CHAPTER 30 — THE SLEEPER IN THE DARK
Darkness churned beyond the archway—thick, oppressive, breathing. Jason Wu tightened his grip on Longwu Sword, his heartbeat echoing the deep rumble emanating from within the gate.
Li Xueyin's talisman compass spun wildly, unable to find a stable reading. "This… isn't a creature bound by spiritual energy. It's reacting directly to your bloodline, Jason."
Leon swallowed audibly. "O-okay. So. Just to confirm. That THING inside is specifically interested in Jason Wu and not, say, all of us?"
The cavern rumbled again.
*BOOOOOM.*
A wave of pressure washed out of the passage, so heavy that dust rose from the floor like smoke.
Longwu Sword's voice sharpened.
["Boy… this presence is ancient. Older than your sect. Older than this labyrinth. I recognize it."]
Jason narrowed his eyes. "From where?"
Longwu hesitated.
["…From before your grandfather. Before the Wu name meant anything. This thing… knew your lineage when it was still just a spark."]
Jason's breath hitched. That meant—
Whatever was inside the archway had watched the Wu bloodline from the very beginning.
Lan Yuren stepped forward, sword raised. "If it targets Jason, then we defend him with everything we have."
Wei Qing nodded firmly. "We're not losing a teammate in the Hollow Abyss."
Leon jabbed a finger nervously at the entrance. "Uh, that's great and all, but maybe we wait to see what it LOOKS like before heroically charging into death?"
Jason took a steady breath. "Let's move. Slowly."
---
### INTO THE NEXUS GATE
They stepped through the archway and into a massive chamber shaped like an inverted heart—walls pulsing with intermittent light like veins. Blue rivers of energy ran across the floor, converging toward a sunken basin at the center.
Jason whispered, "This is… beautiful."
Wei Qing nodded, awe in her eyes. "The Nexus Chambers are said to be alive. Like the dungeon itself has a consciousness."
Leon muttered, "Yeah, alive. Great. Just what I want in a cave—living architecture judging my every life choice."
But then they saw it.
A massive humanoid silhouette sat within the basin—cross-legged, unmoving. Covered in ancient armor that resembled overlapping scales. Its head was bowed. Its weapon—a sword larger than a carriage—rested across its lap.
The figure radiated pressure so dense Jason felt his lungs tighten.
Li Xueyin whispered, voice trembling, "This is no guardian. This is a Sleeper… an entity sealed here for millennia."
Lan Yuren gripped his sword tighter. "And it recognized the Wu lineage."
Jason stepped closer despite the growing weight on his shoulders. He could feel something tugging at his core—like invisible threads of fate pulling him forward.
Longwu Sword murmured,
["Careful. Sleepers awaken only for a reason. And none of those reasons are friendly."]
Leon whispered, "Can we… maybe quietly leave? Just back out of the room… pretend we saw nothing…"
Suddenly—
The Sleeper's fingers twitched.
Leon screamed, "NOPE—IT'S MOVING!"
The chamber pulsed.
*THUMP.*
The Sleeper straightened its spine, dust falling from its ancient armor.
*THUMP.*
Its gargantuan sword vibrated.
*THUMP.*
Two molten-gold eyes snapped open.
---
### THE NEXUS AWAKENS ITS CHOSEN
The Sleeper's gaze locked instantly onto Jason Wu.
Not the team.
Not Longwu Sword.
Only Jason.
And then a voice—deep, resonant, echoing like thunder trapped in a cavern—spoke directly into their minds:
**"Blood of Wu.
Bearer of the Untamed Fate.
You have come."**
Jason froze. "You… know me?"
**"I know the one who began your line.
The one who defied the heavens.
The one who forged the path your blood now follows."**
Longwu Sword hissed,
["Boy… step back."]
But Jason couldn't.
His legs felt anchored to the ground by the Sleeper's suffocating aura.
Li Xueyin frantically drew talismans. "Its intent isn't clear. If it targets him, we need to—"
The Sleeper raised a single hand.
Energy rippled across the chamber. Li Xueyin's talismans disintegrated mid-air.
Lan Yuren's sword trembled. "Its control… is absolute!"
Wei Qing gasped. "Jason! Move back!"
Jason tried—but the Sleeper's voice pinned him like an iron spike.
**"Your blood carries the mark.
The mark that awakens Nexus memories."**
Jason's brows furrowed. "What mark?"
The Sleeper pointed.
At Jason's chest.
Specifically—the pendant Lily had given him.
Jason touched it instinctively. "This… activates you?"
The Sleeper nodded slowly.
**"That pendant contains a fragment of the Primordial Wu Path—lost since the first generation.
Your ancestors sealed parts of their destiny within items scattered across the worlds."**
Jason's breath hitched. "Why?"
**"Because one day… a descendant would need them."**
Longwu Sword sighed,
["Boy, congratulations. You are officially destiny's favorite chew toy."]
---
### THE SLEEPER'S PURPOSE
The Sleeper lifted its massive blade with effortless grace.
Jason swallowed. "You're… not planning to kill me, right?"
Silence.
Then—
**"No."**
Everyone exhaled.
**"I am here to test you."**
Everyone inhaled again.
Leon shrieked, "WHY ARE THESE TESTS ALWAYS LETHAL?!"
The Sleeper's golden eyes narrowed.
**"To wield the true Wu inheritance…
You must withstand the Nexus Trial.
Survive it…
Or be erased."**
Jason steadied his breath.
Lan Yuren took a step forward. "If there is a trial, we all take it together."
The Sleeper's gaze flickered toward him.
**"No.
Only the Wu blood may step into the Nexus Core."**
Wei Qing clenched her fists. "Jason will not fight alone!"
The Sleeper raised its sword. The chamber trembled.
**"Only one may enter.
The fate of the Wu path demands solitude."**
Jason exhaled slowly. "Then I'll go."
Li Xueyin grabbed his arm. "Jason, this is madness—"
He gave her a reassuring smile. "I've walked alone since Chapter One. I'll walk through this too."
Longwu Sword vibrated softly.
["Boy… whatever happens, I stay with you."]
Leon sniffled. "Jason… please come back. I can't deal with paperwork."
Jason stepped forward.
The Sleeper lifted its blade—
A beam of light split the chamber.
**The Nexus Trial had begun.**