The Guardian's eyes glowed brighter as I caught my breath.
"You have entered the Path of Endurance," it said, voice steady and deep. "This trial tests your body's limits—the strength of your muscles, the speed of your reflexes, and the depth of your will. It is not enough to be strong; you must endure."
I swallowed hard, my chest tight. "How… how do I pass?"
The Guardian's gaze pierced me. "Survive the gauntlet. Navigate the shifting labyrinth. Overcome its traps and obstacles. Those who falter fall forever within its walls."
The chamber rumbled, walls sliding into place around me, carving out a twisting maze of stone corridors.
The floor shifted beneath my feet, sending me stumbling forward.
"No turning back," the Guardian's voice echoed.
I gritted my teeth, adrenaline surging. I'm just a boy. No cultivation, no powers. But I will not fail.
---
The first trap revealed itself: a set of swinging blades, sharp as razors, cutting through the air with deadly precision.
I timed my run, sprinting through the gap just as the blades swooshed past my back.
Next, jagged spikes erupted from the floor—silent but deadly. I leapt, barely clearing them, landing hard on the other side.
The path twisted sharply, forcing me to climb a sheer stone wall slick with moss.
My fingers bled as I clawed my way upward, muscles burning.
A sudden rumble startled me—rocks crumbled and fell from above.
I dove to the side, heart pounding, feeling the cold stone scrape my skin.
Keep moving.
Narrow ledges forced me to balance with every step, my arms outstretched, breath shallow and rapid.
The final stretch loomed ahead—a corridor filled with thick smoke, obscuring my vision.
My legs trembled, but I charged forward, trusting instinct.
When I burst through, the maze walls shifted again, and the deadly traps ceased.
I collapsed on a raised platform, gasping for air, muscles trembling.
---
The Guardian's voice returned, calm but firm.
"You have endured. The strength of your body is proven."
I wiped sweat and dirt from my face, my heart still racing.
"How… what happens now?" I asked, voice barely a whisper.
The Guardian's gaze softened.
"The Path of Endurance is complete. But your journey is far from over. Rest now. The next trial awaits."