Katsu, unsure of the situation stood still, confused, he looked left, right and behind him but didn't see anybody in the valley where he was standing.
Suddenly, a blue light shone and everything became visible to him. He was in a place resembling Earth, but completely deserted, more like a barren wasteland.
"Where am I?" He panicked. He moved forward, after climbing the hill, he saw nothing.
Then a shadowy figure appeared. He was wearing a mask, and a cape, his body wasn't revealed, more like a shadow in form of a human without leg, he was levitating.
"Welcome Your sovereign." The shadowy figure greeted. Katsu looked back and fear gripped him, he stumbled backwards and tumbled down the rocky slope. The shadowy figure moved swiftly to him.
"Don't come closer," he said. He was sweating even though the temperature wasn't high.
The shadowy figure, then stood still, watching as Katsu struggles to stand. But, he seems to be disappointed in how weak Katsu was.
"What is this place? Is this the after life?" Katsu asked, while keeping his distance from the shadowy figure.
"As you can see, I'm the only one here, and this isn't afterlife. I've been waiting for you. This is ann alternate dimensions specifically designed for you. My sovereign." The shadowy figure said
"What! Specifically designed for me by who?" Katsu was shocked to hear what the shadowy figure revealed. The shadowy figure moved closer to him and lowered his head.
"I am the seeker." He said.
"I am here to make sure you survive and become more stronger." He said and took out a box from the inside of his Cape and handed it to Katsu.
Katsu wasn't sure of what was going on, reluctantly collected the box and opened it. It was ring that was inside the box.
"You're to wear that, Your Sovereign." The seeker said.
Katsu reluctantly put the ring on, although he doesn't want to but his will Power was overpowered by the Seeker's presence, he couldn't resist. He wore he ring, and a golden light shone upon him, everywhere changed, the once-empty Valley, turned into an hallway. The empty dimension now looks like a dwelling place with buildings everywhere.
Katsu was stunned with the transformation, but he couldn't withstand the aura from the ring, so he fell down and removed the ring.
The seeker moved closer to him. "Are you okay, Your Sovereign?" He asked looking at Katsu and the ring
"I don't believe the chosen I've been waiting for, is just as weak as those creatures." The Seeker thought.
"You need to wear the ring." He said. Katsu stood up and picked the ring.
"Why should I wear it?" Katsu, confused as to everything going on asked
"Because you're the chosen." The seeker said sharply and sighed.
"The chosen?" Katsu wondered what he meant by the Chosen. He still couldn't read the situation. Few minutes ago, he was at the verge of death and now he's supposed to become a Chosen, and couldn't even withstand the power of the ring.
"Yes, you were chosen because you are the only one that can save your world from this impending doom that has befallen it." The seeker explained. Katsu, realising the he wasn't there coincidentally sat down and the seeker continued.
"You carry the fragment of the Sovereign, which is why your Meridian cannot accept the power of the Awakening." He paused, looked at Katsu who was listening to his explanation and continued.
"But since you can't merge with the power of the ring, then we might have a long way to go." He stopped.
Katsu tried to piece the whole thing together, but can't, remained curious.
"Who is behind the impending doom?" He asked.
"Long time ago, there are three set of creatures namely; the Architects, the Custodians, and the Shaperates." He paused, stretch his palm forward and a box appeared on his palm. He collected the ring and returned it into the box.
"The other way available, is to do an evaluation. This evaluation, will determine the process of your growth and evolution, to be able to posses the power of the ring." He concluded. Katsu nodded and stood up.
"Who are this you mentioned earlier?" Katsu asked. But something kept the Seeker from answering. He was about to speak but something keep the Seeker from answering. He was about to speak but his voice faded, but then he said.
"Shall we proceed to the tower, where you will get evaluated?" He led the way and Katsu followed, carefully observing the hallway as they proceeded. The hallway seem endless.
There are lot of door in the hallway, but the Seeker stopped in front of a particular door, it was different from the others, the word 'WHERE FATE BECOMES REALITY' was written on the door.
