The ancient passage was silent.
Sam walked alone.
Each step echoed through the endless corridor.
Unlike the previous trials...
There were no blue flames.
No statues.
No ancient carvings.
Only darkness.
Minutes later...
The corridor opened into a perfectly round chamber.
It was empty.
No pillars.
No weapons.
No Guardian.
Sam frowned.
"...Is this the third trial?"
Inside his mind...
Rex answered.
Commander...
No life signatures detected.
Sam slowly rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"So where is—"
A voice interrupted him.
"You've done well to come this far."
It came from everywhere.
Yet nowhere.
Sam turned in every direction.
"Who's there?"
The voice answered calmly.
"I am the Third Guardian."
"I have no form."
"I have no body."
"I exist only to judge potential."
A golden screen appeared before Sam.
---
Third Trial
The Trial of Potential
Objective: Survive.
Time Limit: Unknown.
---
Sam raised an eyebrow.
"Survive?"
The Guardian replied,
"A king's greatest enemy..."
"...is the person he has yet to become."
The chamber trembled.
Dark mist gathered in the center of the arena.
It slowly took the shape of a man.
One arm.
Two arms.
A body.
A sword.
Finally...
The mist disappeared.
Sam's eyes widened.
Standing before him...
Was himself.
The same face.
The same armor.
The same sword.
But different.
His armor was jet black, etched with glowing blue runes.
A long shadow cloak flowed behind him.
His eyes burned with blue soul flames.
Darkness twisted around his feet like living creatures.
Behind him...
Hundreds of shadows stood silently.
An army.
The future Sam slowly opened his eyes.
Inside his mind...
Rex's voice was filled with something Sam had never heard before.
Shock.
Impossible...
Sam stared at his future self.
"...Rex?"
Commander...
I cannot analyze the target.
The future Sam slowly raised his sword.
Then...
He smiled.
"You've come a long way."
His voice was calm.
Confident.
Familiar.
Sam tightened his grip.
"So..."
"You're me?"
The future Sam nodded once.
"A version of you."
"The version that fulfilled his potential."
The chamber fell silent.
Future Sam pointed his sword toward him.
"You are not expected to defeat me."
"You couldn't."
"Not yet."
Sam frowned.
"Then what's the trial?"
Future Sam's smile disappeared.
"Show me..."
"...that you're worthy of becoming me."
The next instant...
He vanished.
Rex's voice rang out.
Commander!!
Too late.
A blade appeared inches from Sam's neck.
CLANG!!
Steel collided with steel.
The impact blasted Sam across the chamber.
He crashed into the stone wall.
A spiderweb of cracks spread behind him.
Before he could recover...
Future Sam was already standing where he landed.
No footsteps.
No warning.
Only overwhelming speed.
He looked down at Sam.
"Get up."
"If that's all you've become..."
"...then this kingdom has waited for nothing."
Sam slowly stood.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
Then...
He smiled.
"You know..."
"If you really are me..."
"You should already know..."
He raised his sword.
"...I never quit."
Future Sam's smile returned.
"Good answer."
Darkness exploded across the chamber.
The true trial...
Had begun.