Chapter 19：Cheating (1/2)

In the villa where Master Ronin lived, the old man woke up from his sleep having a vision. He saw a golden crown in his dream being worn by a celestial giant. It was his ability, Prophecy, activating on its own. As he woke up with a pale face, his granddaughter Melania, rushed toward him as she heard his screams earlier.

”Gramps, what's wrong? Is it another vision?” She asked with worry as she gave him some water. Master Ronin nodded and drank the water to ease the lump he felt in his throat.

”Call Sier.” He said after calming down. After three rings Sier answered the phone and Master Ronin was finally able to say something.

”It has begun.”

”… Was the earlier prophecy true? Is he related to the Guardians?”

”Yes.”

After a brief silence, the two ended the call. Melania helped her grandfather to walk to the garden as he sat down on the runic stone. As he gazed into the water, a fragile voice left his lips.

”Arthur Silvera… Just who are you?” Master Ronin's thoughts were chaotic.

***

Waking up, Arthur found himself in an ancient room. As he checked his body, he wasn't hurt. He looked around and nothing greeted him but walls of yellow bricks. He stood up and started inspecting the room.

”Where is this? The voice said this was a trial?”

As he neared a wall, the wall split up and revealed a door. Arthur peered through the door and all he could see was a hallway leading to another room.

”Hello? Is anyone there?”

There was no answer. Arthur decided he couldn't keep staying here so he started going into the hallway. As soon as he took the first step, he felt a pressure crushing him, making him want to retreat. As soon as he entertained the thought of going back, he felt his body fly as he collided to the wall behind him. The air left his lungs as he slumped to the ground.

[To take the first trial of The Holy Crown, your willpower needs to be tested.]

”Willpower? Test? You should've said so earlier!” Arthur breathed as he rested for a short moment before standing up. He stood up and asked another question.

”What is The Holy Crown?” Arthur asked but there was no answer. It seems his curiosity got the best of him as he landed himself in a sticky situation. He shouldn't have touched that door nor should he have followed that group.

As Arthur sat down thinking about things, he went through his Legacy to find a solution but there was none. After a while of thinking, he decided to try the test again as he took another step through the hallway.

As he felt the pressure, Arthur now knew this was merely a test. He didn't plan on going backward. He advanced another step and the pressure doubled. He was still able to go forward. The hallway had merely eight more steps to go.

After another step, the pressure on his body doubled again. It was now four times the original pressure. Arthur felt his body sinking as he felt his muscles ache. After another step, his legs started to tremble. He groaned and took another step forward, the pressure doubling again as he felt like he might die at this rate. He wondered if he should go back.