The ground beneath Eren's feet trembled, then began to rise. All around him, pillars of earth shot upward, carrying competitors skyward at dizzying speeds. Eren's stomach lurched as he ascended, the arena floor shrinking beneath him.

image [https://i.imgur.com/rfQeLDz.jpeg]

"Well," Jin's voice came from a nearby pillar, surprisingly calm, "this is certainly one way to thin the herd."

Eren glanced over to see the Seyoung youth balancing effortlessly on his narrow perch, a wry smile on his face. Before Eren could respond, a booming voice echoed across the arena.

"Welcome to the Trials of Earth and Sky!" Emperor Vaelon's amplified voice rang out. "Your first test is simple: remain standing. The last hundred competitors aloft will advance to the next round. Begin!"

No sooner had the words left Vaelon's mouth than chaos erupted. The air filled with a cacophony of sounds as competitors from across the realms unleashed their unique abilities.

To Eren's left, a group of Wudang disciples moved in perfect harmony, their qi techniques creating swirling vortexes that threatened to pull others off their pillars. To his right, a young woman from Wonderland hurled vials of mysterious potions, causing pillars to shrink or transform beneath their occupants' feet.

Nearby, a mage from the Crystal Towers of Azoria weaved complex spells, turning pillars into writhing vines or clouds of mist. Further away, Eren spotted a group of swift-footed warriors from the Everchanging Isles, their movements fluid and unpredictable as they leapt from pillar to pillar.

"Hmph," Eren muttered, "child's play."

He scanned his surroundings, assessing threats and plotting his path to victory. His gaze settled briefly on Jin, who was practically dancing across the pillars, his movements fluid and precise. As Eren watched, the Seyoung youth dodged a blast of qi energy, used the momentum to flip onto another pillar, then tapped it lightly with his foot. The pillar shuddered and collapsed, taking its stunned occupant with it.

"Not bad," Eren thought, feeling the familiar thrill of competition. He reached deep within himself, calling upon the dark energies that were his birthright as a prince of Valestrix. But this time, he tapped into something more – the shadow mana that Azar had helped him unlock during their training.

Eren remembered Azar's words: "This shadow mana, Eren, is a rare and powerful skill. Your father, Soren the Dark Emperor, possessed it when he was young. It's more than just manipulating shadows – it's bending the very essence of darkness to your will."

As Eren focused, he felt the shadow mana surge through him. Shadows coalesced around him, but they were different now – deeper, more vibrant, almost alive. They formed into an intricate array of tendrils and platforms, pulsing with dark energy.

With a leap that defied gravity, Eren launched himself into the fray. He moved with a grace that rivaled Jin's, using his shadow constructs to create bridges, shields, and weapons as needed. But what truly set Eren apart was his raw strength, now amplified by the shadow mana. When he landed on a pillar, it didn't just shake – it cracked under the force of his impact, dark energy seeping into the fissures.

Competitors fell left and right, unable to match his combination of agility and power. Eren's shadow mana lashed out, toppling pillars with ease, while his physical strikes sent shockwaves of dark energy through the stone structures.

As he landed on a particularly tall pillar, Eren found himself surrounded by the group of Wudang disciples he'd noticed earlier. Their leader, a young man with a scar across his cheek, sneered at Eren.

"Look what we have here," the scarred disciple taunted. "The Valestrian prince and the Seyoung dog, thinking they can stand among true cultivators."

Eren's eyes narrowed, flashing with dark energy. "If you're so superior, why don't you prove it? Or are words all you have?"

The disciples bristled at the challenge. Their leader's face twisted with anger. "You'll regret those words, princeling. Brothers, let's show them the power of Wudang!"

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As one, the disciples attacked. Streams of qi energy lashed out, aiming to knock Eren off his perch. But Eren was ready. Shadow mana erupted around him, forming a protective cocoon. The qi attacks splashed harmlessly against the dark barrier, absorbed by the swirling shadows.

"My turn," Eren growled.

He burst from his shadow shield like a comet, his fist wreathed in shadow mana. It connected with the scarred disciple's chest, and a burst of dark energy exploded on impact. The young man was sent flying, crashing through several pillars before plummeting out of sight.

