[The Descent of the Wolves] As Riha stepped deeper into the Trial Realm, the ancient voice boomed, echoing against the jagged cliffs of the simulation.
"Level One: The Gate of strength and speed. Objective: Eliminate 100 Blood-Thunder Wolves. Time Limit: 30 Minutes. Failure results in immediate termination of the Trial."
Suddenly, the air grew heavy—unnervingly heavy. Riha felt a massive pressure slam into her shoulders, trying to fold her knees into the dirt. She glanced at the gravitational gauge flickering in her mind. The field had surged by three times the usual Nexus weight—meaning she was now fighting under 15x Earth's gravity.
[The Countdown] A holographic timer appeared in the sky, ticking down from 30:00. From the shadows of the cliffs, a hundred pairs of glowing red eyes emerged. The Blood-Thunder Wolves were massive, their fur crackling with crimson electricity.
In the Grand Hall, the Council members leaned forward. "15x gravity? Even a seasoned Nexus warrior would struggle to stand," one whispered. "She's a corpse."
[ The Calm Before the Storm] Riha didn't panic. She closed her eyes, feeling the First Chakra at the base of her spine roar with heat. She took a slow, deep breath, and as she exhaled, the world seemed to slow down. The frantic thumping of the wolves' paws became a rhythmic drum.
She opened her eyes, violet fire swirling in her pupils. "My turn."
With a thought, she summoned the Sovereign's Spine staff.
[ The 100km/h Blitz] Despite the crushing gravity, Riha exploded forward. She was a blur of black silk and steel, moving at a staggering 100 kilometers per hour. Every swing of her staff shattered a wolf's skull, the soul-sucking metal drinking their thunderous energy.
As the timer hit the 5-minute mark, the remaining wolves' skin began to grow unnaturally thick, turning into a metallic armor that her staff struggled to pierce.
[ The Final Blast] Timer: 00:30. Twenty wolves remained, circling her in a desperate pack. Riha didn't waste another second. She retracted the staff and, in a fluid motion, summoned the Pinaka-Khanda—the psychic bow from the Himalayas.
She pulled back the string, a glowing Vayu-Astra arrow of compressed air and psychic fury forming. Timer: 00:10.
"Burn," she whispered.
She released. The arrow didn't just strike; it detonated. A massive shockwave blasted through the arena, vaporizing the remaining beasts. As the timer hit zero, only black smoke and piles of ash remained.
[The Reward] The voice returned: "Level One Clear. Reward: 100 Soul Stones."
A cache of glowing stones materialized before her. Riha sat in the center of the ash, her expression cool and indifferent. She immediately began Refining the stones, feeling the spiritual energy and mental strength pour into her vessels.
Riha (Internal Monologue): If this was just the warm-up, the next level will be a death trap. Good. I'm starting to get bored.