[Key modules corrupted. Connection unable to be re-established. System offline.]

Gods, how Wole hated those words. Each time he reached for his power, each time he tried to look into his soulspace and attempted to do more than the bare minimum, those accursed words would flash before his eyes. He snarled and resisted the urge to slam his fist onto the nearest surface. Not only was it a pointless waste of energy, it was also an incredibly stupid thing to do when faced with an enemy.

So, with an effort of will, he focused his attention on the fight before him. The giant construct was advancing with alarming speed and Wole found himself struggling to keep up; its movements seemed to be calculated in a way that made it almost impossible to anticipate what it would do next. He could only react as best as he could, desperately dodging every attack while retaliating with his own. He and Wole weren't at full strength, they hadn't been for a very long time and that fight with the Aberrations had drained him of more energy than he'd let on. He knew Mairo would be much worse off; the boy had never been much of a close-range fighter before the Usurper's Curse.

But what can we do, he thought. We don't have a choice.

[Key modules corrupted. Connection unable to be re-established. System offline.]

Wole scowled at the fresh reminder, shut up already, and gritted his teeth, determined to win this fight no matter what. However, the construct seemed to have other plans. Its already chaotic and lightning-fast movements suddenly increased in speed, making it even more difficult for Wole to keep up with it. A high-pitched whine filled the air as more of the smaller boxes emerged from somewhere and joined the fray, causing a loud explosion that made Wole briefly turn back in fear.

Luckily, Mairo only suffered minor burns from the combined laser attack, yet, it was becoming clear that neither of them was faring well in this battle; they were both getting battered and bruised from all directions, taking more hits than they had anticipated. Explosions sent embers flying through the air as swords clashed against armour, creating a chaotic scene that reminded Wole just how close they were to danger and failure.

[Key modules corrupted. Connection unable to be reestablished. System offline.]

He sighed internally, pushing aside his concerns with a flare of stubbornness.

Can’t give up now. Have to push through, he thought and as he prepared to strike the giant construct once again, he noticed a change in Mairo's expression from determination to something more serious. His heart sank like a stone.

"Mairo," he called out, briefly breaking away from the battle. "How much essence do you have left?"

The other man, his best friend, his mate gave him a sombre look and that was all the answer he needed. Wole cursed quietly under his breath. Damn it all. Without the System, there was only so much they could do against these constructs, only so much magic they could call forth from their souls. He dodged another attack from the enemy and glanced back at Ayo, who was still hunched over the City's Core, motionless.

Hurry Ayo, he thought, as a barely turned aside slash tore a line through his shoulder. I don't know how long we can keep this up.

***

It starts with a bolt of lightning. The great flare of power slams into her with much force, sending delicious spikes of pain spidering across her veins and setting her nerves ablaze. Ayo's entire body convulses as the lightning courses through her, her muscles twitching uncontrollably. She grits her teeth, determined to endure the pain and push through the tribulation.

As the lightning subsides, a torrential rain instead unleashes itself on her, soaking Ayo to the bone. Each raindrop feels like a needle piercing her skin, but she refuses to let it break her focus. She stands tall, her body trembling from the strain.

Then, the rain transforms into a raging storm, whipping around her with violent gusts of wind. Ayo struggles to maintain her balance, her hair whipping wildly in the tempest. She fights it, fights the rampaging force intent on ripping her from the earth and casting her aside like a used tissue.

But just as she thinks she can't endure any longer, the storm dissipates, leaving behind an eerie calm. Ayo takes a deep breath, feeling a newfound strength surging through her veins. She looks down at her hands, marvelling at the pulsating energy that emanates from within. It is as if the storm has infused her very being, granting her power.

She takes a hesitant step forward, drawing upon her newfound connection with her still unnamed dragon. She can feel its presence within her, a steady thrum of growing power that resonates deep within her core. With each breath, she channels the essence and strength of the soul beast, allowing it to guide her through this treacherous trial.

Then, in the distance, a voice echoes through the air, accompanied by a deafening clap of thunder.

"Who are you?" it demands, its tone both commanding and curious. Ayo's heart skips a beat as she searches for the source, her eyes scanning the ethereal landscape surrounding her.

