As Ravihiro and Rumina approached the grand hall of the Sky Demon Sect, a palpable tension filled the air. The sect's elders, disciples, and guards lined the walls, each of them eyeing Ravihiro with a mix of curiosity, suspicion, and, for those who had witnessed his earlier display, unease.
At the center of the hall sat Rumina's father, Lord Bhrihadvarta , a towering figure renowned for his ruthlessness and strength. His piercing gaze fell upon Ravihiro, who met it with a steady calm that spoke of unbreakable will. Lord Bhrihadvarta's aura was one of authority and unquestionable power, yet Ravihiro showed no sign of intimidation. His composed demeanor seemed to challenge the very foundation of the Sky Demon Sect, as if he was unfazed by all the force amassed within this hall.
Rumina gave a respectful bow. "Father, I've brought Ravihiro, as you requested."
Lord Tianlong's eyes narrowed. "So, you are the one who thinks he's worthy of my daughter." His voice was low, filled with authority, and laced with a hint of contempt.
Ravihiro's expression remained neutral. "Worthy or not, she is the one who sought me out, not the other way around."
Gasps echoed through the hall. It was a bold statement, one that few would dare make in front of Lord Tianlong. Rumina shot Ravihiro a look, both irritated and slightly amused by his savage honesty.
Lord Tianlong's lips curled into a smirk. "Confidence without strength is arrogance. Are you prepared to prove your worth?"
Ravihiro's gaze sharpened, his aura once again rippling subtly, like a beast barely restrained. "I didn't come here to prove myself to anyone," he replied, his voice cold. "If your daughter wants to be with me, that's her choice. If you intend to put conditions on it, speak them now, so we can be done with this."
Rumina's father's face darkened. Few men dared to speak to him with such disregard. But rather than anger, it intrigued him, pushing him to test this stranger who seemed to bear the weight of a hidden darkness.
"Very well," Lord Tianlong said, his eyes gleaming with an ominous challenge. "To earn the right to marry my daughter, you must survive the Path of the Fallen—a trial of death that few live to see the end of. It's no place for the weak."
The disciples in the hall exchanged tense glances. The Path of the Fallen was infamous; it was a series of life-threatening trials that required not only strength but cunning, endurance, and an iron will. Few disciples who entered ever made it back alive.
Ravihiro tilted his head, unfazed.
Lord Bhrihadvarta's smile twisted into a smirk. "You misunderstand. This is not some simple test; it's a proving ground where the mind and body are pushed to the very brink. Many have lost their sanity, their souls twisted beyond recognition. But if you are as fearless as you seem, then perhaps you'll make it out alive."
Ravihiro let out a low chuckle, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "If that's all it takes to silence the doubters around here, then I welcome the challenge."
Rumina's father raised his hand, and a group of elders stepped forward, each of them bearing scrolls inscribed with ancient symbols. The entrance to the Path of the Fallen opened, and a dark corridor loomed ahead, swirling with an ominous energy. It was a vortex of despair, a place where the very air seemed to eat away at the soul.
Without another word, Ravihiro stepped forward, moving into the darkness without hesitation. Rumina's eyes widened slightly, a mixture of worry and admiration flickering across her face as she watched him disappear.
Inside the Path of the Fallen, Ravihiro moved with calm, his every step calculated. The walls oozed with a sinister energy that seemed to claw at his skin, whispering dark promises and veiled threats. Shadows twisted into figures of beasts, each lunging at him with fangs and claws bared. Yet, he remained steady, his hand raised as he summoned his sword martial soul, Kageha, which radiated an aura of power and darkness.
With each step, more adversaries appeared—phantoms, demons, and twisted figures formed from the residual energy of past challengers who had perished here. Ravihiro's face remained emotionless, but his eyes were fierce, calculating each enemy's weakness with ruthless precision.
"Kageha," he muttered, unleashing a blade of dark energy that swept through the oncoming threats like a gust of wind, tearing them apart in one strike. His movements were swift, merciless, and calculated—traits that made him seem less like a man and more like a reaper, culling everything in his path.
As he continued, Ravihiro encountered traps woven from demonic energy and formations meant to ensnare the mind. Using his knowledge of physics and chemistry, he dissected each trap, dismantling them one by one with an almost clinical detachment.
A final shadowed figure emerged, an enormous specter that dwarfed him, exuding an aura so menacing it chilled the air. Ravihiro's aura flared in response, his Ryugan eyes narrowing as he prepared to unleash his ultimate technique.
"Come and face me," he whispered, his voice barely audible but filled with a savagery that matched the demon's. The specter lunged forward, and Ravihiro, with one swift motion, released a Kamehameha-like energy wave, obliterating it in a flash of blinding light.
Back in the Sky Demon Sect's hall, hours had passed, and murmurs filled the room as disciples speculated about Ravihiro's fate. Few believed he would survive.
Just then, the doors to the hall burst open. Ravihiro stepped inside, his clothes torn and bloodstained, but his gaze was unbroken, and his aura more intense than before. A dark, menacing calm surrounded him, making the room fall silent.
Rumina's father looked at him, clearly surprised but not willing to show it. "You survived," he said, his voice laced with reluctant respect.
Ravihiro simply shrugged. "I did what was necessary."
Lord Tianlong studied him for a moment before giving a nod. "You have proven yourself worthy. But understand this—if you falter in any way, you'll be hunted by the entire sect."
Ravihiro met his gaze, unflinching. "Let them try."
With that, he turned to Rumina, his expression unchanging. "So, are we done here?"
Rumina, smirking at his savage attitude, nodded. "For now." But as she walked beside him, a glint of excitement flickered in her eyes, knowing full well that this was only the beginning of their journey together.