[ The First Light] The morning on Planet Nexus didn't begin with a golden sun, but with a faint, ghostly violet glimmer that bled through the balcony of Riha's chambers. Riha's eyes snapped open. There was no grogginess, only a mad, pulsing excitement.
The words of Lord Kaelen Vane [The shadow lords full name] from the night before echoed in her mind: "The crown will either crush you, or you will crush it."
She stood up, her movements fluid and predatory. After a quick refresh, she donned her ceremonial robes—obsidian fabric woven with "Star-Silk" that shimmered like a phoenix rising from dead ashes. As she jolted out of her room, her head butler and a line of silent attendants bowed so low their foreheads touched the cold stone.
[The Grand Hall] The walk to the Grand Hall was a procession of terror. As the heavy doors groaned open, the Council members—who had spent months plotting her death—turned to look.
Riha entered like a rose gleaming with bloodthirsty intent. Her robes acted as her thorns, sharp and defensive, while her face remained a mask of unnatural calmness. But it was her shadow that terrified them most; it wasn't a mere reflection, but a dark abyss that seemed to swallow the light of the torches.
She walked toward the throne where Lord Kaelen Vane sat majestically. She offered him a respectful greeting, but when she turned to the Council, her expression shifted. She shot them death glares that sent visible chills through their spines, her lips curling into a sinister, smug smile. She was no longer a human girl; she was a death aura walking in silk.
[ The Announcement] "Silence!" Lord Kaelen's voice boomed. "Today, the Successor proves her blood. Riha Roy, enter the Realm of Trials. Show the ancestors why the shadows chose a daughter of Earth."
He gave the order, and the air at the far end of the hall ripped open, revealing a swirling vortex.
[The Three Levels] As Riha stepped into the vortex, her image was instantly projected onto massive screens in the Grand Hall for the Council to witness. A disembodied, ancient voice boomed within the trial realm:
"Candidate 001. To claim the Heirloom and the Shadow Blood Essence, you must survive three gates:"
The Gate of stength and speed : A test of raw strength and god-tier speed.
The Gate of the Void: A test of mental power and psychic resilience.
The Gate of the Soul: A custom trial designed specifically for your unique talent. An apex creature will be summoned; only its death will open the exit.
"Complete the hunt, and your vessels will flow with the Shadow blood essence, And a Core will from inside, making you a true citizen of Nexus," the voice finished.