NOVEL NEXT Chapter 13: Ch 12
Chapter 12: Trial of Strength
The ground trembled beneath Tara's feet as she stepped into the vast arena. The air buzzed with electric anticipation, and the once-still atmosphere now felt charged with danger. Before her, the arena stretched out like an untamed wilderness—craggy rocks, deep pits, towering columns of stone, and jagged spires that reached up like skeletal hands. The environment itself seemed hostile, shifting and changing, preparing to test her in ways she had never imagined.
Tara took a steadying breath. This wasn't the world she was used to, where her powers flowed freely and without restraint. But here, her abilities felt muted, restrained. Still, this wasn't the first time she had faced overwhelming odds. She had been trained for moments like this.
Level 1: Initial Challenges
The first wave of enemies appeared without warning—a throng of grotesque monsters, their massive forms lurching from the shadows. Their twisted limbs scraped against the stone, and their eyes glowed a sickly yellow. Tara's heart raced, but she steeled herself. She had no time for hesitation. Her body and mind were already in combat mode.
She raised her hands, calling upon her elemental abilities. Wind whipped through the arena, lifting her into the air as the monsters lunged forward. She couldn't afford to hold back.
With a flick of her wrist, Earth surged from the ground, lifting rocks and debris to form a barricade between her and the oncoming monsters. But they were fast—too fast. She needed more.
Tara slammed her feet into the ground, and Fire erupted from the earth beneath her, a blinding wave that singed the monsters' limbs as they neared. She watched them stagger back, but they weren't done yet. More came at her, forcing her to act quickly.
Water surged from the walls of the arena, flooding the ground beneath her enemies, making the terrain slippery and difficult to navigate. The monsters stumbled in the flood, their movements hampered as Tara used her Wind powers to push them back, sending them careening into one another.
One last monster lunged toward her, jaws wide. Tara didn't hesitate. She slammed her palm into the ground, and Darkness enveloped her, cloaking her movements in shadows. She disappeared from view, reappearing behind the creature. With a swift strike, she sent the beast crashing to the ground, its life snuffed out in an instant.
But there was no time to rest. More monsters emerged from the shadows, and Tara had to fight her way through them.
Level 2: The First Human Opponent—Her Father
The ground rumbled once more, and the arena shifted. A figure emerged from the mist. Tara froze, her breath catching in her throat. She knew him instantly.
Her father.
The man who had once been her pillar of strength. The man who had taught her how to survive in a world full of dangers. But now, standing before her, he was nothing more than a shadow of the past. His eyes were cold, and his posture rigid as he locked eyes with her.
"Tara," his voice boomed, sending a shiver down her spine. "You have to prove that you're worthy."
Tara swallowed hard, her mind racing. She knew this wasn't her father—not really. But the pain of seeing him again, even in this twisted form, was almost too much to bear.
She summoned Wind to propel herself forward, but her father was quicker than she remembered. His fists landed with bone-crushing force, and Tara barely managed to dodge, using Earth to create a shield against his powerful blows. She could feel the weight of his strength, the power behind each strike.
But she couldn't afford to hesitate. She had to fight back. With a swift motion, she summoned Fire, sending a torrent of flames toward him. He blocked it with ease, his movements almost mechanical. Tara felt a pang of regret, but she pushed the emotion aside. She couldn't afford to be weak.
The fight raged on, each blow and counter blow a reminder of her own limitations. But Tara refused to back down. She summoned Time, slowing the flow of battle just enough to give her an edge. Her father's movements slowed, and she took advantage, striking with precision. Her blows landed with force, and slowly, she began to wear him down.
With one final, powerful strike, Tara sent her father sprawling across the arena, his form crumbling into nothingness.
Level 3: The Betrayer
The arena shifted once more, the ground cracking open to reveal another opponent. This time, it was someone Tara knew all too well—someone who had once been her closest friend. They had ventured together, fought side by side, shared secrets and laughter. But now, he stood before her, his eyes cold and filled with contempt.
"Tara, you were always too weak," he spat, drawing his weapon. "Now, I'll show you what betrayal feels like."
Tara's heart clenched. Betrayal. The word echoed in her mind, the sting of it fresh as though it had just happened. She had never expected this from him. But the reality was cruel.
Her former friend moved fast, his strikes calculated and merciless. Tara fought back, using Water to flood the ground, making it harder for him to gain footing. But he was relentless, his attacks swift and brutal. Her heart pounded in her chest as she parried his blows, pushing herself to her limits.
She summoned Fire to keep him at bay, the flames licking at his heels as she moved. But he was too quick. He dodged, and Tara barely had time to react when he lunged at her. Her mind raced—she couldn't let him get the best of her.
With a burst of strength, she used Wind to push him backward, sending him tumbling to the ground. But he wasn't done yet. He rose again, anger flashing in his eyes. Tara could feel the weight of their past between them, the pain of his betrayal, but she couldn't let that distract her.
She summoned Darkness, vanishing from his view. When she reappeared, it was with a precise strike, knocking him out cold. The arena fell silent as he crumpled to the ground.
Level 4: The Shadow of Her Uncle
The arena darkened once more, the light flickering in and out. Tara's eyes narrowed as a familiar figure emerged from the shadows. It was her uncle—or, at least, his shadow.
His figure was a twisted version of the man she had known. His face was obscured, his movements slow and deliberate. Tara's heart raced. This was it. The fight she had dreaded.
She could feel the darkness in the air, the pressure building as the shadows closed in around her. Tara's mind went blank for a moment, the weight of the moment threatening to consume her. But she couldn't afford to give up.
She summoned Fire, sending a wave of heat toward the shadow. But it passed through the figure, leaving it unharmed. She tried again, this time using Light to blind her uncle's shadow, but the darkness only seemed to grow stronger.
She used Earth to create spikes from the ground, but the shadow danced around them with eerie grace. Tara's breath quickened, and she felt the pressure mounting. Her powers felt weaker, more difficult to control. She had to focus.
With a final burst of energy, she summoned Time, slowing the world around her to a crawl. The shadow's movements slowed, and Tara struck with everything she had, using all her remaining strength to break through the darkness. The figure dissolved, leaving only silence in its wake.
Level 5: Final Victory
Exhausted, but triumphant, Tara stood alone in the center of the arena. Her body was battered, her mind weary, but she had survived. She had faced her greatest fears—her father, her friend, her uncle—and conquered them.
But as the arena faded and the trial came to an end, Tara knew one thing for certain: this was just the beginning. The trials had only just begun to test her strength, and the path ahead would be even more difficult.