Chapter 15: Spinning crystal, Salty sea

The Emperor did not allow them to chat further, their bodies vanishing before they could react.

Agi found himself falling, his limb flailing. The ground flew closer, the wind blowing him around, its force was ungodly. He could not get a handle on himself.

And his mind spun,

“I’ll die!”

Agi looked toward the looming ground, he had no foothold, he had no hope. It was only a simple and inevitable death.

He cursed the temple, how much had he struggled, only to die from this.

“Do you think this is enough!?”

He shouted, his body becoming a shattered mess.

Agi had died.

Yes, in that moment Agi Vitold had certainly died.

Yet as he opened his eyes, witnessing the claw barreling toward him, he laughed loudly.

“I see! I see!”

His body scattered into the wind.

His eyes opened again,

“Kill me! KILL ME!”

He shouted out.

His eyes could not open. The glowing orange heat sealed them shut long before he recognized the shift.

His small body melted into a bloody pool of boiling grotesquery.

“This is not enough!”

His skin turned dark purple, his fingers and toes blackening as he stared into the void with resolve.

Agis heart froze over.

Opening his eyes he shot his fist forward, the beast before him consumed his fist, and Agi turned forcing his soul to burst forth in full strength his leg flew spun through the air.

The beast shuddered its head caving in as Agi was swallowed whole from behind.

His eyes were dull, but his lips were upturned.

He had came to a realization.

Another death.

In this world, life is so fleeting.

Skewered.

He cannot afford to sit still.

Split in half.

He had worked tirelessly, he was only five.

Decapitated.

His mind was older, almost fourteen.

Consumed.

He would change his pathetic fate.

Bled.

Had he feared death?

Obliteration.

No, he simply feared being stepped on.

He was not aware of how he had died that time.

He came to a determination, this was not his trial.

His crushed his throat. His eyes opening.

“How?”

He asked the man standing in front of him, he had a slightly shocked expression.

The man had tufts of fur on his arms and face.

His pupils were round and expressive.

“Pekko sent me, but I have to say. I’m surprised.”

The world darkened as the man began to vanish.

“I’m Alister, remember it when you come to visit.”

Agi felt uncomfortable, like the man was speaking directly into his mind.

“Oh, You can also call me Exalted Veil.”

Agi felt like such a title held immense weight, however he stood up growling at him, “Who do you think you are?”

His tone was vicious.

“A good friend of your uncle. And Agi,” His eyes turned serious, a pressure exerting, “A message from Pekko, Don’t receive The Gift. No matter what.”

Agi was slightly shocked just then the blackened world shattered.

Don’t receive The Gift? He always had an odd feeling about it… but he shuddered. He settled in his mind, The Gift was definitely not the right path.

Before him stood a waterfall, blood poured torrentially from atop, Morgan and Samuel already seated beneath.

Annika chuckled, “Awake? How cute, falling asleep during the trial.”

She reached out to pinch his cheek, only for Agi to bite her finger off.

He spit it out glaring at her.

“So feisty.”

She said her finger regrowing while she pouted.

“Don’t take too long, this trial is the easiest one.”

She sat beneath one of the crimson waterfalls.

Agi was hesitant, these waterfalls definitely had a secret, but he had nearly died from drinking some water.

He couldn’t risk being so reckless.

Before long he stood in front of Samuel, who was in deep meditation beneath the waterfall.

“Hey.”

He called out and Samuel opened his eyes with wrought annoyance, he grunted, “What?”

Agi clicked bared his teeth, “Show some respect.”

The young warrior wanted to attack him right there, but that crazy bitch Annika had already attempted something similar before, only able to do superficial damage, and nothing life threatening.

Samuel didn’t respond only going back into meditation.

Agi reached out, grabbing his hair and tossing him from the waterfall, his body rolling roughly in the blood pond around the falls.

Samuel finally regaining control pushed his body up, “What the hell?”

Agi took slow strides toward him.

“Tell me the nature of this trial, and I’ll forgive your disrespect.”

His eyes were cold.

Samuel just stood up mocking him, “What can you even do in this trial? You’re a spoiled brat, why don’t you go back to playing with your toys.”

As he walked by Agi frowned, jumping up he grabbed his head, “No matter, you’ll still be useful.”

