"Before we begin," Vassilus announced, his hands extended as if he were about to give a sermon, "please note that lovely lady vendors are at your service for the entire duration of this Coming-of-Age Ceremony."

Hunter groaned.

He wished the pompous windbag would just get on with it. He was in the minority. All eyes snapped to the beautiful women, wearing little more than smiles and fancy vendor trays slung over their shoulders.

Pheres and a few others guffawed, acting like hormonal teenagers, which was no surprise since that’s precisely what they were.

"This ceremony's public grain is supplied by Port Manager Xuthos Andeno and his Brotherhood of Millers," Vassilus continued. "They source only the finest grains. True Delphare bread for true Delpharian citizens."

After a few loud heckles from the crowd, Priest Helios drifted into view, a calming presence among the chaos.

Vassilus gave a respectful nod, but Hunter knew it was all a facade. Given the rumors he'd heard on Death Island, he knew the city magistratus was as much a man of the law as Hunter was a man of the gods.

A painful jab in his ribs snapped him out of his thoughts. Pheres sniggered. "By the gods, I thought the mighty Leocedes was dead. Although looking at how pathetic you are, it would be an act of mercy by the gods if you were."

Priest Helios raised his hands to hush the crowds.

Hunter stared straight ahead. "They say the gods work in mysterious ways, but I guess you're proof they also have a peculiar sense of humor, pairing your brain with that face."

"You should thank me for pushing you off the cliff that day. Even if you somehow managed to pass the Trial of Worth, you are still years behind us all. You have no cultivation resources and no parents to spoon-feed you anymore. But at least, thanks to me, you know how to swim."

“Huh, I taught myself,” Hunter snorted. “Your intelligence matches the depths of a puddle. You couldn’t pour water out of a boot if the instructions were on the bottom.”

Pheres eyes glinted with malice. “By the way, how’s your sister? If she needs a job as a lady vendor, I’m sure my father would love to have her join his exclusive harem. Don’t worry about me touching the merchandise. I don’t double dip.”

Rage bubbled up within Hunter, but he swallowed it down. He clenched his fists, resisting the urge to turn and smash Pheres' teeth in, to rip out his poison tongue and make him choke on it.

"Your attention, please," Priest Helios' voice echoed like a soothing balm on the crowd. Hunter stood rigid, hard-wired with tension. He felt as if his blood was boiling.

"Today is an auspicious day for the young cultivators and their families watching from the stalls as they present themselves for the Coming-of-Age Ceremony. This comprises three parts: the bestowing of my blessing, the Trial of Worth, and finally, the award ceremony at the end."

A sandy-haired boy to Hunter's right swayed on his feet. "I think I’m gonna be sick."

Hunter offered him some dried peppermint leaves from his storage ring. "This might help. Give it a sniff, then chew on it."

The young boy, barely old enough to be there, took the leaves hesitantly. "Thanks," he said after a cautious sniff, popping them into his mouth. "I’m Zaccirius, by the way."

"Hunter."

"Nickname?"

Hunter nodded. He didn't want to explain.

"For those that need an explanation, the Trial of Worth is comprised of three challenges representing the Divine Gods: Hadad, Raziel, and Athena," Priest Helios explained. "Each young cultivator will enter the challenge portal to the Astral Plane in the selected area sanctioned by the gods. For those of you who cannot watch your chosen selection through your status scroll, we will project the trials on the viewing banner using an All-Seeing Eye."

On cue, gauzy banners unfurled from the top of every pillar in the arena, ensuring all spectators, regardless of cultivation status, had a view of the trials as they unfolded in the Astral Plane. It involved some high-level divine energy magic that Hunter knew little about.

Words streamed across the banners as Priest Helios read them aloud. "The Trial of Strength. Each cultivator's strength will be tested, tailored to their elemental affinity and cultivation level, pushing them to the brink and, if fate allows, beyond that."

He paused before continuing. "The Trial of Strategy. Young cultivators who wish to pass this trial must embrace the battle of brains over brawn." Priest Helios took a deep breath, his hand on his chest. "Finally…The Trial of Heart. Some say this is the most difficult, a unique challenge to each young cultivator—an emotional sea that must be crossed in order to reach the other side and emerge victorious."

A few scoffs rose from the crowd, whispers of the broken system echoed.

Hunter had heard talk of the broken system on Death Island many times; here, such talk was suppressed. The city had never been perfect, even despite his father’s efforts. But in his absence, it had become something much darker, stifled by the rigid traditions of the old cultivation system. To Hunter, it felt like nobody cared,...not even the gods. For now, he would march to their drumbeat; he had no choice.

