After searching for an entire day, Alex finally stumbled upon the entrance to the ancient dungeon.
The journey had not been entirely smooth, as he had encountered several weak monsters along the way—goblins, shadow wolves, and even a particularly aggressive tree that tried to strangle him.
Thankfully, he had managed to dispatch them with relative ease, though not without acquiring some minor cuts and bruises.
"I'm basically a moving target for nature at this point," Alex muttered as he wiped some sweat from his forehead.
The entrance to the dungeon was nestled between two massive rock formations, partially hidden by overgrown vines and moss.
At first glance, it seemed like nothing more than a cave, but as he moved closer, he noticed intricate inscriptions carved into the stone archway above it.
The letters pulsed with faint energy, a language foreign yet oddly familiar to him.
"Oh great, ancient mystical gibberish. Just what I needed." Alex sighed and stepped closer. To his surprise, the moment his eyes focused on the inscriptions, a flood of comprehension washed over him.
The words shifted, rearranging themselves in his mind until they became readable:
'Only the worthy may enter. Prove thy strength, will, and wisdom. Four trials await. Triumph, and the power of the ancients shall be yours. Fail... and be forgotten.'
"So basically, 'win or die'? Very encouraging," Alex muttered, rolling his eyes. "But hey, at least it's not another 'You shall not pass' situation."
He hesitated for a moment, glancing behind him. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows through the dense forest. There was no turning back now. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward.
The moment he crossed the threshold, the ground beneath him vanished.
He landed on solid stone a second later, barely managing to keep his balance. A deep, rumbling voice echoed through the chamber.
"Intruder, you stand before the Trials of Ascendance. Prove your worth, or perish."
"You know, a simple 'welcome' would be nice." Alex dusted himself off and looked around.
The chamber was massive, lined with towering pillars covered in glowing runes. At the far end, a massive stone door stood shut.
As he took a step forward, the torches along the walls flared to life, casting flickering shadows across the room. Then, a section of the floor split open, and something began to rise from beneath.
A humanoid figure, clad in rusted armor and carrying a jagged sword, emerged. Its eyes glowed an eerie blue, its skeletal frame barely holding the armor together.
"Ah, great. Undead. Because nothing screams 'ancient trial' like a walking corpse with a sword." Alex sighed and tightened his grip on his weapon.
[First Trial: The Trial of Strength Begins!]
The undead knight lunged at him without hesitation. Alex barely managed to sidestep, feeling the whoosh of air as the blade missed him by inches.
He retaliated with a swift slash of his own, but the knight blocked it with unnatural speed.
"Alright, guess we're doing this the hard way!"
The fight was brutal. Every time Alex thought he gained an advantage, the knight would counter with an unexpected maneuver.
It was as if the undead warrior retained the skills of its past life. Sweat dripped down Alex's face as he ducked under a wide swing and retaliated with a powerful slash aimed at the knight's exposed ribs.
The impact sent the knight staggering back, but it did not fall. Instead, it raised its free hand. The moment it did, the ground trembled, and two more undead warriors burst from the stone floor.
"Oh come on! This is cheating!" Alex groaned, backing up. "Why do ancient trials never fight fair?"
Now, faced with three enemies, the fight became even harder. He had to rely on both speed and strategy, weaving between attacks while looking for openings. Every dodge, every strike, had to be calculated.
Then, something clicked.
A strange sensation coursed through him—his mind processing his opponents' movements with unnatural clarity. It was as if his instincts had sharpened beyond their usual limits.
The Dual-Soul Resonance talent was at work, amplifying his ability to adapt. He could see patterns in the knight's movements, predict their next actions before they made them.
Using this, he turned the battle in his favor.
With a precise counterattack, he struck the weakest point of the first knight's armor, sending its skull flying.
The second knight fell soon after, unable to keep up with his movements.
The last one, the original, put up a fierce resistance, but Alex finally managed to land a decisive blow to its core, shattering the magic that kept it moving.
The knights crumbled into dust.
[Trial of Strength: Complete]
"You have proven your might. Rest, for the next trial awaits."
The voice echoed again, and suddenly, a section of the wall shifted, revealing a small chamber with a glowing pedestal. On it lay a flask filled with shimmering blue liquid.
"Oh thank god, a break. And a free potion!" Alex staggered toward the chamber, flopping down onto the floor.
"Four hours of rest, huh? Guess even ancient trials know the importance of nap time."
He lifted the flask. The liquid inside radiated a gentle warmth, and as he took a sip, a soothing sensation spread through his body. His wounds began to close, his fatigue fading away.
"Man, if only hospitals worked this fast in real life." He chuckled, leaning back against the stone wall.
With his strength returning, he allowed himself a small smile. One trial down. Three to go.
"Alright, bring it on, dungeon. I'm just getting started."
little did he know he will soon revert those words