Chapter 10 THE FIRST TRIAL

The hall's golden flames flared brighter as the five beasts fully materialized.

A deafening "ARRRGHHH!" shook the ancient chamber. Dust rained down from the towering pillars like old memories.

Chris cracked his neck, a wild grin splitting his face.

"Oya na! No pain, no gain. Make una come!" he shouted, staring each beast down. 

["Oya na! No pain, no gain. Come on!"]

A massive black wolf with glowing red eyes and Qi-infused fur as sharp as blades stepped forward. Beside it, a two-headed serpent hissed, corrosive venom dripping from its fangs onto the stone floor. A stone golem the size of a truck slammed its boulder-sized fists together with a thunderous boom. Above them, a sleek hawk circled, screeching. Finally, a lightning panther prowled, electric arcs dancing along its sleek spine.

[Void Trial 1: Commence] 

[Time Remaining: 59 Minutes 57 Seconds]

"Five against one? This trial no dey play at all," Chris muttered, dropping into a low fighting stance. Powerful Qi erupted from his body. His meridians hummed like a generator pushed to its limit, raw energy flooding every muscle. 

["This trial is not playing at all."]

The black wolf lunged first. Cracks spiderwebbed across the floor beneath its powerful paws.

The Naija youth exploded forward to meet it. His fist, wrapped in dense Qi, slammed into the wolf's jaw with a sickening crack. The beast flew sideways, crashing into a pillar. It rolled back up snarling, dust floating in the air.

Chris's eyes widened. "Damn! You're a strong one!"

The serpent struck from his side, spitting venom. The Naija youth twisted through the air, but a drop still grazed his shoulder. It burned like acid.

"Shit! Wetin be this? E dey hot! This snake, your mind go touch ground." 

["Shit! What is this? It's burning! This snake, your mind will touch the ground." (You'll be humbled)]

The smell of burning flesh filled the air.

[25x Recovery Engaged] 

[Rhythmic Combat Intuition Activated]

Chris dashed forward. He slipped under a whipping tail strike, closed the distance in a leap, and grabbed the serpent by one throat. Using its own momentum, he swung the massive creature like a living flail and smashed both heads into the stone golem's chest.

The golem staggered. The hawk dove instantly, talons aimed at his eyes.

Chris rolled forward, snatched a chunk of broken pillar, and hurled it like a javelin. The rock smashed the hawk mid-dive, sending it crashing.

"Idiot! Of everything to aim for, na only my eye you saw — so that I no go fit see ass again, abi!" 

["Idiot! Of everything to aim for, it's only my eyes you saw — so I won't be able to see ass again, right?"]

The air crackled. The lightning panther blurred behind him in a burst of speed. Claws raked across his back before he could fully turn.

"Gahhh!" He bit down on his lip as blood sprayed from his back. His body felt like it was buried in hot chili.

[Host Body Status: Cracked Bones, Torn Flesh] 

[Blood Loss: 10%]

"Ahhhh!" Chris roared and spun, driving an elbow into the panther's skull. The impact sent shockwaves through the hall. The panther yelped and retreated, limping.

He dropped to the ground as the wolf and golem attacked. The serpent coiled around his leg, squeezing.

"You guys are very annoying!" Chris's eyes glowed bright gold. He slammed his palms together.

A crude but devastating Qi shockwave erupted from his body.

The serpent's grip loosened. He stomped down savagely, crushing both heads into the shattered tiles.

The golem's massive fist came down like divine judgment.

"Naija Heritage: Shield of Shege!"

BOOM!

The shockwave blasted the golem backward several meters. Chris was sent flying too, crashing hard into the ground. Blood trickled from his mouth as he bounced back to his feet.

The golem closed the distance instantly. Its enormous fist pinned Chris's leg to the floor with crushing pressure.

"Fuck!" He clenched his jaw, crossed his arms, and took the next blow head-on. His bones screamed. His feet sank deep into the stone. Dust choked half the hall.

"You think you have power? I will show you real Power!"

With a primal yell, he grabbed the golem's arm, pivoted, and used its own weight to flip it onto its back. Then he leaped high into the air.

"You're finished!" He drove his knees into its chest. Stone shattered.

[Daily Quest: 1/5 Foundation Building Beast Killed] 

[+100 Points Added To All Stats] 

[+200 System Points]

The hawk dove again. The wolf followed behind. The panther joined, lightning trailing. The serpent, bleeding from its crushed head, crawled toward the Naija youth's leg from behind.

Chris's eyes observed everything.

He drew his katana, the blade humming as he unsheathed it.

"Blade Art: One Blade, Ten Thousand Cries!"

The ground shattered outward as dust filled the hall.

He charged straight into the chaos.

A blurred left hook cracked the wolf's ribs. A spinning kick shattered the serpent's spine. An uppercut sent the hawk crashing into the ceiling.

The lightning panther came next — Chris sidestepped its blinding speed, grabbed its tail, and slammed it repeatedly into the floor.

"Die! Die! Die! Die!"

The snake advanced from behind.

He tossed the panther aside, snatched the golem's broken arm as a makeshift club, and smashed the serpent's head into paste.

One by one, they fell.

The wolf lunged. Chris met it mid-air, tightened his fingers around its jaw, and ripped them apart. Blood and Qi exploded outward.

Chris fell to the ground, one knee hitting the floor. His robe was drenched in blood — some his, most theirs. Sweat dropped from his chin, chest heaving.

Blood, sweat, and Qi mixed in the air.

[Void Trial 1: Cleared] 

[Time Remaining: 39 Minutes 20 Seconds] 

[Daily Quest Completion Rate: 100%] 

[Daily Quest: 5/5 Foundation Building Beasts Killed] 

[Daily Quest Completed] 

[+400 Points Added To All Stats] 

[Rewards Distributed: +10 Healing Pills, +800 System Points, +1 Advanced Body Refinement Scroll]

"Bastards! No be me una for kill." He laughed weakly. "System, you see that finishing move? I be proper Naija boy now." 

["Bastards! You people cannot kill me." … "I am a proper Naija boy now."]

[Host Performance Rated: Above Average For The First Trial] 

[Foundation Building Realm Mid Stage → Late Stage] 

[New Skill Unlocked: Qi Shockwave Lv1]

"Nice, I'm getting stronger," he whispered, standing to his feet.

The giant door reappeared at the far end of the hall. It rumbled open, revealing a glowing bridge that led to another floating city in the distance. It was far bigger than the ones he had seen.