I will win this Trial of Worth and grow strong. No matter how many years it takes, I will defy this broken system.

No sooner had he thought that when the stranger with the yellow glasses flickered into existence, a strange purple glow trailing after him as he looked around.

He hadn’t noticed Hunter yet.

A smooth voice, one that could charm the birds from the trees, slipped into his mind.

Well, technically, you found a loophole. But I admire your grand designs. Do you really want to defy the system?

Hunter’s eyes darted around the arena. Pheres stood there with a smug smile, and Zaccirius wore a rigid look like he was barely holding himself together.

Well, do you?

The stranger flung his hands in the air and was busy having an argument with no one again. Did the voice belong to him or…

Hunter looked around; as before, no one could see the stranger.

Holy hellcats, I’m losing my mind. Great, now I'm not just seeing things; I'm hearing things too.

You're perfectly sane, Hunter. The traveler with the cat-eye goggles is really there.

Hunter opened his mouth, then closed it. You can see him too?

I’m a god; I see everything.

Hunter shook his head in confusion, and a prickle of dread washed over him.

Okay, let’s pretend for a minute I’m not going mad, and a god is really speaking to me in my mind. That guy you call the traveler, every time he appears, it’s bad news for me. What does that mean for my chances in the Trial of Worth?

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

The last part was as much as a question to himself.

No reply came.

Hunter’s chest tightened; he felt like he couldn’t breathe, but he did his best to hide it.

Listen… whatever your name is, you say you can see the stranger because you’re a god. The last time I checked, I’m most definitely not… So if I’m not going crazy, why am I seeing him and talking to you?

The voice took a more serious edge. It’s all about potential. The traveler is visible when he wants to be. Don’t take it to mean bad news. On the bright side, you are an underdog; things can’t get much worse. Pay attention; you have three challenges to survive. I’m rooting for you because I have a question I’d like to ask you, if you survive.

If?

Hunter didn’t like the uncertainty in the god’s voice. And what kind of god didn’t introduce himself by name?

A glowing white staff appeared in the priest’s hand. It was time for their blessing. "Young cultivators, step forward when your individual portal arch appears. May the Trinity of Gods smile down favorably on you this evening."

Hunter blinked rapidly. The stranger disappeared, and in his place was a swirling black void the size of a regular door, no more than five paces away.

The air hummed, giving him goosebumps. Each step he took forward, he could feel the raw energy the portal consumed to maintain its existence.

Hunter took a deep breath and forced his eyes to remain open as he stepped into the void.

Suddenly, the ground fell away.

He was falling, arms and legs reaching blindly until he landed with a thud. His senses were scrambled as the darkness bled from his vision.

Rising to his feet, he gagged, then choked back bile as he looked around. While his stomach churned and his head pounded, his eyes adjusted; shadowy shapes solidified into what looked like a rocky cavern with spiked walls. Each cruel spike jutted out, the length of his forearm.

Hunter gulped. Best keep my distance from them.

In the center was a circle of stone pillars, the ground he stood on was rough and sandy; if he toppled over, which looked very likely, it would only take one to crush him. From his inventory he grabbed his sandals and swiftly put them on.

A glowing scroll floated in the middle of the pillar circle, drawing his attention.

He looked around for any signs of danger; this was a Trial of Strength, so he took out the only weapon he had: his rusty dagger.

Approaching the scroll, Hunter could see Raziel’s icon—an armored gauntlet clenched into a fist radiating a golden aura that lit up the scroll. He touched the icon, and its form faded.

Words appeared in its place.

Trial of Strength — Leocedes 'Hunter' Filo. Title earned: Phantom Pilferer of Death Isle.

What the—

More words replaced the last as he kept reading.

Challenge details. You will fight a Molossus Demon, danger level three. A challenge fit for any aspiring cultivator.

Do you accept the challenge? Yes/No?

Hunter’s hand hovered over those final words.

He had the sinking feeling he knew exactly what a Molossus Demon was. It was like one of those hulking hounds back on Death Island, but it had a tainted beast core. Hunter first learned of demon beasts when his father left for battle to fight the demon scourge alongside his ally and trade partner, Emperor Konstantinos.

In some ways, it felt like ancient history, but now it was all too fresh in his mind.

He massaged his temple to ease the lingering headache, gripping the dagger in his hand. He raised his other hand, with pointer finger extended, and touched "Yes."

…

Hunter gulped, edging back from the scroll as the black mists rolled in around him. The strange thing was, the scroll shrank as he moved back, but now it seemed to follow the corner of his vision. New lines appeared.

Combat started.

A growl echoed through the mist, followed by another scroll prompt.

Identify?

"Yes."

The Molossus Demon: a cross between a nightmare and a furry wrecking ball.

