Is this really a Game?!

Reign's heart swelled with a mix of pride and relief as the elven woman's words sank in. He had made it to the base of the mountain with the Flame of Ascendance, securing their victory in the fourth Elite Trial. However, his mind immediately turned to his friends who were still fighting on the mountainside.

"We did it," Reign said, his voice filled with both joy and concern. "But my team, they –"

Before Reign could continue speaking, a flash of light made him cover his eyes before opening them again. He and the rest of the team were all standing in front of the gate they had entered in order to start the trial.

"Did any of you-"

"No, none of us died, some did get close to, but we're fine now, the arena has automatically healed us as well, at least the serious injuries," Wolf said as he stretched his arms a bit.

"And you made it, you got to the base of the mountain."

Reign smiled, feeling both happy and accomplished because of the events that transpired.

"Couldn't have done it without you guys."

"Alright, let's stop with this, it's way too sweet, vomit-inducing, and to be honest, cringy," Shadow said as he stared at Wolf and Reign.

"I mean c'mon, do we need to get a room for you two, do you need to just let it all out and be done with it?"

Wolf and Reign glanced at one another, smirked, and then attacked Shadow beating him up.

"Dad, help!"

"They're … going to … kill me!" Shadow said while being choked from behind by Reign while Wolf was punching him in the stomach as if he was practicing with a boxing bag.

"You'll live," Jin said before looking at the elven woman. Find your next adventure on empire

The elven woman approached them, her expression a mix of pride and solemnity. "You have completed the fourth Elite Trial, but your journey is not yet over."

"The final trial awaits, and it will test you like never before."

"Do rest well, you will certainly need it."

Back in their quarters, the team took the time to rest and recover. They knew that the final trial would be the toughest yet, but they felt more prepared than ever. They celebrated their victory with a well-deserved feast, sharing stories and laughter as they recounted their journey so far.

After the feast, they spent time in the hot spring, letting its healing waters soothe their weary bodies and rejuvenate their spirits. They knew that their journey was far from over, but they felt more prepared than ever to face whatever lay ahead.

The next morning, the elven woman appeared once more, her expression serious yet encouraging. "It is time for your final trial," she said, her voice carrying a weight of solemnity. "This trial will test not only your strength and skill but also your heart and mind. Prepare yourselves."

Reign and his team nodded, their determination unwavering. They had come this far, and they would face the final trial with the same unity and resolve that had carried them through countless battles.

As they followed the elven woman to the arena, they felt a renewed sense of purpose and resolve. The final trial awaited, and they were ready to face it together, proving once and for all that Heaven's Hooligans were truly a force to be reckoned with.

They arrived at a large, ornate door that seemed to pulse with energy. The elven woman stopped and turned to face them.

"This door leads to your final trial," she said. "Beyond it lies the ultimate test of your abilities, your unity, and your resolve. You have come far, and I have no doubt that you will succeed. Good luck."

With that, she stepped aside, and the team took a deep breath before stepping through the door. The portal transported them to a vast, otherworldly arena. The sky above was a swirling vortex of colors, and the ground beneath their feet was a shifting mosaic of glowing tiles.

Ding!

[ Final Elite Trial: The Gauntlet of Ascension ]

[ Objective: Overcome the challenges of the Gauntlet and reach the Ascendant's Throne. Success condition: Reach the throne and activate the Ascendant's Beacon. Failure condition: All members are incapacitated or unable to reach the throne. ]

The Heaven's Hooligans looked around, taking in their surroundings. The final trial was a series of challenges, each one designed to test a different aspect of their abilities.

"Stay sharp," Reign said, his voice filled with determination. "Let's move forward and face whatever comes our way."

The first challenge was a series of shifting platforms suspended over a bottomless chasm. The platforms moved in unpredictable patterns, making it difficult to find a safe path across.

"Focus on your footing," Shadow advised. "Watch the patterns and time your movements."

The team moved carefully, their agility and coordination allowing them to navigate the shifting platforms with relative ease. They leaped from one platform to another, avoiding the gaps and timing their movements perfectly.

As they reached the other side, the next challenge awaited—a series of elemental barriers that had to be deactivated in order to proceed. Each barrier was powered by a different element—fire, ice, lightning, and earth.

"We need to deactivate the barriers by matching the element," Mia said, her frost magic crackling around her. "Let's split up and handle each one."

Mia took on the ice barrier, her frost magic neutralizing the freezing energy and deactivating it. Wolf faced the fire barrier, his flames absorbing and neutralizing the intense heat. Beast used his wind manipulation to disrupt the lightning barrier, while Tank used his earth manipulation to crumble the earth barrier.

With the barriers deactivated, the team moved forward, reaching the next challenge.

They all understood that this was the same as last time, the first couple of challenges were nothing more than mere qualifications that they had to show before being allowed to start competing in the true trial.

The final challenge awaited—a powerful guardian that blocked the path to the Ascendant's Throne. The guardian was a towering figure clad in armor, its eyes glowing with a fierce light.

"You have come far," the guardian said, its voice echoing through the arena. "But to reach the Ascendant's Throne, you must prove your worth in combat."

The Heaven's Hooligans readied their weapons, their marks glowing with power. They knew that this would be a tough battle, but they also knew that they had to win without resorting to using their marks as the trial would definitely be even harder.

The guardian charged at them, its massive sword cleaving through the air with immense force. Greenie and Tank met its charge, their combined strength holding the line as Wolf, Shadow, and Aelrinder struck from the sides.

Mia, Laura, and Beast provided support from a distance, their spells and arrows targeting the guardian's weak points. Jin's explosions created powerful shockwaves, disorienting the guardian and creating openings for their attacks.

Reign's dual swords shimmered with light and darkness as he engaged the guardian, his strikes precise and relentless. He targeted the guardian's joints and weak points, his movements a blur of energy.

The battle raged on, the guardian's strength and resilience pushing the team to their limits. But their unity and combined strength proved to be an unstoppable force. They fought with everything they had, their determination unwavering.

Finally, after an intense battle, the guardian faltered. Reign saw the opportunity and seized it, delivering a powerful strike that shattered the guardian's armor and brought it to its knees.

"Congratulations, now, you will be allowed to participate in the true trial and vie for the Ascendant's Throne." The elven woman said as she appeared behind them.

"A small warning, however."

"All the teams that will be in the trial with you have done the same as you, they have gone through all the challenges, managed to win, and are competing in order to evolve, just as you are."

"Out of all the teams competing, however, you are one of the three teams who have not lost a single trial and have managed to complete them all in your first try, I won't tell you who the other two teams are, however." The woman said with a smile before the space around them started distorting.

The space around the Heaven's Hooligans warped and shifted, and they felt the familiar sensation of being transported to a new location. As the distortion settled, they found themselves standing in a grand arena, far larger and more imposing than any they had faced before.

The sky above was a swirling canvas of colors, and the ground was a mosaic of glowing tiles, similar to what they had seen before, but with an even greater sense of magnitude and importance.

To call the arena huge would be an understatement as its diameter was many miles, and Reign and the others could barely even see the other side of the arena.

That was not all, however, as the arena was not simple either. In the very center, about 1 mile high, was the throne they were supposed to reach, with a grand staircase present around it, one that seemed to have been made for giants to walk on.

"Let the trial begin."

Suddenly, the ground trembled and shifted, separating itself into many platforms that levitated.