The Trial of Persistance

In a bright flash of light, the three of them are consumed. Joshua, unconscious from the transition, rolls across the floor and slams into a dark stone wall. Eventually stirring from his sleep, he looks around, his eyes struggling to adapt as the room is black as night. looking around himself, he vaguely makes out shapes in the darkness.

Clutching his head he calls out to his master, but he doesn’t respond. “Draxis. Where the hell am I?” Joshua groans as a distorted feminine voice rings in his mind. “Child. This place is unstable, don't tarry for long. Even now my connection to you is fluctuating.”

Gathering his bearings he stands up, propping himself up with his blade. “Okay so where the hell am I?” Joshua, finally adjusting to the darkness, recognizes the fact that he’s in a stone room. “This must have been what he meant before that light consumed me.”

Looking inward he questions the effeminate voice. “Are you the trial guide? I vaguely remember Dialos mentioning in passing that he had someone assisting him.” The female voice pauses, considering her options. “I guess I am… Albeit I doubt I’ll be any help. I don’t recognize this place at all. It seems to be a fabrication of that strange monolith.”

“I see, that's what I figured.”After taking a moment to stretch his muscles out, Joshua faintly stumbles over to a lone wooden table sitting beside a black, metal, arched dungeon door. On the table's surface rests a few items. A torch, a rope, a key and a box.

“A puzzle? Make sure to take everything with you.” the distorted voice echoes in his mind. “I kind of figured that out.” Ignoring the voice, already realizing that a puzzle awaited him, Joshua collects all the items and walks over to the door, and tries to giggle the knob, only to instantly notice that it's locked.

Quickly pulling out the key, he attempts to force into the lock, however it doesn’t fit.. “Hell!” Joshua confusedly shakes his head before looking around after subconsciously activating draconic sight. As his eyes rest upon every surface, roof, wall, and floor, nothing of note is caught. “Well clearly it's not that kind of puzzle.” Rolling his eyes, Joshua thinks back to some puzzle themed novels he’s read before. As his mind racks through the many stories that he’’s read in his free time he has a realization.

“I bet this is actually really simple. They just want me to overthink it.” Chuckling nervously to himself, Joshua quickly unsheathes his blade slamming it down on the knob as it shatters off as the door swings open. The sound echoes loudly through the corridor before him. Looking outward his vision narrows as it's too dark to see. “I see…”

Joshua considers whether or not to use the torch, but rather than potentially waste it, he reactivates draconic sight. This vaguely makes out the path before him even though the walls features blur in his peripherals. Looking down to his right hand, he tightens his grip as his knuckles whiten. Activating his aura, his blade becomes coated in bright red glow as everything before him becomes illuminated.

Shockingly he raises his blade in front of himself, but even then it looks like there was nothing there, just a long ever stretching pathway. With strange machinations poking out from the walls and ground. “Now it begins.” the feminine voice warns. Joshua rubs his eyes in confusion as he steps out of the chamber only to suddenly shift his body out of the way of an arrow firing towards his head; his eyes instinctively reacting.

“I didn’t even see it coming.” Looking around frantically, Joshua pulls back as another arrow is sent his way. This time he blocks it with his sword. Twisting his body around, he spins his blade in a whirlwind motion as a blast of aura erupts from the tip of his blade and slams into the side walls. Cratering them slightly and deactivating the arrow mechanism. “Shit.”

Cautiously stepping forward, he makes it a few feet before taking a deep breath. However, he is given no such chance as stepping forward leads to a spear being shot and tearing through his chest from above. Collapsing to the ground as blood pools around him and gurgles from his mouth. Grabbing a hold of the spear he feels his consciousness start to slip. The last words he hears are from that icy voice. “This is cruel… even for him. I’m sorry child.”

“What the f…” his vision darkens as his life leaves his body. However just as soon as he falls his eyes open with a jolt back in the chamber. Standing up quickly, Joshua pats his chest frantically and lets out a sigh of relief. “I thought I was a goner. Where the hell did that come from and how am I even alive.”

“This is a trial of persistence. I am unable to help you, but I wish you luck. That won’t be the only death you face.”

Confused by her words, Joshua walks back over to the table where the same four items greet him. Quickly re-equipping them, he walks back up to the door. This time carefully knocking it off without making as much racket in case that was a problem. Activating his draconic sight again, this time he rushes forward pouring aura into his feet.

Jumping to the side of the corridor instead of standing in the middle, Joshua avoids the spear that previously impaled his chest as it tears into the ground with a crash as the wood explodes on impact. Rushing forward, he recklessly carves through another volley of arrows. “I wonder what's next?”

