Darkness swallowed the battlefield.
Cold air pressed heavily against their skin.
Before each of them—
Stood themselves.
But stronger.
Sharper.
Deadlier.
---
Rynelle Aeris stared at the figure before him.
Same face.
Same body.
Same long black hair flowing to the hips.
Same calm expression.
But—
Different eyes.
Cold.
Emotionless.
Merciless.
---
His past self spoke first.
Voice hollow.
"…You are weak."
---
Then—
Without warning—
It vanished.
---
"Weaver Step."
Rynelle reacted instantly.
His body twisted sideways.
CLANG.
Their swords collided violently.
Shockwaves blasted outward.
---
Kael roared behind him.
"COME ON—!"
His past self charged forward wildly.
Spear spinning violently.
Wind clashed against wind.
BOOM.
Their weapons collided repeatedly.
---
Soren faced his own reflection.
Faster.
Sharper.
Deadlier.
His past self moved like pure shadow.
SLASH.
Blood sprayed across Soren's arm.
---
"…Damn…"
He hissed.
"…That hurts…"
---
Elric blocked a heavy downward strike.
CLANG.
The force pushed him backward.
Feet dragging across the ground.
"…Stronger than expected…"
---
The Trial of the Past—
Was merciless.
Relentless.
Unforgiving.
---
Minutes passed.
Then—
Hours.
---
Sweat poured endlessly.
Blood stained the battlefield.
Breathing grew heavy.
Bodies weakened.
Muscles screamed.
---
Kael collapsed to one knee.
"…How… are they this strong…"
His past self didn't answer.
It attacked again.
Without hesitation.
Without mercy.
---
Soren stumbled backward.
Panting heavily.
"…They copy everything…"
"…Every skill…"
---
Elric blocked another strike.
Barely.
"…Superior reaction speed…"
---
Rynelle stepped back slowly.
His breathing uneven.
His arms trembling.
---
Every skill he used—
His past self countered perfectly.
Every movement—
Matched.
Every technique—
Copied.
---
No matter what he did—
The result stayed the same.
Failure.
---
BOOM.
Rynelle was thrown backward violently.
His body crashed into the ground.
Pain exploded through his ribs.
---
He coughed.
Blood staining his lips.
---
Kael collapsed beside him.
Soren followed shortly after.
Then Elric.
---
All four—
Broken.
Exhausted.
Utterly defeated.
---
Their past selves stood tall.
Uninjured.
Untouched.
Unstoppable.
---
Kael laughed weakly.
"…So this… is how it ends…"
---
Soren smirked faintly.
"…Not exactly heroic…"
---
Elric whispered quietly.
"…Combat capability exhausted…"
---
Rynelle lay on the ground silently.
Breathing weak.
Vision blurred.
Body shaking.
---
Defeat.
Certain defeat.
---
But then—
Something changed.
---
A thought formed inside his mind.
Clear.
Sharp.
Unavoidable.
---
"They copy everything…"
"…So stop copying yourself."
---
Rynelle's fingers moved slightly.
Slowly.
Weakly.
---
Then—
He forced himself up.
Using the last strength left in his body.
---
Kael looked at him weakly.
"…You're still standing…?"
---
Soren coughed.
"…You're insane…"
---
Elric whispered.
"…Continue…"
---
Rynelle stood fully.
Barely.
But standing.
---
Then—
His posture changed.
---
His hands shifted.
Not like before.
Not like the system taught.
Not like trained movements.
But something new.
Something instinctive.
Something his own.
---
His legs shifted position.
Lower.
More fluid.
More unpredictable.
---
His breathing slowed.
Calmed.
Focused.
---
Across the battlefield—
His past self tilted its head.
Confused.
Because—
This movement—
Was new.
Unknown.
Unfamiliar.
---
Rynelle whispered softly.
Voice calm.
Quiet.
Certain.
---
"…Self Myriad Art…"
---
Mana surged violently around his body.
Different from before.
Wild.
Free.
Unstructured.
Alive.
---
"This… is my technique…"
---
He stepped forward.
Not with Weaver Step.
Not with trained motion.
But something entirely new.
---
Fluid.
Unpredictable.
Untraceable.
---
His sword moved.
