Master's smile grew more intense, a hint of challenge in her crimson gaze. "You are capable of much more than you believe," she said, her voice a soft caress in the harshness of the forest. "Now, show me what you can do."

Shin took a deep breath, steeling himself for the onslaught. The second wave of knights approached, their swords glinting in the moonlight like a sea of steel. He focused, feeling the power of his fables swell within him. The first knight charged, and with a swift motion, Shin mirrored the blow letting himself be hit in the belly, the power of the trace fable amplifying his strength after every kill. The knight fell to the ground, another number added to the count.

As the battle raged on, Shin found himself slipping deeper and deeper into a trance-like state. His movements grew more precise, each strike and parry a dance of death that grew more mesmerizing with every passing moment. The knights fell before him, their shadows merging with his own as he drew upon their essence to fuel his trace fable.

Yet, despite their overwhelming numbers, few of the undead knights truly believed in Devota before their end. This was why, despite their endless onslaught, Shin's connection to Devota's wave grew at a painfully slow pace. He absorbed their styles but it was their faith that made the difference between a skilled warrior and a force of nature.

Days turned into nights, and nights back into days as Shin cut down undead after undead. His sword, the one collected in that alley, grew darker with every life it claimed. His armor, once a shiny black, were stained with the grime of battle. Yet, even as his body grew weaker, his spirit remained unbroken, almost as if his fables made him move without thoughts.

Master's eyes never left him, a silent sentinel observing his every move. Then, she called forth two more undead knights, a twin set of horrors from the abyss. With a flick of her wrist, she melded them together, creating a monstrosity the likes of which shin had never seen. Two heads, one body, wielding an axe that could cleave mountains in two. The creature stood tall, a tower of malice, and its eyes burned with the fading rebrands connected to Devota, probably the strongest undead in that forest graveyard.

Shin stared at the creature, his heart racing, his breath shallow. He knew this was a test, a crucible that would either forge him into a weapon of divine retribution or break him into nothingness.

Master's voice broke the silence. "Now show me" she said, her tone serious. "You must conquer this first trial. If you fail here there is no point in continuing."

Shin took a deep breath and looked at the undead knight monstrosity before him. He knew that mirror would not be enough; it was time to harness the true power of trace. He closed his eyes and focused on the energy of the fallen knights, their lifeless forms lying scattered on the forest floor. He felt the power of Devota's wave coursing through him, a shiny but twisted force that yearned for dominance.

With a snarl of concentration, he began to channel the essence of the new defeated knights. Their styles merged within him, each one adding its own unique flavor to his combat. His muscles bulged as the energy coalesced from the remnants, forming a whirlwind of golden light around his body. The air grew thick with anticipation as the aura grew stronger, the very ground beneath them trembling with its intensity.

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The monstrous knight took a step forward, its two-headed silhouette casting a terrifying shadow over the battlefield. With a roar, it swung its axe, a gust of wind preceding the blow. But Shin was ready. He met the monster's strength with his newfound power, his blade a blur as he sliced through the air.

Yet, despite his best efforts, the axe barely chipped. The creature's power was immense, and its remnant faith in Devota had been more the all of the fallen knights put together. The blows that would have shattered a normal knight barely made a dent in this abomination. Shin felt a twinge of doubt, a whisper of fear that maybe this was a step too far.

Master's eyes gleamed, seeing the hesitation in her pupil. She knew that this was the moment that would make or break him. "You must not doubt," she called out, her voice cutting through the din of battle. "Doubt is the crutch of the weak!"

Shin's eyes narrowed, and with a roar, he leaped into action. He had to find a way to conquer this abomination before him. The two-headed knight swung its axe again, a whirlwind of destruction. But this time, instead of trying to outmatch its power, Shin slipped aside, using the speed and agility granted by his trace fable. He weaved around the creature, his blade flickering like a serpent's tongue, seeking a weakness.

But the creature's next swing was met with a resounding clang as Shin's sword collided with the axe. The force of the impact sent him flying backwards, his body a blur as it sliced through the air. He crashed into the trees, each collision echoing like thunder through the forest.

Shin groggy and on the verge of fainting wipes the blood from his mouth "This won't do....i can’t find an opening".

He glanced around the battlefield, his eyes searching for something, anything that could give him an advantage. And that's when he noticed it, a pattern in the monstrous knight's attack, a rhythm to its brutal dance of destruction.

He took a deep breath and focused his energy, letting the power of the trace fable fill him as he watched the creature's movements.

Master nodded, a hint of approval in her eyes. "Good," she said, her voice low and measured.

Shin took a deep breath, focusing on the rhythm of the creature's attacks. He felt the energy of the trace fable pulsating through his veins, the power of a hundred fallen knights surging within him. He watched the monstrosity's movements, timing his strike to perfection.

As the two-headed knight swung its axe again, Shin leaped forward, his sword a golden streak in the moonlit night. His blade met the creature's neck with a sound like a crack of wood. One of the heads falling behind him, a fountain of black blood spurting into the air.

But the victory was short-lived. The creature's remaining head roared in fury, its axe arcing downward towards Shin. He had no time to dodge. cutting off his hand at the wrist, the pain so intense it threatened to overwhelm him. But by now it was a sensation he was used to.

He activated mirror, the energy from the creature's attack reflecting back at it with the same force, his hand exploded into a burst of golden light dropping the axe to the ground.

With a snarl of pain and anger, Shin used the brief moment of respite to push himself to him. His hand grew back almost immediately, a testament to the power of his fable. He knew that if he didn't end this now, the creature would only grow stronger. He took a deep breath and focused his energy to cut the last head with a swift movement.

The creature's second head toppled to the ground, the lifeless eyes staring up at the sky in defeat. As the two heads lay still, the creature's body followed suit, collapsing in a heap of rotting flesh and armor. The forest grew silent, the only sound the distant echo of his master clapping his hands.

Master approached him, a rare smile on her face. "Well done, Shin," she said, her voice filled with pride.

Shin stumbled back, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The power of the trace fable was immense, but the cost was high. His body was pushed to its limits, his muscles trembling with exhaustion. His hand, freshly regrown, was still a throbbing reminder of the battle's toll.

"Master , how many knights remain to kill?"

Master surveyed the battleground, her gaze lingering on the sea of lifeless forms. "Not much," she replied, a hint of amusement in her voice. With a wave of her hand, she summoned more of the undead warriors. They stumbled forth, their eyes aglow, someone with the dim light of Devota's remnant power.

"Fuck....... I’m losing consciousness." Shin slurred, his eyes glazing over as he stared at the new wave of knights approaching. His body was screaming for rest, but the battle was far from over.

The unique thing keeping him on his feet was the massive amount of energy he had absorbed from the two-headed knight. The power thrummed through him, a pulsing beat that seemed to resonate with every heartbeat. He could feel it, a stronger connection with Devota wave, now probably at the same level of Kale.

Master looked at him from a tree, her expression unreadable. " But your trial is only just beginning" she said, her voice a gentle command.