The Martian winds howled through the rocky canyon, the air thick with an unsettling stillness. Arian had felt many things in his life—fear, anger, determination—but as he stood before the cavern's entrance, staring into the abyss that swallowed all light, a new sensation crept into his bones. This was not just an ancient ruin or a lost temple. This was something older, something alive.
Something waiting.
Rokan stepped forward, his hand resting on his blade's hilt. "Are you sure about this, Arian?" he asked, voice low. "The legends of **Xaldra** are not myths. If we enter, we may not leave."
Arian exhaled sharply. The knowledge he had gained from **Elysia** still burned in his mind. The rift, Mars's origins, the growing instability—it was all connected. And deep within this cavern, the ancient being known as **Xaldra** held answers that no one else could provide.
"We don't have a choice," Arian replied. "If Xaldra has survived this long, then it must know the truth of Mars's past. And if the **Tenebris faction** seeks to control the rift, we need every advantage we can get."
With that, he stepped forward, into the darkness.
---
### **Xaldra's Awakening**
The cave walls pulsed faintly, veins of bioluminescent minerals casting eerie shadows along the path. The air grew thick with an almost suffocating energy, as if the cavern itself was a living thing, watching, waiting.
Then came the sound.
A deep, guttural growl, ancient and resonant, vibrated through the chamber. Arian's heart pounded as the sound grew louder, rising into a reverberating snarl that sent chills down his spine. A pair of **glowing, slitted eyes** blinked open in the darkness, their golden light piercing through the void.
Then, the beast stepped forward.
Xaldra was **massive**—its form a perfect blend of **ferocity and intelligence**, an apex predator that had long since transcended mere instinct. Its body was covered in **scaled armor** that shimmered like obsidian, each plate etched with **Celestial runes** that pulsed with an eerie light. Its powerful limbs ended in claws sharp enough to carve through stone, and its elongated snout bore **rows of gleaming fangs**. But it was the eyes that held Arian captive—eyes that burned with ancient wisdom, **calculating and cold**.
Arian barely had time to react before **Xaldra lunged**.
He threw himself aside as the creature's **massive claw slammed** into the ground where he had stood, shattering the stone. Rokan unsheathed his sword, but Arian held up a hand.
"Wait," Arian said, breathless. "It's testing me."
Xaldra's head turned slightly, its slit-pupiled gaze narrowing. It circled Arian slowly, the rumbling in its throat a mixture of warning and curiosity. Then, it **spoke**.
**"You are not worthy."**
The words, though guttural and raw, carried an undeniable intelligence. Arian clenched his fists.
"I am Arian, rightful heir of Mars," he declared, his voice steady despite the weight of Xaldra's presence. "And I demand to know the truth."
Xaldra's lips curled, revealing rows of dagger-like teeth. **"Rightful heir?"** it rumbled, its deep voice reverberating through the chamber. **"You claim dominion over a world you do not understand. You call yourself ruler, yet you cower before the weight of its past."**
Arian took a sharp breath. This wasn't just an ancient beast. This was something **far older than Mars itself**, something that had seen **the rise and fall of civilizations**.
"What do you mean?" Arian demanded.
Xaldra took a step closer, towering over him. **"Mars was never meant to be ruled."**
Arian's breath caught in his throat.
**"The Celestial Sovereign did not create Mars to be a kingdom, nor did he shape the rift so that mortals could wield its power,"** Xaldra continued. **"You claim lineage, but lineage means nothing to the forces that govern the cosmos. The rift is awakening, and your kind are mere pawns in its design."**
Arian clenched his jaw. "If I am a pawn, then tell me—who is the one moving the pieces?"
Xaldra studied him for a long moment, then let out a low, reverberating growl. **"That is the question that determines whether you live or die."**
The cavern trembled as Xaldra reared up, its power radiating like an approaching storm. **"If you seek the truth, then you must prove you are more than a fragile king sitting on a throne of sand. Show me you are worthy, or be devoured by the past you fail to understand."**
Arian **steeled himself** as Xaldra's presence pressed against him like an ocean wave. This was not a battle of strength alone. This was **a battle of will, of identity, of destiny itself**.
If he faltered, if he doubted, he would be consumed.
The time for words was over.
The **Trial of Xaldra** had begun.