THE EVERLASTING

Volume 6

The crucible

Prologue

“Welcome! To the test of your lives to the greatest moment you shall witness. Welcome to the crucible!” said something with a voice beaming with power throughout the hall

“You shall here be tested! Tried! Bled! And most shall die! But those who will make it, shall be granted their wildest desires.”

We were inside the tower that rose a few days ago. I turned to look around but I did not recognize a single person. Many had come, we were by the thousands and we all had one goal. To get in, survive, and leave with prestige, honor, and wealth. I personally needed all three of them for my agenda, and this is the fastest way although the most dangerous.

The tower was not that huge from the outside but once we passed the magical gate we were transported over a floating disc that was able to hold the thousands of people that came to test their mettle. A bottomless abyss was below the platform as for the roof it was decorated with statues of maidens and knights and filled with jewels of all kind.

Although the platform was very large the distance between its edge and the closest wall was too far. The hall was lit by some flying light orbs that managed to show the entirety of the first floor.

“It seems that this year the lot of you are rather weak…” said the same voice

“Judging by the power of most of you I say that more than two thirds will die before reaching the tenth floor. The rest will follow soon after…I would say that only ten will make it to the twenty fifth…you lot should have never crossed us…the rest of your race is far stronger than you who were imprisoned in this world…but what is done is done. Fight and survive and May the strongest live and the weak be trampled!”

Once he said those words which I could not understand the meaning behind them a gateway soon opened in the middle of the arena.

Some warriors hesitated at first but many soon entered.

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I decided to enter soon but was stopped by a young man

“If I were you I would wait until everyone had entered” said the man

He was tall and had short blond hair he had a small nose and his eyes were blue. He wore a red tunic over some brown pants combined with light leather armor for protection and a small broad sword.

“And why is that?” I asked

“You may never know if this is a trap or not.”

“Stop being paranoid Strovist.” said a girl that was next to him. She was a brunette with curly short hair and darkened skin. She had a spear on her back and wore leather armor the same as the other man did.

“Well caution saves lives” said the so called Strovist

“And cowardliness will hamper your advance, my name is Liliana” said the girl while putting out her hand for a handshake.

I answered

“My name is Yuna, Yuna Korima”

“Now that the introduction are out of the way, tell us Yuna are you here by yourself?”

“Yes.”

“What a waste” said Strovist “to have a beauty like you risking her life and alone in a place like this… how about you come to this onii-san if you need help?” yet right after he said those words he was punished with an elbow to the side by Liliana

“Stop with the flirting you will creep the girl out. So how about you join us? I know you from the time you fought at the tournament you were strong very strong to be able to defeat one of the strongest at our school but if you are trying to clear the crucible alone it will be considered madness. However with both of us acting as vanguards I think we can make it all the way to the twenty fifth floor.”

So they are from Astarte. She must be thinking about the fight with that Jibi guy.

“Well I am aiming for the fiftieth floor but I don’t mind tagging along.”

Once I said those words both of them looked at me shocked and said at once

“F-Fiftieth? Are you mad? I mean common even though you are strong but aren’t you biting more than you could chew?”

“I believe in myself.”

“Leave the girl alone” said Liliana “We shall see how things will develop so let’s just get going and clear the first floor.”

Once she finished talking I noticed that few warriors remained. Most had already entered the gate and it was now our turn. We walked inside and were instantly bathed in a blinding light.

Once the light faded away we found ourselves inside a forest.

“Where shall we go now?” said Strovist

Liliana looked around a bit trying to figure out where to go and I looked up in the sky. There was a beam of light at the north of where we are now so I said

“Maybe we should begin by heading that way?”

“True that does look like the right way, alright follow me I think I can get us there as fast as I could. I was well trained at tracking back at Astarte.” Said Strovist

It took us a couple of hours until we reached a small clearing. Strangely the forest was vivid and filled with life. Birds sang and the forest was full of life. We had not met a single human or beast however.

I walked into the clearing first and saw that the light that was emitting from afar began to dim out. However.

But something was strange. Both Lilian and Strovist remained within the jungle as I turned and saw them looking at me both their lips curled up showing a creepy smile.

“Stupid Human, look how easy it is to trick you.” Once Lilian said that I understood one thing, the trial started the moment I sat foot inside the tower

A second later a huge jaw opened up from under the ground engulfing me with a single bite.