Aiden was advancing toward Zephyr's current direction, his movements swift and unwavering, when a sudden and overwhelming force descended upon him.
A massive scythe cleaved through the air without warning.
Instinct alone saved him.
In a fraction of a second, Aiden raised his blade, intercepting the strike just as it would have bisected him. The impact was catastrophic. The sheer weight and force behind the blow sent him hurtling backward like a ragdoll, his body crashing through the air before slamming against the ground several meters away.
Yet even in that violent displacement, his control did not falter.
With a fluid motion, he twisted mid-air and executed a backflip, landing firmly upon his feet. The ground beneath him cracked slightly upon impact, but he remained standing—steadfast, composed.
However, his instincts screamed.
A primal warning echoed within him, far louder than reason.
The entity standing several meters away was no ordinary thrall.
Aiden, as a scion of a Great Clan, possessed knowledge far beyond that of common candidates. He was fully aware of the training camp's design, its dangers, and its calculated cruelty. The presence of thralls did not surprise him in the slightest.
But this...This was different.
Before him stood a towering monstrosity, its hulking frame composed of what appeared to be black obsidian. The material encased its entire body, forming an armor that was both jagged and impenetrable, radiating a suffocating aura of corruption. Its sheer size alone was enough to instill dread, but it was the weapon it wielded that elevated its terror to another level.
A colossal scythe.
Its blade arched far above its head, impossibly large, as though forged for a being far greater than itself. The edge shimmered with a dark, malignant sheen, as if it could sever not only flesh... but existence itself.
Beside Aiden, his Wisp rattled.
It rattled violently, its form flickering with visible agitation. Hostility surged from it, accompanied by an unmistakable discomfort. Yet even in the face of such an overwhelming presence, its pride refused to yield. It remained at Aiden's side, defiant.
The two stood in silence.Thrall and human.Predator and challenger.
Then...they vanished.
Like blurs swallowed by the storm-laden world, both figures disappeared from sight, their movements far exceeding the limits of ordinary perception.
"BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOM!!"
Explosive collisions reverberated across the battlefield. The sound of their clashes echoed from afar, each impact carrying enough force to shatter the surrounding terrain. Trees were uprooted, earth torn apart, yet neither combatant relented.
They were locked onto one another—utterly, absolutely.
Amidst the chaos, Aiden's golden armor gleamed brilliantly, a radiant contrast against the storm's gloom. He appeared almost divine in that moment...an embodiment of power and nobility.
But appearances were deceiving.
A massive gash marred his armor, stretching from his wrist upward. Blood seeped from the wound, staining the golden surface. Yet it was not merely blood that flowed.
A dark, decayed substance oozed alongside it.
Corruption.
Aiden's expression hardened.
"Golden Aegis."At his command, a luminous tome materialized before him, hovering in the air like a relic of ancient authority. Its pages turned on their own, glowing with intricate runes.
A moment later, a radiant barrier enveloped his entire body...a golden aegis that shimmered with protective energy.
The effect was immediate.
The wound upon his arm began to knit itself together at a visible pace. Flesh reformed, veins reconnected, and the bleeding ceased. Meanwhile, the dark corruption was expelled, peeling away like filth being cast aside.
Rejuvenated only partially Aiden steadied himself.
He adjusted his stance, raising his longsword high above his head. His breathing slowed. His focus sharpened.
He disappeared.
The sudden movement forced the thrall to step back instinctively, its massive form reacting to the unseen threat. The speed of Aiden's advance was so immense that even the falling rain seemed to halt mid-air, suspended in time.
For a single, fleeting moment everything stilled.
A sickening sound tore through the silence.The thrall's arm was severed.
Cleanly with obstruction completely.
The massive limb separated from its body, crashing to the ground with a heavy thud. A distorted shriek erupted from the creature, its voice reverberating with rage and pain.
Aiden landed a short distance away, his blade still extended.
The strike had been perfect or so it seemed.
The thrall staggered, its massive frame momentarily unbalanced. Sensing the opportunity, Aiden shifted his stance once more, preparing to press his advantage. This was the moment to end it to strike while the creature reeled from the blow.
He moved,but... before he could execute his next attack, something unexpected happened.
A fully armored foot filled his vision.
Too fast.Far too fast than his own speed..
The thrall's counterattack came without warning. Despite losing its arm, it moved with terrifying speed, its massive leg crashing into Aiden before he could react.
"BOOM!!!"
The impact was devastating. Aiden's body was launched like a cannonball, tearing through the air before smashing into the surrounding trees. Trunks splintered upon contact, snapping like brittle twigs as his momentum carried him further into destruction.
Finally, he came to a halt.
"Cough… cough… cough…"
Blood spilled from his lips as he struggled to breathe. His body trembled, pain surging through every nerve.
His golden armor once pristine was now heavily dented, warped as though it were nothing more than fragile metal crushed under immense pressure.
The strength of the thrall alone had reduced it to this state. No matter how exceptional they were, no matter how talented...They were still beginners.
Candidates like Aiden, like Zephyr, had only just begun their journey of power. They lacked refinement, control, true mastery and against a higher-tier thrall…
That weakness became glaringly evident.
Aiden had only completed his first trial mere days before the training camp began. The gap between potential and actual strength was vast—and he felt it now more than ever.
Still...He stood.
His body felt heavy, his limbs sluggish, yet he forced himself upright. The golden dome that had once protected him shattered moments after absorbing the kick, its fragments dissipating into nothingness. With it, his regenerative effect vanished.
He was on his own now.Gripping his sword tightly, Aiden spat out a mouthful of blood.
He dashed forward once more.
Reckless yet unyielding.
As though his battered state meant nothing at all. A protagonist in defiance of fate itself. The main character vibes is radiating...
But the thrall…It did not care.
It held no regard for destiny, for titles, or for the illusion of narrative importance.
To it, Aiden was merely prey, they must follow their script... to die.
The thrall stepped forward, its movements steady, unhurried. It reached down and retrieved its severed arm, lifting it with eerie calm.
The battle…Was far from over...