Millenium : The Awakening of Heroes

Ikku glanced at the dark, winding entrance, his stomach tightening slightly.

I wasn't expecting the trial to get this tough right from the start… he admitted, his thoughts flashing back to the earlier challenges.

Kenny, sitting beside him with his mouth full, nodded in agreement.

"And shtill, we were lucky tcho keep an eye on Dôma. Shome people got caught in whirlphools; ofers were dragged away by the wafes. There were far worshe problems than the dolphins, apparently," he said, muffled through a mouthful of food.

Yumé, seated across from them, watched the other candidates as they gathered.

"Even so, some of them didn't seem to struggle at all…"

"No surprise there," Kenny replied, taking a bite out of an apple. "The people taking this exam are the elite of the elite. We're still just rookies in this world."

Ikku looked around, realizing Kenny was right. Many participants appeared calm, almost indifferent, as if the trial had been nothing more than a formality. But Ikku silently vowed not to let himself feel intimidated. The next trial was about to begin, and he was ready to prove he belonged among these elite fighters.

The announcement echoed through the fortress's corridors:

"The trial will now begin."

Ikku and his companions quickly moved to stand in front of Entrance D, joining other candidates already gathered there. The atmosphere was heavy with a mix of excitement and unease. The examiner, her expression unreadable, simply declared:

"Let the trial begin."

The massive doors creaked open with a deep, resonating groan, revealing a corridor shrouded in darkness. Without hesitation, Ikku and the others stepped inside. As soon as they crossed the threshold, the doors slammed shut behind them, sealed by some invisible mechanism.

"No turning back now," murmured one of the candidates, his voice betraying a slight tremor.

Suddenly, the room lit up, revealing a macabre scene. Rusted chains hung from the walls, and strange symbols were etched into the stone, as if the fortress itself exuded death. Ahead of them, several doors stood aligned like silent judges. Above them, a sinister screen drew their attention.

The screen displayed a baby's face—eyeless, with streams of blood trickling down its cheeks. The grotesque image added an even darker tone to the already oppressive atmosphere. Suddenly, the face began to move, and a message appeared:

"Welcome to Pandemonium. Let's have some fun together. Our home is yours… Choose your fate."

"'Choose your fate?'" Yumé repeated, confused. "What does that mean?"

Kenny scanned the area, searching for an explanation. After a few moments, he said:

"I think we're supposed to pick a door."

One of the participants, exuding confidence, stepped forward without hesitation.

"I'll take Door 2," he said, opening it boldly.

He disappeared into the shadows beyond, and the door slammed shut behind him with a foreboding click, locking itself.

"Once you go in, no one else can follow. And there's no going back," Ikku observed, frowning.

Other candidates had already chosen their paths, disappearing through various doors. The atmosphere grew heavier with each passing second. Only a few doors remained.

"Looks like Door 7 is still open," Yumé pointed out. "It's wide enough for all three of us."

"Good idea. Let's go," Ikku agreed.

They stepped in front of the massive door, their hearts pounding in unison. Taking a deep breath, they opened it and walked inside. Behind them, the door closed with a heavy, ominous thud, locking them into their new challenge.

Suddenly, the room lit up…

The chamber was far larger than they had anticipated. Massive statues stood at each corner, some wielding gleaming sabers, others with four arms positioned menacingly. A few were simple human figures, austere but equally intimidating. At the far end of the room stood a grand door, flanked by two colossal statues. Each held a lance, their crossed tips forming an impenetrable barrier.

"What do you think we're supposed to do?" Ikku asked, scanning the room for clues.

"No idea," Kenny replied, frowning as he eyed the statues warily.

Without warning, a screen descended from the ceiling, floating in the center of the room. A chilling, childlike laugh echoed, sending shivers down their spines. The screen flickered on, displaying a cryptic message:

"You are now guests in the house of Isis. Show respect, and you may pass."

"What does that even mean?" Ikku wondered aloud.

Yumé shrugged in confusion. But before they could contemplate further, the screen abruptly retracted into the ceiling.

Kenny swallowed hard, casting a nervous glance at the statues.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," he muttered.

As if on cue, the statues began to move. Moments ago, they had been rigid and lifeless, but now their limbs moved with eerie fluidity. The nearest statues advanced slowly but inexorably, weapons raised.

One statue, wielding a sword, swung its blade violently at Ikku, who dodged just in time, feeling the sharp wind of the attack graze his face. Yumé leaped backward to avoid the grasp of a four-armed statue, while Kenny clumsily attempted to deflect the blows aimed at him.

"We need to get out of here!" Kenny shouted.

"No way!" Ikku shot back, his eyes fixed on the statues guarding the exit. "Those statues won't let us through as long as their lances block the door!"

Their situation seemed hopeless. The statues closed in relentlessly. They needed to decipher the meaning of "show respect" before it was too late.

Yumé struck one of the statues with his glowing fist, hoping to shatter it. But the blow had no effect.

"They're too strong," he growled through gritted teeth.

Before he could ready himself again, a statue slammed into him, hurling him against the wall with brutal force.

"Yumé!" Ikku cried, distracted by the scene. In his lapse of focus, he forgot about the statue in front of him. Its sword arced downward, aiming for him.

"Watch out, Ikku!" Kenny shouted.

His companion's warning snapped Ikku back into action. He jumped back, narrowly avoiding the strike, but the blade still grazed his chest, leaving a deep cut. Ikku cried out in pain, staggering from the impact.

Meanwhile, Yumé, dazed and struggling to stand, saw another statue advancing toward him. His body, worn out, couldn't react in time. Just as the statue was about to strike, Kenny rushed in, shoving Yumé out of harm's way.

Ikku, seeing their situation worsen, felt panic rising.

If this keeps up, we're going to get torn apart, he thought, gasping for breath.

A statue moved toward him again, its sword raised for another deadly strike. Ikku braced himself to dodge, but the statue suddenly froze, motionless. Startled, he took a step back—and the statue began moving again.

Puzzled, Ikku stepped back once more, and the statue stopped moving entirely.

"Why did it stop?" he wondered aloud, his mind racing. It must be connected to my position…

He glanced down at his feet and noticed his left leg was forward. Looking at the statue, he saw it mirrored his stance.

A flash of realization struck him. Slowly, Ikku moved closer to the statue, keeping his left leg forward. The statue remained still.

"I've got it," he thought, a glimmer of triumph in his eyes.