Alden looked at Elva calmly.

The silence between them stretched.

Then,

CRACK.

The chamber floor shattered as both fighters moved at once. Their weapons met mid-air, sending a wave of shockwave outward.

Sparks exploded between them.

Alden pressed forward, his strength overwhelming, each strike driving Elva back.

With a twist of her spear, she redirected his blade just off-center.

Then her knee slammed into his ribs.

CRACK.

Pain shot through his chest as he flew backward like a ragdoll, crashing into the stone wall with a thunderous impact.

BOOM.

Dust and rubble exploded outward.

Elva looked at the dust calmly, her posture relaxed but ready.

"You have strength," she said, her voice echoing through the chamber, "but your attacks lack rhythm."

There was no mockery in her tone.

It wasn't a taunt.

It sounded more like a teacher correcting a student's stance.

Her instincts screamed before she could think.

"Who are you talking to, Elva?" A voice came from behind her.

Alden had used [Shadow Steps] to jump behind her as soon as he crashed, using the dust as cover.

A smirk formed on her face as she spun instantly, her spear slicing through the air.

But her spear passed through an afterimage.

Alden reappeared above her in a blur of motion. His blade came down, glowing faintly with shadow energy.

Elva brought her spear up just in time.

CLAAANG!

But there was no resistance.

Her arms met nothing.

Another afterimage?

Her eyes narrowed.

He's reading me.

She felt it too late. Alden was already at her blind spot, kneeling low in a quick-draw position.

Elva's mind screamed at her to move but her body reacted a moment too slow.

His katana slashed.

SLASH!

She barely managed to leap back but a thin cut opened on her thigh. Both her clothes and scales were sliced clean through.

__

Tch.

Alden clicked his tongue.

How is she dodging everything so perfectly?

Even when he used [Dance of Chaos] to leave afterimages, she still reacted.

She wasn't just seeing him. She was predicting his attacks.

The last attack… the one where he used [Ruinous Severance], barely managed to leave a small cut due to her immediate response.

Before he could think of another plan, a thick green fog exploded out of her body.

Ah, the classic "when in doubt, gas the room" approach.

Can't blame her.

Within seconds, the chamber was covered with poisonous fog.

Alden didn't flinch.

His resistances activated automatically, neutralizing the toxin before it could affect him.

But it wasn't the poison that troubled him.

It was a sight.

Even with [Eyes of Supreme] activated, he couldn't see anything.

Tsk... Just what I needed.

Just then—

He felt a movement from behind.

Fuck. Where did she pop out from?

He was a second too late to react as Elva's spear pierced his left shoulder mercilessly.

Immense pain assaulted him. But he steadied himself immediately and jumped back.

Elva vanished within the fog once again.

His [Spirit Domain] couldn't sense her location for some reasons. It had never failed him before but right now… it felt as if he was underwater.

His senses were muddled and his mind felt foggy.

Is this the effect of poison?

No.

Poison shouldn't affect me.

So, what the hell is happening?

The answer came to him instinctively.

Mana.

This damn lizard isn't poisoning

me... She was poisoning the ambient mana.

Maybe that's why [Spirit Domain] and [Eyes of Supreme] aren't working as they should.

"You are thinking too much." Elva's voice echoed as he felt a movement.

Alden's gaze turned serious as he saw a spear coming towards his heart.

He didn't have any time to dodge.

He couldn't even use [Shadow Steps] as he couldn't feel ambient shadow mana to teleport.

His left shoulder was already going numb as blood dripped constantly, pooling at his feet.

His right arm, still holding the [Sword of Chaos], lifted slightly. Without a second thought, he poured his mana into the blade, commanding it to shift.

Almost instantly, the katana morphed into a greatsword in front of him

Elva's spear which was mere inches away from his heart, collided with his greatsword.

A shockwave erupted as Alden was pushed back… but he wasn't injured at least.

That was close.

He scanned the fog — still no sign of her.

How am I supposed to attack her if I can't even see her?

He racked his mind, trying to think of a solution but nothing came to mind.

She had poisoned everything.

Everything except his own mana.

He couldn't rely on two of his powerful cards.

