The arena pulsed with life—ancient, wrathful life.
Ankit could feel it in the air, crawling under his skin like static. A thousand eyes—stone or spectral—watched from the walls of the Baptism Ground as the trial began.
Across the stone floor, the Echo stood still, a towering shadow of armor and silence. Its blade, longer and darker than Ankit's, was stained black at the edge, almost… rotting.
And yet it felt alive.
This isn't just a test of power, Ankit thought. It's a duel of legacy.
The system chimed softly in his ear:
[Baptism Ground Trial]
Opponent: Echo of the Forgotten Wielder
Combat Rank: D+
Soul Weapon: Cursed Talwar – Living Type
Traits: Corrupted Technique, Bloodlust Aura
Win Condition: Survival or Elimination
Reward: Bloodline Fragment Evolution + Awakening Chance
The Echo didn't wait.
It blurred into motion.
Faster than anything Ankit had seen.
A slash came—not from the front, but diagonally from above, like a falling crescent of death. Ankit barely rolled aside, the impact sending a crater into the arena floor. Dust exploded.
He coughed, eyes wide. Too strong—
The second slash came instantly.
Ankit blocked, talwar raised.
CLANG!
Sparks erupted.
His knees buckled. Bones screamed.
But he didn't fall.
[Damage Received – Minor Internal Shock]
Soul Weapon Sync: +1%
Swordsmanship Proficiency: +2%
He gritted his teeth.
The Echo stepped back, tilting its head, as if measuring him.
It was intelligent.
Not a beast.
This was no mindless specter—it fought like a warrior. One who had died long ago, but whose rage still burned in steel.
"Fine," Ankit hissed. "Let's see how far you've fallen."
He pushed forward this time.
Fast steps, low guard, blade dancing. He didn't aim to overpower the Echo—he couldn't. Not yet. But he could exploit momentum.
Feints.
Sweeps.
Speed over power.
He ducked beneath the third strike and landed a shallow cut across the Echo's leg.
The armor hissed and flared with black light—but the strike worked.
[Successful Strike – Weak Spot]
Echo Stability: 96%
Bloodline Fragment Response: +1%
Progression XP: +22
Soul Weapon Sync: +2%
Bloodline Pulse: Active (4%)
It's bleeding energy, Ankit realized. I just need to wear it down.
He danced around its range, blocking when necessary, but mostly dodging and chipping away.
Fifteen minutes passed like a blur of motion and pain. Cuts appeared on his arms, one on his cheek. His stamina was draining. But something else was happening too.
Every time he struck, the talwar vibrated—in rhythm with the beat of his heart.
And every time it did, the bloodline shard inside him shivered.
[Bloodline Pulse: 12%]
Warning: Host Reaching Limit – Stamina Low
Suggestion: Trigger Bloodline Surge (Temporary)
Bloodline Surge?
He didn't hesitate.
"Do it."
[Bloodline Surge Activated]
Bloodline Resonance – Type: Unknown
Trait Unlocked: Shadow Link (15 sec)
Cooldown: 2 hours
Energy Surge Applied – +15% Speed / +10% Weapon Sync
Perception Boost – Activated
The world slowed.
Or rather—he sped up.
The Echo raised its blade again, but Ankit could now see the arc before it moved.
He ducked low, stepped inside its guard, and unleashed a flurry of five slashes.
One across the ribs.
One at the wrist.
One at the exposed joint in its shoulder.
One stab into its gut.
And the fifth—
Straight across the helm.
CRACK!
The helm split partially, revealing a hollow face wreathed in black mist.
The Echo screamed—not in voice, but in memory.
Ankit staggered back, eyes wide.
He had seen something.
A vision. A man in the past. A warrior from another age, kneeling before a giant serpent of smoke and shadow… and then falling, blade-first, into the Tower.
Was that… the origin of this weapon?
The Echo dropped to one knee, sword trembling. It didn't die.
It bowed.
Then dissolved into smoke.
[Trial Complete]
Echo of Forgotten Wielder Defeated
Reward: Bloodline Fragment Awakened (Purity: 12%)
New Trait Unlocked: Shadow Link (Stage 1)
Soul Weapon Evolution Progress: 78%
Level Up: Level 2 → Level 3
Stats Increased
Return to Training Zone? [Y/N]
Ankit dropped to one knee, panting.
Sweat poured from his face, mixing with dust and dried blood. His chest rose and fell like a broken bellows.
But he smiled.
The talwar gleamed. A faint shape now hovered behind it—not a shadow, but a spirit.
It didn't speak.
It just watched, sword in hand, like a guardian waiting to be born.
System Panel – Updated
Name: Ankit Kumar
Level: 3
Soul Weapon: Talwar – Rank F+ (78%)
Bloodline: Awakened (Unknown Serpent Class – 12%)
Proficiency:
– Swordsmanship: 18%
– Mana Sense: 5%
– Shadow Link: Active (Stage 1)
Stats:
– Strength: 7
– Agility: 8
– Intelligence: 6
– Endurance: 7
Soul Weapon Status: Companion Link Forming…
"You fought with purpose," the system echoed softly, almost with pride.
"The Tower watches. The next floor will not be so merciful."
Ankit rose.
He didn't care about mercy.
He had a sword, a bloodline, and a will sharper than any steel.
The Tower would bleed before he did.
End of Chapter 4