split open, releasing a burst of hot steam, followed by a deep, echoing voice:

  — The trial of endurance… begins.

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  Separation

  Before anyone could react, the earth shook again. The cracks widened, and suddenly, the party was split apart—Ethan, Mirellis, and Reyna remained on one rocky ledge, while Leonel and Stan were on another. A deep chasm yawned between them.

  — Damn! — Leonel cursed, looking around.

  — Are you alright? — Ethan shouted from the other side.

  — Still alive! — Stan called back.

  But the moment he spoke, stone figures began to rise from the cracks before them—warriors clad in heavy armor, their faces expressionless, stone swords gripped in their hands.

  — I think this is our trial, — Mirellis said quietly, drawing her dagger.

  The warriors wasted no time—they attacked all at once.

  The Battle

  Stan blocked the first strike with his spear, but the force of the blow nearly knocked him off his feet.

  — They’re strong! — he gasped, dodging the next attack.

  Leonel didn’t hesitate—flames erupted around him as he unleashed a stream of fire at the nearest warrior. The stone cracked but did not break.

  — They won’t go down easily… — he muttered, clenching his fists.

  On the other side, Ethan engaged his foe in hand-to-hand combat, skillfully dodging strikes.

  — Do they have weak points? — he called out.

  — The chest! — Reyna’s eyes flashed golden as she raised her hand. A burst of light shot from her fingertips, momentarily blinding the nearest warrior.

  Mirellis didn’t hesitate. She weaved between two figures, evading their attacks, and struck swiftly with her dagger at the weak spot. The stone warrior shuddered and then crumbled into dust.

  — Aim for the center! — she shouted.

  Leonel heard her and gathered his magic once more. Flames coalesced into a fiery spear, which he hurled straight at the chest of the nearest enemy. The explosion shattered the warrior into pieces.

  — It works! — he smirked.

  Seizing the opportunity, Stan lunged forward, dodged a swing, and drove his spear into his opponent’s weak spot.

  Ethan, seeing their success, focused. As another warrior swung at him, he sidestepped and plunged his blade straight into its chest.

  The Trial Ends

  The last stone warrior crumbled into dust, and silence returned. The cracks in the ground slowly closed, forming a bridge between the separated parts.

  — The trial is complete, — the deep voice echoed once more.

  The party reunited.

  — Well, that was… fun, — Stan exhaled, leaning on his spear.

  — We’ve grown stronger, — Mirellis said, sheathing her dagger.

  — I just hope it doesn’t get worse ahead, — Ethan muttered.

  — Don’t count on it, — Reyna smiled.

  And so, they continued their journey, knowing that the trials were far from over.