Agi shoved his head roughly under the waterfall, and Samuel thrased trying to break Agis grasp.

“Stop! Stop! I’ll tell you, so stop!”

However Agi didn’t stop thrusting his head beneath the waterfall and watching as Samuels body became covered in splotches and discoloration.

Agi titled his head, “Seems familiar… Is it black seed poison?”

Agi was confused, tossing Samuels body aside he sat in front of it.

“The marks would be black seed… but why was he turning yellow?”

He had never heard of such a poison, but it didn’t matter, he understood the nature of the trial.

You must overcome the poisons within the waterfall. For The Gift that wouldn’t be hard, as long as they properly foritfy with the correct method, they can neutralize one poison at a time, until eventually they have something similar to immunity.

While it would rely on the circulation of their gift blood, it would be close enough to immunty, a pseudo immunity.

However, Agi did not have such a luxury.

He did not hold The Gift.

He tossed Samuels convulsing body aside, and looked toward Annika, “We’re friends, right?”

He pointed toward Samuel, “Save him.”

Annika opened one eye curiously, “Do you think you can command me?”

Scoffing he ignored her, walking under the waterfall. His eyes closed tightly.

She snickered before getting up and using the correct method, she began to push forth Samuels gift blood.

Agi did not know if she had known the correct method, or if she had determined it after being sent into his internal world, after all he had no idea how long would have passed for her within.

But right now he had more pressing matters.

The mist poured over Agis body, like the scent of death it clung tightly to his body, his hair become crimson, drenched under its unforgiving weight.

His back slouched slightly, the force of the waterfall on its own was great, let alone the vile things pouring into his body.

He attempted to fortify his body with his soul, a meandering attempt to delay the inevitable.

Agi had long since had a strong immunity to poisons, slighty enhanced during his training under Ramana.

However this poison was too strong, his natural endurance quickly reaching its limits.

Ramana had told him his body was surprisingly adaptable toward poison, he hypothesized that Agis boundary points reabsorbed the loosening life force, recylcing it back into his body.

Simply put, while Agi could become extremely weakened, his body in a near death state, he would not die to poison.

It was an incredible boon, one he planned to take full advantage of.

As the poison battered within his body and sploches formed across his tender skin, his body vessel was acting with its full force.

His boundary points spun like mini whirlpools, and as the poison forced his lifeforce to drift from his body, it was instantly pulled back within.

This was the true reason Inheritors were nearly impossible to kill.

Although Agi was not an inheritor, his body began to forcefully practice a method that came to them instinctively.

Although Agi did not have the recoverability of an inheritor, most wounds would only be superficial to him.

Despite this, his body slouched further, it would not be easy to overcome the myriad poisons.

Annika stood, stretching with her arms above her head.

It had already been a week since she healed that initiate, Samuel.

She looked toward the falls, beneath them still sat the other competitors, Agi too, sat in a state of complete concentration.

She felt like waking him, seeing him squirm as the poison invaded his flesh and laugh in his face as he crawled in the dirt, just like a worm.

However now was not the time.

She sighed before her expression immediately became a grin, a red light surrounded her body before she reappeared in the familiar hall.

None of them seemed surprised, in fact the only reason it took her so long was because she didn’t use her giftblood to circumvent the poison.

She had only used it to heal, allowing her body to slowly adapt to the poison.

Annika took a calm stride to the nearest mat, sitting atop it and pretending to go into meditation.

“It will still be a while until that child is old enough….”

Her mind began to move under the veil of her twisted expressions.

“Adam is still opposed, but it doesn’t matter. He is weak, both in mind and body, even weaker than that pathetic excuse of nint–No, I suppose she’s the tenth lord now.”

She had already opened her gift seven years ago, back then she had only been nine. Compared to the current lords, she had an unprecedented talent.

Ramana had only opened his gift at eleven, and he was the most talented.

Esfir? She wasn’t even worth mentioning. She had only opened her gift last year.

“Agi is… more unpredictable than I had previously predicted. He runs almost entirely on his own instinct, he even fights like an animal. I really thought I’d be able to save him, forcing a debt on him.”

She nearly sighed out loud, instead opting to chuckle to herself.

