Kapitel 12: Chapter 12: Struggles in the God Trials
the God Trials become increasingly harsh, pushing each of Shubhu's companions to their absolute limits, making their success seem almost impossible.
Ansh's Trial: The Pond of Eternity
Ansh is submerged deeper into the seemingly endless water of his trial. He initially feels a sense of calm when he realizes he can breathe underwater, but this quickly turns to panic when he discovers he cannot move freely. As the weight of the water presses in on him, the holy voice echoes in his mind: "Only the worthy can unite the waters and become the divine heir."
The challenge before him is immense. He must use his power to combine the vast and scattered ponds across this water world, but they are spread across miles of deep, dark waters. Worse still, his powers are severely restricted, leaving him feeling drained after every small attempt. Each time he tries to lift the water, it feels like lifting the entire ocean—unimaginably heavy. His body trembles from the strain, and the waters push him back down relentlessly. Exhaustion creeps in, and every time he begins to succeed, the waters swallow him again, dragging him into unconsciousness.
As he drifts into darkness, he's haunted by visions of failure, knowing that one wrong move means he could be trapped here forever.
Kavi's Trial: The Maze of Metal
Kavi's trial takes place in an iron world where metal constantly shifts around him. The landscape is unforgiving, filled with towering iron cliffs and treacherous valleys. The holy voice tells him: "Forge your path through metal to ascend. Only the one who shapes their surroundings can pass."
Kavi must bend the metal to create a pathway to the Iron Gate, but the task is monumental. Every time he tries to manipulate the metal, it fights back—shifting, reshaping itself in unpredictable ways. The metal responds to his thoughts but is highly resistant, almost sentient, mocking his efforts. His arms feel heavy as though shackled by unseen chains. Each time he pushes a piece of metal forward, it snaps back or melts into an unusable form.
To make matters worse, the world around him begins to warp. The iron structures close in, shrinking and squeezing until Kavi can barely move. The ground beneath him suddenly gives way, and he falls into a pit of jagged, sharp iron spikes. He narrowly avoids impalement, but the realization strikes him—there are traps everywhere, and this trial could easily end in his death. His only hope lies in mastering this metal world, but the more he tries, the more impossible it feels.as Ansh sinks deeper into the endless water world, a glimmer of hope appears before his mind. The voice, soft but firm, gives him a clue: "Imagination is the key."
Ansh's heart races. The idea strikes him like lightning—his powers alone won't save him, but perhaps his imagination could. The water, vast and crushing, is responding to his thoughts, not just his strength. He remembers how, when he first dove in, the pond seemed to shift, almost as if following the desires of his mind rather than the force of his abilities.
Breathing deeply, he tries to push the panic aside and focus. He starts by imagining the water as something lighter, more manageable. Slowly, the heavy, crushing force seems to ease. He closes his eyes, picturing the scattered ponds merging into one—one enormous, unified body of water, bending to his will. The water around him begins to move, swirling gently, and for the first time, Ansh feels a flicker of control.
But as soon as he opens his eyes, doubt creeps in. His limited experience with imagination, his reliance on logic and power, makes it difficult for him to keep the vision alive. The water wavers, and the unified pond starts to split again, slipping from his grasp.
No, he thinks desperately. I can do this.
Ansh squeezes his eyes shut once more, trying to rebuild the image in his mind. He imagines himself as part of the water, moving with it, controlling it effortlessly. Again, the ponds begin to move closer, merging at the edges. His heart pounds, filled with hope. But his mind, strained from the effort, starts to weaken. His imagination flickers, as if running out of fuel. It's not enough. The image of control slips away, and with it, the water rebels.
The pressure of the water returns, overwhelming him. His limbs feel heavy, his breath shallow. His imagination, while powerful, is limited, and he can't hold onto the thought any longer. The water crashes over him, and this time, it's too much. His vision blurs, his strength fades, and he feels himself sinking, deeper and deeper, as if being swallowed by the water.
In that final moment, Ansh tries to imagine himself swimming, pulling the water to lift him, but the effort is too great. His mind shuts down, and everything goes black. The last thought that crosses his mind before he falls unconscious is the haunting realization—Imagination is the key, but I wasn't strong enough to use it.
Tara's Trial: The Inferno of the Goddess
Tara, the heir of the Goddess of Fire, faces a trial that would break even the strongest. She is trapped in a volcanic world where the very air burns, and the ground beneath her feet threatens to melt. Her challenge: "Survive the flames and cross the Bridge of Immolation."
The bridge is narrow, made of molten rock and constantly crumbling. Lava spews from every direction, and Tara's body is already severely burned. The fire that once granted her strength now sears her skin, and each step on the bridge causes intense pain. She can barely move forward as the heat intensifies, her divine powers feeling distant and weak. Every gust of fiery wind feels like a hammer, threatening to knock her into the sea of magma below.
Her trial is not just physical—it's mental. The heat distorts her vision, causing her to see illusions of failure, her mind playing cruel tricks on her. At times, she questions whether she's even moving forward or if the bridge is infinite. The voices of past failures whisper in her ear, taunting her with the idea that she's not worthy of the Goddess of Fire's legacy.
Her legs buckle under the pressure, her vision blurs, and she realizes that even the slightest misstep will plunge her into the fiery depths below. The path ahead seems impossible to traverse, but turning back is not an option.
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Shubhu's Journey: A Calm Before the Storm
Meanwhile, as his companions face these impossible challenges, Shubhu and Satya reach the peaceful village of Drawrna. After their long journey, the peacefulness of the village feels surreal compared to the chaos Shubhu's friends are enduring. Satya, sensing his friend's unease, tries to lighten the mood.
"Shiva, what's going on? You look way too serious for someone who just ranked up to C," Satya says with a grin.
Shubhu forces a smile. "I'm fine, really. What about you? How've you been?"
Satya chuckles, giving him a playful nudge. "You know me, I'm always fine. But you—nah, man, you don't seem like it. C'mon, we just made it to a new village, let's go explore! Look, there's an S-rank quest on the guild board!"
Shubhu's eyes widen in surprise. "But I'm only a B-rank…"
Satya waves him off, laughing. "I'm S-rank, remember? Besides, it's just an exploration quest, nothing dangerous! Let's go see what's out there. You could use the distraction."
Despite his worries, Shubhu agrees, and the two of them prepare to leave for the mysterious Drawrna Mountain, unaware of the life-and-death struggles his friends are facing in the God Trials.
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The stark contrast between Shubhu's calm journey and the deadly trials his friends are facing creates an atmosphere of tension. Ansh, Kavi, and Tara are all pushed to the brink of their limits, their success seeming less and less likely as the trials intensify.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein