Absolute Cheater

The air grew tense as the contenders gathered for the second trial, known as the Trial by Combat. A vast, open training ground lay before them, rough dirt scattered with patches of scorched earth from past battles. In the center of the field, a massive, magic-infused golem awaited, its stone body etched with runes that pulsed with a faint glow.

The elder overseeing the trial called out, "This is the Trial by Combat! You'll face the Magic Golem, a creature that doubles in strength every minute. Be swift, be ruthless, or be left behind."

"The one lasts the longer wins the first rank"

Asher studied the golem intently. Standing over ten feet tall, it had eyes glowing with a cold, almost sentient intelligence. The runes along its limbs flickered as it activated, and with a low rumble, it began to advance, each footfall shaking the ground.

Several participants around Asher muttered strategies, discussing how best to handle the golem. But Asher, unfazed, stepped forward, gripping his blade. The golem's first strike was slow, testing the waters, but the impact of its heavy fist against the ground sent a shockwave that rattled Asher's bones.

He sidestepped, his blade flashing as he drove it toward a rune on the golem's arm, hoping to disrupt its magical flow. The sword connected with a harsh, metallic ring, and for a moment, a fissure split the stone. But the golem responded almost instantly, its other arm swinging around with alarming speed, nearly grazing him.

"Damn," Asher muttered, retreating several steps as he regrouped, his gaze sharper.

The minute mark hit, and the golem's power surged. Its runes flared brighter, its movements accelerating. What had once been a lumbering beast now moved with frightening agility. Each swing of its limbs was precise, relentless, and fast.

Asher fell into a rhythm, dodging and striking when he could, but the golem adapted, learning from his moves. Its strikes became more targeted, and the ground beneath them bore scars of their clash, each impact sinking deeper into the earth. Asher's breath grew harsher, yet his focus sharpened with every close call.

Each time the golem strengthened, it forced Asher to push harder, testing his skills and reflexes like never before. He knew he had only seconds between each surge to inflict as much damage as possible, and as the fight raged on, he was forced to face his own limits in a way no previous battle had demanded.

As the minutes ticked by, the golem's power multiplied, its sheer presence now a massive force that seemed to weigh on the entire arena. Asher was still keeping pace, though beads of sweat were beginning to form on his forehead. His every move was sharp and precise, but even his focus was stretched thin with each enhancement to the golem's strength.

Among the onlookers, murmurs began to ripple through the crowd. Elites from powerful families exchanged glances, some smirking, others silently observing with narrowed eyes.

"He's reckless," commented Adrian from the Indra family, his arms crossed as he leaned casually against a post. "He's fighting it head-on, no strategy. I could take that thing down with half the effort."

"Bold words," responded Iris from the Artemis family, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she watched Asher dodge another brutal swing. "But if you think you're better, why don't you go out there and show him?"

Adrian huffed but said nothing, and Iris gave a slight smirk, her eyes flickering back to Asher with a spark of admiration. "You have to admit, he's got nerve. Most wouldn't last this long."

Asher, meanwhile, pivoted quickly to avoid the golem's sweeping arm, his mind racing with options. He knew he'd need more than just raw strength to take it down. With a deep breath, he tapped into one of his abilities, summoning a faint blue aura that wrapped around his hands and blade.

The air around his sword grew sharp with energy, vibrating with the resonance of his newfound skill—Resonance Strike. He tightened his grip and slashed at the golem's chest, aiming for the core rune etched deep in its stone body. The blade sang as it connected, cutting deeper than before. A crack formed, and pieces of stone fell away, revealing an inner glow.

"That's it…" Asher muttered, his eyes narrowing as he steadied his stance.

But the golem wasn't finished. It responded to the attack with a furious roar, a shockwave emanating from its core that forced Asher to skid backward, his feet digging into the dirt to regain balance. The golem's eyes flashed, and its hands ignited with a dark energy. It lunged toward Asher, each of its strikes now empowered with crushing force that could pulverize stone.

Asher braced himself, then activated another skill—Phantom Step. His figure blurred, splitting into afterimages as he dodged, weaving around the golem with dizzying speed. Each step left a faint trace, making it difficult for the golem to track his movements. But with each minute, the creature grew even stronger, adapting to his maneuvers.

Back among the watching crowd, others had begun to take interest as well. Kael from the Riverdale family shook his head, watching with a blend of skepticism and awe. "He won't last much longer at this rate. The golem's power doubles every minute; even I'd be cautious against something that gains strength that fast."

"Oh, don't be so quick to dismiss him," interjected Helena from the Helios family. She leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Look at his footwork. He's drawing the golem to expose weak points. He's… testing it."

Across the arena, Asher felt the golem's energy surge yet again, the stone behemoth now moving with frightening speed. It was almost blinding, the way its limbs blurred through the air, yet Asher moved with the creature, studying its rhythm and anticipating its moves. With each swing it missed, he let his own aura flow around him, creating a protective shield that buffered the impact of any blows that came too close.

Just then, he caught sight of a nearby boulder and an idea took form. Using Force Leap, a burst of energy propelled him onto the rock, giving him a temporary vantage point. As the golem lunged forward, he jumped into the air, gathering energy around his blade. With a shout, he unleashed Crimson Cleave, a red slash of pure power that tore into the golem's chest, sending pieces of stone and magical residue flying.

The crowd gasped, even those from prestigious families couldn't help but stare in surprise. One of them, Darren from the Dagon family, shook his head, his voice laced with reluctant admiration. "Not bad. He's pushing that thing harder than I expected."

As the battle continued, Asher's resilience became the main point of interest for the crowd—and even for the seasoned Elders observing from above. They exchanged murmurs, watching the young warrior's form as he maneuvered around the golem with impressive precision.

One Elder, a hardened, silver-bearded instructor named Valen, folded his arms, his gaze sharpening. "More than five minutes," he muttered, a hint of admiration breaking his usually stoic expression. "By now, that thing's strength will breach platinum rank in seconds." He turned to the head instructor, who nodded in agreement, surprised himself by Asher's fortitude.

Meanwhile, on the ground, Asher's breathing became heavier as he measured his options, his focus unwavering despite the enormous strain. The golem had reached an almost monstrous size, its form thrumming with lethal energy. Its movements, though slower due to its massive form, were accompanied by a force so strong that each step shook the earth around him. He knew he couldn't rely solely on physical attacks anymore. It was time for a more specialized approach.

With a focused breath, Asher activated his Blood Supreme ability. A faint red aura glowed around him, swirling and pulsating, as he tapped into the innate control he had over his own blood. His body seemed to pulse with raw power as he guided his blood energy, sharpening his senses and heightening his physical abilities. More than that, his ability to manipulate his blood allowed him to weaponize it, forming razor-thin whips that lashed out around him.

The golem lunged forward, its massive fist descending like a hammer, but Asher sidestepped, his blood tendrils shooting forward and wrapping around its arm with precision. With a twist of his wrist, he controlled the blood, hardening it into razor-sharp threads that sliced into the golem's rocky surface. Shards of stone splintered off as the golem roared, swinging wildly, only to have its limbs restrained by the blood whips that Asher manipulated with effortless grace.

In the stands, some of the family elites were beginning to grasp the depth of his abilities. Kael from the Riverdale family raised an eyebrow, a glimmer of respect crossing his usually aloof expression. "He's controlling his blood? That's much advanced techniques—not something you see every day, especially not for this long against something this powerful."

The Dagon family's Darren watched, arms crossed tightly, a reluctant admiration brewing in his gaze. "It's effective," he muttered under his breath. "But if the golem's power reaches platinum… it might overpower even that."

The Elders, meanwhile, whispered amongst themselves, noting how Asher's unique skill allowed him to keep pace with the ever-growing threat. Even Elder Valen watched with a faint smile of respect as Asher's blood control continued to counter the golem's relentless attacks.