“It doesn’t matter. All things come in time.”

It would be a month later when Agi finally left the third trial.

He almost seemed rebuilt anew, he was more subdued, and a bit more cautious.

His mind had settled from the tumultuous second trial, and the third had allowed him to refine his body.

The others were seated, all meditating.

Agi didn’t wait long, joining them shortly.

However as he sat Samuel walked before him.

“You… Are you insane?”

Agi looked up at him, tilting his head, “What are you talking about?”

Samuel clenched his fist, “You nearly killed me. Swearing my loyalty wasn’t enough?”

Agi held disdain within his gaze, “You had disrespected me, however I was willing to let that go, didn’t you refuse to even tell me the nature of the trial?”

Samuel knew what he had done, not that he cared.

“I won’t serve you.”

Agi stood up, “Problematic.”

Samuel stood his ground glaring down at him, meanwhile Agi seemed completely unbothered.

“Do you think this trial is the end?”

Agi asked the furious initiate,

“Do you think that once you pass the fourth trial, and become a warrior you’ll be able to live in luxury?”

Samuel shifted his gaze, “It would be better than bowing to an evil thing like you.”

Agi went back to sitting, “You will never become a knight. You will never open your gift. But for me, such things are trivial, just a tip of the pyramid.”

Samuel knew his words were true, with the influence of being second lord opening his gift, and becoming a knight would only become a matter of his personal talent.

He huffed, without another word he returned to his seat.

For now, he had been subdued.

As the red light enveloped the now six survivors once more, Agi stood up, following this trial, he would become a warrior.

He would no longer be easily dismissed.

His eyes drifted across the room, Morgan had succumbed to the poison in the previous trial.

“How annoying…”

Annika, Samuel, Agi, A man under the name; Aran, A woman named Imani, and finally another woman, this one named Karuna.

Agi observed the five of them, his eyes locking with Samuel.

“Don’t risk your future.”

He mouthed as the six of them vanished.

The second lord felt the cold touch of stone beneath his small feet.

The air was cool and stale, as though it had been sealed from time immeriable.

A sense of deja vu overtook him.

Agi could not see, however a small distance away a torch lined the wall.

He slowly, hesitantly began to make his way over, however as he took two steps, the stone shook furiously, dust scattering as the walls began to shift.

Each piece of stone rotating vigorously, the walls spun wildly, thrashing Agi across the room, his body slamming hard into one wall after another.

Until finally his was laid out on the floor, the torch had gone out, and a small drop of blood slipped from his mouth.

Agi could not see, but judging by the fact that the torch had completely changed its location, he determined that each time that happened, this place would completely change its orientation.

“Is there a condition…? Or is it random… I hope its the former.”

Agi was confident he could survive easily if he found the condition. However, he was not worried.

How many warriors were in the Temple? How could Agi be satisfied with being ordinary. He would not falter at the trials of the weak.

After roaming for a while he came to a determination–This place was a maze.

Well, perhaps a labyrinth was a more apt explanation.

The small details were of little importance to Agi, he had found a goal, and nothing would stop him from reaching it now.

It this place was a labyrinth or a maze, it didn’t matter. All he had to do was find the way out.

Such a task was certain to be monumental, but Agi would persevere, he always did.

His ears perked, and his suddenly shifted his body sliding close to the ground as a body flew right overhead.

He heard a shaky voice call out, “J-Just surrender!”

Agi scraped his fingers across the stone, standing once more, surrender? What the hell were they talking about?

The body that had been launched toward him said from behind, “Blame yourself for picking the wrong enemies.”

The first voice had been a mans, while the second was a woman.

The first was undoubtedly Aran. The second was either… Imani or Karuna.

He would feel some pressure if it was the latter, however Imani was of little worry to him.

If only he could see…

He wasn’t allowed to lament for too long, as the two fiercly engaged once more.

Agi had already become used to fighting in the dark during his confrontation with Nerva, following that for the entire month duration of the second trial he had been working to maneuver in the dark.

As he slipped the fist he spun, his leg raised high above his head.

He heaved a breath as he exerted his full strength, his foot slamming heavily atop the mans head, pinning him to the cracked stone.

The man cried out in pain,

“AGHHH! MY HEAD!”

