The silver bell rang once more.
Its deep, ancient chime rolled across the mountains, through the valleys, and over the countless competitors gathered before the towering gates of the Lunar Sanctuary.
BOOOONNNG...
Silence followed.
Hundreds of young werewolves stood motionless beneath the enormous silver gates.
For the first time since leaving their homes...
Every one of them truly understood where they were.
The Lunar Sanctuary.
The oldest sacred ground in werewolf history.
No Order ruled here.
No king held authority.
No Alpha commanded.
Only the Moon.
...
The Elder of the Sanctuary slowly stepped toward the colossal gates.
The ancient silver staff in his hand glowed softly beneath the daylight.
Without uttering a single word...
He rested his palm upon the center of the gates.
Thousands of runes suddenly illuminated.
The mountain trembled.
RRRRRRMMMM...
The gates slowly began to open.
A blinding silver light spilled outward.
Many competitors instinctively shielded their eyes.
As the light faded...
The Sanctuary finally revealed itself.
Gasps echoed everywhere.
It wasn't merely a fortress.
Nor was it a palace.
It was an entire ancient city.
Towering temples stretched toward the heavens.
Moonlit rivers flowed peacefully through polished white stone pathways.
Ancient statues lined every street.
Massive training arenas occupied one side of the Sanctuary.
Towering libraries stood upon another.
Gardens filled with silver flowers covered the courtyards.
At the very center...
A colossal temple rose higher than every other structure.
Above its entrance stood a gigantic statue of a graceful wolf gazing toward the Moon.
Every competitor stared in complete silence.
"So..."
"This is the Sanctuary..."
Nyss whispered.
Even Selene lowered her head respectfully.
"For thousands of years..."
She murmured.
"Our ancestors protected this place."
...
The Elder turned toward everyone.
"Welcome..."
"...Children of Lythara."
His voice echoed throughout the Sanctuary.
"From this moment..."
"You walk upon sacred ground."
"No violence beyond the Trials."
"No hatred between Orders."
"No abuse of authority."
"Within these walls..."
"You are equals."
Every competitor bowed instinctively.
...
Registration soon began.
Long stone tables had been prepared throughout the entrance courtyard.
Elder priests and priestesses waited behind each one.
Competitors approached according to their Orders.
One by one...
Their names were recorded into enormous ancient tomes.
House.
Village.
Age.
Order.
Everything was carefully documented.
Each participant then received a small silver bracelet engraved with the crest of the Moon.
A priest explained,
"This bracelet identifies you as an official challenger."
"It cannot be removed until your participation ends."
Riven examined his bracelet.
It felt surprisingly warm.
Beside him...
Nyss received hers.
The silver briefly shimmered before settling.
The priest paused for the briefest moment.
Then smiled politely.
"May the Moon guide you."
Nyss smiled back.
"Thank you."
...
The next station awaited.
An elderly priest stood beside a beautifully carved wooden chest.
"Weapons."
Every competitor understood immediately.
One after another...
Swords.
Spears.
Axes.
Daggers.
Bows.
Everything was surrendered.
The priest carefully stored each weapon.
"They shall remain untouched until the Trials conclude."
Riven reluctantly removed the sword Eryx had entrusted to him.
He looked at it one final time before placing it inside the chest.
The priest nodded.
"The Sanctuary tests warriors."
"Not weapons."
Nearby...
Zoldick dramatically sighed.
"I already miss mine."
Lyra laughed.
"You've been separated from it for five seconds."
"Exactly."
Marlis silently handed over his spear without hesitation.
Kieren...
Simply tossed his massive blade onto the table.
The loud thud startled several nearby competitors.
The elderly priest blinked.
"...Heavy."
Kieren scratched his head.
"So I've been told."
...
After every competitor had registered...
The Elder led them toward an enormous circular plaza.
Thousands of stone seats surrounded a central platform.
Every participant found a place.
The rulers...
Escorts...
House heads...
And senior warriors remained standing near the outer walls.
The Elder slowly climbed onto the platform.
His ancient eyes swept across the gathering.
"You have traveled far."
"You have endured the Pilgrim's Road."
"You have entered sacred ground."
"But understand this..."
"The Lunar Trials are not a tournament."
"They are not held to determine the strongest."
"They exist..."
"...to reveal who you truly are."
Complete silence filled the plaza.
"For thousands of years..."
"Kings have failed."
"Commoners have triumphed."
"Children have surpassed legends."
"The Moon judges no bloodline."
"The Moon judges only the soul."
His staff struck the ground once.
CLACK.
"The Trials consist of four sacred challenges."
"The Trial of Strength."
"The Trial of Wisdom."
"The Trial of Resolve."
"And..."
He paused.
"The Trial of the Moon."
