The moment Bolt and his team stepped out of the portal, chaos struck.
The sky above them was a twisted mix of deep crimson and dark violet, thick clouds swirling with violent energy. The air was dry, crackling with static. Around them, jagged rock formations stretched high into the sky, casting eerie shadows over the battlefield. But the real problem wasn't the landscape.
It was the monsters.
A chorus of guttural snarls echoed through the wasteland. Sharp claws scraped against the stone. Dozens of eyes, glowing with hunger, locked onto them from the darkness.
Then, they charged.
The first to lunge was a beast covered in thick, obsidian-like armor. Its maw was lined with serrated fangs, glowing red-hot like molten metal. Behind it, shadowy creatures slithered forward, their elongated limbs ending in curved talons.
"Move!" Bolt shouted.
He barely dodged as the armored beast slammed into the ground where he had just stood, sending chunks of rock flying. The impact left a crater, dust and debris clouding the air.
Ryzen was already moving, his hands crackling with red lightning. "I don't take orders from you." He raised a fist, and a bolt of energy lanced from his knuckles, striking the armored beast. Sparks exploded upon impact, but the monster barely flinched.
Akane twisted through the air, her wind-based abilities giving her unmatched agility. She flicked her wrist, sending razor-sharp gusts of wind slashing at the shadow creatures. Two of them shrieked and dissipated into black mist, but three more replaced them instantly.
Darian took a defensive stance, summoning a wall of earth to block an incoming creature. "We're outnumbered!"
Felix, the unknown member of their team, hadn't even spoken yet. But as Bolt glanced in his direction, he saw something odd—the guy wasn't moving. He just stood there, arms crossed, watching.
Bolt gritted his teeth. No time to deal with that now.
The armored beast turned toward him again, its molten fangs dripping with sizzling saliva. It was fast, but Bolt was faster. He pivoted, dodging a swipe of its claws, then retaliated by thrusting his palm forward.
Lightning surged from his fingertips.
A bright arc of electricity slammed into the beast's exposed underbelly. It roared in pain, staggering backward.
Bolt pressed the attack. He clenched his fists, channeling his power. The elements within him burned, each one calling for release.
Not yet.
He had to control it.
Akane landed beside him. "What's the plan?"
Bolt scanned the battlefield. Ryzen was holding his own, barely. Darian was getting overwhelmed, struggling to maintain his defenses. Felix still hadn't moved.
They needed to turn the tide.
"We take out the leader," Bolt said.
Akane followed his gaze to the largest of the beasts—the armored one. "You think it's the alpha?"
"Only one way to find out."
Without hesitation, Bolt surged forward. His body blurred as he activated his wind affinity, enhancing his speed. He appeared in front of the monster in an instant, raising his hand.
A torrent of fire erupted from his palm, engulfing the beast in flames.
It roared, thrashing violently. The intense heat melted parts of its armor, revealing softer flesh beneath. That was all Bolt needed.
He clenched his fist. The flames vanished, replaced by a concentrated surge of ice.
The sudden temperature shift caused the molten armor to crack and shatter.
The beast recoiled, stunned by the unexpected attack. That was his opening.
Bolt's eyes flashed. He lunged forward, delivering a devastating lightning-charged punch straight into the beast's exposed chest. The impact sent a thunderous shockwave through the battlefield.
The creature convulsed—then collapsed.
For a moment, everything was still.
Then, the remaining monsters hesitated. Their leader was down.
That hesitation cost them.
Ryzen didn't miss the opportunity. He let out a battle cry, his red lightning surging outward in a violent explosion. The shadow creatures shrieked as they were obliterated.
Darian, regaining his composure, raised a massive wall of stone and crushed the remaining monsters beneath it.
Silence fell over the battlefield.
They had won.
Bolt exhaled, his heartbeat steadying. He turned to his team, assessing the damage.
Akane was unharmed, her breathing controlled. Darian had a few scratches, but nothing serious. Ryzen, despite his arrogance, looked exhausted.
Then there was Felix.
Still standing there. Unscathed. Silent.
Bolt narrowed his eyes. "You didn't fight."
Felix finally moved, tilting his head. "Didn't need to."
Bolt took a step forward, tension rising. "We could've used your help."
Felix smirked. "And yet, you won without me. Interesting."
Bolt clenched his jaw. Something about this guy was off.
Before he could say anything else, the ground trembled.
A portal materialized before them, shimmering with golden light. The trial was
over.
They had passed.
But something told Bolt this was only the beginning.
And he wasn't wrong.