I glanced at each of my companions. Their faces bore the marks of exhaustion, fear, and determination. We had survived this far together, and though our paths might have started separately, they had intertwined in ways none of us could have predicted.

The ruins we stood in seemed alive, pulsing faintly with an eerie energy that seeped into the air. The ground beneath us was littered with remnants of the fallen, broken weapons, torn clothing, and the faint outlines of bodies that hadn't made it through the previous trials.

Now, the aswang led us to the next place where the remaining ones will gather for the challenge that is yet to come.

As the survivors began to stir, I noticed the faint shimmer of life returning to some, while others lay eerily still. Groans of pain and murmurs of confusion filled the air. It was clear that many had barely scraped through by the skin of their teeth.

A young man nearby, who I recognized from earlier trials, clutched his side where a jagged wound bled sluggishly. His eyes darted around, wild and untrusting. A girl beside him, her face pale but resolute, helped him to his feet. Their bond reminded me of my own team, a connection forged through shared struggle.

Not everyone was as lucky.

Across the clearing, a brawny man with a deep gash across his chest stood shakily, glaring at another participant who was clearly his rival. "You left me to die back there," he growled, his voice low and menacing.

The accused wiry woman with sharp eyes shrugged. "I did what I had to. You would've done the same."

Their tense exchange was a stark reminder of the stakes. Not everyone here was bound by trust or camaraderie. For some, survival meant betrayal.

The atmosphere grew heavier as the Aswang stepped forward, his grotesque form still emanating that predatory menace. His glowing red eyes scanned the crowd, and for a moment, no one dared to move.

"Well done," he hissed, his voice a mix of mockery and satisfaction. "Most of you have proven yourselves worthy… for now."

The survivors froze, their collective fear palpable. Even those who had once been brash and confident now seemed like prey caught in the predator's gaze.

"But don't think for a moment," the Aswang continued, a wicked grin spreading across his twisted face, "that your trials are over. This is merely the beginning. The next test will separate the strong from the truly exceptional."

My stomach churned. The way he spoke, the glint in his eyes, it wasn't just about physical strength anymore.

He gestured with a clawed hand, and the air seemed to ripple around him. "The next trial," he announced, "will be a team fight. Three against three. Only four teams will emerge victorious. The rest..."

He paused, his smile widening, revealing rows of jagged teeth. "The rest will become our feast."

A collective gasp rippled through the group.

My heart pounded in my chest. The idea of a 3v3 battle was daunting enough, but the implication that failure meant death and worse, being consumed by these creatures was almost too much to bear.

I glanced at my teammates, their faces pale but determined. We'd come too far to back down now.

The Aswang's gaze fell on me, his expression unreadable but deeply unsettling. "And you," he said, his voice dropping to a sinister whisper that seemed to echo directly in my mind. "You're special."

The crowd's attention shifted to me, and I felt the weight of their stares.

"If we didn't have restraints placed upon us by the rules of these ruins," he continued, his tone almost regretful, "we would feast on you right now. Your scent, your energy it's irresistible."

My mouth went dry.

"But alas," he sneered, "we cannot. Not yet."

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The Aswang leaned closer, his glowing eyes boring into mine. "Remember this: these ruins hold a hidden challenge. A test meant only for you. You are marked for something greater, something far beyond what the others will face."

A cold shiver ran down my spine. What did he mean by "hidden challenge"?

The Aswang straightened, his attention shifting back to the group. "Form your teams. Prepare yourselves. And remember, failure is not an option."

The survivors erupted into frantic activity, scrambling to form alliances and secure teammates they could trust.

A boy with a staff and a tattered cloak approached a group of two, his expression pleading. "Please, I can fight! I held my ground in the last trial, I swear!"

The duo exchanged glances, one of them a tall, muscular girl nodding reluctantly. "Fine. But if you falter, you're on your own."

Another group broke into an argument, their voices rising over the chaos.

"Why should we take you? You barely survived the last round!"

"I'm stronger than I look!" the accused shot back, their hands trembling but their eyes fierce.

Amid the commotion, I turned to my own team. My companions, each bruised and battered but alive nodded at me.

"We've got this," one of them said, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. "We've survived everything so far. We can survive this too."

I wanted to believe her. I wanted to believe that as long as we stuck together, we'd make it out of this alive.

But the Aswang's words lingered in my mind like a shadow.

"You had a lot more to come in the future."

What did that mean? And what was this hidden challenge he spoke of?

As the groups began to form and the tension in the air grew thicker, I couldn't shake the feeling that my journey was only beginning and that the worst was yet to come.

The Aswang's sharp voice echoed across the ruins. "The rules are simple: it's a best of three. Two wins, and you pass. Lose twice, and you'll be our feast."

The survivors grew still, the weight of his words sinking in.

"If you're knocked out of the stage," he continued, his jagged teeth gleaming in a menacing grin, "you lose immediately. No exceptions."

