NOVEL WEB Chapter 44: Chapter 44 – The Second Trial Begins
Ochieng stood before the open bronze gate, his breathing steady but his heart pounding. The first trial had tested his willpower, forcing him to battle his own fears. But he knew—this was just the beginning.
Beyond the gate, a long stone path stretched forward, flanked by towering statues of ancient warriors. Each statue had a sword buried in the ground before them, their stone eyes staring down as if judging those who passed.
The Grandmaster's voice echoed behind him. "Step forward, but know this—only those who prove their worth will take another step."
Ochieng exhaled and stepped past the threshold.
Boom!
The moment he crossed the gate, the air changed. The pressure doubled—no, tripled—weighing down on him like an unseen force.
His body felt like it was being crushed.
His muscles tensed, his bones groaned under the invisible weight.
This wasn't just normal gravity.
This was martial suppression.
The test of a warrior.
Every step forward would take everything he had.
Ochieng gritted his teeth and took a step forward.
His knees almost buckled. The weight increased with every movement, pressing down harder and harder.
The statues seemed to be watching.
Judging.
Whispering.
Each step felt like moving through quicksand.
The first five meters felt like an eternity. His breathing turned ragged. Sweat dripped down his face.
But he refused to stop.
Step.
Step.
Step.
The ground beneath him trembled.
Then—BOOM!
The first statue moved.
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The warrior of stone pulled its sword from the ground. Dust and pebbles fell from its ancient form as it took a step forward, its glowing eyes locked onto Ochieng.
"Only the strong may walk this path."
With an earth-shaking roar, the statue charged.
Ochieng barely had time to react.
The massive stone blade swung down.
He rolled to the side, barely avoiding the impact. The ground where he had stood cracked under the weight of the attack.
This wasn't just a test of endurance.
It was a battle for survival.
The stone warrior moved again, faster than something that size should be able to. Ochieng ducked under a horizontal slash, feeling the wind from the strike pass just inches above his head.
He had no weapon. No armor.
Only his instincts and his will to win.
---
Ochieng charged forward.
The stone warrior raised its blade to strike again, but Ochieng was already beneath it. He leaped up, aiming for the warrior's neck.
A weak point.
BOOM!
His fist connected.
A massive crack formed along the statue's neck, spreading like a web.
The warrior staggered.
Ochieng didn't hesitate—he struck again, this time with all his strength.
CRACK!
The statue's head shattered, crumbling into dust. The massive body fell to its knees, then collapsed into rubble.
The path ahead rippled—as if the trial had acknowledged his victory.
But this was only one guardian.
Further down the path, more statues began to move.
Ochieng exhaled, rolling his shoulders.
His muscles burned, his body ached.
But his eyes were filled with determination.
This was only the beginning.
And he was ready.
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