Kei leaned against a jagged column on the central platform, his body buzzing from the exertion of his elemental resonance display. The faint hum of the System’s energy still lingered in the air, a reminder of the recent chaos. The Resonant Mask, snugly in place, blurred the lines between his true identity and the masked figure wielding elemental power.


    The System’s chime interrupted his thoughts, its voice calm and authoritative.


    [Elemental Harmony Completed.]


    [Trial Progress: 95%. Final Challenge Pending.]


    Kei twirled the Wave Flowing Dagger by its string, his body still tense despite the momentary calm. “Final challenge, huh? What’s next? A kaiju made of sound?”


    He glanced over at Mia, who was seated nearby. Her twin-blade scythe rested beside her as she leaned against it for support. The faint pulse of the Balance Talisman at her side stabilized her energy, but the toll of the trials was evident in the slump of her shoulders.


    “You hanging in there?” Kei asked, his voice slightly distorted by the mask.


    Mia nodded weakly, her smile faint but genuine. “Barely,” she admitted. “But it’s not over yet.” The Fractured Arena


    The ground beneath them trembled, the once-stable platform beginning to fragment into smaller, uneven sections. Energy surged from the void below, casting an eerie glow across the arena. The System’s voice returned, colder and more mechanical.


    [Final Challenge Initiated.]


    [Objective: Survive the Fractured Trial.]


    [Warning: Failure to adapt will result in elimination.]


    Kei’s grip tightened on the dagger as fissures split the platform further. Twisted beasts began emerging from the void, their grotesque forms a fusion of flesh and elemental energy. Their glowing eyes locked onto the participants, their movements feral and chaotic.


    A voice rang out from another platform, panic lacing the words. “What are these things?”


    The System responded, its tone emotionless.


    [Entities Identified: Fractured Beasts. Difficulty: Variable.]


    [Objective: Eliminate all threats to complete the trial.]


    Kei stepped forward, the weight of the mask grounding him as his echolocation mapped the approaching threats. “Guess we’re not getting a breather,” he muttered, leaping onto a nearby platform where a beast had materialized. Kei vs. Fractured Beast


    The beast roared, its molten claws slashing through the air as it lunged. Kei sidestepped effortlessly, his movements guided by the mask’s enhanced perception. Using Bass Drop, he unleashed a shockwave that sent the creature skidding back, its molten form flickering from the impact.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Switching strategies, Kei activated Gale Cutter, sharp wind blades slicing through the beast’s limbs. It roared in defiance, reforming its body from the scattered fragments.


    “So you can do that, huh?” Kei muttered, switching to Frost Spear. The icy projectile struck the beast’s core, the freezing resonance destabilizing its molten energy. The beast let out a final, keening wail before collapsing into a puddle of energy that dissolved into the void.


    [Fractured Beast Defeated.]


    [Experience Gained: 1,200 XP.]


    Kei turned, his echolocation picking up Mia on a distant platform. Despite her exhaustion, she moved with precision, her scythe cutting through her opponent with graceful arcs. Each strike was deliberate, the Balance Talisman glowing brighter with every movement.


    “Still holding her own,” Kei said with a smirk, leaping toward another platform as more beasts emerged. Mia’s Struggle


    Mia’s opponent was a massive amalgamation of stone and wind, its lumbering movements sending tremors through the unstable platform. She activated Equilibrium Field, the chaotic energy around her stabilizing as she steadied herself.


    The beast swung a massive arm, its wind-enhanced strike threatening to send her flying. Mia ducked low, her scythe moving in a calculated arc that severed the limb. The Balance Talisman pulsed, amplifying her attacks as her HP dwindled further.


    Her frail body trembled, each movement a gamble against her brittle bones. Yet, the scythe’s balance compensated for her weakness, its energy resonating with her precise movements.


    With a final spin, Mia severed the beast’s core. Its massive form crumbled into dust, the wind scattering the fragments.


    [Fractured Beast Defeated.]


    [Experience Gained: 1,500 XP.]


    Mia collapsed to one knee, her breathing labored. She glanced at Kei, who was already mid-combat on another platform. “How does he make it look so effortless?” she murmured, her voice tinged with quiet admiration. The Final Wave


    As the participants dwindled, the surviving few regrouped on larger platforms, their resolve tested by the onslaught. The System’s voice returned, its tone final.


    [Final Wave: Elite Fractured Beasts Incoming.]


    Two massive creatures emerged, their forms radiating elemental chaos. One was a vortex of wind and fire, its erratic movements crackling with unstable energy. The other was a colossal fusion of ice and earth, its hulking form slow but devastating.


    Kei landed beside Mia, his masked gaze fixed on the approaching threats. “You ready for this?” he asked, his tone laced with humor.


    Mia gripped her scythe, forcing herself to her feet. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” she replied, her voice steady despite her exhaustion. The Final Battle


    Kei and Mia moved as a unit, their attacks complementing each other. Kei focused on the fire-and-wind vortex, using Gale Cutter and Flame Arc to match its chaotic movements. The mask’s echolocation allowed him to anticipate its attacks, each strike calculated and precise.


    Mia took on the ice-and-earth colossus, her scythe carving through its dense form with amplified strikes. Harmony’s Edge glowed brightly, her attacks growing stronger as her health continued to drop.


    As the final blows landed, the beasts dissolved into the void, their energy dissipating into the fractured platforms. The ground stabilized, and the System’s voice returned, its tone calm and conclusive.


    [Trial Completed. All Threats Eliminated.]


    [Participants will now return to the Central Nexus for reward allocation.]


    Kei removed the mask, his grin wide as he turned to Mia. “Not bad for a couple of underdogs, huh?”


    Mia leaned heavily on her scythe, a faint smile touching her lips.