The tenth trial thrust Sam into a harrowing battle within his own mind. It was a relentless onslaught of illusions aimed at exploiting his deepest fears and doubts. As he stood amidst the shifting illusions of his mundane past life, Sam felt the suffocating weight of routine and monotony bearing down on him.Flashbacks flooded his mind with endless days spent in a soul-crushing job, the hollow emptiness of unfulfilled dreams, and the relentless march of time eroding his spirit. The illusions distorted reality, blurring the line between past and present, until Sam felt trapped in a suffocating cycle of despair.“Sam! I’m here!”But amidst the overwhelming deluge of memories, Kaelyn's voice broke through the haze like a lifeline. Her voice echoed in his mind, a beacon of clarity amidst the nightmare. With renewed determination, Sam summoned his inner strength and blasted his energy outward, dispelling the illusions.Sam felt a surge of empowerment. He refused to succumb to the shadows o
The daemon guide showed them the portal to enter Ba’ar spire. Sam and Kaelyn stood before the portal leading to Ba'ar's spire with a nervous yet resolute air surrounding them."Remember, we are not sure if Ba’ar knows my presence here. I'll stay hidden until you absolutely need me to make sure."“Yeah, you're the ace in this fight,” Sam said.“Nervous?”“Of course. It's not because I'm fighting him, but because I'm without my usual power,” Sam said."I'm with you all the way, Sam," Kaelyn murmured, her voice laced with determination.Sam nodded, his eyes reflecting a blend of excitement and apprehension. "Thanks, Kaelyn. Let's do this."With their resolve steeled, Kaelyn sunk in Sam’s shadow, and they stepped through the portal. They entered a realm of surreal and ever-shifting landscapes. Grasslands merged with magma-laden thrones, icy towers juxtaposed against forests of thorns, and broken churches stood amidst desolate wastelands—all within the blink of an eye.“Even his spire was
Sam was able to dodge such a clear attack easily. The boulders rolled past him and crashed into each other behind his back.“Annoying,” Ba’ar finally spoke again. “So, the daemon didn’t simply grant you access. You actually passed the high trials.”“Oh, there you are,” Sam said. “Yeah, so what if I passed the trials? You think you are the only one who can pass?”“Shut up!”More minions appeared, and while Ba'ar's minions swarmed around him, Sam ceased summoning his shadow copies, realizing the chaos was causing more confusion to him than aid.Instead, he focused on defense, dodging their attacks while attempting to pinpoint Ba'ar's elusive presence amidst the onslaught.Dodging left and right, Sam evaded strikes from Ba'ar's minions, his senses honed to detect even the faintest trace of Ba'ar's energy signature. Amidst the cacophony of battle, Sam utilized calculated energy blasts to probe the shifting illusions, seeking the true source of his adversary's power.Sam's strategy bore fr
Sam felt a kind of blankness in his mind after Ba’ar's assault. When he grappled with the lingering effects of the attack, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.‘System has rebooted successfully,’ the system's voice announced, causing Sam to pause in bewilderment.‘What? You rebooted from that attack?’ Sam questioned system.‘Not really. I'm just messing with you and trying to help you regain your focus,’ the system explained, his tone laced with amusement.‘Who are you talking to, Sam? Are you still dizzy?’ Kaelyn's concerned voice interjected.‘I forgot you're also in my mind. But you actually can't hear the system?’ Sam said,‘What system? Now is not the time to talk nonsense, Sam. If you're still disoriented from that attack, just rest for a bit,’ Kaelyn advised.Shaking his head vigorously, Sam rose beside Kaelyn. "I'm not drooling dumbly, right?""It's not the time for jokes either, Sam," Kaelyn replied sternly, her focus on their surroundings.“Whoah, what have you done to him?”
Sam turned towards the sound, seeing the daemon guide materialize nearby as the familiar glowing orb. "Impressive, huh?" Sam's tone was casual, but a hint of pride tinged his words.The daemon guide glowed responsively. "Indeed, very impressive, Sam. You've not only defeated Ba'ar but also managed to become an archmage through multiple pathways. It's been ages since someone achieved such a feat."Sam shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, well, I had some help," he said, glancing towards Kaelyn, approaching him, eyeing Ba’ar with contempt.The daemon guide chuckled. "Ah yes, Kaelyn. A valuable companion, no doubt about it."Then Sam's expression brightened because he remembered something. "Ah! Where's my reward? I went through all those trials!""But Sam, I already granted you a pass in the twelfth trial, did I not? And let you replenish your energy for the second time in the ley line vortex."Sam's shoulders sagged slightly, realizing the daemon's point. "Yeah, I guess you did. So you won't g
Sam took a deep breath, steeling himself for the difficult conversation ahead. "I... I went on a little journey, Lyra. A journey that I thought would make me stronger… and I lost track of time."Lyra's expression softened slightly, but her eyes still bore traces of hurt. "You left without a word, Sam. I was worried sick."Sam nodded, his gaze earnest. "I know, and I'm truly sorry. But I promise, I'll never leave you like that again."Lyra crossed her arms, her tone tinged with concern. "Tell me everything, Sam. What journey was this? And what happened?"Sam took a seat beside her, his mind racing to find the right words. "I was in a tower, facing more trials."Lyra's brow furrowed. "More trials? But I thought you completed your trials already.""Do you remember that night when I was being followed?" Sam asked, recalling the harrowing encounter. "It was an assassin's attack. I managed to defeat… the assassin, but in the process, I stumbled upon a clue about the spell thief. Turns out,
After their meal, Sam cautiously broached the topic of his recent encounter with the archmage. He spoke in circles, carefully avoiding the heart of the matter, but Lyra's good mood quickly shifted when he mentioned seeking help beyond the treasure."What do you mean, Sam?" Lyra's eyes bore into his.Sam sighed heavily, realizing there was no way to evade the truth any longer. He explained about the assassin attack, revealing that it was Kaelyn from the Moonflower Tribe, sent by Ba'ar to kill him. To his surprise, Kaelyn had ended up joining forces with him, and together they defeated Ba'ar, allowing Sam to reclaim the stolen spells."You sought help from someone who tried to kill you? Instead of coming to me?" Lyra's voice rose, drawing the attention of everyone in the tavern."Please, Lyra, calm down," Sam pleaded, attempting to temper her rising anger. He elaborated on Kaelyn's coerced involvement by Ba'ar. "I didn't know the true story of Kaelyn until now. She promised to explain e
Silence settled over them like a heavy fog, the gravity of Kaelyn's words echoing in the air. Sam and Lyra exchanged uneasy glances, their minds grappling with the implications of Kaelyn's request."Tell us more," Sam urged, his voice a mixture of curiosity and concern.Kaelyn took a deep breath, her gaze drifting back to the orphanage. "His name is Felix. He’s about fifteen years old. He's been restless for the past few months, and nobody's sure what happened. I was away during that time, doing odd jobs to earn money for the orphanage.""Doesn't the orphanage receive funding from the church?" Lyra asked, her tone skeptical."We do, but it’s not enough," Kaelyn explained. "The number of orphans we have far exceeds our capacity.""But with the war having ended more than ten years ago, how can there still be so many orphans?" Sam questioned, trying to make sense of the situation.Kaelyn sighed, the weight of her experiences evident in her expression. "The war might have ended ten years