Chapitre 71: Trial
Eve stands with clenched fists, frustration evident in every tense line of her face. She paces, her anger simmering as she recalls the moments of her battle with Zadkiel, her mind racing through every misstep, every moment where she faltered.
**Eve**: *"I don't get it. I awakened my bloodline, all that power—yet I still lost. Why couldn't I bring it out like when I fought Azrael? How was he able to beat me? How did I… how did we both fail?"*
Adam, leaning casually against the wall with a detached, almost bored expression, barely looks at her. His gaze drifts off, cold and indifferent, his voice as flat as his disinterest.
**Adam**: *"Perhaps you weren't as strong as you thought, Eve. Maybe you relied too much on your bloodline and not enough on actual strength."*
His words cut through her like ice, but he seems unfazed. Eve stops pacing, glaring at him, trying to catch any flicker of empathy in his face—but there's nothing. Adam is as cold and distant as he's ever been.
**Eve**: *"Don't you care? Don't you feel anything about losing to him? We lost together, Adam. We both fell."*
Adam gives her a sidelong glance, his expression darkening slightly, though more in irritation than concern.
**Adam**: *"Unlike you, I don't dwell on pointless things. We lost, yes, but you're the one clinging to it. Strength comes from letting go of weakness, not from wallowing in it. Get over it, Eve."*
Eve's fists tighten as she meets his cold, apathetic stare. She realizes that she's not going to get any encouragement, any understanding from him. Adam's apathy grates on her, and in his eyes, she can see nothing but contempt for what he perceives as her weakness.
**Eve**: *"Fine. If you won't take this seriously, I'll deal with it myself."*
She turns sharply, leaving him there in the silence, his expression unchanged. But her mind whirls with renewed determination, even if she has to face this alone.
As Eve storms off, Seraphie steps forward, her gentle yet authoritative presence calming the tension in the room. She glances from Eve to Adam, assessing the unspoken conflict between the two siblings.
**Seraphie**: *"Perhaps what you both need is not more frustration, but focus. You're both strong, incredibly so, but that strength is wasted if you can't harness it together."*
Eve pauses mid-stride, looking back at Seraphie, while Adam merely raises an eyebrow, his disinterest not entirely masking his curiosity.
**Eve**: *"And what would you suggest, Seraphie?"*
**Seraphie**: *"Stay here, in the Celestial World. This place holds energies that can help you both—push your limits, refine your abilities. It's clear you both have potential you've yet to fully tap into, especially with your bloodline powers."*
Adam scoffs, crossing his arms.
**Adam**: *"Training here? I don't see how some meditation bullshit and stargazing is going to make a difference."*
**Seraphie**: *"You underestimate the Celestial World, Adam. This realm has forces that could make or break warriors far beyond what you've experienced. But if you're so sure of yourself, you're welcome to decline."*
Eve's expression softens, seeing the opportunity as a way to grow, to finally find that edge she's been missing.
**Eve**: *"I'll do it. I don't care what it takes—I'll become strong enough to never lose again."*
Adam rolls his eyes but finally relents, his gaze hardening.
**Adam**: *"Fine. I'll stay. But don't expect me to hold back, Eve. If we're doing this, we're going all out."*
Seraphie smiles, sensing the faint spark of determination in both of them. She places a hand on Eve's shoulder.
**Seraphie**: *"Good. I'll prepare a training ground that will push you both to your limits. Let's begin."*
With that, Seraphie leads the two of them deeper into the heart of the Celestial World, a place where their strength and resilience will be tested like never before.
Seraphie leads Eve, Adam, and the others into the church, guiding them down a winding staircase into a dimly lit underground chamber. Torches line the stone walls, casting long shadows that stretch across the room. At the center of the dungeon, an ancient-looking altar pulses with faint, ethereal light.
Waiting by the altar are Alexander, Ty, and Xiao Ling, who look equally unsure of what to expect.
Seraphie: "Welcome to the Eternal Chamber. This space exists outside of normal time and death's grasp. Here, you can push your abilities to their very limits, breaking down and rebuilding yourselves as many times as it takes."
Everyone exchanges looks, absorbing the weight of her words. Adam narrows his eyes, intrigued.
Eve: "So… we can fight, kill each other, and learn without consequence?"
Seraphie: "Precisely. You'll be able to explore the full extent of your power without holding back. And, since centuries here are mere minutes outside, you can achieve decades' worth of growth in a short time."
Xiao Ling, with her determined expression, glances at Alexander and Ty.
Xiao Ling: "This is intense... but if it'll make us stronger, then let's do it."
Alexander nods, glancing at Ty with a steely resolve. "No limits, no consequences. This might be exactly what we all need."
Ty smirks, cracking her knuckles. "I was hoping for something challenging. Looks like we've found it."
Seraphie raises her hand, and with a surge of energy, the altar flares, releasing waves of radiant light that pulse through the dungeon. Each member feels a surge of power and readiness flood their veins.
Seraphie: "Begin whenever you're ready. Learn from one another, push each other beyond your limits… and remember, growth often comes from facing our own weaknesses."
Adam wastes no time, his cold gaze fixing on Eve, and charges forward, launching a powerful attack. Eve counters, unleashing her own fury, and soon all of them are locked in combat. Blades clash, energy pulses through the chamber, and the sound of battle fills the endless corridors of the dungeon.