Gritting his teeth, he unlodges the arrows from his body, pulling them through his blazer as he sits down to take a moment of reprieve. Looking onward, the end of the corridor seems just as far away as it was in the beginning. “What the hell.” He breathes heavily as his chest rises and falls; blood stains on his flesh and uniform. “How much time has passed… I genuinely can’t tell at this point.”

These thoughts are cut short however only for something sharp to tear through him as a panel of flooring rises up and fires. His eyes activate in reaction, but Joshua’s too slow to dodge. Instead a tri-point blade edge protrudes from his chest. His vision goes blurry and all he can see is red. Blood, his blood pours out from the orifice as darkness consumes him once more.

He wakes back up yet again in the same room and stands up after feeling his chest. But this time his memories were a bit hazier as he only remembers fragments of his previous attempt. How he died, and both his successful and ineffective methods.

“Hmmmm.” The feminine voice muses.

With fervor, Joshua makes his way back to the table and then back to the door, knocking the handle off. As he opens the door, he activates his eyes once more and is successfully able to dodge the arrows and the spear. Making it back to the previous platform he mumbles to himself.

“Okay Joshua, this time don’t stop and wait. Apparently the walls can move. I wish I had Draxis right now, my mind is getting all jumbled up and I can barely remember what I’m doing here. Damn trial." That's when he has a realization. “Hey, trial guide!”

“Yes, Joshua.” her voice distorts.

“Can you keep track of my failed and successful attempts?” The voice rings in his ears before promptly replying.

“I can do that. Just keep pushing forward.”

After self-monologuing for a bit and a conversation with his guide, he does as asked. Rushing forward with his aura activated and tears through everything sent his way; precisely cutting through them without taking too much damage. Jumping over another spear strike, he makes his way down the corridor. As he continues to run along, he instinctively front flips over a span of flooring as his eye catches faint movement of the trapped floor.

Landing over it, his feet patter against the ground as he makes his way over to a large crevice separating him from his path; about thirty feet. The only thing that rested nearby was an old wooden sign that says ‘Read the ground’. As he looks down at his feet, his right hand rises to his chin. Looking around, Joshua notices nothing of importance that can be used to assist himself. As he spends the next thirty minutes thinking of a way to get across as an idea finally pops into his head.

“Yo, guide. Any ideas here. Normally I have a dragon in my head who tells me what to do when I’m at a loss.”

With a sigh the voice replies. “Do you remember the items from that table? I believe this is where some of them will come in handy.” Joshua facepalms, forgetting about them. Looking down towards his waist he chuckles.

“You know what, good idea. I’m glad this place provided my ass with some help.” The vulgar language causes the icy voice to sigh once more. “Some tact would be appreciated child. Such language is not befitting a warrior.”

Taking the dagger from his side,Joshua ties the rope through the loop at its end and starts spinning the end of the rope as the blade builds up momentum. Pouring aura into the handle and blade, he slings it towards the ceiling near the center of the gap as it craters into it; Lodging itself firmly in place. Tugging on the rope, it doesn't budge. “Perfect.”

With the rope still firmly placed in one of his hands, he steps back as far as he can before rushing forward, leaping and swinging over what looks likes eternal darkness with faint tendrils wriggling within as a pair of a glowing green and red eye stares out. As he lands on the other side, Joshua notices a few moving creatures in the distance. “What the fuck.” as his eyes narrow, taking in their appearance; his skin crawls. They have elongated spines, tri-clawed hands, and hooves for feet. Their purple scaly skin reflecting in the darkness.

“So, I’m not alone here.” Lowering himself closer to the ground to avoid the creature’s sights. He begins pouring aura into himself and his blade as his network begins to rapidly circulate throughout his body. “Lets make this quick, I don’t want to know if they can fight back or not.” Flash stepping forward, in an instant, the three purple bipedal creatures collapse to the ground, their heads rolling along the ground alongside a blueish blood like liquid.

Panting slightly, Joshua takes a short stop to catch his breath and recover some stamina. Looking through his items, his brow furrows as he still hasn’t found a use for the torch. By this point, alongside his draconic sight, Joshua’s vision has adjusted much better to the dark. Mumbling to himself, he cracks his knuckles. “Well this hasn’t been too bad so far. I’ve only died like twice.”

Finally feeling like he’s been gaining some progress, he steps forward recklessly as sigils on the ground begin to glow a vibrant green. The sigil’s symbol radiates danger. His eyes open widely as he sees the faint outline of a green circle vanish and flicker red. “So, it’s one of those magic sigils… Damn it.” Joshua sighs as he waits for his end to come. “Me and my big mouth.”

