She was facing her final challenge—the Trial of Skill.
Alauna moved with precision, daggers flashing in her hands. Like many in her family, her affinity for lightning and darkness made the dagger her weapon of choice. She had trained in this art since childhood, honing reflexes and instincts to a razor's edge.
For a while, she kept pace with the avatar, matching strike for strike. But gradually, the avatar's movements became overwhelming, and despite her best efforts, she was overpowered.
As she struggled to rise, the shadowy figure vanished. In its place appeared the familiar door that followed every trial. Alauna stepped through.
The space beyond was familiar—And there it was: the glowing orb, waiting for her, as it always did. Alauna approached the orb, curiosity tingling through her veins. She wondered what it would have in store for her this time. Slowly, the radiant glow surrounding it dimmed, revealing the object within—a short dagger.
A smile tugged at her lips. The dagger was perfect; it suited her fighting style better than any other weapon could. From her experience, she knew that the quality would be exceptional for someone of her level.
Eagerly, she reached out and touched the dagger—but the moment her fingers made contact, a wave of shock and excitement froze her in place. Her system's description had appeared, and what it revealed left her momentarily speechless.
[Faceless dagger (item)
Rank: Rare
Description: Can morph into any knife type weapon, from knifes to heavy swords. The size of the weapon is dependent on the users power].
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The room suddenly trembled. Dust fell from the ceiling, and a low rumble echoed through the space. A section of the wall slowly lifted, revealing a dark tunnel beyond.
She hesitated, her mind racing.
After a few minutes of internal struggle she decides to follow the tunnel.
Alauna emerged into a dense jungle just outside the temple, relief washing over her as she finally escaped the suffocating confines of that place. She felt different here—alive, warm, and free. Strangely, despite the ordeal she had just endured, her body already felt refreshed, the lingering strain of the trial fading far faster than she expected.
She decided to rest briefly before tracking down the others.
Finding a broad tree, she leaned against its trunk and closed her eyes, allowing herself a moment of respite.
Then, her senses screamed.
She moved on pure instinct, twisting aside just as a panther's claw sliced through the space where her head had been a heartbeat earlier. The force of the strike left deep claw marks in the bark as the beast landed with terrifying grace a few paces away.
Alauna's heart pounded.
One glance was enough. Based on sheer instinct alone, she knew there was no way she could defeat a creature like this. Its muscles rippled beneath dark fur, eyes glowing with predatory focus.
But she also knew something else just as surely.
There would be no escape.
So Alauna steadied her breath, tightened her grip on her daggers, and straightened. If running wasn't an option, then she would do the only thing left.
She would stand her ground—and fight.
The panther moved first.
It vanished in a blur of black, closing the distance in an instant. Alauna barely had time to raise her daggers before the impact sent her skidding across the forest floor. Pain flared through her shoulder as she rolled, bark and dirt tearing at her skin.
"Damn… it's fast," she winced.
She sprang up, slashing on instinct. One blade grazed the panther's flank, drawing a thin line of blood.
The beast barely reacted.
It circled her, muscles coiling, tail flicking, its glowing eyes never leaving her face. Alauna struck again—fast and precise, lightning flickering faintly along the edge of her dagger—but the panther weaved past the blow and countered.
Claws raked across her side.
Agony exploded through her ribs, the breath tearing from her lungs as she was hurled into a tree hard enough to crack bark. She dropped to one knee, blood beginning to soak into her clothes, her vision swimming.
Too fast… too strong.
She forced herself upright just as the panther lunged again. She managed to cross her daggers in time, sparks flashing as claw met steel—but the force was overwhelming. One dagger was knocked from her hand and sent spinning away.
The panther slammed into her chest, driving her to the ground. The air rushed from her lungs in a broken gasp.
Her remaining dagger slipped from numb fingers. Blood dripped onto the leaves beside her head.
Her body refused to respond.
The panther reared back, muscles bunching for the killing strike.
And Alauna knew—that this was it.
Her life flashed before her eyes. She remembered her parents. The day she first picked up a dagger. The moment she awakened the system. Meeting the Elite Seven—and, strangely enough, Leo.
W-what is his face doing here? she wondered faintly as she prepared to meet King Yama and remain with him forever.
The panther's claws tore through the air—
But the expected impact never came.
Instead, she heard a sharp metallic clang, steel striking steel.
Her eyes flew open.
Someone stood before her, blocking the panther's strike with a sword.
"We'll talk after I'm done with the cat here," her savior said.
She nodded weakly, still stunned. How could a human who hadn't even started cultivating block a blow like that?
Leo shoved the panther back, then—in one smooth motion—his sword shifted into a rifle.
POW.
The gunshot tore through the jungle, the bullet embedding itself deep into the panther's chest. The force sent the beast flying backward. It hit the ground hard—and did not rise again.
Leo watched it for a moment. After confirming it was dead, he turned back to Alauna, wearing his signature, dashing smile.