Lin Zhan followed the mysterious man through the dense forest, his mind still reeling from the events of the past few hours. Every step he took felt heavier, as though the weight of this unfamiliar world was slowly sinking in. He had come here without warning, with no preparation, and now he was following an enigmatic figure who seemed to know more about this world than he did. The idea that his life had been completely upended didn’t sit well with him, but he had no choice but to move forward.
The forest around them was thick and dark, with towering trees that seemed to whisper in the wind. Strange noises filled the air—distant howls, the rustle of leaves, and the occasional eerie screech. Lin Zhan kept his senses sharp, his hand instinctively resting on his side, where his knife should have been. He was unarmed and felt vulnerable, but the strange power that had surged within him when he faced the undead creature earlier was still there, waiting to be tapped.
The man didn’t speak for a long while, his pace steady and calm as he led the way. Lin Zhan took the opportunity to study him. The man was tall and broad-shouldered, with a hardened face that looked as though it had weathered many battles. His long cloak billowed behind him as he moved, its fabric tattered at the edges but still functional. His sword—large, ornate, and etched with ancient symbols—was slung across his back, a silent testament to his strength and experience.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of walking, they arrived at a small clearing. In the center of the clearing was a large stone structure, ancient-looking and covered in moss. It was a circular platform, raised from the ground, with intricate carvings running along its edges. The atmosphere around the stone felt charged with energy, as though the air itself was thick with power.
Lin Zhan’s heart began to race again. The place had an aura of mystery and danger. It felt like they had walked into a forgotten place, a relic of a time long past.
The man turned to Lin Zhan and spoke, his voice calm but commanding. “This is where your trial begins.”
“Trial?” Lin Zhan asked, his confusion growing. “What kind of trial? I’m just looking for answers.”
The man’s eyes softened for a brief moment, as if seeing Lin Zhan for the first time with understanding. “The trial is simple. You will face a creature of this world. It will test your strength, your skill, and your resolve. If you survive, I will teach you the ways of this world. If you fail…” He didn’t finish the sentence, but the implication was clear.
Lin Zhan felt a lump form in his throat. He didn’t feel ready. He had just unlocked his power, and while it felt potent, he had no real control over it. The undead creature from earlier had been an unexpected challenge, but that had been a fluke. This was different. This was a test. And if he failed…
“Do not worry,” the man said, his tone almost as though reading Lin Zhan’s thoughts. “I will be watching from afar. I will not interfere. But I will guide you afterward. Show me what you’re made of, Lin Zhan.”
The words settled heavily in Lin Zhan’s mind. He had no choice but to face whatever came next. He nodded, more to himself than the man, and stepped onto the platform. The stone beneath his feet was cold, almost unnaturally so, as if it had been untouched for millennia. His body tensed in anticipation, his muscles aching from the tension, his heart thudding in his chest.
For a long moment, nothing happened.
Then, the air around him began to shift. A strange pulse rippled through the ground, and the stone under his feet hummed with power. Lin Zhan’s eyes widened as a figure began to emerge from the shadows of the clearing.
It was a beast, but not one he could have imagined. Towering at nearly three meters tall, its body was covered in black scales that glinted in the faint light. Its claws were massive, each one sharp enough to slice through steel. Its eyes glowed a menacing red, and its mouth, filled with razor-sharp fangs, let out a low growl. This was no simple beast. It was an apex predator of this world, an entity designed to test the strength of anyone who dared step into its territory.
Lin Zhan’s blood ran cold. He had no experience with such creatures. His mind screamed for him to run, to flee. But he knew that wasn’t an option. The creature locked its eyes on him, sensing his hesitation, and roared—a deafening sound that shook the air around him.
With a burst of motion, the beast lunged forward, its claws swiping through the air with terrifying speed. Lin Zhan barely had time to react. His body instinctively dropped to the ground, narrowly avoiding the attack. His heart was hammering in his chest as he scrambled backward, his legs burning with the effort. He had never felt so vulnerable.
The Golden Finger system’s voice suddenly echoed in his mind, cold and urgent.
“Host, focus! You have power within you. Channel it! You can defeat this beast.”
Lin Zhan gritted his teeth, his mind racing. Channel it? He didn’t know how to channel it. He didn’t even know what it was. But the urgency of the situation forced him to act. He focused, drawing on the energy he had felt earlier, that raw, untamed force that had come from within him.
He extended his hand toward the creature. Nothing happened. The beast growled again, preparing for its next strike.
“Focus!” Lin Zhan muttered to himself. He didn’t have time to hesitate. With all his might, he thrust his hand forward once more.
This time, the energy responded.
A bolt of lightning-like energy shot from his palm, streaking across the clearing. The beast let out a startled roar as the blast struck it square in the chest, sending it tumbling backward. The force of the impact created a shockwave, and Lin Zhan’s body was almost thrown off the platform. His vision blurred for a moment, but he quickly regained his footing.
The beast, though injured, wasn’t defeated. It growled, shaking off the effects of the blast, and charged again. This time, Lin Zhan was ready.
He pushed himself forward, his body moving faster than he thought possible. With a leap, he twisted mid-air, his hand once again gathering the strange energy. The world seemed to slow as he gathered his power, focusing every ounce of will into the attack.
At the peak of his jump, Lin Zhan released a concentrated wave of energy—a pulse of raw power that shot through the air, striking the beast with an even greater force. The creature’s body contorted violently as it was blasted into the air, its limbs flailing. The beast crashed to the ground with a resounding thud, unmoving.
Lin Zhan landed gracefully, his heart still pounding in his chest. He felt lightheaded, but the feeling of triumph rushed through him. He had done it. He had defeated the beast.
For a moment, the clearing was silent. Lin Zhan stood there, panting, sweat dripping down his brow. His body was still trembling from the exertion, but he felt a surge of something else—something deeper. He had faced an overwhelming opponent and come out victorious. And for the first time, he felt like he truly belonged in this world.
The mysterious man stepped forward from the shadows, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the defeated beast. He nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips.
“You’ve passed the first trial, Lin Zhan. You are ready to begin your training.”
Lin Zhan looked at the man, his chest still heaving with the adrenaline of battle. He didn’t know what lay ahead, but one thing was certain—this world was far more dangerous than he could have ever imagined. But if he could survive this, if he could grow stronger… then maybe, just maybe, he would find the answers he sought.
The real journey was only just beginning.
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