Not straight.
Not curved.
But shifting constantly.
Like flowing water.
Like dancing wind.
Like chaotic threads.
---
His past self attacked.
Fast.
Precise.
Deadly.
---
But—
This time—
It missed.
---
Rynelle twisted sideways smoothly.
Then rotated his body sharply.
His sword moved in a spiral motion.
---
CRACK.
A deep wound formed across his past self's chest.
---
Kael's eyes widened.
"…That… wasn't Weaver Step…"
---
Soren whispered.
"…New movement…"
---
Elric watched closely.
"…Personal technique…"
---
Kael forced himself up.
Groaning heavily.
"…Then I'll make mine too…"
---
He shifted his stance.
Changed his grip.
Lowered his body slightly.
Wind gathered differently this time.
---
"…Stormbreaker Form."
---
His spear rotated wildly.
Not like before.
Not rigid.
But explosive.
Violent.
Unpredictable.
---
BOOM.
His past self staggered backward.
---
Soren stood next.
Shaking.
Bleeding.
But smiling.
"…Then I'll follow…"
---
He shifted his movement.
Feet lighter.
Hands looser.
Daggers spinning differently.
---
"…Shadow Bloom Technique."
---
SLASH.
His past self stumbled.
---
Elric stood last.
Silent.
Focused.
---
"…Iron Dominion Stance."
---
His sword lowered.
Then lifted slowly.
Every movement heavy.
Precise.
Unavoidable.
---
CLANG.
His past self was pushed backward forcefully.
---
The battlefield shifted.
Momentum changed.
Control returned.
---
Rynelle stepped forward again.
His voice steady.
Cold.
Focused.
---
"…Self Myriad Art…"
"…Stage One: Flowing Thread."
---
He vanished.
Not teleportation.
Not Weaver Step.
Pure movement.
Pure technique.
Pure instinct.
---
He appeared before his past self.
His blade moved once.
Perfectly.
---
CRACK.
Core shattered.
His past self collapsed.
---
Kael roared loudly.
"STORMBREAKER—!"
BOOM.
His past self fell next.
---
Soren moved like shadow.
"SHADOW BLOOM—!"
SLASH.
Another fell.
---
Elric stepped forward calmly.
"IRON DOMINION—!"
CRACK.
Final strike landed.
---
Silence returned.
Heavy.
Victorious.
Complete.
---
Then—
A sound echoed loudly inside their minds.
---
[Ding… Trial of the Past Completed]
[Ding… All Three Sections Cleared]
[Ding… Trial Success Confirmed]
[Ding… Proceed Forward to Receive Your Gift]
---
Kael collapsed onto the ground.
"…We… did it…"
---
Soren laughed weakly.
"…Barely…"
---
Elric exhaled slowly.
"…Victory confirmed."
---
Rynelle stood silently.
Breathing deeply.
Body trembling.
But alive.
---
Ahead—
A path appeared.
Golden light shining brightly.
---
They walked forward slowly.
Step by step.
---
At the end—
A treasure chest appeared.
Large.
Ornate.
Glowing faintly.
Covered in ancient markings.
---
Kael whispered softly.
"…That better be worth it…"
---
Soren stepped forward carefully.
"…Only one way to find out…"
---
Rynelle reached forward.
Placed his hand on the chest.
Then—
Opened it.
---
Golden light burst outward.
Blinding.
Warm.
Powerful.
---
Inside—
Treasure.
True treasure.
---
Skill Books.
Multiple.
Different types.
Different colors.
Different rarities.
---
Herbs.
Rare.
Glowing faintly with mana.
Fresh and powerful.
---
Potions.
Stored neatly inside crystal bottles.
Healing.
Mana recovery.
Enhancement types.
---
Pills.
Small.
Dense with power.
Filled with condensed energy.
---
Kael's eyes widened.
"…We hit the jackpot…"
---
Soren laughed softly.
"…Now that… was worth it…"
---
Elric nodded calmly.
"…Significant growth opportunity."
---
Rynelle stared at the rewards silently.
His crown glowing faintly above his head.
Eyes filled with quiet determination.
---
This—
Was only the beginning.
And the Dream Realm—
Had just given them their first true reward.