After the frenzy of the previous battles, the arena fell into an almost sacred silence. With slow and solemn steps, the announcer’s voice echoed along the ancient walls, carrying a message that sent a shiver through every heart present:

  "Adventurers, hear me! Today’s duels have come to an end, and in three days, the Ultimate Trial will begin. From this moment, only sixteen of the bravest remain. Prepare yourselves, for in the coming days, you will face challenges that will test not only your strength but also your spirit."

  The announcement fell like a heavy mantle over everyone present. Zeyne, his gaze lost in thought, felt the weight of those words—sixteen combatants, a number that made every duel decisive, every defeat an irrevocable end.

  "Sixteen… from now on, every battle will be a choice between life and ruin. I must prepare thoroughly, not just physically, but with my entire mind and heart."

  The voices of the judges, like Count Armand and the Lone Wolf, mingled with those of his companions as the atmosphere grew even more solemn and charged with anticipation.

  In the days following the announcement, the guild transformed into a place of meditation and preparation. The dim lights of the towers and ancient corridors cast an almost unreal calm, where every sound seemed amplified by the silence of fate.

  Zeyne spent hours sitting in a corner of the meeting hall, replaying every battle in his mind, every heartbeat that had marked his path.

  "My ability to see the future… it’s no longer new, yet it still haunts me. Each vision is a puzzle—what are those flashes of light trying to tell me? I must learn to control them before they become an unbearable burden."

  During these long hours of reflection, the floating screen appeared once again. In a dark corner of the hall, flickering lights projected symbols and brief phrases in an ancient language.

  "The Infernal Duel awaits those who dare to challenge fate..."

  The words echoed in Zeyne’s mind, igniting a fire of questions and unease.

  "That message again… The Infernal Duel… what does it truly mean? Will it be the final test that pushes everything I’ve learned to the limit?"

  Amidst the silence of contemplation, a floating screen suddenly appeared before his eyes. Against a backdrop of ancient symbols and pulsating lights, the message was clear and provocative:

  "INFERNAL DUEL

  Are you ready for the ultimate trial to uncover part of your true power?"

  [ Yes ] [ No ]

  Zeyne’s heart pounded harder. Three times in the past, his ability to glimpse the future had shown him fragments of fate, but this time, the message was different—it was an invitation, a definitive challenge that would lead him to discover a hidden aspect of himself.

  "The future again… But this time, I must accept. I can’t remain in the shadows of my doubts," he thought.

  With determination, he pressed the "Yes" button. As soon as he did, a bright light surged through the screen, accompanied by a brief note in the background:

  "The event will begin tomorrow."

  Zeyne realized that while the Ultimate Trial itself was set to begin in three days, he now had the opportunity to face this Infernal Duel as a preparatory stage.

  "Three days to prepare myself further, to sharpen all my abilities, and to understand what this gift truly means," he mused as the image slowly faded, leaving him with a profound sense of responsibility and a shiver down his spine.

  In the following days, Zeyne immersed himself in an intense phase of preparation. Every morning at dawn, he went to the guild’s training grounds, where the rhythmic clash of swords and the sound of sweat dripping onto metal created an ancient and powerful melody.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  "I need to understand every nuance of my body and mind," he repeated aloud, trying to turn his anxiety into determination.

  During training sessions, every movement was meticulously studied. Zeyne reviewed the techniques he had learned, striving to perfect each strike and each dodge. However, his mind constantly drifted back to the message from the floating screen.

  "The Infernal Duel… what awaits me? What will I discover about myself if I take on this trial? I must use everything I’ve learned, but also open myself to a new aspect of my power."

  Lia, who accompanied him during these sessions, watched him with keen and encouraging eyes. During a break, as they sipped fresh water, she spoke in a reassuring tone:

  "Zeyne, remember that this moment is just an opportunity. Every trial is a step toward knowing yourself. Use these days to listen to your heart and refine your spirit."

  Her words resonated within him, blending with the silence of his thoughts. Every training session, every moment of meditation, seemed to be preparing him for the moment when the Infernal Duel would transport him into a different world—a virtual realm filled with enigmas and challenges.

  The appointed day for the Infernal Duel had finally arrived. With his heart pounding and his hands still slightly trembling from excitement, Zeyne found himself before the same floating screen, now transported into a dreamlike realm.

  The world around him had changed: the arena walls had transformed into a surreal landscape, illuminated by floating lights and ancient symbols dancing in the air. Every detail was described with a precision that seemed to belong to a dream, where time and space blurred together.

  Before him, a shadow appeared—the form of his opponent in the Infernal Duel. The figure was enigmatic, wrapped in twilight light, and the silence was broken only by the slow, rhythmic beating of a distant drum.

  The message of the event resurfaced in his mind, echoing with profound significance:

  "Infernal Duel: reveal the true power that lies within you."

  Zeyne stepped forward, his movements slow and measured, as if each step were a form of meditation. His opponent, an elusive and powerful entity, moved with the same calm, ready to begin a battle that would unveil part of the secret hidden within his power.

  "This is the moment," Zeyne thought, as the world around him seemed to slow even further. "There is no room for doubt. Every strike, every dodge is a step toward my truth."

  The duel came to life in a choreography of slow yet intense movements. Blades clashed in a dance of light and shadow. Though Zeyne lacked the immediate support of his vision at that moment, he relied on every drop of experience, every lesson learned during training.

  As attacks and parries were exchanged, small inner dialogues intertwined with the sounds of battle:

  "Use your strength, Zeyne. Let every strike speak of your will. This is the Infernal Duel; every action here is a key to unlocking my true power."

  The fight, though maintaining a slow and meditative rhythm, grew increasingly intense. The virtual audience—unseen but felt through the echo of its emotions—seemed to anticipate every move with palpable tension. Zeyne focused, driven by determination and the awareness that this duel was the ultimate test to uncover a part of himself.

  As the Infernal Duel reached its climax, Zeyne found within himself an inner strength that transcended fear. With one final, decisive slash, his sword traced a precise arc against the shadow that had challenged him. The opponent staggered, and in a silence heavy with tension, vanished—leaving behind a warm, almost reassuring light.

  The world of the floating screen then fell into silence, and a voice, both gentle and deep, echoed through the air:

  "True power resides in those who have the courage to face their own shadows."

  Zeyne stood still, his breath ragged but his heart filled with a newfound awareness. The event had ended, and with it, part of the mystery that had always surrounded his power had begun to unravel.

  "This duel… has shown me that my destiny is not written in the stars, but carved into every choice I make, every beat of my heart. I must continue to fight, to understand, to master my power."

  In the resonant silence of the Infernal Duel, Zeyne heard the echo of virtual applause and murmurs of approval, as if they came from every corner of his soul. It was only the beginning of a new era for him, a decisive step toward the Supreme Trial that awaited him in just a few days.

  With his eyes still filled with determination and a sense of peace after the turmoil of battle, Zeyne prepared to close this chapter—fully aware that his journey toward true power had only just begun.