At once, the ground shook violently. Streams of flame erupted from the left side of the valley while icy winds swept from the right, colliding in the center and forming a cyclone of molten embers and shards of ice. The geniuses standing near the entrance steadied themselves, activating defensive auras to withstand the sudden burst of energy.
"Looks like it's time," Victor said quietly, his golden eyes reflecting both the glow of fire and the shimmer of frost.
Max nodded. "Let's see what this trial has in store."
Without hesitation, he stepped forward. The moment his foot touched the luminous seal, a force pulled him in. The world around him blurred, dissolving into streaks of red and blue light. One by one, the other geniuses followed suit—Victor, Seraphina, Chris, Christine, and dozens of others from different worlds, all drawn into the heart of the trial.
The moment the portal drew them in, light devoured everything.