Suddenly, the clouds above part to reveal a figure standing atop a towering rock formation. Cloaked in darkness, their silhouette is imposing and mysterious. Ayo's breath catches in her throat as she realizes the figure possesses an otherworldly aura, their presence radiating with ancient knowledge and untamed power. A Fragment.

"I am Ayo," she replies, her voice steady despite the tremor in her soul. "I seek to unlock the secrets of my destiny and embrace the path that lies before me."

The figure doesn't move, doesn't shake, doesn't do anything to indicate any emotion. And yet, she can tell immediately that it is not impressed.

"Insufficient," it says and the lightning returns with a vengeance.

***

Wole ducked under the sweeping blade and countered with a spear strike to the construct’s metallic chest. But his attack barely held any impact now and the machine swept it aside with an almost contemptuous gesture. Behind him Mairo coughed wetly, the myriad of Golden Palms behind him flickering in and out, like a candle held before a storm.

One of the mini constructs turned then, seeming to notice Ayo for the first time and fired off a laser beam. Wole moved by instinct, his body dissolving into mist and reforming in front of it, taking the blast head-on. Dimly, he heard Mairo scream his name but his attention was fixed on the shifting mass in front of him.

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“You will not touch her,” he said through the scent of his own burning flesh and flung himself back into the fray.

***

"Who are you?" it asks and Ayo can't move, can't think through the pain. What could it possibly mean by "insufficient"?

She grits her teeth, summoning every ounce of inner strength to endure the onslaught of lightning. The pain is searing, threatening to consume her, but she refuses to yield.

"I am Ayo," she repeats, her voice strained but resolute. "And I will prove myself worthy."

The figure watches her, its eyes gleaming with an intensity that sends chills down Ayo's spine. The lightning intensifies, crackling and surging with a raw power that threatens to engulf her completely.

But Ayo doesn't falter. She taps into the essence of the dragon within her, drawing upon its indomitable spirit. It... No. He lends it to her freely and energy courses through her veins, merging with the lightning and transforming it into a surge of pure life force. She feels herself growing stronger, more resilient.

The figure on the rock formation observes this transformation with keen interest, its stoic demeanour finally showing a hint of intrigue.

"Insufficient," it says again but there is finally a note of satisfaction in it, as though it has, at last, found something it can work with.

More lightning tears down from the sky and this time it is accompanied by a new question.

"What is it that you want?"

Ayo braces herself against the onslaught, her body pulsating with energy. It is surprisingly easier now to resist and she takes a deep breath, focusing her thoughts amidst the chaos.

She's realised by now this Fragment does not want simple, flippant answers. She has to dig deep, into her core and find them out. So that begs the question. What is it that she truly wants? Deep down in her heart of hearts.

"Power," she says finally. "I want power."

And it’s true. Wasn't it why she'd done everything to try and come here in the first place? Wasn't it why, just a couple of minutes ago, she'd looked at a soul beast that was perfect for her and rejected it based on an incredibly vague hunch that there might be something better?

The lightning strikes again, illuminating the fragmented landscape with a blinding brilliance and Ayo can feel the surge of electricity coursing through her, igniting a fire within her very being. It barely hurts now and yet, she knows how that would change if for any reason the tribulation decides her answers are unsatisfactory. The figure on the rock formation remains silent for a moment, its shadowy form flickering as if contemplating her response.

"Why?" the voice echoes, a hint of curiosity mingled with a touch of scepticism. "Why do you want power?"

Ayo's mind races, searching for an answer that can satisfy the enigmatic Fragment. Why does she want power? It is, after all, a word that carries weight, an intoxicating allure that has driven countless souls to madness and destruction. Yet, for Ayo, it is more than just a fleeting desire. It is an insatiable hunger that gnaws at her insides, urging her to seek out the uncharted territories of her potential.

She recalls the countless nights spent poring over ancient tomes, deciphering cryptic texts written in long-forgotten languages. She remembers the sleepless nights and the sacrifices she made in pursuit of knowledge and mastery over her own destiny.

"I want power because I want to be free," she finally declares, her voice filled with a newfound conviction. "I want to transcend the limitations that society has imposed upon me. I want to break free from the chains of expectation and forge my own path."

Immediately she can tell this is not enough.

