“The power was never the Ascension protocol. It was always you.” A voice so thick and heavy echoed in Kai's head.Kai's body was broken and bloodied in the battle arena. He laid still while Councilor Vane cheered in victory.But somewhere else, Kai's soul stirred. A warm breeze caressed his skin as his eyes opened to a strange and beautiful horizon. As he opened his eyes, above him was the sky which was beautified in soft gold and indigo hues. The ground was soft and It doesn't seem real to Kai. He stood slowly, wincing while his body was still aching from the pain that felt all too real.‘Arsh!’ He groaned in pain. But as his eyes glimpsed around, ‘This wasn't the arena,’ He thought in his head as struggled to understand what was happening. ‘This place… is somewhere else.’ He mumbled to himself as his eyes gleaned thin. As he tried to catch his breath, he felt  a sudden pulse tore through the air. “AHH!” He groaned in pain. H

‘I feel at peace. This victory is by far the sweetest I ever had.’  Kai half-smiled as his eyes glinted across the people that were celebrating with him. Kai walked out of the battle arena with pride. The blood of Councilor Vane was still fresh in the soil behind him, but his shoulders were light and it was freer than they he had ever felt, maybe because he had just gotten justice for his mother. The moment he stepped into the open, a surge of cheers met him. Students who once sneered and looked away now surrounded him. They celebrated him like he was a legend reborn.He gave them a small nod, and he smiled faintly. For the first time in his life, Kai wasn’t invisible. He felt seen.He returned to his dormitory. In his dormitory, he barely had time to settle when Xiren Wren arrived and her expression was unreadable."How… did you do it?" she asked quietly as she sat across from him.Kai looked at h

Kai returned to the training arena, wiping his hands as he walked in, only to find Councilor Locke and Mordax Rex waiting with stony expressions.At a glance from a distance, Kai's face shrank, ‘What is the problem? Why are they staring at me in that manner?’ He thought within himself as he took steps closer. He couldn't wrap his head around what could be going on.Councilor Locke’s eyes narrowed. “Where have you been since the start of the training section, Kai?” His voice was harsh and cold. A rare reaction from the councilor Locke. Kai was taken aback by his words and  he couldn't wrap his head around what the problem could be. “I went to ease myself,” Kai answered truthfully with innocence. He expected that Mordax would speak for him and he nodded toward Mordax. “I took permission from my trainer.”Councillor Locke was surprised with Kai's expression. He paused for a moment, a sort of confusion wrapped around his face. Cou

Kai turned, his sword facing down and he went into the elevator. He leaned on the elevator wall. The elevator doors creaked open in no time and it revealed a new chamber that magnified in cold blue light. His eyes went around the place slowly. With eyes thinned, Kai stepped forward while his sword was in his hand and he was ready for what awaited him on Level Two of the Pit Trial.The room was silent and it only lasted for a moment. Suddenly, a door burst open with a loud slam. Kai turned instantly and his eyes narrowed. From its depths crawled a crab-like monster. Its shell glistened like steel with glowing red eyes that screamed bloodlust.Immediately the monster set it's eyes on Kai, It screeched and lunged without wasting time.Kai moved swiftly and he dodged its jagged claws. The monster attacked again, but this time, Kai slashed low, his sword cut through its armored legs, and with a second flaming strike, he shattered i

Even though Kai wasn’t scared but as the monster took steps forward, his heart hit slowly against his chest, “Even the unbreakable grows weary. But the warrior must stand  because he chooses to rise again.” He said those words to himself just to be strong so that he could face the enemy before his.Kai’s chest heaved as his face was filled with sweat and his saliva was mixed with blood while his body ached in pain.The giant before him was huge such that Kai looked like an ant before him.  It's face was brutal while it roared. He moved forward and charged at Kai. Kai pushed off the ground and he dodged - Kai barely avoided to get a crushing blow that shattered the stone floor behind him on impact.While he grinded his teeth against the other, Kai rolled aside and slashed upward.The sword bit into the giant’s leg. “Ouu!” A loud, ear-splitting painful groan escaped its mouth as it stumbled backwards but it wasn’t