“I must apologize for inconveniencing you. I did not know you would be waiting here for me.”
It was when he heard Koya’s response to his own voice that Roy knew where he was with utter certainty. This was the day when Koya had left him for dead in the Dungeon. Even now, his doppelganger was being attacked and dragged into the Dungeon.
Roy felt his blood boil and dashed forward, cycling Essence to speed himself up as he ran towards the confrontation. Except when he emerged into the clearing, there was nothing there. No one. Not Koya, not Izu or Kozu, and not him.
He whirled on the spot, dashing down the second path that led towards the Dungeon, but even as he ran, the landscape around him changed, turning into another familiar sight. It was the Dungeon itself. Coming to a halt, Roy rubbed at his eyes to make sure he wasn’t imagining things. When he opened them once more, he found that he was indeed standing inside the Dungeon.
“Let’s be quick. The Beasts down that tunnel likely haven’t respawned yet. If we move quickly, we won’t have to fight at all.”
Roy jumped as Koya’s familiar words echoed down the tunnel, and he took off running after him once again. He followed the same path he’d been led down all those months ago, Koya’s group managing to stay ahead of him the entire time. The tunnel finally began to open up, and he could already hear himself begging for his life, followed by the splintering crunch as Koya shattered his legs.
Anger burned in his veins as he heard Koya’s laughter echoing down the tunnel, and he poured on more speed as he burst into the open chamber. It was empty once again, and he came to a stumbling halt before he crashed into the opposite wall. Heart pounding in his chest, Roy whipped his head from side to side, looking for any sign that they had been there, but there were none.
Just what the hell kind of test is this anyway? he wondered, turning on the spot and running towards the exit.
Except the landscape shifted once again, this time showing him the inside of the Dungeon he’d discovered. He was standing behind a stone outcropping, and his view of the beach was blocked off, but he could clearly hear the sounds of fighting.
The first time he’d fought the giant crabs.
Roy dashed around the rock formation, but once again, found the area empty and deserted. This went on for the next few hours, the trial taking him through one scenario after the next, each one a pivotal moment in the last few months. His mind began to grow numb to his own screams of pain, when he’d blown up the two Shah clan members, when he’d nearly died on the side of that mountain, chased by monstrous deer. When he’d nearly died moments after his escape by the claws of that Crater-cat.
Each new scenario showed him another instance where he should rightfully have died but somehow came out alive. He never saw them, only heard. Heard how he couldn’t stand up for himself, heard how weak he was, heard the sounds of his body being torn apart, only for him to come upon an empty area.
The longer he stayed, the more he understood just how fortunate he was to still be alive. He’d come close to death so many times over the last few months. The only reason he’d stayed alive was due to others around him. In fact, the only reason he was in this trial and not dead, was because Aika had come to his rescue. As he came upon the final scene, the fight he had just fought, he began to feel his core thrumming in his chest.
The Power Essence spoke to him, or rather, to his soul. It did not approve of the way he’d been handling himself. It did not like his weakness. It did not approve of him.
Roy could feel his chest tightening, even as the landscape shifted to that of The Crater. Thunder rumbled overhead as rain began falling from the sky.
“Well. Looks like you’ve finally decided to stop running.”
Roy turned at the sound of the now-familiar voice of Shah Koya. This time, however, he was completely stunned. Standing not ten yards away, was the boy himself. The same one who had started it all and had followed him out to The Crater to finish the job.
“What, nothing to say?” Koya asked with a mocking grin. “That’s fine. I’m sure you’ll start talking once I break a few bones!” he shouted, rushing at him with blinding speed.
It was only then that Roy understood. This was the real test. He’d been shown all the times he’d survived due to other’s interference. Power Essence seemed to be prideful, at least that was among the feelings he’d gotten from his core when the last scene had played out. It did not enjoy losing, and it did not like the way he’d been using it. Now, he had a choice, to fight, or die.
Gritting his teeth, Roy planted his back leg, cycling Essence through his body, up to his arms and down to his legs. Koya had made him suffer enough. He’d nearly succeeded in killing him twice already. There wouldn’t be a third time.
Roy dashed toward him, using the evasion technique of the Unaru Kuma, staying on his course until the last possible second, then shifting his weight to his right foot and pivoting out of the way. Koya’s swing went wide, and Roy planted his back leg, slamming a fist into the side of his face and ejecting as much Essence as he could manage into the blow.
An explosion rocked the side of Koya’s face, flinging him back with a cry of pain, but Roy wasn’t done. He dashed after the Shah clan member, funneling Essence through his feet and using the Explosive Fist to propel himself forward at greater speed. He caught up to Koya, who was regaining his balance, and threw a knee into his sternum.
His pants were already torn in the knees, so the Explosive Fist didn’t further damage his clothing as Essence exploded out from the point of contact, the bubble of displaced air buckling Koya and sending him stumbling back once again.
As he staggered back, Roy felt a thrill of success as he saw a small trickle of blood leaking from the corner of his mouth.
It was working. He could win!
A blue shield sprang up around Koya’s body as the next punch landed, throwing Roy back, clutching his fist in pain.
“Thought you could catch me off guard with a sneak attack, did you?” Koya snarled, wiping at the blood trickling from his mouth. “Well guess what, freak, you’ve had your chance, and you blew it!”
Koya let out a howl of rage, conjuring two Water Blades and hurling them at him. Roy dodged to the side, rolling behind a spire and feeling the impact of them as they hit the stone. He could feel an ever-growing sense of disapproval and disappointment radiating from the Essence as he began ducking and rolling, much as he had done before. He could feel a sense of dread overcoming him as he once again realized the futility of his situation.
But what was he supposed to do? He wasn’t strong enough to hurt Koya, wasn’t fast enough to dodge his attacks, and certainly didn’t have the body to withstand even a single hit! How was he expected to succeed in such an impossible situation?
He debated throwing a Void Sphere at a spire and collapsing it on him, but he could feel instant disapproval, even bordering on anger from the Power Essence when he thought of doing that. It saw that plan as cowardly and unbecoming of someone who would wield its power. But if he couldn’t do that, then what else could he hope to do?!
A stray Water Blade caught the outside of his left arm, tearing a bloody furrow across it and making him wince. What could he, a White-Belt, hope to do against someone at a higher stage of advancement, if he couldn’t use tricks or traps?
Another Water Blade sliced across the outside of his left thigh, and another caught the ribs on his right side as he rolled between spires. Getting to his feet once again, Roy grimaced in pain, feeling his side stained with blood. He could also feel that same helplessness that he had felt, not only during his last fight, but his entire life.
He’d been so weak, helpless and alone. Trapped, and forced to do what others wanted under constant threat of pain, or death. And now that he was finally free, the same people were trying to take that away from him — the one thing he valued more than anything.