The arena fell silent.
Sam stood shoulder to shoulder with the Goblin Chief.
The Goblin Mage waited several steps behind them, its staff glowing with fire mana.
Across the battlefield...
Garron smiled.
"Show me."
Sam took a deep breath.
Then...
He raised his sword.
"Chief!"
The Goblin Chief charged.
Its heavy footsteps shook the arena.
Garron answered with a powerful swing.
BOOM!
The Goblin Chief met the blow head-on.
Stone shattered beneath its feet.
Although it was pushed backward...
It held its ground.
"Now!"
The Goblin Mage lifted its staff.
"Fire Missiles!"
Six blazing missiles streaked toward Garron from different directions.
The Sword General laughed.
"Too slow!"
His greatsword swept across the battlefield.
BOOOOOOM!
Four missiles exploded in midair.
But two slipped past his guard.
BOOM!
BOOM!
Smoke swallowed the arena.
Garron burst through the flames.
His armor bore fresh scorch marks.
"Better!"
The moment he emerged—
Sam vanished.
Shadow Step!
He appeared above Garron.
"Vertical Instant Slash!"
A blade of condensed mana descended.
Garron raised his greatsword.
CLANG!
The impact shook the entire arena.
Before Garron could recover...
The Goblin Chief lunged from the side.
Its weapon crashed into Garron's shoulder.
BOOM!
For the first time...
The Sword General lost his balance.
Just for an instant.
Sam's eyes flashed.
"Attack Chain!"
He struck once.
Twice.
Three times.
Five.
Ten.
Every attack flowed into the next with flawless rhythm.
The Goblin Chief attacked whenever Garron defended against Sam.
The Goblin Mage launched spell after spell whenever Garron created distance.
Commander.
Warrior.
Mage.
The three fought as a single unit.
Garron's laughter echoed across the arena.
"Yes!"
"This is it!"
"This is what I've been waiting for!"
His soul flames erupted.
With a mighty roar, he unleashed a tremendous shockwave.
BOOOOOOOOM!
Sam and his undead were thrown backward.
Dust covered the battlefield.
Silence followed.
Then...
A heavy sound echoed.
Clang...
Garron's greatsword slipped from his hand.
It struck the stone floor.
The Sword General looked down at the weapon.
Then at Sam.
A broad smile spread across his face.
"You win."
The arena became silent.
Sam lowered his sword.
"I didn't defeat you."
Garron shook his head.
"You misunderstand."
"You stopped trying to defeat me."
"You started leading."
He walked toward his fallen sword and picked it up.
"When this battle began..."
"You fought as a lone warrior."
"But now..."
He pointed his blade toward the Goblin Chief and Goblin Mage.
"You trust those who fight beside you."
"That..."
"...is the quality of a king."
A golden screen appeared before Sam.
---
Second Trial Complete
Guardian of Blades Recognized Your Worth.
Rewards:
- Strength +25
- Dexterity +20
- Sword Mastery Increased
---
The screen faded.
Garron placed a fist against his chest.
For the first time...
The legendary Sword General bowed.
"Commander Sam."
"You have earned my respect."
He stepped aside.
Behind him, another ancient stone passage slowly opened.
A cold blue light spilled from the darkness beyond.
Garron looked toward the newly opened path.
"The Third Guardian awaits."
His smile slowly faded.
"And unlike me..."
"He has no interest in testing your skill with a blade."
"He will test something far more dangerous."
Sam frowned.
"What is it?"
Garron's soul flames flickered.
"Your soul."
The blue light deep within the passage suddenly pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Then a whisper echoed from the darkness.
"Come..."
Sam's eyes narrowed.
Without another word...
He stepped toward the third trial.