Arthur stood in the forest with Cora beside him. His conversation with the Guardian Spirits had just concluded. Now he stared at the nearest trial pillar. It had appeared less than a mile from their position.
Cora looked at him with quiet understanding. She had watched his face during the mental communication. Something significant had happened.
"The Guardian Spirits activated the realm's defense protocols," Arthur explained. His voice was calm. "They can sense the sealed beings breaking free. This is their response."
"The trials," Cora said. It wasn't a question. She had heard the announcement like everyone else.
Arthur's eyes remained fixed on the pillar. "The Martial Emperor Secret Realm was never just a treasure vault. It was designed as a testing ground. The inheritances were always meant to be earned through trials." He paused. "The Spirits usually manage this subtly. But with the realm under threat, they've activated everything at once."
"And the time limit?" Cora asked.
