Two sharp red lights glowed from the statue's eyes.Kaelan stood frozen, his body still throbbing in pain, his breath not yet steady, but he didn’t dare blink. The statue slowly raised its stone sword. CRACK... Cracks spread across the body of the stone. Kaelan swallowed. "So this is the next trial?" No answer. The statue vanished. "!" BOOM! Kaelan reflexively dropped to the side as the stone sword struck the floor exactly where his head had been a second earlier. CRASH! Pieces of stone flew as Kaelan rolled, rising as quickly as he could. "So fast!" The statue was already standing behind him. Kaelan leapt forward. SWOOSH! The tip of the sword grazed his back, barely missing. "That was close!" He turne

Kaeani still stands transfixed in front of the stone wall. The last sentence from the ancient sound continued to spin on his head, sharp and never faded.'Who actually killed his mother.'For eighteen years, the woman was just a shadow of a name whispered in a low tone, her face he had never seen clearly. Now, for the first time, he holds a piece of truth. But before having time to understand his meaning completelyWuuum!All halls suddenly vibrate. Dust fell from the high ceiling Kaeani turned fast.Nine statues surrounding it began to emit light. One by one, the floor behind them split.Grak!Stone wall shifts open. Behind each statue appeared a dark hallway."Nine rooms?" Kelan steps closer.Each door has a different symbol engraved in old stones. The first door displays a dragon that bite its own tail symbol of eternity. Second door, a brushed sword that emits silver light. The third door, the open book whose page swayed as if an invisible wind was blown. Fourth door, a blazed fire

"This inheritance is not for you."The ancient voice echoed throughout the room.Kaelan fell silent.His gaze fixed on the ninth door standing a few meters ahead of him. The black symbol on its surface still pulsed, but there was no sign that the door would open."Not for me?"The voice did not answer.Kaelan let out a bitter chuckle."Then why was I brought here?"Still silent."Why did I have to go through all these trials?"He stepped closer."I endured under spiritual pressure even though I had no power at all." One more step. "I destroyed that statue." His hand clenched. "I found this room."Kaelan stopped right in front of the door."And now you say I am unworthy?""Correct."The answer made Kaelan's face tense."Why?""Your heart is not yet worthy to receive this inheritance."Kaelan stared at the door angrily. "My heart?" He laughed cynically.“Since when does someone's heart determine if they deserve power?”“Since that power can destroy the world.”Kaelan fell silent.“The So

"Let's go!"His arm muscles tensed with all his strength. The veins on his neck bulged. Cold sweat began to wet his temples, yet he did not release his grip.GRAAAK…The heavy stone lid finally shifted slightly, enough to reveal a dark gap beneath it. Kaelan immediately exerted the rest of his strength, pulling harder, pushing with his shoulder, pressing with all his might.GRAAAK!The chest opened.Cold air, smelling of ancient earth and centuries of silence, slowly came out from within, touching Kaelan's face like the touch of an invisible hand. He stepped back half a step, holding his breath, ready to face whatever might emerge.He waited.His heartbeat sounded loud in his ears. One second. Two seconds. Five seconds.No monster leaped out. No blinding light struck his eyes. No voice cursed or called his name. Only thick silence.It enveloped the room as if nothing had just happened.Slowly, with slightly trembling hands, Kaelan leaned forward. His eyes squinted, trying to pierce the

Dust slowly fell. Kaelan was still standing in the middle of the room, his right hand raised forward. The stone pillar he had struck earlier had shattered, cracks spreading across the floor, fragments scattered around him. Yet there was no satisfaction on his face. Instead, he stared at his palm with heavy breathing."That energy..." he murmured. "Almost killed me."His fingers trembled. The strike had destroyed the stone, but his entire arm felt numb. Even his shoulder was nearly immobile.An ancient voice echoed from wall to wall."Use of Spiritual Energy detected."Kaelan turned. The nine statues fell silent again. Only one circle of light appeared on the floor, directly beneath his feet. Ancient writing slowly formed in the air:THE FIRST INHERITANCE — SOVEREIGN BREATH"Breath?" Kaelan furrowed his brow."A basic technique to control the flow of energy."The golden light floated toward his head. Kaelan braced himself to withstand the pain.But this time, nothing pierced his body. I