NOVEL NEXT Chapter 11: Chapter 11: The Trial of the Guardian
The air crackled with tension as Joo Hyun and Dain stood face-to-face with the enigmatic Guardian. The cloaked figure's presence was suffocating, the kind of power that made the ground beneath them tremble. Even with the strength of the Constellations flowing through him, Joo Hyun could feel the weight of the challenge ahead.
The Guardian's mask shifted, revealing only two glowing eyes that seemed to pierce through them both. His voice echoed like a chorus of whispers from the past.
"You have passed the initial test, but this floor is more than just strength. It is a trial of your very soul. Only those who are worthy will proceed. If you fail, you will be cast into the abyss, never to return."
Joo Hyun clenched his fists, his grip tight as he studied the Guardian. There was a palpable aura of danger surrounding the figure, and every fiber of his being screamed that this would not be an easy fight.
Dain, who had been standing silently beside Joo Hyun, finally spoke up. "What do you mean by 'trial of the soul'?"
The Guardian tilted his head slightly, as if considering the question before answering in a low, almost mournful tone.
"The Tower tests not just your physical abilities, but the essence of who you are. It seeks to reveal your deepest fears and desires. If you cannot confront them, you will fall."
Joo Hyun exchanged a glance with Dain, who looked back at him with a mix of determination and unease. They both understood what this meant—this floor was going to push them far beyond anything they had experienced so far. It wouldn't just be about defeating enemies or surviving traps. It would be about confronting themselves.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
Boss Encounter: The Guardian of the Thirteenth Floor
Time and Space Manipulation. The Guardian will force you to face your deepest fears. Stay focused.
---
Joo Hyun took a steadying breath. He had faced countless dangers in the Tower already, but this? This was different. There was no map for what was about to come. The Guardian raised a hand, and the world around them began to warp.
The sky darkened, the ground cracked open, and everything twisted as if reality itself were crumbling. Joo Hyun could feel his heart race as the air grew colder, the pressure on his chest increasing with each passing second. He looked around, and his surroundings were unrecognizable.
"Welcome to your trial," the Guardian's voice echoed, though it sounded distant, as if coming from all directions. "Face your fears, and you may proceed. Fail, and you will be lost."
The world snapped into focus, and Joo Hyun found himself standing alone in a place that felt all too familiar—the empty streets of a city he thought he had forgotten.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
You are now in the Realm of Regrets. Confront your past to continue the trial.
Joo Hyun's heart skipped a beat. This was the city he had grown up in. The streets, the buildings, the shops—it was all exactly as he remembered. But something felt off. The air was thick with sorrow, and the people on the streets were shadows, their faces obscured by darkness.
In the distance, he saw a familiar figure—a woman standing under the flickering streetlight. His mother.
"Mom?" Joo Hyun called out before he could stop himself.
The figure turned slowly, and for a moment, Joo Hyun's breath caught in his throat. But then he realized—it wasn't his mother. The face was twisted in a grimace of pain, her eyes hollow and empty. She reached out toward him, but the closer she got, the more she dissolved into mist, fading away as though she had never been there.
Joo Hyun stumbled back, confusion and fear flooding his mind. What was this? He knew this city, but it was a place of darkness, of memories he had buried long ago.
He clenched his fists, pushing the rising panic down. He wouldn't let himself be consumed by the past. He had already been through too much to let this place control him.
---
Suddenly, the ground shook beneath him, and a new vision appeared. He was back at the day he lost everything—standing over the graves of his parents. The pain, the loneliness, the regret—it was all rushing back, heavier than before.
"You cannot outrun your past," a voice whispered in his ear. It was his voice, but older, filled with bitterness. "You abandoned them. You could have saved them, but you were too weak."
The world around him seemed to close in, the shadows growing larger, more oppressive. The memory was too much to bear. He had never wanted to face this—never wanted to revisit the darkest part of his life.
But then, the Constellations' voices echoed in his mind.
"You are not your past." Agni's voice was like a roaring fire, burning through the darkness. "Rise from the ashes. You have the strength to overcome this."
"Do not let illusions cloud your vision." Tsukuyomi's voice was calm and soothing, like a cool breeze. "The truth is in your heart. You are not bound by regret."
"Wisdom is forged in suffering." Odin's voice rumbled deep, like the sound of thunder in the distance. "You have learned, and you will grow stronger."
With their words anchoring him, Joo Hyun took a deep breath and raised his head, standing tall against the overwhelming flood of emotion. He was not the man who had failed to save his family. He was not the man consumed by regret.
Joo Hyun stepped forward, pushing the painful memory aside. "I am not my regrets," he whispered, the words almost a mantra. The world around him began to break apart, the shadows lifting as the vision faded.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
You have overcome the Trial of the Soul.
You have faced your past and emerged stronger.
The darkness cleared, and Joo Hyun found himself back in the Tower, standing in front of the Guardian. His heart was still racing, but he felt lighter, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
The Guardian stood silent for a moment, before nodding in approval. "You have passed the trial. You may proceed to the next floor."
---
Joo Hyun let out a long breath, his body finally relaxing. He had done it. The trial was over. But he knew, deep down, that the Tower had more challenges in store for him. He wasn't finished yet.
"Let's keep moving," Joo Hyun said, his voice steady.
Dain, who had been standing quietly beside him, gave a relieved smile. "That was intense. But we made it."
Joo Hyun nodded. "We're just getting started."
With that, the path forward opened, and the two of them stepped forward into the next phase of their journey, knowing that each trial would only make them stronger.