The next trial opened with a rush of cutting wind. Aeralis, a wind spirit, drifted before us—its form like a swirling column of pale mist—flanked by two Zephyr Wisps. I didn't even need to speak; Veyren already understood. The moment I nodded, he vanished into my shadow.
Two faint thuds. Two motes of light drifting like dying embers.
That was it.
Aeralis didn't even sense its death coming. Veyren reappeared atop its dissipating form, tails flicking in annoyance, as if insulted by the lack of challenge.
[+40 Essence]
[+10 Essence]
Only ten percent again. I couldn't complain—not when he was soloing everything before I could lift my sword. Spirit beasts thrive on spirit flesh; Veyren was simply built for this.
Floor after floor blurred past us:
Frost Elemental — Kione, the Winter Wisp
[+55 Essence]
Earth Elemental — Terran, the Stoneheart Spirit
[+57 Essence]
Light Elemental — Solari Lumenspirit
[+60 Essence]
Shadow Elemental — Ansol, the Umbral Shade
[+60 Essence]
Veyren cut through them effortlessly. Kione's frost slowed its feathers, Terran's density made illusions flicker, Solari's light nearly overpowered shadow cloak, and Ansol's speed was terrifying—but Veyren still tore them down before I could contribute.
By the time the motes faded from the last Shade, I had 453 Essence. Still short of 1200.
Then the 27th ordeal began.
This time it wasn't a pure spirit.
It was a spirit beast.
A serpent slithered out of the mist—its body encased in pale-blue crystal scales, frost spreading on the ground with every breath.
Aethercryst Serpent.
Its eyes met mine, and a notification slammed into my vision.
[You have fallen under the gaze of an Aethercryst Serpent]
[You have begun to freeze]
[Your movement is sealed]
I glanced down—my legs and Veyren's were buried in ice.
The serpent watched, patient and cruel. But if it thought this would hold me—
"Restriction."
[Target greatly exceeds your rank]
[Restriction of Target's Skill Tundra's Gaze will last 10 seconds]
The ice shattered.
I staggered forward, Veyren melting back into my shadow.
The serpent whipped its head toward him, but Veyren was faster—shadow movement carried him to its flank. He lunged, but crystalline spikes erupted from the serpent's scales, forcing him to recoil as shadow cloak flared to protect him.
I swapped weapons instantly—storing the white steel rapier and gripping my Black Steel Bastard Sword. This beast had a physical body, and I needed raw force.
A blast of icy wind burst from its body.
[You have been exposed to the skill "Frigid Air"]
[Your movement decreases by 20%. You lose 5 HP every 20 seconds.]
A biting cold crawled through my lungs.
Frigid Air… worse than Kione's frost breath. Way worse.
Still, I charged. The serpent spun toward me, frost hardening at its feet. As I brought the sword down, I triggered:
BloodBurst.
Strength surged through my body—enough to smash through the icicle armor its scales produced. The blade bit deep.
The serpent shrieked, releasing a burst of white fog.
[The effects of Frigid Air have been strengthened.]
[Movement speed rapidly decreases the longer you remain in range.]
[HP loss increases to 5 every 10 seconds.]
Great. Twice as deadly now.
I backed up, HP slowly ticking down. "Veyren—between us!"
He darted forward, slamming into the serpent's neck to hold it down. I slid to its blind spot and closed my eyes for one breath.
"Use Illumination."
A soundless pulse.
The serpent thrashed as blinding white light tore through its vision.
I couldn't help but mutter, "I feel your pain. Solari used that on me and I couldn't see a damn thing… but at least Veyren had my back. You? You've got no one."
I activated Dash and drove my blade through its skull.
It convulsed violently. Spikes burst from the ground—I had to abandon my sword and leap back. A final tremor, then the massive body sagged.
"if you were as fast as Ansol, maybe you'd actually be a threat." I thought as I retrieved my sword
[750 Essence Gained]
[Distributed 60:40 due to contribution]
[+450 Essence]
I was at 903 Essence.
Still short.
"Predation."
My shadow stretched, swallowing the serpent whole. A cold wave swept through me—death's embrace—and strength trickled back.
[+600 Essence]
Lower than the kill reward. Again.
I frowned. Ever since Veyren joined me, Predation was yielding less Essence than before.
Was it because he was biting into the corpse during battle…?
Or because the system was calculating contribution differently?
I wasn't certain.
Not yet.
But the pattern was too consistent to ignore.
Didn't matter. I finally had enough.
LV 16 — 1200 Essence
[Evolution Will Begin Shortly]
I exhaled and braced myself.
Whatever came next… it wouldn't be gentle.