A shiver ran through countless competitors.
"The final trial..."
"No Elder explains."
"No scripture records."
"No warrior predicts."
"The Moon alone decides."
Even the rulers remained silent.
The mystery surrounding the final trial had endured for millennia.
...
The Elder continued,
"Know this as well."
"During the Trials..."
"No ruler may interfere."
"No parent may assist."
"No Order may claim superiority."
"Should any violate these laws..."
"Their entire Order shall be disqualified."
The warning settled heavily upon everyone.
Selene closed her eyes briefly.
Nyxara folded her arms.
Neither queen objected.
The laws were older than kingdoms themselves.
...
As dusk approached...
Priests lit thousands of silver lanterns throughout the Sanctuary.
The sun slowly disappeared.
Darkness covered the mountains.
Then...
The full Moon rose.
The entire Sanctuary seemed to awaken.
Every building shimmered with gentle silver light.
The statues almost appeared alive.
The rivers reflected moonlight like flowing crystal.
The competitors stared upward in amazement.
Never had the Moon looked so brilliant.
The Elder raised both hands.
"Kneel."
Every competitor obeyed.
Even the rulers lowered themselves.
A sacred hymn echoed from every corner of the Sanctuary.
Priests.
Priestesses.
Children.
Elders.
Their voices became one.
"Lythara..."
"Guide Your children."
"Judge our cores."
"Illuminate our path."
Silver light descended from the Moon itself.
It bathed every competitor equally.
No noble received more.
No commoner received less.
For several breathtaking moments...
The entire Sanctuary seemed frozen in time.
Then...
The light slowly faded.
The Elder opened his eyes.
"The opening ceremony..."
"...is complete."
He slowly raised his ancient staff one final time.
"The first challenge..."
A long pause followed.
Every heartbeat seemed louder than the last.
"...is..."
His voice echoed throughout the Sanctuary.
"...The Trial of Strength."
The announcement exploded through the plaza.
Cheers erupted instantly.
Finally.
The Trials had begun.
Competitors stretched eagerly.
Some cracked their knuckles.
Others quietly closed their eyes in concentration.
Excitement surged through the air.
...
Riven instinctively looked around.
Most competitors wore determined expressions.
Some smiled confidently.
Others looked nervous.
Then...
His eyes landed upon Kieren.
The heir of House Drakhar sat lazily against one of the ancient pillars.
"...Haaaah..."
He let out a long yawn.
Several competitors glanced toward him.
"Is he... bored?"
"I thought House Drakhar's heir would be more serious."
"He looks half asleep."
Kieren rubbed one eye.
"...Finally..."
He muttered lazily.
"I thought the speeches would never end."
Slowly...
He stood.
The movement itself was ordinary.
Unhurried.
Almost casual.
But the instant both feet touched the stone...
Everything changed.
The atmosphere shifted so suddenly that conversations died mid-sentence.
It wasn't overwhelming killing intent.
Nor was it a burst of Aura.
It was...
Presence.
A primal presence.
Like an ancient beast...
Finally awakening from a long slumber.
The lazy posture disappeared.
His shoulders relaxed naturally.
His breathing steadied.
The easygoing smile faded.
Golden eyes that moments ago had looked sleepy now gleamed with frightening focus.
Those eyes...
Were the eyes of someone born for battle.
Nearby competitors unconsciously stepped backward.
"...What..."
A young warrior whispered.
Another swallowed hard.
"...That pressure..."
Even seasoned escorts narrowed their eyes.
Lord Magnus Valen slowly smiled.
"So..."
"The stories weren't exaggerated."
Lady Freya Frostbane crossed her arms.
"That's the true heir of House Drakhar."
Marlis' normally expressionless face hardened slightly.
"...Interesting."
Zoldick's playful grin disappeared.
"So that's what he's been hiding."
Even Lyra stared in stunned silence.
Riven felt every instinct within him awaken.
His muscles tensed on their own.
His heart began beating faster.
It wasn't fear.
It was recognition.
Standing before him...
Was a warrior whose spirit felt wild.
Savage.
Untamed.
For the first time since Rigor Valen...
Riven encountered another young wolf whose very existence screamed battle.
Kieren slowly rolled his neck.
A grin spread across his face.
Gone was the friendly traveler.
Gone was the lazy companion.
Standing there now...
Was the future of House Drakhar.
"...Now then."
He said quietly.
His voice carried the excitement of someone who had waited his entire life for this moment.
"...Let's see..."
"...who among you can keep me entertained."
Across the plaza...
Riven smiled.
Without realizing it...
His own fighting spirit surged in response.
The Trial of Strength...
Had not even begun.
Yet one thing had become clear to everyone present.
The path to victory...
Would be anything but easy.