Chastising, the icy voice retorts. “You can say that again child. You mustn’t let confidence go to your head.”

Closing his eyes with a sigh, a tiny needle sticks into the back of his neck from a vortex spawning behind himself as his body goes immediately limp. Poison surges through his blood stream and he perishes once more. Slamming into the ground, Joshua takes note of the path that lay before him. “So much for a low death counter.”

Re-spawning back in the chamber, Joshua groans as his guide fills him in on all the details his memories neglect. This goes on for Serox only knows how long. The same events over and over, Eventually Joshua passes through the sigil puzzle only to get caught at even more roadblocks. Some were simple, like more combat based puzzles. Others, required more inquisitive thought. Joshua was left to rely on his guide's wisdom to push further on.

After spending what seemed like days inside this bloody chamber, his body finally acclimates and grows accustomed to the many traps that lay waiting. Minimizing his aura usage, this time around Joshua makes it further than before. Looking forward, his eyes narrow as he grips his blade. He finally sees the end of the corridor. Scanning his surroundings, Joshua peers out with aura sense. “Nothing…” reopening his eyes, he sighs. “I think this is it.” Just stones and an illuminated red sconce.

“Hurry child, I feel something is going to happen soon. Don’t tarry for long in one place.” Her words echo in Joshua’s mind. She’s right, every time he lingers he tends to end up dead.

“ Very well, my icy guide. Let's finish this. When I'm done I have some questions for you. Like what is even the point of this trial. Is this place trying to teach to accept my death? I don’t exactly need help in that regard.” His mind flashes back to his original death.

Clutching his blade, he reactivates his draconic sight, his aura flares to life. One, two, three, red and white lights flash out from around Joshua. “Guess I’ve got to risk it. Don’t fail me now body. Remembering the technique he used against Roxanne.” Joshua lowers his center of gravity and crouches down as he forces aura into the bottom of his soles. Swaying back and forth, Joshua relaxes his muscles leaps forward as everything around him slows down. Twisting around he feels blades that he is unable to see graze his skin. His heart palpitates in his chest as his arms attempt to seize up as he soars past the trap.

Ungracefully, Joshua slams headfirst into the door past the stony corridor. It doesn’t budge an inch as he falls to the ground clutching his aching head. “Maybe that wasn’t such a good idea.” Groaning aloud as he holds his trembling body, he turns around and watches the four corners of the corridor he leapt through close up in an instant. A loud crunching sound could be heard as the corridor reopens itself up, everything a crumbled-up mess.

Looking back further, he sees that it wasn’t just where he was that closed up. It was the entire trial itself. “This was timed as well… What the hell.” Letting out a massive sigh of relief, he stands back up weakly as the icy voice in his head congratulates him.

“Good job, child. This is where we must part. Take the wisdom I’ve given you and advance forward and remember, I will be watching over you.” Joshua smirks sheepishly whilst vocalizing his thanks. “Thank you, whoever you are. If it wasn’t for you, I’d still be dying back there. Maybe we’ll meet again. I have no idea how long or the structure of this place.” A gust of icy cold wind brushes past Joshua as the voice falls silent. Even his bones feel the frost from within. Shivering, he takes a deep breath and turns back to the door.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out the key he collected at the start and plugs it into the key hole, twisting it as a loud cranking noise could be heard. As he turns the key, the noise gets sickeningly loud as his body and ears recoil in shock. As if the noise was programmed directly into his brain.

As he pushes the door open, he’s greeted with a welcoming sight. Another stony chamber with plenty of light. A nice large cushioned chair and a container of water and a simple dark-wood table. Taking a step forward, Joshua passes through an invisible barrier with a translucent web-like array.

Sitting down on the chair at the edge of the room he’s coated in a gold and reddish glow. The aches in his muscles and the scars his body he had obtained wash away in the light as his entire being is restored. No not restored, enhanced. He could feel it in his bones; his body and mind was on the cusp of breaking through to the next level.

Throughout the many deaths and challenges his body and mind were undergoing they were remembering each and every experience and evolving from it. “It took me longer than this to unlock the third node and I had help from Nanatsumi, just what the hell did father send me into?” A smirk crosses Joshua's lips as he shuts his eyes after drinking the water.

Stretching his back and arms out with a yawn, he gets up and makes his way up to the next door. “Well, I don’t want to tarry for long. I don’t want to keep everyone waiting for me on the outside.”

Placing his hand over the handle he turns it to the right as he gently pulls it open. The sight that awaits him is strange. It’s a circular room lined with black, white, and gray stone