Godslayer's Legacy: THE PATH TO SUPREMACY

Despite his SS-Rank designation, despite the awe-inspiring displays of power he'd shown thus far, there were doubts. Doubts whispered behind closed doors, doubts etched in fleeting glances, and doubts unspoken yet heavy in the air.

Captain Aric Steelshade had been the one to propose it first:

"If we're to trust this boy with our lives—or with the lives of everyone on this continent—then let him show us. Not through words, not through titles, but through action."

The proposal had been simple: Rui would face Squad Alpha at full strength.

No restrictions. No safety nets. Their mana, their aura—all unrestricted.

It wasn't just about testing Rui's strength; it was about clarity. If Rui was to walk the treacherous path into the Abyss alone, Squad Alpha needed to know—beyond any shadow of doubt—that he could withstand the horrors waiting in the endless dark.

The Sovereign Council approved the request. The location: Section Omega, the most fortified combat chamber within the Sovereign Spire. A space carved out of unyielding stone, reinforced with the densest minerals synthesized by Kovar, and stabilized with ancient mana runes.

This was no mere sparring match. It was a final evaluation—a clash that would decide not only Rui's readiness but the trust of those who might otherwise accompany him.

This wasn't about pride.

This was about belief.

And so, the stage had been set.

The chamber had been prepared, Squad Alpha had taken their positions, and Rui had stepped onto the cold, reinforced stone platform to meet them.

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The Sovereign Spire's Training Chamber – Section Omega – was a cavernous expanse carved deep into the core of the tower. The reinforced walls glistened faintly with stabilizing runes etched into crystalline minerals, glowing softly in rhythmic pulses of mana. 

Above, hovering orbs of condensed mana floated in synchronized patterns, casting the arena in sterile white light. Shadows stretched and danced along the polished stone floor, disrupted only by the deep cracks from past battles—etched scars of overwhelming force.

This was a battleground meant for titans, not mortals.

Rui stood at the center of the training platform, his black tunic fitting snugly against his lean, finely honed body. His silver hair flowed like liquid mercury under the glow of the lights, and his glowing silver eyes reflected threads of mana weaving through the chamber's air—threads no one else could see with such clarity.

Before him stood Squad Alpha—a collection of some of the continent's finest warriors.

Captain Aric Steelshade, a towering wall of muscle and unyielding steel, his greatsword etched with glowing runes humming with raw power. His aura, heavy and oppressive, pressed against the space like a suffocating stormcloud.

Lira Starfall, her violet robes fluttering as she twirled her crystalline staff. Violet light danced around her fingertips, swirling in graceful yet deadly arcs. Her sharp, calculating eyes locked onto Rui.

Kaedan Frostbane, leaning slightly forward with his frost-bitten spear pulsing with icy energy. Frost snaked across the stone beneath his feet, and his smirk carried the biting chill of winter.

Seren Ashveil, a phantom in the shadows, her daggers glinting faintly in her gloved hands. Her aura flickered with fleeting darkness, as though she existed halfway between reality and the void.

Above them, Kovar's voice echoed through hidden crystalline speakers, his glass brain dome flickering with streams of cascading data.

The chamber was a vast, cavernous expanse carved deep into the Spire's foundation. Walls constructed from Kovarite, the hardest mineral ever synthesized, gleamed under the sterile glow of hovering orbs of condensed mana light. Stabilizing runes pulsed gently along every surface, intricate patterns etched into crystalline slabs that reinforced the space against catastrophic energy release.

The ceiling stretched upward into darkness, giving the illusion of endless height. Artificial light hung suspended from the void above, casting a cold, pale luminescence over the polished stone floor, already marred with deep cracks and etched scars from past battles.

This was a space built for annihilation—for powers so vast they defied mortal comprehension. And yet, here it stood, unbroken, waiting for the next trial.

At the far end of the chamber, Squad Alpha was already assembled, standing in a loose formation. Their faces were set in grim determination, their weapons glinting faintly under the light.

In the shadows above, crystalline observation pods hovered—silent sentinels where Kovar monitored every detail of the chamber's energy flow and structural integrity. His disembodied voice crackled softly through hidden speakers.

"All safety barriers are active. Squad Alpha—full access to mana and aura permitted. Rui—your restraint remains at your discretion. Begin when ready."

"We'll settle this here, Rui. Not with words, but with action."

Kaedan grinned faintly, his frosted spear trailing faint vapor along the floor. "No restraints, kid. If you're going to walk into the Abyss alone, you'd better convince us you can walk out of it alive."

Lira spun her crystalline staff once, a vortex of violet mana swirling faintly around her fingertips. "Let's see if you can stand against the best, Rui."

Seren said nothing, her shadowed form flickering faintly as her daggers shimmered like faint starlight in the dim chamber.

Rui stepped forward, the sound of his boots tapping against the reinforced stone echoing softly. His silver eyes glowed faintly, the intricate runes etched into them catching the cold artificial light.

For a brief moment, silence hung heavy in the air.

