The Boy Who Walks Beyond The End-Chapter 65: Trial Beyond Light – Part III: “Shattered Paths, Forged Destiny"

Chapter 65 - Trial Beyond Light – Part III: “Shattered Paths, Forged Destiny"

The crystal light that once guided them flickered—then shattered.

The world rippled.

And then silence.

Zen blinked. The warm breath of his companions was gone. The faint echo of Lyra's voice disappeared. Arisella's shield hum. Elvren's calm words. Sylvia's whisper of frost.

Gone.

Only darkness remained... until light bled through again.

A dim, circular room—smooth stone, glowing with arcane lines. It wasn't just magic. It was designed—like a puzzle etched by the gods.

[SYSTEM]: "Warning: Trial Instability Detected. Party has been separated. Individual survival rate: 47%... Correction: Make that 46% if Zen doesn't stop standing there like a dramatic protagonist."

Zen blinked once more.

"...Where are the others?"

[SYSTEM]: "Scattered. Like cheap loot from a trash-tier chest. But don't worry—this isn't the end, just... the side quest before the boss fight." [(^_−)☆]

---

Zen's Solo Trial: The Abyssonox Forge

The chamber shifted as Zen approached the circular dais. Three floating stones hovered in front of him—each etched with runes, glowing faintly. A faint hum filled the air.

[Nex]: "Looks like a rune alignment puzzle. Easy stuff for a brain like yours, right?"

Zen narrowed his eyes, studying the shifting runes. He raised his hand, guiding each stone into position with precise movements. The moment the last rune locked into place, the symbols pulsed bright gold—then shattered into motes of light.

A sudden gust of energy rippled out from the center of the room. The ground trembled, and from beneath the dais, a black crystal-like object slowly rose on a mechanical arm. It spun lazily in the air, dark as night, its surface swirling with stardust and faint pulses of red light.

[Nex]: "Boom! That's the final piece, baby!"

[Nex]: "Orb Core secured. Combine that with the Magmablood Flame and the forge-stones we grabbed earlier..."

[Nex]: "We've got everything. Time to forge you a weapon that breaks more than just bones."

Zen: "Wait... Nex, you can Make weapons too?"

[Nex]: "Excuse you? I'm not just a floating fashion icon, Zen. I forge, enchant, upgrade—heck, I could turn a stick into a divine relic if you asked nicely." (saying Proudly)

Zen: "...Should've used you earlier."

[Nex]: "You never asked :/ "

—

[SYSTEM]: "Processing rare-tier forging material... syncing lost schema... Aha! Found it. Initiating special event: Forging of Abyssonox."

[!!(✧∀✧)!!]

[SYSTEM]: "Insert blade shard fragment from Trial 64... yeah, that one you didn't realize was important. Hehe. Just trust me, champ."

(⌐■_■)

Zen followed the system's guidance, embedding the blade fragment into the core. The forge blazed.

The system spoke again, tone low, almost reverent:

[SYSTEM]: "Forging complete. Naming protocol engaged... New weapon: "Abyssonox – Blade of the Void Crown."

In his hand, A crimson-streaked black katana, pulsing with dark energy. Veins of violet light pulsed across its length. The air around it... bent.

[SYSTEM]: "Stats updated. Warning: Use of Abyssonox may result in existential dread for enemies. And maybe some friends too. Wield responsibly." (^_^;)ゞ

---

Meanwhile...

Sylvia, trapped in a labyrinth of reflective ice, faced her greatest trial—herself. A frozen mirror monster mimicking every move. She fought with grace, sword flashing in elegant arcs.

Elvren, deep within a hall of fire, stood with burned hands—his phoenix wings glowing bright as molten steel. He whispered ancient fire incantations passed down from his family.

Arisella, torn between multiple illusions, fought with regal fury—channeling her will to find the real path, her shield reflecting lies like sunlight through stained glass.

Lyra, breathing hard, had fought shadows with healing magic alone, refusing to strike, only dodging—defending the light, not destroying the dark.

And in every trial...

Each one heard a faint echo.

Zen's voice?

A blade's hum?

They weren't sure.

But they kept moving forward.

---

Reunion: The Path Reforged

The trials began to collapse inward.

One by one, hallways crumbled and dissolved—guiding each member back to a central core chamber. No words were needed when they met again.

They saw Zen standing at the center, holding Abyssonox.

The air around him shimmered.

"...Nice sword," Lyra said, trying to sound casual.

Zen gave a faint smirk.

"Abyssonox," he replied. "I named it myself."

[SYSTEM]: "Lies. I named it. He wanted to call it 'Pointy Vengeance.'"

(ಠ_ಠ)

Lyra: ..Wow..

---

Then it struck.

The earth trembled.

A red glow bled into the chamber.

A second gate opened.

Final trial unlocked.

[SYSTEM]: "Ohhh boy. Boss approaching. Big one. And uhh... this one? This one's not in the handbook."

Zen gripped Abyssonox.

The others nodded. Steady.

R𝑒ad lat𝒆st chapt𝒆rs at free𝑤ebnovel.com Only.

They walked together toward the gate of light.

Behind them—trials of pain, puzzles, memory.

Ahead—an enemy no one expected.

And within Zen, something stirred.

A fog.

Cold.

Whispering.

But it was quiet... for now...