Agi felt the sensation of his bones cracking under his foot, the crisp crackling brought him no satisfaction as his foot pressed harder.

The woman quickly rushed over, “Stop!”

She screamed out, only for her wrist to be grabbed, her body weightless as it sped toward Agi.

Raising his head he slammed it against her temple, a fierce wind billowing between them as she stumbled multiple steps back,

“Imani.” Agi quickly determined his assailants.

“What purpose does this serve?”

The man clawed wildly at Agis foot, his voice was trembling, as though in fear, “You shouldn’t have made Lord Adam your enemy!”

He said, however Agi felt something was wrong.

This man held no reverence toward Adam, he could clearly tell.

Something strange was happening here.

Imani finally recovered, rushing toward Agi who had been momentarily distracted.

Her fist slammed into his jaw, forcing him to take multiple steps back.

He coughed, wiping the blood from his face, “I got distracted… What a mistake.”

“It won’t happen again.”

Aran rose unsteadily after being assisted by Imani.

Agi shoved his soul to the depths of his internal world.

His presence vanishing, this was not worth it. Although these two were nothing compared to Nerva who had been on the cusp of opening his gift, they were a threat. Against Agi who couldn’t see, and had to worry about the shifting halls.

They were a fatal threat.

Just as he thought this the hall began to thrash wildly, tossing the three of them like ragdolls around the room ruthlessly.

A foot shot toward his head as he spun, barely reacting he turned his head, bringing his knee to his chest and cracking the foot like an egg.

As the room continued to thrash Agi began to deflect attacks of all manner, however he noticed something worrying.

The two of them were opening their gifts rapidly.

They had been little more than dust to be swept when they started the fight, however now they were almost halfway to opening their gift.

Their healing had become much faster.

Agi did not know the conditions required to open The Gift, but these two had clearly received some kind of help.

When the walls finally settled Agi huffed on the ground, he stood like an animal, his arms poised to attack.

Escaping was not an option, that seemed to be one of the conditions.

He had to fight, but this was rapidly become too dangerous.

Agi growled out, suppressed… suppressed… why? Who?

Will he live his entire life like this?

No! He would rather die! He will not live the life enforced on him, he will take his own path.

“Come die.”

He lunged toward the man, he was progressing faster than Imani, a considerably more threatening opponent.

Imani came to assist, only for Agi to suddenly stop, turning on his heel he kicked high, his shin crushing her nose as she flew through the hall.

Leaping at her he landed powerfully onto her chest, feeling her body condese beneath his weight.

His hand latched onto her face, his fingers stabbing into her eyes.

Screaming out she began to punch him, however Agi was unfazed, his hands feeling the soft warm liquid flow between his fingers, as the fleshy bulbs that were once eyes molded beneath his hands.

Aran rushed over, kicking Agi in the side to send him rolling off.

Agi recovered quickly, bouncing from the wall, he flew past Aran, taking a chunk of his abdomen on the way.

Agi looked toward them, licking his teeth before laughing in a crazed manner, “I chose the wrong enemies? Me?”

He walked closely, slower and slower.

Aran took a hesitant step back, looking down at Imani who was convulsing on the floor.

“I have chose nothing.”

He reached Aran who had been paralyzed in fear, his hand wrapping tightly around his throat,

“But today, I choose death for you.”

As his hand clenched forcefully he suddenly pulled back, jumping away.

He clicked his tongue, he was becoming infuriated, how many more would come?

Karuna sighed, “I was hoping to take your arm off.”

Agi only glared through the pitch black veil, his gaze was slightly off, but it didn’t matter.

“Such a feral thing, However I must please the La–Oh, haha, not supposed to say that, am I? I must please the Lord.”

She corrected herself, shooting toward Agi her arm outstretched only for the vicsious child to grab her arm, using her inhuman strength to throw himself up into the air, he spun before slamming his heal into her head.

Falling face first she grumbled.

Aran recovered, sending a kick which Agi caught pulling him he sent a knee into his abdomen before shoving his leg back.

Attempting to lunge forward for another attack, before his collar is grabbed by a furious looking young woman.

Imani, finally recovered pulled Agi by his collar, Elbowing his face.

