IN THE TRIAL ROOM
Ray clutched his bleeding arm in shock—his hand had just been severed. In that instant, pain exploded in his body like fire, sharper and more overwhelming than anything he'd felt before. He screamed, gasping, unable to comprehend how it had happened so fast. How could I not even see that guy move?
Gritting his teeth, Ray forced himself to focus, fighting back panic. "Don't lose it now…" he whispered, his voice trembling. Quickly, he willed thick ice to form around the wound, sealing it and slowing the bleeding. The chill bit into his nerves, but at least the pain became duller, more controlled.
He barely had a moment before B's voice cut in—cold, almost distant. "Hey kid, I think this is where our partnership ends. This is too much for you."
Ray flared in anger, vision alight with defiance. "Do you really think I'm done? You think I'll give up over one hand?" His lips twisted into a wild grin—a laugh broke from his throat, raw and manic. "AHAHA...AHA...You must not know me very well, B!"
Breathing heavily, Ray stared at the samurai who still watched him, steel blade steady, eyes glowing red with inhuman menace. Then everything clicked in Ray's mind—the way this foe moved was unlike the opponent in his previous life. "Wait," Ray thought, "this isn't the same samurai from before. The trial must select the enemy based on the challenger's rank… so everyone faces a different fight depending on their power."
He analyzed furiously—even wounded, his mind raced for a plan.
Ray slammed his free palm to the ground, freezing the floor beneath the samurai's feet, locking his enemy in place. Without hesitation, he conjured a flurry of jagged ice shards—ten shimmering blades swirling around him. He hurled them all at the opponent with a sharp cry.
The samurai's eyes narrowed, and with a flick of his wrist, the sword spun in a lightning-fast arc. Each shard shattered harmlessly against the blade—he hadn't moved from his spot. Ray's eyes widened in surprise. He blocked them all—without stepping an inch!
He needed something more. Ray clenched his jaw, shattering the ice at his feet—and with expert timing, broke the ground beneath as well, sending the samurai off-balance for the first time.
The samurai twisted, struggling to regain footing. Ray didn't waste a second. While the samurai's attention was diverted, Ray materialized a cluster of bright fire arrows and sent them streaking toward his enemy. The samurai deflected them, but in that moment, Ray vanished from sight.
With a burst of effort, Ray reappeared behind the samurai, lightning gathering in his only hand. He plunged the crackling power directly into the samurai's back.
The samurai's body seized up, then crashed hard to the stone. Ray dropped beside him, barely able to breathe, vision blurring from exhaustion and blood loss. Sweat poured down his brow. The air seemed to vibrate with the lingering energy of their fight.
Ray forced himself to his knees and looked ahead. In the gloom of the chamber, one more door appeared—this one glowing a sinister, deep red, even brighter than the last.
He dragged himself across the bloodstained floor inch by inch, every movement agony. Just five steps from the door, B spoke up, voice gentler, holding new respect. "You did good, kid. Honestly, after seeing that, I have to ask—are you really telling the truth about never having a Raspel before? I'm supposed to be your partner, and I've never seen anyone fight like you."
Ray managed a raw laugh, "What can I say, B? I learn fast."
B sounded thoughtful. "There's one more thing. That samurai… he isn't finished. Be careful."
Ray spun, senses taut. Where the samurai's body had fallen, the ground was empty. His eyes searched the growing shadows—nothing. The door was at his back. If he's not around me, with the door this close…
Ray instantly gathered blazing magma in his hand and shot a column upward, trusting his instincts. An agonized scream echoed above, and the samurai—now missing one arm—collapsed before him a second time.
Before Ray could even process it, a glowing system screen materialized in the air:
"Congratulations—You have defeated a hidden S-rank entity."
Ray almost slumped with relief. So I actually beat him… Without even knowing this was a boss fight. This is way different than the systems I heard about from others in my past life. Everyone else was given clear quests… I was just thrown into this.
As Ray caught his breath, B seemed to read his mind. "S-rank systems aren't like the ordinary ones," he explained. "You won't always get clear missions. Sometimes, the system just throws you into major events. You move forward by fate—not choice. But the rewards are worth it."
The screen changed:
"Absorb the soul of the fallen entity?"
Ray pressed "Yes" without hesitation. Blinding white light poured from the defeated samurai and flooded into Ray. The pain was overwhelming this time—far worse than before. Every fragment of the samurai's memory and skill battered its way into Ray's core.
He blacked out, and drifted helplessly in a sea of darkness. Memories spun around him—slashing sword forms, years of silent training, the raw heat of battle. Rays of golden light shimmered in the void, clustering into a single glowing orb in front of him.
Ray reached out, and the moment his fingers touched the orb, knowledge and power surged into him: the legendary swordsmanship of the samurai now merged with his being.
When Ray finally awoke, he was back in the bloodstained trial chamber, breath ragged, new strength humming in his veins. The only way forward was the bright red door he had glimpsed before. He stumbled to his feet and pushed it open.
B's voice was laced with satisfaction. "Good work, kid. Looks like you gained more than a win—check your stats when you get a chance."
Ray could only smile faintly. "Yeah, I should—wait, what do you—"
He never finished the sentence. The instant he stepped through the next doorway, a ball of black energy flew forth faster than thought, slamming into him before he could prepare. He barely registered pain, barely had a chance to think, as half his body vanished into darkness. He collapsed to the ground, mind wiped blank by overwhelming shock.
His vision faded to white and then black—this new trial had already changed the rules. And this time, even Ray had no idea what would come next.