“Brave souls. Welcome to the Tower of Rebirth!” Adrian woke up startled by the voice. His training kicked in, as he jumped up looking for danger when he heard Valerian's voice resonate through the meadow, waking everyone up and commanding their attention. He stood with an air of authority, clad in his armor, his presence exuding a sense of mystery and enchantment.As Adrian observed him, Valerian's towering figure seemed to glow with a magical aura. His armor was intricately carved with what he now knew to be an earth symbol ―a symbol worn by Elemental Adepts. Like Elara, these are beings within the Tower who channel and use the powers of the elements― gleamed in the soft light of the meadow. With a kind yet firm expression, he continued, "Congratulations, courageous souls. You have displayed your bravery and triumphed over the Trial of Elements, the first step on your journey through the Tower of Rebirth." Valerian's words held a gravity that sent ripples of eager anticipation thro
The anticipation in the arena was palpable as the souls prepared for the upcoming trials. Each participant stood on the elevated dais, their eyes locked on their opponents. The soft, ambient glow of the arena's lighting added an eerie yet mesmerizing atmosphere to the battleground.Adrian couldn't shake the sense of unease that had settled in his chest. The thought of battling his companions, even though they were aware it wasn't to the death, weighed heavily on him. He had come to care for Lucas and Elara deeply during their journey through the Tower, and the prospect of fighting them or anyone else was unsettling.As he scanned the dais, he noted the diversity of the souls gathered to prove their resolve. Some were adorned in elegant robes, carrying an air of mysticism about them. Others wore armor similar to Valerian's, marked with the elemental symbols of the earth.The holographic displays projected above the arena illuminated the names and faces of the participants, making it cl
The Trials of Unity continued without wasting any time. As the next rounds of battles were set to begin, the participants gathered on the dais. Their faces had a mix of determination and anxiety, and the arena was crazy with the energy of the crowd, eager to witness the clashes that would unfold. I count forty-eight here. Minus Valerian, and seventeen fighters including me, who are the others? Do they live here?Adrian, having been separated from Lucas in the initial draw, found himself standing with unfamiliar faces. They exchanged quick nods of encouragement before turning their attention to the battles about to commence.The holographic displays projected above the arena revealed the matchups for the next round, each pair of combatants standing opposite each other. The anticipation in the arena soared as Sol and Khalif, two formidable combatants, stepped onto the dais. The promise of an exciting fight made Adrian just as excited as the others. That guy looks too sure of himself, A
It’s all his fault, I thought bitterly as my heart pounded like a drumbeat. The images of Elara’s death kept playing in my mind as I walked away from Adrian after the portal brought us to this colosseum. I can feel so much energy here, I thought to myself as I kept walking. Each footstep was a heavy burden as if the weight of my guilt and anger pressed down on me. I should have protected her and kept her safe, but I had failed in the worst way possible. The memory of our fight with Aquarius played on a loop in my mind. I won't forgive Adrian. He has to pay for what happened to Elara.I wandered through the meadow trying to escape my thoughts, and all the guilt eating at me when I noticed the trees hovering just ahead. The hover trees cast long shadows, their energy feeling almost hostile as if the very environment conspired to torment me. I had heard about the Trials of Unity, but they seemed far from my mind. All I wanted was to escape the reality of Elara's death.I didn’t realize
As the fight continued, Lucas unleashed a flurry of strikes. He threw a left hook, followed by a combination of kicks and punches aimed at Adrian’s head and body. Adrian raised a right hand to block the first blow coming to knock him out and moved his body slightly to the left, smoothly avoiding a kick to his stomach.Shit! Lucas cursed inwardly as Adrian danced around the arena with a calculated finesse, effortlessly avoiding each relentless attack. Seizing an opening, Adrian jumped back, creating distance between them, and changing the rhythm of the fight. Lucas responded by releasing surges of energy with the speed of his punches, sending waves toward Adrian.In response, Adrian raised a hand. With a light touch of the, he altered the weight of the air around him, creating a subtle but effective barrier that redirected the impact of Lucas's energy wave. The crowd gasped as the wave dissipated harmlessly, leaving Adrian unscathed.“I’ve always wanted to
Adrian walked away from the stage, still thinking about what happened. As he walked, memories came back to him. He remembered a time when someone wanted revenge against him. It was a tough memory, like scars from the past. The air felt heavy as he thought about it, reliving the pain he had just seen in the arena.In his mind, he saw the angry face of a son that found him out of nowhere. Their eyes burned with hatred, just like Lucas's. And the feeling of guilt ate into him as he recalled the day he murdered that boy’s parents for the sake of his mission. In the past, I would have killed him without thinking twice about it, but his eyes… The way he looked at me, I just couldn’t. This is what Elara would have wanted. Adrian quietly agreed with his choice as he wrestled with the weight of the choices he made in the past, all thanks to Vance, his beloved mentor. The Trials of Unity, he realized, were not just to be battles of strength but also tests of character and c
Adrian saw his death coming.It wasn't a vision or some mystical premonition. No, it was a gut feeling, a gnawing certainty that whispered in the darkest corners of his mind. He knew he had to ignore it. With the life he'd known, there was no escaping the inescapable march of karma. And right now, he had a mission to complete. The night is particularly dark, Adrian Steele thought, as he crept through the estate grounds like a ghost. The estate grounds were big and silent, with tall trees, long shadows, and a mansion in the middle.His movements were quiet and, dressed in his signature attire for covert operations, he blended well into the shadows. He wore a form-fitting, black tactical suit designed for stealth and agility. The suit was equipped with various pockets and compartments to carry essential tools and weapons discreetly. Adrian's attire included black gloves, a dagger resting by his right hip, black boots designed for silent movement, with rubber soles that minimized noise
Adrian woke up, surprised. I just died! He winced at the thought but the last thing he remembered was Kael shooting him with a smile on his face! He shot me, Adrian thought bitterly remembering his own murder. Yet, here I am. His eyes fluttered open to an entirely unfamiliar sight. He was no longer on the rain-soaked streets of Corvus, the city that had shaped him into the ruthless figure known as the Steel Reaper. Instead, he found himself in a place that defied comprehension—a vast hall lined with enormous statues and pillars that were illuminated by ethereal light. In contrast to the stuffy environment of his past existence, the air was crisp.Adrian pushed himself up, his mind racing to make sense of the surreal surroundings. Noticing a dagger tucked into his waist, and dressed only in a gray shirt, and trousers, he looked around. He wasn't alone. He was surrounded by a diverse group of people, each of them had their distinct looks of confusion."Where...?" he began, his voice b