Feeling disorientated, Agi lost his chance to counterattack.

A heel driving into his stomach he staggered back, before another kick slammed into his side.

A punch landed powerfully into his jaw, sending him nearly falling to the ground, before another shin slammed his head upright.

Blood dripping from his body he finally ducked beneath another punch, rushing forward he tackled Aran, his jaw clamping onto his throat.

The other two began to punch and kick him as he exerted all his strenght, finally pulling the flesh from Arans throat he knew the man would still recover.

He had nearly opened his gift. And now Agi could only kill him by crushing his brain or heart.

Finally being pulled off he’s tossed to the floor and as he rolls out of the way Karuna’s foot sent stone flying in all directions.

She seemed a bit disapointed looking at Agi, but chased after him.

With a set gaze Agi sent his soul to the depths of his internal world, momentarily vanishing before the hall began to shift wildly.

Grinning with reckless abandon, Agi leaped from the wall with his full strength, finding Arans body mid air.

He began to relentlessly claw at his chest, determined to rip his heart from his body.

Aran still seemed lifeless and did not fight back at all.

However Imani leaped from the other wall, grabbing Agis face and throwing him down.

He growled, turning his body to take less damage, before coughing a glob of blood.

Karuna landed beside him, grabbing his throat before the wall shifted once more, sending them tumbling Agi bit with force into her hand.

Tearing from her wrist she let go, sending Agi tumbling once more.

However when the falls finally settled Agi began to grin.

Another footstep sounded.

A man covered in blood walked over, his gaze was dark, and his fists were clenched.

He had nearly Opened his gift, he would be on par with Nerva.

“That crazy bitch tried to kill me.”

Samuel grunted from within the darkness.

“Lord Second, Lets survive this trial.”

Agi nodded in the darkness.

“When we leave here, I’ll make sure you become a knight.”

Samuel grinned as well, “Don’t forget your words.”

As if they shared a mind the two immediately shot toward Aran, Their force pummeling into his chest, quickly tearing his heart out.

Agi felt a distinct sense of Deja vu.

Shaking off the feeling Agi turned toward the other two,

“The one on the left, Karuna.”

Samuel nodded, however Karuna tensed up.

Agi alone was a difficult challenge, however with someone on par with Nerva here… it was dangerous.

When it seemed she was in trouble the two immediately shot toward Imani.

Imani, in shock only narrowly avoided Agi’s initial attack, being struck by Samuels foot.

Rolling back she stabalized quickly.

“Damn it…”

She clenched her bloody teeth, she didn’t even want to be here, if it wasn’t for that… She held her frustration in her heart.

Karuna took a couple steps back, this was becoming too dangerous for her.

Turning to run the room began to spin rapidly once more.

Agi laughed inwardly, this woman was so foolish.

Samuel grabbed Agis arm, tossing him toward Karuna.

The two of them worked surprisingly well, but Agi could worry about that later.

For now, it was his fortune.

His knee slammed into her face, her teeth scattering.

Her head bounced against the nearby wall, and Agi, currently upside down, grabbed her neck, biting down onto her shoulder.

She cried out, “You animal!” Agi didn’t respond, his mouth continued to clamp down repeatedly, pulling and rending repeatedly.

She grabbed his arms as the rooms momentum began to settle.

She pulled him down, kneeing into his ribcage twice.

Agi coughed, his breath short.

However while being pulled down the third time, he stuck his foot out, pushing down her knee before pulling his leg up, using his momentum to toss her onto her side.

Kicking her skull, he disorientated her, taking the second to disengage he rushed toward Samuel, who had Imani on her back foot.

“Her head!”

He roared, Samuel shot his hand toward her heart, but she predicted it, covering her heart with her arms, only for Agi to push his soul into an explosive burst, his hand launching into her head, cracking her skull.

He pulled back, hitting again, and Again. Until finally her body slumped against the wall.

Agi exhaled, finally… the pressure had lessened.

Agi furrowed his brows… for the third time… That feeling of Deja vu… Why?

The two turned toward Karuna.

She was cursing inwardly, she had bitten off more than she could chew.

But what she didn’t know was that Agi was cursing as well, he could hear another set of steps approaching.

And there was only one more candidate.

Annika.