Is this really a Game?!

The victory notification rang out, echoing across the now quiet battlefield. Reign and his team, the Heaven’s Hooligans, stood amidst the debris and fallen foes, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and triumph. They had fought through intense battles, united with former foes against a common enemy, and emerged victorious in the second Elite Trial.

Reign wiped the sweat from his brow, his eyes scanning the faces of his team. Each member bore the marks of battle – cuts, bruises, and fatigue etched into their features – but their eyes shone with the pride of their hard-earned victory.

"We did it," Reign said, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. "We fought well and won together."

The team nodded, taking a moment to savor their achievement. The arena, once filled with the sounds of battle, was now eerily silent, the only movement being the soft rustling of the wind.

The battles they had gone through at the very end were truly difficult. Their opponents were all-powerful, and they were all already tired and injured.

Everybody was injured, there had been no team left that didn’t have cuts and bruises on their bodies and wasn’t panting near the end.

That wasn’t all, however, as some of them also had marks that they activated during the final stretch of the battle.

None of them had marks as powerful as the ones Reign and the others had, but that didn’t mean the marks they had activated were not powerful.

A mark was something given by a god, a being standing on the pinnacle of the universe.

Even the weakest one had more than enough power to decimate a world, to destroy it completely, with nothing left.

Wolf sheathed his greatsword, his gaze steady as he looked around. "We worked well together, all of us, but we are still not finished."

Tank, still holding his massive shield, gave a tired smile. "One battle at a time, Wolf."

"We’ll face what comes next when it comes."

Greenie, with his usual ferocity subdued by exhaustion, nodded in agreement. "For now, we should rest and recover."

"We’ve earned it."

"That, you certainly did." The elven woman said as she appeared near them with her usual calm smile.

The elven woman’s voice carried a warmth that contrasted with her usually calm demeanor. "You have once again proven your strength and unity."

"Take pride in this victory, for the next trial will be even more challenging."

Reign and his team exchanged determined glances. They had expected the Elite Trials to push them to their limits, and so far, the trials had lived up to their expectations. But they were ready for whatever came next.

As they followed the elven woman back to their quarters, the atmosphere was a mix of relief and anticipation. They had conquered the Battle Royale, but they knew that the next trial was still ahead. The elven woman led them to their accommodations, where they could rest and recuperate.

There, a feast awaited them, along with a hot spring that promised to heal their injuries and rejuvenate their spirits.

They ate heartily, their conversations a mixture of laughter and strategic discussions about the upcoming trial. The camaraderie they shared was palpable, each member drawing strength from the others.

After the feast, they spent time in the hot spring, letting its healing waters soothe their battered bodies. The next morning, the elven woman appeared once more. "It is time for your final trial," she said, her voice carrying a note of solemnity. "This trial will test not only your strength and skill but also your hearts and minds."

"Prepare yourselves."

Ding!

[ Third Elite Trial: The Heart of Darkness ]

[ Objective: Overcome the Heart of Darkness and restore the light. Success condition: The Heart of Darkness is vanquished. Failure condition: The darkness consumes all. ]

Everybody stared at the notification with slight confusion as they didn’t fully understand just what was expected of them.

The team followed the elven woman to the arena, which had transformed into a vast, shadowy landscape. The ground was covered in dark, swirling mist, and the air was thick with an oppressive energy. In the center of the arena stood a massive, pulsating orb of darkness, radiating a malevolent aura.

"This is the Heart of Darkness," the elven woman explained. "It is a manifestation of pure evil, capable of consuming all light and hope."

"You must destroy it to complete the trial."

Reign looked at his team, their faces set with determination. "Alright, guys, let’s see what this thing is exactly."

As Reign and the others moved, making their way toward the orb, it started pulsating. At first, the pulses were gentle, the heart would release them in intervals of 5 seconds.

But that was when Reign and the others noticed that something was wrong.

"This is the tenth pulse, we should have already arrived in front of the heart already, something is going on here."

Beast’s words hung in the air as the team paused, taking in their surroundings. The mist swirled around them, making it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead. The pulsing heart of darkness seemed to be playing tricks on their senses, distorting time and space.

"We need to stay close and move carefully," Shadow advised, his keen senses picking up on the subtle shifts in their environment. "This mist is more than just a visual barrier; it’s affecting our perception."

The team nodded, their movements becoming more deliberate as they advanced. The oppressive energy weighed heavily on them, but they pressed on, their resolve unwavering.

"No, it’s not the mist, well, at least it isn’t what is causing this." Beast suddenly said as he stared at the heart.

"It’s the pulse, it is somehow pushing us back, and we aren’t able to even notice that we are being pushed back."

"The heart might be manipulating time or space around us," Reign said, his eyes narrowing as he tried to understand the phenomenon.

The pulsating orb of darkness seemed to stretch and distort the surroundings, making their approach feel infinitely long. The oppressive energy grew thicker, sapping their strength and resolve with each step they took.

"Stay close and keep your minds focused," Mia advised, her voice steady despite the unnatural influence pressing down on them. "The pulse, together with the mist makes us disoriented, makes it harder for us to move and even thinking straight is not easy." Explore new worlds at NovelBin.Côm

"So, what do we do, how do we go against it?" Laura asked Mia who sighed and shook her head.

"We need to counter the pulses and keep moving forward," Reign said firmly. "Focus on your breathing, clear your minds, we can’t let it get to us."

"Remember what Aethion taught you about defending against soul attacks, try doing the same here, it might be helpful."

Reign said as he grit his teeth, annoyed by the fact that Aethion was not allowed to help them, he had been unable to do so for a while now as the system forbade him from helping them out.

Even though they weren’t told exactly why the system had done so, they were all quite certain that it was because Aethion’s great knowledge and experience would have made things much easier for them.

No matter what challenge was placed in front of them, it seemed as if Aethion always knew something about it and had a way to help them out.

This trial, for example, would have definitely been something that Aethion would have been able to help out immensely, but alas, that was not allowed.

"Tch, I just hope they realize on time," Aethion said with a click of his tongue while Jared shook his head and smiled.

"You should have a bit more faith in Master and his friends."

Aethion sighed and nodded his head before focusing on what Reign and the others were doing.

The team was focusing on their breathing and clearing their minds as they continued their advance. They moved slowly, each step deliberate and controlled. The oppressive energy and the pulsing heart of darkness continued to weigh heavily on them, but their determination remained unbroken.

As they pressed on, they began to notice subtle changes in their surroundings. The mist seemed to thin slightly, and the pulses from the heart grew less disorienting. It was as if their mental fortitude was slowly pushing back against the dark influence.

"We’re making progress," Shadow said, his voice steady. "Keep going, we’re getting closer."

The team continued their advance, their movements synchronized and deliberate. The oppressive energy and the pulsing heart of darkness still weighed heavily on them, but their resolve was unwavering. As they moved closer to the heart, they could feel its malevolent energy intensifying.

Reign, his eyes narrowed with determination, led the charge. "We’re almost there."

"Everyone, get ready, the heart won’t go down easily."

The team braced themselves as they approached the heart.

"No, you weren’t correct, it’s not a soul attack, nor is it a disorienting one," Aethion said with a sigh as Reign and the others all appeared in front of the heart.

To their great dismay, they all found themselves standing in front of it alone.