Night had finally fallen on the ruined city, and the darkness that covered the place wasn't ordinary darkness... it was thick, heavy, and felt like the air itself had become cold and mysterious.
Franco sat in a dilapidated corner of one of the crumbling buildings, contemplating the sword in his hands, his eyes fixed on a faint gleam pulsing from the black crown above his forehead.
Marco (leaning against the wall, waving his knife mockingly):
"Oh, Franco... your crown is starting to glow like a burnt-out lightbulb. That can mean two things: either he's warning you, or he's encouraging you to do something very stupid."
Irina (concentratingly cleaning her weapon):
"I think he's warning him of what's coming. The masked man didn't leave us much choice. He said it would be the Shadow Tests, but didn't explain anything."
Franco (with a heavy sigh):
"If we're in a test, it definitely won't be a question-and-answer type."
Suddenly... the ground shook beneath their feet, and a terrifying humming sound began to emanate from the walls. Debris rose from the ground and gathered in circles, surrounding the team as if they were inside a terrifying theatrical ring.
Then... familiar figures emerged from the shadows, but not real ones. They were ghosts from the past... versions of people long gone. One of them was Franco's father.
A deep voice from the darkness:
"Welcome to the first Shadow Tests... Here, you'll face not just your enemies, but yourselves."
Marco (nervously, staring at a version of himself appearing before him):
"My God... even my shadow is handsome. But why is she smiling at me like that? It's like she's about to stab me!"
Irina (drawing her weapon):
"Don't joke, Marco. These aren't optical illusions. These are living memories... It's as if shadows can read our minds."
Franco stood before his father's shadow, which stared at him with sharp eyes, tinged with deep sadness.
Father's Shadow:
"Did you think you could finish what I started? Did you think you could fix Venosa while a power created by Zacrota resided within you?"
Franco (voice shaky but steady):
"I may not be perfect, but I won't give up. I won't be their tool."
The shadow pounced on him, and the fight began! The fight wasn't just physical, but psychological. Every strike from his father's shadow was a reminder of a painful past, every moment of weakness, every guilt he carried.
On the other side, Marco faced a darker version of himself, smiling sarcastically:
Shadow Marco:
"Everything you do is just running away. You laugh because you can't cry."
Marco (laughing bitterly):
"Maybe... but let me tell you a secret... I fight despite everything, and you're just a reflection, nothing more."
As for Irina, she was facing the shadow of her deceased sister... who had been blaming her.
Sister's Shadow:
"You could have saved me. Why did you leave me?"
Irina (with hot tears as she raised her weapon):
"I didn't leave you... I swear I didn't leave you. I was just young... and weak."
Fighting erupted. The shadows multiplied, but each time a team member defeated their shadow, the circle of shadows shrank, as if light began to break through the wreckage.
Franco, after one last blow with all his might, pierced the heart of his father's shadow, which faded away with a smile.
Father's Shadow (fading away):
"Well done, son... now you're closer to the truth."
---
Suddenly, calm returned. Dim lights began to fill the room, and the black circle disappeared. The team huddled amidst the rubble, breathing heavily, sweat pouring down their faces.
Marco (falling to the ground in exhaustion):
"I think... I just killed myself. Does that mean I won? Or lost?"
Irina (smiling tiredly):
"We won... because we faced our hardest part."
Franco (looking at the crown, now calm):
"This wasn't a battle of the flesh... it was a battle of the soul."
From the shadows, the masked man reappeared, this time his voice carrying a note of respect.
Masked Man:
"Survivors of the Shadow Test... you are now qualified for the final stage."
Franco (confidently):
"What is the final stage?"
Masked Man:
"You'll soon find out... when you reach the gate of the Black Throne."
And so... the Shadow Test was over, but the path to the Black Crown wasn't over yet. It had only just begun.