Trials of Blood and Frost
Location: Nightshade Grove (Trials Dimension) / Forest Camp
Scene 1: Bonds Forged in Grief
Forest Camp – Night
Steam curled from tin mugs as Yoshito offered soup to Sayuri.
Yoshito: "My words earlier... I apologize."
Sayuri: (Clasping the warmth) "Your rage mirrors mine. Ledger was..." She trailed off, staring into the fire. "...my mentor too."
Keisuke leaned forward. "Why abandon Aryavarta?"
Sayuri's knuckles whitened. "Fernando orchestrated Nero's death. That kingdom rots from within." Her eyes burned crimson. "Every noble deserves agonizing retribution."
Yoshito's blade hummed in agreement. "Join us."
"You're too weak," Sayuri stated bluntly. "To face Generals blessed by Alesta, Goddess of Perfected Skills... we need an army."
Scene 2: The Calamity Gauntlet
Trial Dimension – 2 Years Later
Cosmic storms raged as Nero and Eri stood back-to-back, drenched in ichor. Around them lay the corpses of four elemental calamities:
Wind Calamity: A tornado given form – felled by Eri's spectral chains.
Fire Calamity: A lava titan – shattered by Nero's soul blades.
Earth Calamity: A mountain golem – split by their combined strike.
Thunder Calamity: A lightning serpent – impaled mid-strike.
Baltimore's voice boomed: "Rewards claimed: Nero gains Earthshaker Resonance (fists crack tectonic plates), Eri unlocks Stormweaver Genesis .
Nero panted, grinning at Eri. "Only took us two years to clear five trials, partner."
Eri glowed faintly – her once-destroyed body now reforged by trial energy. "The sixth awaits..."
Scene 3: Frost and Fury
Sixth Trial Arena
A glacial wasteland swallowed them. No enemy in sight.
Nero: "Where's the—"
CRUNCH.
A fist of absolute-zero ice slammed Nero through three glaciers. The Calamity of Frost materialized – an SSS-Rank horror with eyes like dying stars.
Baltimore's echo: "Prove. Your. Strength."
Nero: (Spitting blood) "OLD MAN, YOU SOLD US OUT?!"
Eri's barriers shattered like glass. Nero's ribs snapped under another blow. "It fights like Arata... am I still nothing to them?!"
As frost crept over his heart, Eri seized his hand. "TOGETHER!"
Scene 4: Soulfire
Their bodies dissolved into light. For one transcendent moment – Nero and Eri became one being.
Nero's rage fused with Eri's resolve
Cosmic-blue flames met glacial winds
A single spear of soulfire pierced the Calamity
SCREECH—
The Frost Horror vaporized. As they separated, vortexes sucked them into darkness.
Scene 5: The Final Test
Eri's Trial: A Sun-Drenched Garden
A woman in starlight robes sipped tea beneath a cherry tree.
Mysterious Woman: "Hello, little devil. Nero isn't here. Answer correctly... or die."
Nero's Trial: An Obsidian Prison
A man shaped from shadow lounged on a throne of skulls.
Obsidian: "Answer my questions, and I'll grant you a surprise that'll make god-kings weep."
Nero: (Cracking his knuckles) "Try me."
Obsidian leaned forward, eyes like collapsing galaxies:
"First question: What sustains the Divine Gates?"