Sai stood in the middle of the Awakening Circle, his heart racing slightly, though his mind remained calm. The ground beneath him was covered in strange, glowing runes that pulsed with an energy he could feel deep in his chest. Around him, tall, ancient pillars rose up, each one covered in faded symbols that seemed to shimmer in the dim light. The air was thick, heavy with the weight of something important. Sai could sense it—the world was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

  He had been preparing for this moment for a long time. The Awakening, a rite every person had to go through when they arrived in this world, was not something to take lightly. It was different for everyone. Some found themselves gifted with power, others struggled, and some even failed. What he would receive depended on his will, his inner strength. This was not just about magic; it was about discovering what he was truly capable of.

  Sai was not new to challenges. In his past life, he was known for his sharp mind and calm nature. He had always been able to think his way through problems, but this was something else entirely. This wasn’t about strategy or intellect it was about something deeper. His heart pounded as he thought about the power that might await him.

  Around him, the vampire maid and Sylvester stood silently. Their faces were unreadable, their eyes fixed on him, watching him as if waiting for a sign of what would happen next. This was his journey alone.

  A voice echoed in his mind, not spoken out loud but felt it. "Step forward."

  Without hesitation, Sai moved, walking toward the center of the circle. As he took each step, he felt the magic in the air shift, responding to his presence. His feet moved automatically, guided by an unseen force, and before he knew it, he had reached the heart of the Awakening circle. There, a massive crystalline throne was embedded in the ground, glowing softly with a golden light. As he approached it, chains of golden energy shot up from the ground, wrapping around his wrists and ankles, holding him in place. A powerful sigil appeared beneath his feet, pulsing with an ancient, otherworldly light.

  For a moment, the world around him blurred, as if everything was shifting out of focus. His body trembled, not from fear, but from the immense power surrounding him. Then, without warning, everything went dark.

  He found himself standing in a new place, though it was hard to tell where he was. The air felt different, heavier somehow. When he looked around, he saw nothing but stone walls stretching far into the distance, lit only by flickering blue torches that seemed to burn with an eerie, cold light. The ground beneath him was cracked, as though the stones had been broken long ago and now formed a spiraling path leading deeper into the unknown.

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  Sai took a deep breath, his senses alert. This place felt like a dungeon, but it was unlike any he had ever seen. The air was thick with mana, the power that flowed through everything in this world, and Sai could feel it buzzing around him, flowing like a river he had only just begun to understand.

  Suddenly, a loud roar echoed through the chamber, shaking the ground beneath his feet. From the shadows ahead, a massive golem appeared. It was made of black stone, its body glowing with a fiery red light from within, as though its core was like molten lava. Its size was enormous, towering over Sai by several meters, and its arms were thick. It moved slowly at first, but its every step shook the ground.

  Sai seeing this smiled but put his guard up. He was no stranger to danger, but this was something else. His mind raced, calculating his next move. Magic was still new to him, and real time combat was not something he had much experience with either. But he could fight.

  The golem roared again, its huge fist swinging toward Sai with deadly force. Without thinking, he dove to the side, the ground where he had been standing exploding in a cloud of dust. He rolled, quickly coming to his feet, and felt the rush of mana surge within him. He raised his hand, and to his will mana responded , a spear of energy materialized in front of him.

  Sai threw the spear with all his strength, aiming for the golem’s exposed core. The weapon flew through the air and struck the golem’s chest because of its slow moments and sai strength with a burst of light. For a moment, the golem staggered back, its glow flickering as though it had been stunned. But it quickly recovered, and with a roar, it swung its massive arm toward him.

  During the fight sai felt something was off as if the golem is weak and dodged a blow

  Sai didn’t wait to see where the blow would land. He rolled again, his body reacting faster than his mind, narrowly avoiding the strike. The golem was slow its movements were massive, but powerful and deliberate. Sai had to think fast if he wanted to survive.

  He sprinted forward, dodging another wild swing. As he closed the distance, he saw an opening. The golem’s body was made of rough stone, and cracks ran along its surface, exposing its fiery core. This was his chance.

  With a grunt, he climbed up the golem’s arm, his fingers finding small crevices in the stone as he scaled its massive form. His heart pounded in his chest, but he focused, keeping his mind clear. When he reached its shoulder, he drew from the mana around him and summoned a blade of energy. Without hesitation, he drove it deep into the golem’s core.

  The golem shrieked, its entire form shuddering as the blade struck deep. Its body began to crack, the fiery light inside it dimming. With one final, deafening roar, the golem shattered into pieces, the stone falling to the ground in a heap.

  Sai stood there for a moment, breathing heavily, his heart racing and the realization of what he had just accomplished began to sink in. He had fought, used magic, and survived. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start.

  The chamber around him shifted, the walls moving as if the very dungeon itself were alive. A hidden passage appeared, leading deeper into the labyrinth. Cautiously, Sai stepped forward, his senses alert. Whatever lay ahead, he would face it. This was only the beginning.

  The trials would test him in ways he could not yet imagine, but Sai was ready.

  Sai could see his strength growing and he moved forward.