Vas could feel it too—something watching, waiting, measuring his every step. The sense of being hunted grew with each second. Even Sarah seemed more on edge, her eyes darting around the hallways.

"Vas, this place..." she started, her voice trailing off as the walls seemed to shift and groan around them. "It feels alive."

"It is," Vas replied, his voice firm. "Stay close."

They walked deeper into the labyrinth, every step echoing unnaturally loud in the silence. Occasionally, they would turn a corner, only to find themselves back where they started. Vas could feel the pressure mounting, the weight of the spirit's expectations pushing down on him like a lead blanket.

Suddenly, the air around them thickened, the walls pulsating with a rhythmic hum that sent vibrations through the floor. Vas's heartbeat quickened, matching the strange cadence. The maze seemed to shift faster, the corridors twisting in unnatural ways, making it difficult to discern direction.

Then, without warning, the walls parted, revealing a large, dark chamber. In the center of the room stood the Geospirit. Its form was massive, towering over Vas and Sarah, its surface shimmering with embedded crystals that pulsed with a deep, earthy energy. It was like a mountain given form—ancient, unyielding, and full of latent power. The faint glow from its crystalline structure cast eerie shadows across the chamber, its eyes glowing like molten rock.

"So... this is it," Vas thought to himself, his pulse quickening. "Time for the test."

The air grew still as Vas stood at the edge of the dark chamber, his eyes locked on the towering form of the Geospirit. The creature was a monstrous figure, half composed of jagged rock, half shimmering with flickers of storm energy. Tiny arcs of electricity danced across its crystalline surface, occasionally lighting up the chamber in quick, eerie flashes. In its weakened state, the Geospirit's power was more refined, less explosive—but somehow that made it even more dangerous. It wasn't a beast of chaos; it was a surgeon with lightning.

Suddenly, the walls around the chamber began to shift, twisting unnaturally as the maze reacted to Vas's presence. The sound of stone grinding against stone echoed ominously in the vast space, each shift creating more pathways, more uncertainty.

"This is where your trial begins," Morrigan's voice whispered in his mind. "This Geospirit will test you. It seeks precision, control... and endurance."

The room darkened as the glow from the Geospirit's crystalline body pulsed in time with distant thunder, although no storm could be heard. The air crackled with tension, and then, without warning, the maze around Vas started to close in. Narrow corridors formed, blocking off exits one after another until there was only a single path ahead.

Sarah stood at his side, her breathing growing more shallow. "This place is... alive. It feels like it's watching us."

"It is," Vas muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing as he began to move forward.

Each step felt heavier than the last, as if the ground itself was pushing back against him. The walls were now lined with jagged, metallic shards, each one glowing faintly with residual energy, as though they had been struck by lightning many times before. Sparks of static electricity danced along the edges of the metal, casting erratic shadows along the floor.

Suddenly, the air shifted, and a flash of lightning streaked down the corridor ahead of them, so fast that Vas barely had time to react. It wasn't natural lightning—it was razor-sharp, slicing through the air with deadly precision. Vas managed to duck in time, the bolt sizzling past him and searing the wall behind him.

"Careful," Morrigan's voice echoed in his mind, her tone laced with urgency. "This isn't just a maze—it's a trap. The spirit wants to see how well you navigate its domain. Every misstep will be punished."

Vas gritted his teeth and pressed forward. The corridor twisted and turned, each new pathway more disorienting than the last. The temperature fluctuated wildly—one moment the air was thick with heat, the next, a chilling cold that bit into his skin. The further they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.

At times, the walls themselves seemed to whisper, faint voices scratching at the edge of his perception. The symbols on the walls pulsed with a dull light, but they twisted and shifted before Vas could fully make sense of them, always staying just out of reach.

Another lightning bolt shot down from the ceiling, this one aimed directly at Sarah. She yelped and barely dodged to the side, the smell of ozone filling the air.

"Is this thing trying to kill us?" she gasped.

"No," Vas replied. "It's trying to test us."

The floor beneath them started to tremble, and Vas realized they were standing on a massive sheet of conductive metal, polished and glinting in the flickering light. The moment he stepped forward, a low hum resonated through the air. It was a warning.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

The Geospirit was close.

Lightning struck again, this time from all directions, bouncing between the metal walls with lethal precision. Vas felt the ground beneath him vibrate as arcs of electricity began to form intricate patterns, zigzagging toward them like snakes made of pure energy.

Morrigan's voice cut through the chaos. "You need to harness the energy. The spirit respects control—precision. Don't just dodge. You have to command the storm."

Vas focused, his Anima pulsing as he reached out, trying to synchronize with the chaotic energy around him. He could feel the electricity in the air, the raw power coursing through the walls and floor. The maze wasn't just a physical structure—it was an extension of the Geospirit itself, and it was alive with elemental fury.

The next time a lightning bolt struck, Vas didn't move to avoid it. Instead, he raised his hand and let the energy surge toward him. At the last second, he directed the bolt, using his Anima to absorb the force and redirect it, sending the crackling energy harmlessly into the ground.

Sarah stared at him, wide-eyed. "How did you—?"

