Chapter 93: The Bridge of Blades!

Trial Four: The Bridge of Blades

The silence in the hall was suffocating. The walls loomed high and still, and the group felt the weight of impending danger despite the eerie calm. No one could guess what the trial would bring, but by now, they all understood that the temple thrived on unpredictability.

Ecdy, glancing nervously at the expanse of the bridge ahead, spoke first. "Now what?" His voice cracked in the oppressive quiet, but no response came.

Nymff scanned their surroundings. "Should we just run through or stay back?" Her voice was barely a whisper, but her anxiety was clear. The air in the hall seemed heavy, as if the temple was waiting for the right moment to strike.

The hall seemed dead—no movement, no sounds—but there was an unsettling energy about the place, something dormant but deadly, waiting for them to make a move. Everyone could sense it. It was just a matter of time before the trial revealed its true face.

Tessa, standing at the front, looked back at the group. Her eyes were steady, but they couldn't hide the exhaustion of seeing so many of their companions fall in previous trials. Still, she was determined that this time, no more lives would be lost. "Adrian and I will go first," she announced firmly, "We'll figure out what we're dealing with. Once we know, we'll guide the rest of you through."

The group nodded, uncertain but trusting. They had little choice. Eleven lives had been lost already, and the reality of their thinning numbers weighed on them all. From the original 44, they were down to 33. If you counted Ikehara as an outsider, they had gone from 43 to 32, and with every loss, their desperation grew.

Nyala gave Tessa a firm nod, wishing her well. Nymff, standing beside Adrian, squeezed his hand one last time, leaning in close to whisper, "Pretty boy, come back to me in one piece, okay?"

Adrian smiled faintly, his usual charm flickering through, but he didn't respond with words. Instead, he shared a glance with Tessa, both of them bracing themselves for what was to come. They had learned too well that words didn't matter here—only survival did.

Ecdy stepped forward, positioning himself near the entrance to the bridge as Tessa and Adrian prepared to make their move.

The moment Tessa stepped onto the platform, the hall erupted into chaos. A blade, so fast it was nearly invisible, sliced through the air, narrowly missing Tessa's head. She twisted her body in a swift, fluid motion, avoiding the fatal blow by mere inches. The trial had begun.

Blades shot through the air in every direction, a relentless storm of razor-sharp steel. Adrian and Tessa moved as one, their reflexes sharp, their movements synchronized. Adrian leapt, spun, and ducked as blades sliced dangerously close. Tessa raised her hand, summoning her powers to shield them both, deflecting blade after blade as they pressed forward.

It was as if the walls themselves were alive, spitting out blades from every conceivable angle. Adrian's agility was unmatched, but the sheer unpredictability of the assault kept him on edge. Every second was a gamble.

Tessa's powers shielded them from the worst of it, but even her defenses couldn't cover every angle. When two blades shot toward them simultaneously—one deflected by the shield, the other zeroing in on Adrian's exposed head—it was a split-second decision that could have ended his life. Adrian swerved, but the blade was too fast. It was about to graze his scalp when Tessa intervened.

Without hesitation, she reached out, grabbing the blade mid-flight. Her fingers closed around the cold metal, and it dissolved into dust under her touch, crumbling to nothing.

The hall fell silent for a moment as Adrian and Tessa reached the other side, their backs to the deadly bridge of blades. The group stared in awe, stunned by the ease with which the two had navigated the trial. But beneath their amazement lay another emotion—fear. If the strongest among them had faced such danger, what hope did the rest have?

Still, they had no choice. The rest of the group would have to cross.

Nyala and Ecdy were the first to follow. Every step was a dance with death as blades zipped past them from all directions. Tessa, standing on the other side, used her power to guide them, deflecting the worst of the attacks. They barely made it across, shaken but alive.

Next came Abdel and another survivor, each moving cautiously, their eyes scanning for the next deadly strike. Under Tessa's guidance, they managed to evade the blades with more ease, crossing the bridge without a scratch.

The twins, Lhiza and Lhize, crossed with incredible grace. Their movements were fluid, like a perfect dance, the bond between them allowing them to move as one. They twisted and dodged the blades with unnerving precision, making it to the other side unscathed.

One by one, the remaining survivors crossed the bridge. There were near misses, moments of panic, but thanks to Tessa's careful guidance and Adrian's watchful presence, they made it through.

That was until one man, too confident for his own good, decided to run ahead. His impatience got the better of him. Ignoring Tessa's instructions, he sprinted into the open, thinking he could outrun the danger. A foolish mistake.

Three blades shot out simultaneously, impaling him from three different angles. One pierced his neck, another lodged itself in his heart, and the last drove through his skull. His body fell limp, blood pooling beneath him as his life ended in an instant.

No one mourned. He had made his choice.

Finally, Ikehara, limping as always, made his way across. He took his time, using the blind spots Tessa had pointed out, and managed to reach the other side without so much as a glance from her. It was clear—she hadn't bothered to shield him, but Ikehara had navigated it alone, driven by sheer survival.

In the end, the group lost only one this time, bringing their number down from 33 to 32. But the tension remained thick in the air. Each trial was cutting deeper into their ranks, and no one knew who would be next.

As they gathered, Adrian took a deep breath, his arm wrapped protectively around Nymff, while Tessa cast her gaze forward, steeling herself for what lay ahead. They had survived again—but for how long?

The trial of the bridge of blades had claimed one more life, but they all knew the worst was yet to come.