The archway loomed before her, its weathered stone covered in shifting patterns—symbols that moved like breathing shadows.

  The mist thickened, curling around Akari’s ankles as if reluctant to let her go.

  The villagers did not follow. They only watched. Silent. Waiting.

  The old man took a slow step forward. “This is your only chance.” His voice was calm, but his eyes betrayed something else—dread. “Once you enter, there is no guarantee you’ll return.”

  Akari stared at the shifting darkness beyond the arch. A trial. The Veil was testing her.

  Fine.

  If this world wanted to push her, she would push back.

  She tightened her grip on her sword and stepped through.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  [System Alert]

  > You have entered the Veil’s Trial.

  Survive.

  The moment her foot crossed the threshold, the world ripped apart.

  ---

  A howling void. No ground, no sky—just endless darkness.

  Akari’s stomach lurched as her body plummeted, weightless, like she had been swallowed whole.

  A whisper coiled around her mind.

  > “Why do you struggle?”

  The voice wasn’t human. It was something vast, something unknowable.

  Akari clenched her teeth. “Because I refuse to be a pawn.”

  The darkness shuddered.

  Something watched her.

  A shape emerged from the void—a shifting figure made of liquid shadows, faceless yet overwhelming in its presence.

  > The Forgotten Warden has appeared.

  A Guardian.

  Akari instinctively drew her sword. The weight of it grounded her, steadied her breath.

  > Trial Objective: Defeat the Forgotten Warden.

  The shadow lunged.

  Akari dodged instinctively, rolling as its massive claw carved through the void itself. The air behind her ripped apart, revealing endless eyes staring from beyond.

  No time to think. No time to fear.

  She called upon her wolves—

  But they didn’t come.

  A new notification flickered.

  > Forsaken Summons are sealed within the Veil’s Trial.

  Her blood ran cold. She was alone.

  The Warden struck again, its arm stretching unnaturally. Akari raised her blade—

  CLANG!

  The impact sent a shockwave through her body. Her arms burned from the force, feet sliding against the unseen ground.

  This wasn’t like fighting beasts in the forest. This was different.

  This was real.

  The Warden twisted, its body splitting apart, forming three separate figures.

  Akari exhaled.

  > “Show me why you were chosen.”

  The voices whispered in unison.

  Her heartbeat pounded in her ears.

  She had one choice. Win.

  And she was not going to lose.

  Akari charged.