Darkness.
Then…
Two hundred crimson eyes opened at once.
Stone cracked beneath ancient feet as every statue stepped forward in perfect unison.
The chamber trembled.
Marcus instinctively raised his pistol.
"There are too many!"
"Don't!" Daisy shouted.
"The Legacy Trial isn't ours."
Marcus stopped.
"What?"
"It's his."
The moment the words left her lips, an invisible force threw Marcus and Daisy backward.
They slammed into a transparent crimson barrier that formed around the edge of the chamber.
Dawsyn rushed toward them.
"Mom!"
His shoulder struck the barrier.
It didn't budge.
A System notification materialized before him.
Legacy Trial I: Judgment of the First Patriarch
Objective:
Defeat the Trial Guardian.
Restrictions:
No outside assistance.
Failure:
Death.
Reward:
Bloodline Evolution
???
???
A deep voice echoed throughout the chamber.
"Only one who walks alone may lead others."
One statue continued walking while the others remained still.
Unlike the rest, this figure wore a flowing crimson coat with intricate golden embroidery.
His stone face bore a calm smile.
When he reached the center of the chamber, cracks spread across his body.
Stone fell away piece by piece.
Beneath it stood what looked like a real man.
"My name has long been forgotten."
"But once…"
"…they called me the First Patriarch."
His crimson eyes locked onto Dawsyn.
"Show me whether the Ashford Bloodline still deserves to exist."
Without warning…
He disappeared.
Dawsyn's instincts screamed.
He threw himself to the side.
BOOM!
The marble floor shattered where he'd been standing a heartbeat earlier.
"What…?"
The Patriarch stood calmly where Dawsyn had been.
"So slow."
A kick struck Dawsyn square in the ribs.
He flew across the chamber, crashing through one of the marble pillars.
Pain exploded through his body.
Every breath burned.
Marcus clenched his fists behind the barrier.
"He'll kill him…"
Daisy never looked away.
"He has to survive."
Dawsyn forced himself back to his feet.
His ribs screamed in protest.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
The First Patriarch smiled.
"Good."
"You stood back up."
"Most don't."
Ping!
Passive Trait Unlocked
Iron Resolve (Common)
The Ashford Bloodline refuses to surrender.
Effects:
• Pain Resistance +10%
• Fear Resistance +15%
Dawsyn wiped the blood from his mouth.
"I don't plan on dying."
The Patriarch laughed.
"Excellent."
"Then come."
Dawsyn sprinted forward.
His fist shot toward the man's jaw.
The Patriarch caught it effortlessly.
"Predictable."
He twisted Dawsyn's wrist before throwing him over his shoulder.
CRASH!
Dawsyn slammed into the stone floor.
His vision blurred.
The Patriarch looked disappointed.
"If this is all Damien left behind…"
"…then perhaps the Ashford Family deserves extinction."
Something inside Dawsyn snapped.
His father's name echoed in his mind.
Extinction.
Failure.
Weak.
"No…"
His fingers dug into the marble.
"I'm not weak."
The necklace around his neck pulsed violently.
Predator's Eyes Activated
Synchronization Improved
Efficiency Increased
The world slowed.
For the first time…
Dawsyn noticed something.
The Patriarch's shoulders shifted before every attack.
His hips rotated first.
His breathing changed.
He wasn't seeing the attacks.
He was seeing the intentions behind them.
The Patriarch smiled.
"There it is."
"You finally stopped watching my fists."
The old warrior attacked again.
This time…
Dawsyn stepped aside.
The punch missed.
Barely.
A smile spread across his face.
"I saw it."
The Patriarch nodded.
"Again."
Another attack.
Another dodge.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Every movement became smoother.
More natural.
The System chimed repeatedly.
Trait Progress Increased
Trait Unlocked
Enhanced Agility (Common)
Effects:
• Reflexes +15%
• Balance +20%
• Movement Speed +10%
Marcus stared in disbelief.
"He's… learning during the fight."
Daisy smiled proudly.
"Just like Damien."
The First Patriarch suddenly increased his speed.
He vanished.
Dawsyn barely reacted.
A fist struck his shoulder.
Another his stomach.
Then his back.
Each blow landed harder than the last.
He stumbled.
His legs shook.
"I can't…"
He collapsed to one knee.
The Patriarch stood over him.
"Your eyes have improved."
"But your body cannot keep up."
He pointed toward Dawsyn's legs.
"Strength without endurance is meaningless."
He raised one foot.
"Stand."
Dawsyn didn't move.
"Stand!"
His body trembled.
Every muscle screamed.
Yet…
He pushed himself upright.
The System answered.
Trait Unlocked
Endurance (Common)
Effects:
• Stamina +20%
• Recovery Speed +10%
• Muscle Fatigue Reduced
Dawsyn inhaled deeply.
The burning in his lungs eased.
His heartbeat steadied.
His body felt…
Lighter.
The Patriarch smiled.
"Better."
"Again."
This time…
Dawsyn attacked first.
His movements flowed naturally.
He ducked beneath a punch.
Spun around a kick.
Landed his first clean strike.
THUD!
The blow connected with the Patriarch's ribs.
Silence filled the chamber.
Marcus' jaw dropped.
"He actually hit him…"
The First Patriarch looked down at the fist resting against his chest.
Then…
He laughed.
A genuine laugh.
"It's been over three hundred years…"
"…since a first-generation heir landed a hit during their first trial."
The chamber suddenly shook.
The remaining statues all turned toward Dawsyn.
One after another…
They began applauding.
The sound echoed like thunder.
The System flashed crimson.
Trial Phase One Complete
Rewards Granted
• Iron Resolve
• Enhanced Agility
• Enhanced Endurance
New Trait Unlocked
Burst Step (Rare)
For three seconds, movement speed increases by 200%.
Cooldown: 60 Seconds.
Before Dawsyn could celebrate…
Every statue stopped clapping.
The First Patriarch's smile disappeared.
His eyes became deadly serious.
"You've passed the warm-up."
He slowly rolled back the sleeves of his crimson coat.
"Now…"
"…the real trial begins."
Behind him…
The remaining one hundred ninety-nine Patriarchs stepped off their pedestals together.
Every one of them drew a different weapon.
The System's blue glow flickered.
Then turned blood red.
WARNING
Legacy Trial Escalating…
Survival Probability Recalculated…
0.7%
Good Luck, Host.