The atmosphere was desolate.
Dark plains of grey and withered dirt spread as far as the eye could see. An eternal canopy of thick black clouds hung in the sky, blocking any potential sunlight this land could've received. In the center of this desolate land sat a single altar large enough to hold hundreds of people. This pure gold piece of land was the only splash of color in the otherwise bleak area.
This space was the Storm Heavens Mystic Realm. As soon as the group of geniuses entered, they were met with this scene.
Every Mystic Realm was different at a fundamental level. It wasn't always certain that one would be allowed to understand the task before completing it. In some Mystic Realms, one had to understand every facet of the trial on their own.
"Everyone! Follow my lead if you don't wish to be killed!" A voice suddenly resounded. This was none other than Marcus Strow from the Heavenly Jewel Palace. He was undoubtedly the one with the highest status here.
"This Storm Heavens Mystic Realm should be a talent-based trial. I believe we should first search the altar and see if there are any clues there. If we can't find anything, we can split into small groups to explore the Mystic Realm's other areas." He continued to say.
Marcus Strow was an ambitious person, but also a charismatic leader. He was already set to be the Heavenly Jewel Palace's next Sect Master. Hearing his logical words and authoritative tone, many geniuses felt the instinctive urge to follow his command.
Even those who didn't want to follow his lead had no choice. His words were indeed the most practical way to continue.
At the back of the crowd, the Eclipse Sect princess stood together with Damien and Zara. Her loyalty had reached an almost fanatic state after Damien's previous gift, and she refused to leave his side.
"Big brother, should we follow him?" She asked curiously.
Damien shrugged and responded blandly, "Follow him if you want. Why ask me?"
"Hmph! I know big brother is better than that fool. I'd rather follow you!" The princess uttered defiantly.
Damien shrugged once more. He decided to just let the little princess do as she pleased. It wasn't like she was wrong.
Damien felt the strangeness of this world immediately upon entry. The thick clouds in the sky weren't simple at all, and even the desolate and withered soil below emitted a dangerous aura.
'Storm Heavens Mystic Realm, huh. The name is quite on the nose.' Damien thought to himself. As he continued examining, he realized that the soil's condition was most likely related to the clouds above.
The entire desolate atmosphere was connected. And the key to that connection was…
Damien grabbed Zara and the little princess and disappeared. In the next instant, the three appeared standing atop the golden altar.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" Marcus yelled. He couldn't believe that people were recklessly moving without listening to him.
He soon realized the princess' identity, but Damien and Zara were still unknowns to him. He only assumed they were her servants.
"Jiao Mei, what do you think you're doing?! Do you think being reckless will allow you to surpass me?!" He yelled furiously.
The princess looked up at Damien for a brief instant. Seeing him smile slightly, she was immediately emboldened.
"Hmph! You do not matter enough for me to compete so fiercely with you. Did you never think that perhaps I understood the trial before you did?" She sneered back.
In truth, she did have a partial understanding towards the nature of the trial. This was because she was a talented lightning affinity practitioner who'd just absorbed a strand of heavenly lightning. Her perception was more than just acute.
However this perception would only get her so far. She was mainly relying on Damien's guidance and word.
"Hahahaha! You think you can surpass me? Just because of your mysterious physique? Don't make me laugh!" Marcus yelled. He turned to the surrounding geniuses and continued speaking.
"Everyone! The Eclipse Sect princess is acting without thinking and trying to sabotage all of our chances at proceeding! Lend me your aid in defeating her and removing her from the podium!"
His ability to instigate a crowd wasn't a joke. Hearing that someone was attempting to sabotage them, the crowd's hearts turned cold. There was no mercy in Mystic Realms, regardless of status!
But with Damien present, would these normal geniuses even have a chance to attack? While nobody paid attention to him, he casually observed the altar.
It was a large flat pedestal for the most part, with ancient runic engravings etched on its surface. The only protrusions from this flat plane were two gargoyle-like statues worshipping a ritual grail at the back center of the altar.
Damien moved towards the gargoyles without hesitation and ripped the ritual grail out of their hands. In that instant, the originally calm atmosphere erupted!
Rumble!
The ground started quaking ferociously. The black clouds above swirled in outrage. Thick bolts of lightning coagulated, striking the soil with unstoppable momentum!
"Ahhh—!" A bolt of lightning fell on a nearby genius and turned him into ashes instantly. Everyone's faces paled. This lightning…wasn't something they could handle!
"The altar! The altar is safe!" Someone screamed. Geniuses turned into streaks of light as they bolted to the altar, but the lightning was faster!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Hundreds of lightning bolts danced through the air, creating chains of lightning as they interacted with each other and proliferated through the air. Every genius caught in this lightning web died without fail!
Marcus Strow's eyes turned red with madness. Seeing the surrounding scene, he realized that the princess truly understood the trial before him!
Mystic Realms weren't always singular spaces. Most of the time, they contained two to three trials to accurately test every genius that entered. But now, Marcus had already lost the lead from the first instant!
He flew through the air, brutally destroying any lightning that got near him. A small force field spread around him and blocked off any elemental essence other than wind, his affinity. This was the elementary form of the domain he was building.
Under its protection, Marcus dashed through the lightning heroically, rushing at the divine altar!
Crackle!
An abrupt bolt of lightning appeared from the sky only inches away from Marcus' body. He realized that it was already too late to dodge! In the last moment before impact, he twisted his body at an impossible angle to subvert fatal injuries!
BANG!
The lightning made impact on Marcus' side, burning through his flesh and even a portion of his rib cage. Luckily, he managed to survive, though his mana capacity was near empty.
But that didn't matter. He wasn't too far away from the altar now. With a final push, he bolted through the air and broke through the altar's protection, finally reaching safety!
Marcus breathed heavily as he stabilized himself. That trial was more perilous than he'd expected.
Sadly, Marcus' fate wasn't very lucky. The time he chose to arrive at the altar was the worst one possible.
After all, Damien stealing the ritual grail was the reason the trial began. If he wasn't punished for disturbing the space's sanctity, how could it have peace?
The dark clouds around the altar became increasingly thick until finally…
BOOOOOM!
A heaven-shaking eruption of bright silver light encompassed the entirety of the divine altar.