Emilia, ever the strategist, raised her hand. "Can we use weapons?" she asked.

The Aswang's glowing red eyes flicked toward her briefly, but he said nothing. Instead, he turned his attention back to the group as though her question didn't even deserve an answer.

Jose, standing to my left, let out a slow breath. I glanced at him, noting the tension in his usually calm demeanor. "Jose," I said quietly, "don't hold back this time. We've seen what you're capable of. We need you to go all out."

He nodded, but I could sense the conflict in him. Jose had always been careful not to reveal too much about his strength, but there was no room for hesitation now.

Across the room, I noticed Clint leaning against a crumbling pillar, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. There was no doubt in my mind and he was the strongest of the participants. The sheer pressure of his aura made my skin prickle whenever I got too close.

I whispered to Emilia, "I hope we don't have to face Clint."

She nodded, her gaze flickering nervously toward him. But Clint, sensing our attention, didn't even glance in our direction. He simply turned his head, ignoring us entirely.

The Aswang clapped his clawed hands, the sound echoing ominously. "Form your teams now! The trial begins as soon as you do."

The group burst into motion, scrambling to find teammates. Amid the chaos, I spotted familiar faces, some cultivators who had been chasing us earlier. Their gazes were sharp, filled with animosity as they locked eyes with us.

But what caught my attention most was a trio of unfamiliar figures. They stood slightly apart from the others, watching the scene unfold with calm confidence.

One of them stepped forward which is a tall, handsome young man with an air of authority about him. His dark robes, embroidered with golden patterns, shimmered faintly under the strange light of the ruins. His face was the kind you'd expect to see on the protagonist of a cultivation novel, sharp features, piercing eyes, and an aura of humility despite his evident power.

He approached us with a friendly smile, accompanied by two striking figures, a petite girl with a playful smirk and a tall, elegant woman with a calm demeanor.

"Greetings," the young man said, his tone warm and respectful. "I am Han San, and these are my companions, Tang Lin and Hubei Li." He gestured to the smirking girl and the serene woman in turn. "We've been a team for many years, and we're visiting this country for the opportunity these ruins offer."

His words carried a hint of curiosity as he studied us. "And you guys are? The Aswang seems to have taken an interest in you."

I stiffened at the mention of the Aswang, but Han San's tone was devoid of malice. Instead, it felt as though he was genuinely curious.

Emilia, ever the diplomat, stepped forward and introduced us. "I'm Emilia, this is Jiro, and that's Jose. We've been working together to survive these trials."

Jose gave a polite nod, and I managed a small smile.

Tang Lin, the smaller girl, tilted her head as she looked at me. "You're not from around here, are you?" she asked, her tone more curious than accusatory.

I hesitated. "No, I'm not. But this opportunity…" I glanced around the ruins, trying to explain. "It's something I couldn't pass up."

Tang Lin grinned. "Lucky you," she said, nudging Hubei Li with her elbow. "He's interesting, isn't he?"

Hubei Li smiled faintly. "Different, yes. But it's good to see variety. It keeps things… lively."

I couldn't help but feel a bit awkward under their scrutiny. "How are we even able to understand each other?" I asked, looking at Han San. "I mean, the language barrier should be an issue, shouldn't it?"

Han San chuckled softly. "Ah, you noticed that too?" He gestured to the glowing runes etched into the walls of the ruins. "When we entered, I felt a subtle shift in the air. It seems these runes have a secondary function and they allow everyone here to understand each other, no matter the language. A fascinating mechanism, don't you think?"

I nodded, my mind racing. The thought of ancient magic capable of breaking language barriers was awe-inspiring.

Tang Lin leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You're not the only one who's amazed by this place. We've been to many ruins, but these… they're unique. There's something different about them."

Hubei Li's gaze shifted toward the other participants, her expression sharpening. "It's a shame not everyone here appreciates that. Most of them only care about the treasure at the end."

Her words made me glance at the cultivators glaring in our direction. Unlike Han San and his companions, their auras were filled with hostility.

Han San followed my gaze and smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry about them. Focus on your team and your strategy. You've made it this far, haven't you?"

His confidence was contagious, and I found myself relaxing slightly.

"Thank you," I said sincerely. "It's good to know not everyone here is… well…"

"Bloodthirsty?" Tang Lin offered, grinning.

I laughed nervously. "Something like that."

As we spoke, the tense atmosphere around us seemed to fade, if only slightly. Han San and his team felt like a breath of fresh air in the suffocating tension of the ruins.

But I couldn't shake the feeling that our paths were destined to intersect again whether as allies or opponents, I couldn't yet tell.

"Good luck out there," Han San said, his tone light but his gaze serious. "We'll be watching."

"Same to you," I replied, my voice steady despite the weight of the coming trial.

And with that, the Aswang's voice rang out once more, signaling the start of the next stage.