"Keep moving," Vas said, his voice steady but tense. "It's not done with us yet."

As they continued deeper into the maze, the trials became more intense. The walls closed in at irregular intervals, forcing them to navigate tighter spaces, while the floor cracked beneath them, revealing pits of molten stone. Every few steps, lightning would rain down from above, growing more unpredictable. Yet Vas managed to keep control, bending the lightning to his will just before it struck.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of weaving through the maze, they reached the heart of the Geospirit's domain.

The final chamber was vast, filled with towering crystal formations that hummed with latent energy. The Geospirit hovered in the center, its eyes glowing with ancient intelligence. It let out a low, rumbling sound that reverberated through the ground.

Vas took a step forward, meeting the Geospirit's gaze. The storm around him seemed to pause, the air thick with anticipation.

"Now," Morrigan said, her voice soft but commanding. "Prove yourself. Face the storm and claim its power."

With a deep breath, Vas extended his hand toward the Geospirit, his Anima pulsing outward. The air around them crackled with energy, the walls shimmering as lightning began to swirl around him, faster and faster. This was the final test—the moment of acknowledgment.

The storm would either obey him, or it would tear him apart.

Vas stood still in the center of the chamber, the hum of electricity growing louder as the towering Geospirit hovered above him, radiating raw energy. The air thickened with tension, the pulse of the storm seemingly syncing with Vas's heartbeat. He knew the moment of judgment was coming.

As Vas extended his hand, the chamber shifted around him, the towering crystal formations vibrating with increasing intensity. Thin arcs of lightning connected the crystals to the Geospirit, creating an intricate web of power. The maze had been a mere precursor; now, the storm was fully alive, and it was waiting.

Sarah, standing behind him, could feel the weight of the moment. She didn't say a word, but the palpable fear in her silence said enough. The Geospirit's immense gaze locked onto Vas, and for the first time, it moved, slowly lowering itself toward the ground.

Crack!

A bolt of lightning exploded from the Geospirit's core, striking the ground near Vas's feet. The chamber shook, cracks spreading like spiderwebs across the crystal floor, and the walls seemed to warp in response. More lightning followed, striking in rapid succession. This time, there was no delay. Vas had to act.

With a sharp intake of breath, Vas summoned his Anima, reaching deep within himself to synchronize with the storm. His body pulsed with energy as he felt the lightning surge through him. Instead of resisting the raw power, he let it flow into his core. His vision sharpened, and in that heightened state, he saw the Geospirit's pattern—its rhythm of attack.

"Now," Morrigan's voice echoed in his mind, calm but firm. "Harness it."

Vas's focus narrowed. His body moved instinctively, a dance with the lightning. As bolts shot toward him, he redirected them with precise motions, weaving the electric energy around him like a conductor. Each deflected strike was sent into the walls or absorbed by the surrounding crystals, which flared with brilliant, dangerous light. It wasn't about avoiding the storm—it was about controlling it.

The Geospirit watched, its eyes gleaming, studying every movement. The maze had been about precision and endurance, but this… this was about command.

Vas felt the ground beneath his feet crack open, revealing a molten core that bubbled and hissed. The Geospirit let out a low, rumbling sound that echoed like distant thunder, and the intensity of the storm doubled. More bolts fired at Vas, faster, sharper, like the storm itself was becoming enraged at his ability to hold it off.

But he didn't falter.

Instead, Vas took a step forward, his hand outstretched, sending a controlled pulse of his Anima toward the Geospirit. The air crackled, and for a brief moment, everything seemed to still. The energy of the room stopped shifting wildly—it was drawn to him, bending to his will.

The Geospirit recoiled slightly, its shimmering form vibrating with uncertainty.

"Good," Morrigan whispered, her tone laced with approval. "It's starting to recognize you. But you have to show it that you can truly wield its power."

Vas stepped closer, his eyes never leaving the Geospirit. He knew the spirit was testing him, waiting to see if he could not only endure the storm but claim it as his own. The final challenge lay ahead, and he could feel it building—one last surge of power, one final strike.

Suddenly, the Geospirit let out a deafening roar, and the chamber responded. The crystals pulsed with blinding light, and the air itself seemed to vibrate with the sheer force of the storm. Lightning erupted from every direction, converging on Vas with terrifying speed. The entire chamber became a vortex of chaotic energy, swirling around the Geospirit as it unleashed its full power in one final barrage.

Vas stood his ground. His Anima flared, and he raised both hands, reaching out with his soul to command the storm. The bolts of lightning struck, but they didn't hit him. Instead, they circled around him, drawn into a spiraling sphere of energy that grew larger with each strike. The energy was no longer wild—it was focused, contained within his control.

The Geospirit's roar grew softer, its form flickering as the last of its power was channeled into the storm. It began to shrink, losing its massive form, until it hovered just above the ground, barely flickering, its once-imposing presence diminished.

Vas stepped forward and reached out once more. The storm around him dissipated, the room falling silent. His fingers grazed the Geospirit's weakened form, and in that moment, he felt a connection—a bond forming between them.

The trial was over.