NOVEL WEB Chapter 8: The Trial Begins - 8
8 – The Trial Begins
The morning sun cast a golden glow over Veltheris as the towering gates of the Grand Guild Hall creaked open. A flood of recruits—warriors, mages, and adventurers from across Valzaria—pushed forward, each eager to prove their worth.
Elias stood among them, gripping the worn hilt of his sword. Today would decide everything.
Inside, the vast hall had been transformed into a battlefield of trials. Guild officials stood on raised platforms, observing the crowd with calculating eyes. Among them, clad in robes of white and gold, were priests from the Holy Dominion—silent, watchful.
Elias swallowed hard. Even now, he could feel it—a deep, suffocating force buried inside him, a power that wasn't meant for humans.
If they discovered what lay dormant within him, there would be no trial. Only condemnation.
A guild officer in silver-plated armor stepped forward, raising a hand for silence.
"Welcome to the Guild Entrance Trial. Today, you prove whether you belong among Valzaria's warriors—or if you're just another forgotten name." His voice was sharp, unwavering.
"The test is divided into four phases. Strength, intelligence, Ethrion control, and survival. Fail too many, and you will walk away with nothing."
Murmurs spread through the crowd. Elias took a slow breath, steadying himself. He wasn't the strongest. He didn't have magic. But he wouldn't walk away with nothing.
The first test was about to begin.
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The Combat Gauntlet
A hundred recruits stood in a circular stone arena, surrounded by towering walls. At the far end, massive iron gates rumbled open, and from the shadows, metallic constructs emerged—golems forged from enchanted steel, their eyes glowing with Ethrion.
"Your goal is simple," the guild officer's voice echoed. "Survive."
The golems lunged.
Elias dodged a massive fist, rolling under its crushing weight. Around him, recruits clashed with the constructs, sparks flying as weapons met enchanted steel. Some wielded Ethrion-infused blades, others launched fire and lightning.
Elias had only his sword and dagger—both infused with Ethrion, but still requiring skill to wield effectively.
A golem swung at him with a hammer-like fist. He sidestepped, slashing along its knee joint. The blade sank into the metal, Ethrion flaring as it cut through the enchanted steel. The golem staggered, and Elias leapt onto its back, driving his dagger into its neck.
The construct collapsed, but more were coming.
Across the arena, other recruits were struggling—some overwhelmed, others barely holding their ground.
Elias pushed forward, his sword carving through another golem's leg before delivering a decisive strike to its core. He wasn't the strongest here, but his instincts—his ability to read movements and strike efficiently—set him apart.
A final horn blast sounded. The first trial was over.
The guild officials took notes, whispering amongst themselves. Some recruits had barely survived. Others, like Elias, had proved themselves through sheer determination.
From the viewing platform, a priest in white and gold robes frowned, his gaze lingering on Elias for a moment too long.
"Phase one, complete. The next trial begins shortly."
Elias wiped sweat from his brow. One down. Three to go.
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The Trial of the Mind
A massive courtyard had been transformed into a war table. Recruits stood before illusions of battlefields, watching as armies clashed. Their task was simple—command a unit and win the engagement.
Elias listened as the instructor explained the scenario. He would be given a squad of soldiers, and the goal was to defeat an opposing force through tactics alone.
He studied the battlefield. The enemy had twice as many troops, but they were positioned poorly. He had one shot at victory.
"Send the frontline troops in, hold the flanks back," he muttered. His illusionary soldiers charged forward, feigning full engagement.
The enemy took the bait.
Elias gave the second command. His hidden units struck from the side, overwhelming the enemy from multiple directions.
The battle was over in minutes.
Judges watched, murmuring among themselves. Elias wasn't the most experienced leader, but his instincts had earned him a passing mark.
Some recruits failed—either hesitating too long or making reckless decisions. They were dismissed immediately.
"Trial complete. The next phase begins shortly."
Elias exhaled slowly. Two down. Two to go.
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Ethrion Infusion & Adaptation Test
Recruits were led into a chamber lined with glowing crystals of raw Ethrion.
"This test is simple," the instructor called. "Demonstrate control over Ethrion. Shape it, harness it, or wield it in combat."
Elias stood still as others called forth fire, wind, or raw Ethrion energy, shaping it into spears, shields, or elemental constructs.
He clenched his fist. He had no natural affinity for Ethrion.
But he had something else.
He drew his Ethrion-infused sword, letting the energy within it flow through him.
The instructor frowned but didn't stop him. Some warriors fought not by wielding Ethrion directly, but through the weapons that carried it.
Elias took a stance and slashed forward. The energy in his blade extended, forming an Ethrion arc that cut through the practice target in front of him.
The impact left a deep, glowing gash in the training dummy.
At that moment, something stirred inside him.
A pulse—deep, suffocating. A surge of raw, unfamiliar power curled at the edges of his being, pressing against his ribs, demanding release.
Elias's vision flickered.
The world turned black and violet for a split second, the air around him distorting.
The priests on the balcony suddenly went rigid. One of them clenched his staff, whispering hurried words to his brethren.
"Not yet," Elias forced himself to breathe, clenching his fists. "Not here."
The dark pulse receded, buried once more beneath his consciousness.
The instructor hesitated, then nodded. "Not bad. Next."
Elias stepped back, heart pounding. He had to be careful.
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The Survival Trial
The final test was a survival challenge set within a massive forested enclosure.
The recruits were dropped in with nothing but their weapons and limited supplies. Their goal? Reach the extraction point before sundown.
Elias moved carefully through the undergrowth, scanning for movement. Some recruits had already banded together, while others moved alone.
A distant roar split the silence.
Monsters.
Elias tightened his grip on his sword and dagger. This was no ordinary survival test.
Something was hunting them.
The first scream came from deep within the woods.
And in the distance, watching from the observation platform, the priests of the Holy Dominion whispered among themselves.
"That boy… something is wrong with him."
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