The remaining disciples gaped in shock. Eren cracked his knuckles, dark energy dancing between his fingers. "Anyone else want to test their 'superiority'?"

Before they could respond, a blur of motion caught Eren's attention. Jin had entered the fray, his movements a deadly dance as he weaved between the disciples. With precise strikes enhanced by qi, he disrupted their energy flows, leaving them gasping and off-balance.

In a matter of moments, it was over. The Wudang disciples lay scattered across various pillars, groaning in defeat. Eren and Jin stood tall, unscathed.

"Nice moves," Eren admitted grudgingly.

Jin nodded in acknowledgment. "You're not so bad yourself, Valestrian. That shadow technique... it's something else."

Before they could say more, a massive tremor shook the entire arena. Eren stumbled, nearly losing his footing. He looked up to see a colossal construct rising from the center of the arena – a golem of stone and crystal, easily the size of a small mountain.

Emperor Vaelon's voice boomed once more: "Final phase, aspirants! Subdue the Nexus Construct or be the last one standing. The first to succeed will earn a special advantage in the next trial!"

Eren's eyes narrowed as he assessed the new challenge. This was his chance to prove himself, to show everyone why he was the heir to Valestrix. He glanced at Jin, seeing the same determination mirrored in the other youth's eyes.

For a moment, Eren considered proposing they work together. But no – this was his trial to overcome. He would conquer this challenge on his own.

"May the best warrior win," Eren said to Jin, before leaping towards the construct, shadow mana swirling around him.

As Eren approached the massive golem, he saw other competitors already engaging it. Some attacked with elemental magic, others with qi techniques or alchemical concoctions. But nothing seemed to faze the construct.

Eren grinned. Time to show them how it's done.

He launched himself at the construct's leg, his fist wreathed in shadow mana. The impact was thunderous, sending cracks spiderwebbing up the golem's limb, dark energy seeping into the fissures. The construct stumbled, its attention now firmly on Eren.

A massive fist of stone came crashing down, but Eren was already moving. He danced between the golem's attacks, each of his blows precise and devastating. Shadow mana whirled around him, alternately shielding him from debris and lashing out to widen the cracks in the construct's armor.

From the corner of his eye, Eren saw Jin engaging the construct as well, his qi-enhanced strikes targeting what appeared to be energy nodes. For a moment, their eyes met, and a silent understanding passed between them. They might not be allies, but they weren't enemies either. At least, not yet.

With a roar that shook the very air, Eren made his final assault. He leapt high, shadow mana propelling him towards the construct's head. His fist, wreathed in dark energy, connected with a thunderous crack. Shadow mana exploded on impact, seeping into every crack and crevice of the construct's form.

For a moment, everything went still. Then, with a groan of protesting stone and crystal, the construct began to topple, dark energy eating away at its very core.

Eren rode the falling debris back to the arena floor, landing with catlike grace, wisps of shadow mana still clinging to his form. As the dust settled, he straightened up to face the stunned silence of the crowd.

Emperor Vaelon's voice, when it came, held a note of genuine awe mixed with disdain. "Incredible! Prince Eren of Valestrix has subdued the Nexus Construct! He will receive the promised advantage in the next trial."

As the crowd erupted in cheers and the other competitors looked on with a mixture of respect and wariness, Eren allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction. He'd proven himself, shown everyone that he was a force to be reckoned with.

Jin approached, a look of grudging respect on his face. "Impressive," he said simply. "That shadow mana... it's not something you see every day."

Eren nodded in acknowledgment. "You weren't so bad yourself," he replied. It wasn't friendship, but it was recognition – warrior to warrior.

As they made their way out of the arena, Eren couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation. If this was just the first trial, what challenges lay ahead? Whatever they were, he was ready to face them – ready to prove himself again and again until no one could question his right to stand at the top.

The Inter-Realm Awakening Ceremony had only just begun, and Eren was determined to carve his name into legend. As he walked towards the exit, his mind was already racing with strategies for the trials to come, ways to push his newfound shadow mana even further. One thing was certain – the realms would remember the day Eren of Valestrix stepped onto the stage.