Then Rui spoke, his voice steady, calm, and unyielding.

"Let's begin."

The moment Kovar gave the signal, Aric Steelshade surged forward, his massive greatsword cleaving through the air with terrifying speed. Despite his size, Aric moved like a force of nature—each step deliberate, every motion carrying explosive intent. He planted the tip of his greatsword into the ground, the impact reverberating across the chamber.

"Rui, we've fought monsters, walked through fire, and survived wars. But none of that means anything here. Show us—not with words, but with action—why you're the one we're expected to follow into the Abyss."

Kaedan grinned coldly, spinning his frost-covered spear in a smooth arc.

"Hope you're not just another story for the history books, kid."

Lira's staff glowed brighter as her aura surged around her.

"We won't hold back. Don't disappoint us."

Seren remained still, but her presence darkened, as if the shadows themselves leaned in to listen.

Rui said nothing. His silver eyes narrowed slightly as he exhaled slowly, his chest rising and falling in perfect rhythm with the faint hum of mana threads around him.

The ground cracked beneath him as he swung the blade downward in a devastating arc.

But Rui was already moving.

His silver eyes glowed faintly as he sidestepped with impossible precision, the edge of Aric's greatsword slicing mere centimeters from his shoulder. Rui stepped inside Aric's guard and delivered an open-palm strike to the captain's chest.

It wasn't brute force—it was precision, intent, and flawless control.

The force rippled outward, sending Aric skidding backward across the arena floor. His boots gouged deep trenches into the stone before he ground to a halt, his chest heaving as he caught his breath.

From above, Lira Starfall unleashed a flurry of violet mana bolts. Each projectile streaked across the air like miniature meteors, homing in on Rui with unerring accuracy.

But Rui didn't evade. He commanded.

His silver eyes flickered, and with an unseen pulse, the mana bolts froze mid-air. Threads of energy wrapped around each projectile, suspending them in perfect stillness. With a flick of his wrist, Rui redirected them, sending them scattering harmlessly into the distant walls.

Kaedan Frostbane followed next, lunging with his frost-coated spear. His strikes were sharp and relentless, frost spreading in jagged spiderwebs across the floor with every missed thrust.

But Rui's movements were poetry in motion. He flowed around the attacks like water slipping through cracks, his body bending and twisting with fluid grace. At the perfect moment, Rui caught the spear's shaft with one hand, and with the other, he delivered a controlled palm strike to Kaedan's chest.

The impact sent Kaedan sprawling backward, his spear shattering into shards of brittle ice.

From the shadows, Seren Ashveil struck. Her daggers flashed in and out of existence as she moved through folds of shadow, her strikes aimed for Rui's vitals—throat, heart, spine.

But Rui's silver eyes tracked her every movement.

In one seamless motion, Rui caught her wrist mid-strike, twisted it, and disarmed her. He shoved her backward, sending her stumbling into the light, her hood falling back slightly to reveal wide, stunned eyes.

The squad regrouped at the far edge of the arena. They were breathing heavily, their mana reserves flickering like dying embers. Their auras, once sharp and suffocating, now felt faint and hollow.

Captain Aric leaned heavily on his greatsword, his chest heaving as beads of sweat dripped from his brow. His steel-gray eyes locked onto Rui, filled with resignation.

"You weren't even trying, were you?"

Lira Starfall clutched her staff, her violet aura dim and unstable. Her voice was quiet, shaken.

"We used everything—our mana, our aura… and it wasn't enough."

Kaedan Frostbane let out a bitter laugh, frost mist curling from his mouth.

"All that talk, all our bravado… we couldn't even scratch him."

Seren Ashveil stood at the edge of the light, her face partially obscured, her shoulders trembling slightly.

"We're liabilities."

Rui stood in the center of the shattered arena floor, untouched, unscathed, his silver eyes dimming slightly as he absorbed their words.

He spoke softly, but his voice carried across the chamber.

"You're strong. All of you. Against most threats, you'd dominate the battlefield. But the Abyss isn't most threats. Down there… strength won't be enough."

Captain Aric's grip on his greatsword tightened.

"Are you saying… we shouldn't go?"

Rui exhaled slowly, his gaze steady but heavy with resolve.

"I'll speak with the Council. I'll go alone."

The words fell like a hammer onto stone.

Lira's voice trembled as she stepped forward.

"You can't mean that, Rui. You can't…"

But Rui's silver eyes locked onto hers, firm, unyielding.

"I won't lead you to your deaths."

The squad fell silent. The weight of Rui's words settled heavily over them, undeniable and absolute.

Captain Aric finally nodded, his voice low and rough.

"If that's your choice… we won't stop you. But Rui… don't underestimate the weight of walking alone."

Rui turned away, his glowing silver eyes catching faint reflections from the crystalline walls.

"I already know that weight."

As Rui walked away, his silhouette faded into the sterile light of the chamber, leaving behind a broken squad—and an unbridgeable chasm.

Somewhere far below the earth, in the depths of the Abyss, something ancient stirred.