The scroll description was frighteningly accurate as the demon beast lumbered into view. Its muscles rippled like oiled anvils, unfolding as its amber eyes glowed with all the brilliance of spirit lamps.

The scroll continued to provide information.

Not the sharpest tool in the demonic shed, more like a particularly menacing badger with an attitude problem.

Its motto: hit first, think never.

The beast lunged from the mist, jaws open wide, large enough to crush his skull in one bite. Hunter rolled to the left, jumping to his feet, he raced to the first pillar, hoping to open some distance between them.

The brute was big. A damned monster!

Hunter had to buy some time by outrunning it, just as he had done with the hounds on Death Island. Turning to face it with his trusty dagger would quickly turn him into demon dog chow.

Howls erupted, and the ground quaked behind Hunter.

A quick glance over his shoulder showed he had put some distance between them, but the hound was not as slow as he looked.

The brute was closing in fast.

The walls quivered as Hunter weaved around a pillar and took off in the opposite direction, hoping the demon would be slow to notice. To his relief, it worked, but as soon as the hound turned its massive bulk around, it charged after him as he circled the pillars.

Hunter knew he had to change tactics, and for that, he needed more time to think. The cracked pillars were easy for him to scale, and they were close enough that he could hop from one to the next once he reached the top. If it was a bear chasing him, there was no way he would chance it, but the last time he checked, hounds couldn’t climb pillars.

He barely scrambled to the top of the nearest pillar when the dire beast caught up with him. Hunter stood and peered down at the demon mutt as it looked around, searching for him. Sniffing the air, it threw its head up and locked eyes with him.

"Huh, not as dumb as the challenge scroll said," Hunter muttered to himself. Mistress Arista's words of wisdom from his school days swirled in his mind. Don’t believe everything you read. Question everything. Don’t be a sheep.

The demon hound broke the silence with a ferocious bark. The ground trembled, and Hunter could feel the pillar shift beneath him. He adjusted his footing to remain balanced. The beast backed away, growling, almost disappearing back into the black mists rolling around them.

"Giving up so easily," Hunter thought to himself, his instincts screaming, Not a chance.

Of course, his instincts had to be right.

The demon hound charged, its massive head bowed like a battering ram as it hit the pillar full force, shaking it.

Hunter dropped to one knee and gripped the edge of the pillar. He held on until the pillar stopped shaking. Down below, the hound wavered, appearing stunned, but Hunter could tell it wouldn’t be long until it recovered.

An idea struck him.

A notification appeared on his scroll:

Molossus: Stun Effect.

He glanced around, realizing the spiked walls were closing in. He was running out of time. If he didn’t kill the dumb demon, the walls would skewer him like a shish kebab.

The hound looked like it needed something to rouse it out of the stun effect. Hunter grinned and took a sheep bladder from his storage ring. Holding his nose, he opened the bag and poured the last of Chewy's Revenge Dump down to the base of the pillar.

"Come on, sniff that shit!" Hunter shouted as the demon hound, coming out of its stupor, sniffed the air and charged once more.

Timing was critical.

As the beast rammed the pillar with its thick skull, Hunter held on and rocked it side to side. He clung on as the pillar fell towards the next one and leapt onto it just before the toppled pillar crashed into it.

The race was on, and he leapt from pillar to pillar in a desperate circle. A new notification appeared:

Molossus Stun Effect Limited due to Iron Skull Buff Reward. Stun ends in five seconds.

Balls of an ox!

If the mutt didn’t stay where he was stunned, the plan wouldn’t work. They’d both be skewered by the closing walls. Hunter hopped to the last pillar, with nowhere left to go. He jumped the six-foot drop and rolled, his body bruising from the impact but miraculously free of broken bones.

Rising to his feet, he came face to face with the hellhound just as his Iron Skull Buff came into effect.

"Easy, boy," Hunter said, raising his hands, his dagger already poised for a strike. He backed away slowly, the hound oblivious to the falling shadow behind him, stalking forward.

Hunter stepped in Chewy’s revenge shit.

Ugh! he thought, shaking his sandal to get rid of as much of the filth as he could.

He had nowhere left behind him, just the shattered remains of the first pillar that fell and the walls closing in. At the last second, he dropped and rolled to the middle of what remained of the pillar circle.

Coming to a stop, he looked up as the final pillar smashed into the ground, crushing the Molossus Demon.

A new notification appeared:

Challenge Complete. 10% Challenge Bonus Received for Killing with Style.

Hunter stood, swaying on his feet.

His whole body ached from the fall. His eyes bulged when he realized the walls didn’t stop closing in. His heart stalled, but suddenly everything went black.