Chapter 5: Penalty

As the shadows closed in, Alex steeled himself for the next wave of trials, each step forward a testament to his unwavering determination to transcend the limitations that bound him. The battle was far from won, and with a deep breath, Alex plunged into the darkness once more, ready to face the challenges that awaited him.In the chaotic fray, shadows converged upon Alex from all directions. The battleground transformed into a whirlwind of obsidian silhouettes, each mirroring the adversary he had faced earlier. The air crackled with the intensity of the abyssal power as Alex engaged in a relentless dance of combat.

He soon realized that these shadows were not just foes; they were an adaptable and relentless force. If one managed to escape, it would evolve, adapting to the encounter, and multiply, creating an exponential challenge.

His every move became a calculated dance, a delicate balance between offense and defense. The shadows moved with a fluidity that mirrored water, evading his strikes and retaliating with a vengeance. It was a battle of attrition, a test of endurance against an unyielding tide of adversaries.

As minutes ticked away, Alex's realization sunk in – victory was not solely dependent on defeating the shadows but doing so within a specified time frame. Ragna's twist added a layer of urgency; the shadows, if left unchecked, would continue to multiply, overwhelming Alex with sheer numbers.

Desperation fuelled Alex's every move, but the shadows persisted, adapting to his tactics. The given half-hour mark loomed, and despite his best efforts, the shadows showed no signs of relenting. Ragna's voice, authoritative and unwavering, resonated through the chaos.

"Time's up, Alex."

In an instant, the battlefield shifted. Alex found himself torn from the midst of the shadows and plunged into an alien dimension. The coldness bit at his skin as his surroundings morphed into a desolate expanse,Hyousetsu . The frigid air carried an ominous chill, and in the distance, S-ranked polar wolves with eyes aglow in an ethereal blue prowled the icy terrain.

Ragna's penalty unfolded before Alex's eyes. Stripped of his armour, he stood vulnerable in a realm where survival became a relentless struggle. The ice beneath his feet was not ordinary; it was unbreakable, an unyielding fortress that denied any escape.

The howls of the polar wolves echoed through the icy expanse, signalling the commencement of a harrowing trial. Alex, bereft of his armour and facing formidable adversaries, stood alone in the chilling silence of this unforgiving dimension. The clock was set, ticking away the seconds as he braced himself for a gruelling battle against the ruthless denizens of this icy abyss.

 "Your penalty is set for two hours," Ragna's enigmatic departure left Alex to confront his deepest fears and navigate the treacherous landscape with nothing but his wits and raw determination.In the heart of the icy dimension, Alex found himself facing a daunting challenge – a pack of S-ranked polar wolves, their claws forged from unbreakable ice. The air was frigid, and the wolves' eyes gleamed with an otherworldly intensity, signifying their prowess in this desolate realm.

As Alex cautiously stepped across the unyielding ice, the pack of polar wolves circled him with a predatory precision. Each step he took resonated through the frozen expanse, echoing in the silence of this unforgiving dimension.

Without the protective armour that had become his shield, Alex felt a vulnerability that intensified with each passing moment. The polar wolves, equipped with their unbreakable ice claws, lunged at him with calculated ferocity. It was not a battle he could win; it was a survival test against the relentless assault of these formidable creatures.

Alex, now devoid of the ability to summon his suit to wield the abyssal energy, faced the wolves with a raw determination. The pack closed in, the sound of the unbreakable ice claws sent shivers down his spine, a chilling reminder of the perilous nature of this trial.

As the relentless seconds ticked away, Alex's endurance became a testament to his unyielding spirit. The icy expanse bore witness to a lone figure standing resilient against the biting abyss. However, in the face of this daunting challenge, Alex's sheer willpower ignited a profound transformation.

Suddenly, his eyes glowed with an otherworldly crimson radiance that pierced through the darkness. A formidable aura surrounded him, sending shivers down the spines of the polar wolves. "I am Alex, scion of Sterling Creed! Fate has granted me an opportunity to wield power unimaginable, and I refuse to meet my end in this icy abyss without seizing it. Bow in submission!" Alex's deep demonic voice boomed across the realm. The icy ground beneath him quivered, resonating with the surging energy that emanated from his being. As his crimson-glowing eyes bore into the polar wolves, a sudden rupture echoed through the dimension, causing the frozen surface to shatter like glass. The fractures extended outward, a symbolic reflection of the newfound true power that Alex had harnessed.

The wolves, once poised for an attack, bowed before him in submission, their howls echoing a newfound respect. In this uncharted dimension, Alex realized the extent of his growth. The crimson glow in his eyes and the pulsating aura were not merely a by-product of fear but a manifestation of his reclaimed abyssal powers. As memories surged, he harnessed his deep-seated resentment for those who wronged him, compelling the abyss to respond in kind.

As the two-hour mark loomed. Alex stood amidst the frozen cave where the wolves resided including the alpha, now both a conqueror and a survivor. The polar wolves, once adversaries, now his to beckon.