Each warrior is tested, their bodies broken and reformed repeatedly as they explore the depths of their potential. The line between ally and rival blurs as they learn not only their strengths but also their weaknesses.
As soon as Seraphie gives the signal, a savage battle erupts within the Eternal Chamber. Adam launches forward, his blade flashing as he strikes at Eve with a ferocity that sends shockwaves through the chamber. Eve grits her teeth, dodging his initial strike, but Adam twists, slamming his fist into her ribs with enough force to break them. She gasps, blood splattering from her mouth as she stumbles back, only to recover and retaliate with a fierce burst of energy, slicing into Adam's shoulder.
Across the chamber, Alexander and Ty have locked into a brutal hand-to-hand clash, each hit like a small explosion echoing in the dungeon. Alexander lands a powerful blow to Ty's jaw, cracking her head to the side, but she retaliates instantly, grabbing his arm and twisting it until a sickening snap resounds. Alexander yells but doesn't falter—his bones already knitting back together as he counters, driving his fist deep into Ty's abdomen and cracking her ribs.
Meanwhile, Xiao Ling, wielding her glaive with unmatched precision, faces off against Seraphina. With a quick, fluid motion, Xiao Ling slices across Seraphina's arm, severing it at the elbow. Blood sprays, painting the stone floor, but Seraphina only smirks, barely registering the pain as her arm begins to regenerate. She retaliates by charging a blast of energy in her remaining hand, firing it at Xiao Ling with deadly force. Xiao Ling manages to dodge, but the blast grazes her, tearing a chunk of flesh from her shoulder, the pain searing through her.
Eve, now bleeding profusely from her wounds, summons a surge of power, creating a sword of crackling energy and charging at Adam. Their weapons clash, sparks flying as they grapple, neither yielding an inch. Adam swings a brutal kick that connects with Eve's knee, shattering it with a sickening crunch. Eve collapses to one leg but doesn't falter, summoning her strength to drive her sword into Adam's thigh, ripping through muscle and bone. Adam grunts, his wound already beginning to seal, as he grabs Eve by the throat, lifting her off the ground and slamming her into the stone floor, cracking it beneath her.
Nearby, Alexander and Ty's fight takes a darker turn as Ty summons her inner strength, ripping through Alexander's abdomen with her bare hand. Blood pours from the wound as Alexander, eyes blazing, grins and plunges his own blade into Ty's shoulder, the metal grinding against her bones. Both warriors stumble back, each brutalized and battered, only to charge at each other once again, the thrill of the fight in their eyes.
Limbs are lost, blood pools around them, and screams echo through the chamber. Each combatant regenerates from every wound, every injury an agonizing reminder of their limits. Bone cracks, flesh is torn, and yet they continue, pushing each other past the brink of mortal endurance.
As Elysia watches the brutal scenes unfold on the screen, her brow furrows with deep concern. She clenches her hands tightly, watching as Adam, Eve, Alexander, Ty, Xiao Ling, and Seraphina tear into each other without restraint, the violent training pushing them beyond normal limits.
Elysia: "This... this is too much. If they keep going like this, their minds may not recover. They're risking everything—physically and mentally."
Dr. Jin, leaning back in his chair, calmly folds his arms, unmoved by her worry.
Dr. Jin: "This is precisely what they need. When it comes down to life and death, they won't have a chance to hold back. This training will make them stronger, and holding back now would only make them remain weak."
Suddenly, the door swings open, and Vincent and Kane enter the room. Vincent, exuding the aura of a seasoned warrior, scans the screen with a level expression, while Kane, with his stern presence, nods in agreement with Dr. Jin.
Vincent: "He's right. Pushing past their limits is the only way to grow. I've seen it time and again on the battlefield. Hesitation can be deadly."
Kane: "Exactly. In the heat of combat, they won't have time for doubts or second thoughts. This... this is the only way for them to understand what they're truly capable of."
Elysia shakes her head, her gaze still fixed on the screen as she watches her friends endure the savage training.
Vincent places a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his voice softer.
Vincent: "It's hard, I know. But trust me—sometimes, facing the worst is the only way to find the best within you."
Elysia reluctantly nods, still troubled, but unable to deny the truth in their words as she watches the screen, hoping their spirits will survive this brutal ordeal.
Elysia glances over at Vincent, who stands with a quiet confidence, his eyes fixed on the screen showing the intense training.
Elysia: "I don't believe we've met. Who... who are you exactly?"
Vincent turns his gaze to her, a slight smile forming on his face as he offers a firm handshake.
Vincent: "Vincent Gray. I served in the U.S. Marines before I joined the Frontier. Now, I'm just a soldier like the rest—though I suppose the experience helps."
He glances back at the screen, the hardened look of a man who's seen countless battles etched into his face.
Vincent: "I know what it's like to push past the breaking point, to go beyond what you think you can handle. Sometimes it's necessary."
Elysia: *"So... you've been through something like this before?"*
Vincent nods, his eyes narrowing as memories seem to resurface.
Vincent: "More times than I care to remember. But it's those moments that make you realize who you are—and who you need to become to survive."
Elysia studies him, her concern slightly eased by his calm but reassuring presence, sensing that he understands the stakes of what lies ahead.
Elysia, now confused about living in death while and in life.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone