Chronicles of Magic-Machine

Darkness.

For a moment, there was nothing but an endless void.

Then—light.

A force pulled them forward, a sensation like slipping between two realities. Their surroundings blurred, and when their vision cleared—

They stood in an open arena, vast and ancient, with towering pillars stretching toward the sky. The ground beneath them was made of polished stone, etched with glowing inscriptions pulsing faintly with energy.

The transition was seamless, but the weight of their previous battles lingered. The echoes of their trials had yet to fade from their minds.

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Reorienting – First Moments in the Arena

Sienna rolled her shoulders, her body still adjusting after the intense battle with the Gravity Tyrant. Her muscles ached, but her mind was sharp. Her last move—the reversal of gravity—had taken everything she had, but she had won.

She glanced around. She wasn't alone.

Orion stood nearby, his stance firm, his eyes cold and calculating. He barely acknowledged his surroundings, his focus still on what he had left behind—the battlefield, the war, the cost of victory. His hands were still stained with blood, though only in his mind.

A few steps away, Rina stood with an amused expression, stretching as if she had just woken up from a nap. Relaxed, but aware.

Sienna broke the silence first. "Looks like we're in the same place now."

Orion exhaled, his gaze scanning the arena. "Another trial?"

Rina smirked. "Obviously. But first…" She turned to Sienna. "We should at least figure out where we stand."

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Familiar Strangers – Their Shared Past

A moment of silence passed before Orion narrowed his eyes. "It's been a while since we stood in the same place, hasn't it?"

Sienna's expression remained neutral. "Years, actually."

Rina chuckled, tilting her head. "Who would've thought we'd all end up here? The three of us… different factions, different paths."

They were all from the Eternis Clan, but their allegiances had split long ago.

Orion belonged to Strategic Command, the faction that specialized in tactics, planning, and battlefield control. His mind was a weapon sharper than any blade.

Sienna was from the Gravity Lounge, a faction focused on environmental and gravitational manipulation. She could shift the very weight of existence.

Rina had chosen the Meditation Garden, where mental superiority, foresight, and analysis were honed into an art. She could see the flow of battle before it even began.

Though they had trained in the same halls as children, their paths had diverged.

Orion crossed his arms. "I barely remember you two from back then."

Sienna smirked. "Because you were too busy trying to outthink everyone."

Rina grinned. "And I was too busy watching you fail."

Orion's eyes twitched, but he said nothing.

Sienna sighed. "Regardless of our factions, we're standing together now. Let's focus."

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Strength and Comparison

Rina tapped her chin. "Before we dive into whatever this trial is, let's establish something. Where do we stand in terms of strength?"

Orion let out a slow breath. "Fine. I'll start."

"Mortal Awakening, Layer 8."

Sienna nodded. "Layer 7."

Rina tilted her head, her sharp eyes analyzing them both.

"Layer 6."

A brief silence settled between them.

Orion was the strongest in terms of cultivation.

Sienna followed close behind.

Rina… was behind them.

Orion raised an eyebrow, a hint of dismissal in his gaze. "You're the weakest?"

Rina chuckled. "Technically, yeah. But numbers don't mean everything."

Sienna frowned slightly. "You're too relaxed. That means you don't think cultivation rank matters as much."

Rina tapped her temple. "Because it doesn't. Strength isn't just about power—it's about knowing what happens before it happens."

Sienna studied her more carefully now. "You read people."

Rina shrugged. "Patterns don't lie. The way you breathe, the way you shift your weight—everything tells a story." She took a step forward, glancing around the arena. "And before this trial even started, I sensed it."

Orion's eyes sharpened. "Sensed what?"

Rina's smirk widened slightly. "Three distinct energies. Each resonating with a different aspect of our minds."

A heavy silence followed.

Then—

The arena trembled.

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[ TRIAL TWO BEGINS ]

A mechanical voice echoed through the space:

[ Second Trial: The Three Paths. Each path will test your current layer of Mortal Awakening. ]

Before them, the ground shifted, forming three distinct paths leading into separate domains.

One burned with scorching flames.

One was filled with endless darkness.

One shimmered like an illusion, twisting in and out of reality.

Three choices.

Three paths.

One decision.

[ Choose your path. ]

The second trial had begun.

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