"Close," says the Fragment. "But not the entire truth."

The pain surges through Ayo once more and she is crushed to the ground by the strength of the bolt.

"I want power so I can protect those I love, to ensure their safety in a world where danger lurks around every corner."

"Insufficient."

"I want power so I can save Theti and the rest of the members of House Whiterose! I want to save Wole and Mairo!"

"Incomplete."

Ayo nearly gives into despair. What more does it want from her? The agony racing across is making it hard to think, hard to soul search. Why does she want power? What was the core reason why she cast off her fears and subjected herself to this torment?

She shudders as another surge of lightning crashes down upon her, the intense pain threatening to overwhelm her senses. She grits her teeth and clenches her fists, refusing to yield to the torment. The Fragment's questions echo in her mind, demanding an answer that delves deeper into the recesses of her soul.

In that moment, amidst the chaos and agony, a flicker of memory flashes before Ayo's eyes. She sees herself as a young girl, her hair all tied up in cute puffs, eagerly seeking the approval and affection of her father. She remembers those countless moments when she had longed for his interest. For this leader of men to look upon her with affection. For the full interest of the Librarian Supreme to land and stay on his only daughter.

Her breath catches in her throat as realization dawns upon her. The answer was there all along, buried beneath layers of ambition and determination. It is a truth she had been too afraid to face until now.

"I want power because... because I want my father to love me," she whispers, her voice barely audible amidst the crackling of electricity and the rumble of thunder. In that moment, Ayo's vulnerability intertwines with her desperation, weaving a tapestry of emotional turmoil that threatens to consume her.

The Fragment seems to sense her anguish, its shadowy form flickering with a newfound emotion. The air crackles with anticipation as Ayo waits for a response, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Why?" The voice echoes, softer this time, carrying a hint of understanding. "Why do you seek your father's love through power?"

Ayo takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself amidst the swirling storm within her. Her mind is cast back to memories of her father, a great politician and a wielder of magic. In the eyes of the world, he was a paragon of strength and influence. But for Ayo, he was an unattainable figure, distant and cold.

"He never cared for me," she begins with a quaver. "He saw me as nothing more than a disappointment, an unworthy successor to his legacy. Because I had no magic, he dismissed me as insignificant, unworthy of his attention." Ayo's voice trembles with a mix of pain and resentment as she pours out her deepest fears and insecurities.

The Fragment glimmers in the stormy darkness, its ethereal presence seeming to understand the weight of Ayo's words. The wind howls and the rain pelts down upon them, but within this tempestuous moment, a connection is formed between the young woman and the ancient entity.

"But,” the Fragment's voice resonates gently, “you must know that power is not the answer to fill the void left by his absence. You cannot seek validation or love from someone incapable of giving it, no matter how much power you possess. And, some would argue that it is power itself that is the root of your problems. Your father valued it above everything else, after all, even family."

"Yes," Ayo agrees. "I am aware of this. And yet, for his many flaws, my father was... is a great man. Whether intentional or not, he has given me a great many lessons over the years."

"And yet you haven't used any of them."

That was true. "I guess that's because, before now, it wasn't me." She shoots the Fragment a defiant look. "It is now. Here I am Starborn. Here I am bonded to a soul beast of power. I have briefly held the power of the Administrator and caught a glimpse of eternity. You asked me before who I am, and the answer is this. I am Funmilayo Egbuche Whiterose. Inner Disciple of House Whiterose. Daughter of the moon and scion of the House of Knowledge. From now on, I strive not just to be a worthy heir for my father but a better person and ruler than he ever was."

The Fragment considers her, stiller than the very rock it stands upon before giving one single nod.

"Your answer is satisfactory. Your tribulation is passed," it says and the storm winks out like a light. Bright, clear sunlight streams down upon the figure and its face splits into a wide smile of sparkling stars.

"I can see now why the Mediator chose you," it says. "Until we met again, Funmilayo of House Whiterose."

The Fragment vanishes with a light pop and the tribulation ground is snatched away, like a scroll rolled up by a satisfied scribe. Briefly, she returns to the starry void that is the System before she is snatched away again and the world is consumed with white light.

[Adjudicator approval acquired!]

[Tribulation passed!]

[Commencing rank advancement...]