Riven, Jareth, and Eshara all glanced at Jonas, smiling he showed something, that was rare in this times of trying to get such powers that could kill you.
In fact, it never same for Exodites who can sacrifice everything, even there power to get more a stronger boost is rare.
Riven's chest rose and fell as he listened to Jonas' reasoning. "It's not that I'm unwilling to let you in. It's just that...." he took a knee. "What will i tell your sister if you fail…what happens them if you die, if that treasure kill even after you get…"
Jonas had direct eye contact, he nodded. "Uncle Riven... trust me. I know what I'm doing. I believe in myself, just like you believe in my sister and me. I staying by you after all you went rhrought." He continued."Now allow me to attempt it…I will prove to you that I learned."
Riven didn't displeased when faced against Jonas words. He touched Jonas hair, he spoke with a serious tone. "I know very well of my own strength. But I know you can do something great if given."
Riven stood up, he looked at Eshara." Let's do this."
Eshara nodded back, then they all looked forward where, waved her hand send multiple small sphere of energy from, her finger tips.
Into the air that suddenly, flickered into a glowing wall of green wall energy. Something, like covering a something behind it, Exo Energy can be used in more ways than just attacks, especially by an Exodite…even the zones itself.
Riven let out a "hmmm" before thinking. 'A secert area…I didn't detect it how powerful is that treasure, that undetected by me?'
As the wall, finished apperearing. Her gaze settled on Jonas. "Your first test…"
Jonas nodded his expression became serious, he lifted his palm, spread his fingers apart. His Exo Energy flowed, and a his hand glowed then in everyone sight he disappeared being absorbed in the wall.
"He actually…manged to force his way true…he has a good sign of temperd Exo Energy…even the strong body of Agis Shard or strenght of a Vertex Lancer..either if he get this treasure he journey will be far."
Riven nodded and smirked, he has high hopes for Jonas ever since he trained him. As know before, he trained him out, for the responsibility fmtp protect, his sister after knowing how abilities.
As healer…your strength is weak so it's understandable why Sarah was so easily taken properly without a challenging fight.
On the other side, Jonas appeared to step inside some unknown… place?
In his sight, the scene before him suddenly distorted. Right after, he felt the sky and ground spin, as if his body was sent flying by a storm. He unconsciously closed his eyes, he started to felt panic, only after a long time, he felt weightless feeling finally disappear slowly. When he opened his eyes, he only saw a pitch black darkness.
Where... is this? Why is there only darkness? How can a world, to get a treasure be like this?
"There's nothing here at all... The Curse test, weren't jungles of sand or storms supposed to appear?"
The moment he questioned outlook, two lines of narrow blue light suddenly appeared in the pitch black darkness before him. Immediately after, the two narrow lines of blue luminance slowly opened like a pair of slightly narrowed eyes... it was a pair of eyes. A pair of incomparably gigantic blue eyes that was embedded inside the pitch black space.
"Greetings, so…human. Welcome to the trial grounds. You are the first challenger without the proper strenght to enter here in years."
A heavy dark, voice resounded within his mind, it was clearly a male voice. Jonas looked at the black pair of eyes. "You are... the spirit of the curse?"
'Eshara never said anything about this? Does she even know?' He wondered.
The thing was as Eshara said all those who failed to get the treasure, have all died with in return have never returned to tell there part in the trials
That also why, she knew the clan only named the first trial the wall as they didn't know inside trials.
"That is correct. I am an permanent soul left here by the last barrier, yet I am also an existence independent of the curse. I preserve this trial ground and receive all challengers. Spirit of the Ashborn, is the most fitting title for me." He continued.
"Why would you leave the trial here after losing the first barrier?" jonas spoke out the question inside his heart.
Jonas had asked but he didn't expect and answer because while, the spirt seem to be alive for something that created a curse why would it expose itself. "Long ago, the after the battle of three mighty specter I…my last berriar had fought each other for the domination over multiple zones. The Ice Dragon Specter and my last barrier lasted over a month. All ended in defeat all injuryed, The mighty Exodite fell down disappeared after being gravely wounded, and it seemed he wanted tl revocver but after a year no one saw him, he never returned, the sudden a couple more years passed I was pulled here appearing, thus I formed two three trials in order to leave some opportunities for thoses who wanted carry forward the help of the ashborn clan "
"So that's how it was." He muttered. 'But why would a curse want to help the clan its cursing?'
"However, the last berriar had left this message for any thoses who had passed. If a Exodite of the Asborn Clan uses this Cursed power to harm the world, all of their strength will be taken away and their very family, and existence will be wipped away!"
In fact, what the Curse spirt wasn't true he don't have the power to reach outside and do such, thing but he knew some spirit who can still, what was ver fortunate and unfortunate was that not once did somwthing like that happened, still itd unfortunate that no one can take this treasure to lift the curse berdun off the ashborn clan.
"After that, no one else had passed this trial. As the first person without the proper, Exo energy flowed in hundreds years, I hope that you can break this years of silence... Then, are you ready?"
Jonas looked deeply at the eyes, he took a deep breath. "Yes, I can start anytime."
He knew that in terms of his Exodite strength he wasn't for sure at the level of Riven he was simply at the baseline, he entering this kind of trial could be considered as presumptuous. As he was only at the baseline.
However, he obtained a training from Riven, that he trusted to a degree and some other special, sheild weapon for his body that was because he was so weak. He trusted to rely kn it if so he wasn't going to have such confidence, going against such a long ancient curse.
"Very good, the trial has three stages in total, respectively: First stage: The Abyss of Isolation second stage: The Shadow Gauntlet, third stage: The Pact of Eclipse. As a warning from here on out you cant forfeit, if you try you each die to the trials or die to m… You may die if you forcibly endure the trial.... I wish you success."
Just as the Cursed Spirit voice faded, the pair of eyes also did, from the pitch black darkness.
However, in that moment the darkness around Jonas changed again, into a scene that, made his eyes widen for a while…but also made ahim shiver.
Everything vanished. No ground beneath his feet, no sky above…only an infinite expanse of darkness stretching in all directions? It wasn't merely the absence of light, it was something deeper, more consuming. The kind of blackness that swallowed sound, devoured warmth, and made him feel as though he had never existed in the first place.
A shiver went down his spine as he took a tentative step forward or at least, he thought he did. There was no surface to walk on, yet somehow, he wasn't falling.
That when he also suddenly heard whispers. It was deep in her membrane.
Soft at first, like a breath against his ear. Then, rising…a cacophony of voices, some familiar, others unrecognizable. They spoke in fragmented sentences, overlapping, twisting his thoughts. "You aren't strong enough for this power."
"She will die because of you, now that your here dying because of your weakness now and forever."
"Turn back. There's nothing here."
He spun around, but there was no source. Just shadows shifting like liquid, forming fleeting figures in the distance. His sister. His closest friend. His own reflection…distorted, grinning at him with empty, abyssal eyes before melting back into the void.
"Sister wait!" Jonas shouted, trying to reach out.