The air grew suffocatingly thick, pressing against Mei Lin and Li Sheng like an invisible force. A deep hum resonated through the chamber as the Guardian raised his hand. The stone beneath them shifted, and suddenly, the world around them changed once again.
When Mei Lin opened her eyes, she found herself standing in her old village—the one she had struggled to survive in when she first arrived in this ancient world. The sight of the familiar dirt roads and worn-down houses sent a jolt through her heart.
"Mei Lin!"
She turned and froze. Standing before her was her past self—frail, timid, and powerless, the very woman who had once been bullied and mistreated.
"What…?" Her heart pounded. This was an illusion, right? Another trick?
Her past self's lips trembled. "You abandoned us," she whispered. "You left them all behind."
Before Mei Lin could respond, screams erupted from the village. She turned sharply—fire blazed through the streets, and villagers collapsed one by one, their bodies lifeless. Shadows darted through the flames, carrying weapons.
The Northern Army.
A wave of panic surged through Mei Lin. She ran toward the nearest villager, but her hands passed through them like a ghost. She couldn't touch them. She couldn't save them.
"No…" she whispered. "This isn't real. It's just an illusion."
Yet, the screams felt real. The smell of blood and fire felt real.
Then, she heard it—a chilling voice behind her.
"If you had never left, would they have died?"
Mei Lin turned and stiffened.
It was Li Sheng. But not the man she knew.
This Li Sheng stood in full general's armor, his eyes dark and emotionless. His sword dripped with blood as he looked at her with a cold smile.
"I failed my men," he said. "And now, I will fail you too."
Mei Lin's breath hitched. "No… That's not true!"
Li Sheng raised his sword, advancing toward her. "If you hesitate, everyone will die."
Her hands trembled. This wasn't Li Sheng—it couldn't be. The real Li Sheng would never say those words. But if this was an illusion, why did it hurt so much?
The Guardian's voice echoed in her mind:
"The Trial of Resolve is not about strength or intelligence. It is about facing your greatest fears… and standing firm."
Mei Lin clenched her fists. She had fought too hard to doubt herself now.
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. "You are not real," she said, her voice steady.
The illusion of Li Sheng paused.
"You are just my fear," Mei Lin continued, staring straight into his dark eyes. "And I refuse to be controlled by fear."
She stepped forward, walking through him.
The moment she did, the illusions shattered into dust.
The village disappeared. The screams faded. And Mei Lin stood once again in the vault chamber, her breath heavy but her heart steady.
Li Sheng was beside her, his eyes filled with relief. "You're back."
The Guardian smiled. "You have passed the Trial of Resolve."
A deep rumbling filled the chamber. The great stone doors of the Celestial Vault began to open.
The final secret was about to be revealed.