The seeker pushed the door open and inside was an endless sea, with a tower on the middle of the sea. He stepped inside, but Katsu stood outside, scared of drowning.
*Come in, Your Sovereign." The Seeker said. But Katsu hesitated. Then the hallway started collapsing, the once endless hallway, has become nothing but fallen bricks. Katsu, left with no other choice jumped in with his eye closed and the door closed itself.
Surprisingly, he didn't drown. He slowly opened his eye, and he couldn't believe his sight, he was floating on the sea.
The Seeker moved forward heading towards the tower and Katsu, slowly with doubt in his mind and fear of drowning, followed him.when they got to the tower, Katsu fell exhausted. But he couldn't speak even though he wanted to
"Your Sovereign, please touch the tower." The Seeker said, he was less concerned about his State
Katsu crawled to the tower and touched it, a violet light shone upon him. Then a voice came from the light.
"Katsu Mamoru, quiet but intensed. Lived without power for 24 years, ignored by the earth for 12 years. Fierce and determined with a will like a steel, you harbor anger at the cruelty of humanity towards the weak. You're driven by a burning need to change the future and protect those who can't protect themselves. Even when out matched and near death, you never gave up. Despite all the conflicts inside you, you have a dark sense of humour and a soft spot for quiet moments, nature and peace, the very thing you're fighting to protect. Therefore, you are hereby assigned the 'THE TEST OF ETERNITY'. The voice stopped and the light dimmed.
The seeker was stunned, The Test Of Eternity was created for those with power but compared to Katsu, he was without powers.
Katsu looked up as the light dimmed, and the tower disappeared then shifted his gaze back to the Seeker.
"What does the Test Of Eternity mean?" As he asked the question, a gate appeared in front of him with 'THE TEST OF ETERNITY' inscribed on it
The seeker moved closer to the gate and said. "Would you like to find out yourself?"
Katsu gripped with fear, didn't seems to have adapted to how things worked. However, something compelled him to open the gate
Inside the gate, there is a passage, in the passage, there are tons of weapons on the wall, and also, there are lot of lights in the passage. There was silence as Katsu observers the passage and the seeker stood right next to him. Minutes later, the seeker broke the silence.
"Those weapons are for the test." Katsu nodded and moved closer.
"Remember to make a wise decision, Your Sovereign. The weapon you choose, will be the one you will use throughout the tests." The Seeker said and Katsu nodded and something struck his mind.
"Wait, what do you mean by tests?" Katsu asked and turned to the Seeker.
"There are five types of test in The Test Of Eternity gate. The test of Valor, The test of Arcane, The test of Harmony, The test of Vitalis, and The test of Shadow." He paused and Katsu seems to be digesting his lecture, then he continued.
"Each test has different stages of trial, the stronger you get, the harder the trial gets." He paused again and the 5 doors appeared each of them with their name inscribed on it.
Katsu moved toward the door and touched one of it. "Is that all I need to know?"
"These lights," he said, pointing to the lights in he passage. "They are 9999 of them in total. Each light represents a chance. Originally, there were 10000, but you died. One death, one light lost. If you die during your trial, one death means one light dims." He concluded.
Katsu nodded, he went back to the wall where weapon are kept, he picked a pair of dagger, and a Katana sword that have a hidden Blade at it pommel.
"Anything else?" He asked and headed for the doors.
"At the end of each trial, you will come back to complete same level of trial for the other tests." The seeker said
The seeker observed closely and finally understood why Katsu was chosen. The once confused and trembling Katsu, had became bold and confident, he was determined to face his test regardless of what Is behind those doors.
"If you need me, just summon me, I'll be right next to you." The seeker said
Katsu after giving a little thought, considered that he have some skills in combat, decided to take the 'Test of Shadow' first. He reached for the door, but before opening it, the Seeker spoke.
"Don't fail this time." Although Katsu doesn't know what he meant be don't fail this time, the word way heavy on him.
He pushes the door open, a cold wind howls, as the door creaks open, and the test begins.