He couldn't even use [Abyssal Soul] to just absorb the magic around him… as the Poison Fog wasn't created using mana.

He didn't know what exactly it was… but he was sure it definitely wasn't mana.

Then, a thought clicked.

If I can't sense her… I'll catch her the moment she strikes.

It sounded simple but every single one of her attacks were lethal and too fast to dodge.

But he had one trump card.

His [Pendant Of Wanderer]

It could nullify one fatal attack... and the best thing was it relied on his own mana.

It was a reckless plan but it was the only one.

He closed his eyes, lowering his katana. He tried sensing any movement but except for some shadows here and there, he still couldn't feel anything.

He waited… waited for her attack.

Now.

He opened his eyes as he heard a swish sound coming towards him. A spear sliced through the air, aiming straight for his head

Still, he didn't move.

Not yet.

He kept his eyes fixed on the tip of the spear.

He could see Elva within the fog, her expression sorrowful as if the last thread of her hope was also broken.

But her spear didn't stop.

Alden didn't blink.

He just stood there.

And then—

CRACK.

The spear slammed into his head.

But there was no blood. No pain. No death.

[Pendant of Wanderer has nullified a fatal attack.]

Elva's eyes widened but it was too late.

Alden's left hand grabbed onto her spear and pulled her forward.

At the same time, he drew his katana with his right hand.

Mana surged through his limbs.

His katana moved through the air, fueled by everything he had left.

[Ruinous Severance]

Time slowed as Alden's sword moved at blurring speed and connected with her neck without any hesitation.

This was the only way to complete the challenge and move forward...

As the sword closed in, her expression changed. The sorrow was gone… instead a bright smile bloomed on her face.

Alden had called that smile ugly once… but knowing her story… knowing the meaning behind it… he couldn't say that anymore.

A crimson arc burst through the air as her head separated from her neck.

Her body dropped.

But her smile remained.

[YOU HAVE DEFEATED THE GUARDIAN OF POISON]

[YOU HAVE CLEARED THE FIRST CHAMBER SUCCESSFULLY]

___

The system notification faded as the key to the next chamber floated in front of Alden.

He grabbed the key and turned.

The chamber had gone silent again. The poisonous fog was vanishing.

Alden lowered his sword, activating [Intermediate Healing].

Light mana traveled across his body, healing his injuries.

His eyes wandered to Elva's lifeless body.

The girl who proposed to me five minutes after trying to kill me is now lying in a pool of blood.

This world's sense of irony never disappoints.

He waited for a moment.

Why isn't she reviving...?

His brows furrowed.

Maybe it takes time. Some kind of respawn delay probably.

Next, his gaze shifted to the door leading to the next chamber. The system didn't force him to walk in immediately. No timer. No threat.

So I can rest…

Without hesitation, he slumped down on the ground, leaning against a wall.

He needed to heal up. Reset the cooldowns on his skills. Recover mana.

And most importantly— think.

But before he could do that, a soft blue glow covered Elva's body.

Alden's eyes narrowed.

Is she… reviving?

But instead, her body started vanishing bit by bit.

Before he could think anything, he heard a voice.

"What are you staring so hard at?"

He turned immediately but there was nothing except the obsidian wall of the chamber.

I definitely heard her voice.

There was no mistake.

He scanned the area again.

Still no one.

He narrowed his eyes.

Am I hallucinating or something?

That was when he noticed it—

Someone was floating upside down right above him.

"Boo."

Alden didn't flinch but he was surprised. "Who are you?"

Because floating in the air wasn't a lizard.

No.

Instead, there was a teenage girl with delicate features and platinum blonde hair. Her golden eyes were filled with amusement.

"Silly, it's me, Elva. Did you forget already?"

Yeah, this day just keeps getting weirder

____

Author's Note:

For those who forgot,

[Pendant of Wanderer] was the artifact Alden's mother left.. which had the effect to neutralise one fatal attack below primordial rank per day.

Also, a quick heads-up!

To keep the pacing tight and the arc focused, I've decided to change the structure of the trial. Instead of seven chambers, there will now be four chambers.

If you're loving the chaos in this book, check out my new one! It's still in its early phase. So your feedback would mean a lot!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.