The more time I spent talking to Zakir and Sylva, the more the memories I once shared with them clawed their way back. Fragments of a life I didn't quite recognize—yet couldn't deny—surfaced like whispers in the dark. It was quite strange. No matter how much I tried to remember anything else, such as my family, where I came from, only the memories I have with them came flooding back—nothing else.
I recalled my first impression of them. Zakir, blade at his hip and duty in his veins—unwavering, unquestioning. Loyalty ran in his blood, inherited from a lineage where honor was not just a virtue, but a way of life.
I grasped for any memory I had of Sylva, but to no avail. My thoughts were cut short when a frenzy of movement overtook the camp upon the announcement of the second trial. Without hesitation, everyone started to prepare for what was to come.
"The instructions are simple," the masked figure continued.
"You have three days and three nights. Reach the peak. Arrive too late, and consider the trials to be terminated for you. After all," they continued,
"Not everyone has the chance to be the Heavenly Demon's apprentice."
Just like I had thought, my previous self seemed to have been fighting for something important enough to risk their own life. This was it. Although I had no idea what the true weight behind those words was, I knew enough that it wasn't something to take lightly.
However, something about the way they announced the second trial felt off.
On the surface, it seemed like a straightforward race to the finish line—a test of endurance and strength. But as I stood there, watching the others prepare to sprint into the treacherous mountains, something gnawed at me.
This, much like everything I've encountered so far upon arriving in this world, was not as simple as it seemed. This wasn't just about speed.
If that were the case, why give us 3 days?
My gaze flickered towards the treeline. The mountains loomed ahead, jagged and ominous, wrapped in a layer of mist. If the goal was simply to reach the top, the more agile demon species, like the Celeris family—Sylva's lineage—held an undeniable advantage. The time given to us was more than enough for all of us to reach there, so why—
Arrive too late, consider the trials to be terminated for you.
The objective wasn't to simply arrive at our destination. It was to arrive as one of the few who remained. Just like the previous, this trial was also about thinning the herd.
"Lost in thought again, huh? " Zakir said, rolling his shoulders, blade already in hand.
"Seriously, what is wrong with this guy?" he mutters to himself as he prepares himself before taking off into the mountains.
"Come on, what's the problem? We just have to run."
Sylva, perched on a tree branch, tapper her fingers against her thigh impatiently.
"He's right. We could be halfway up that mountain by now if we just moved."
I looked at them. Strong, skilled, and fast. Yet utterly blind to the bigger picture. Even in my dream where I was fighting them—they never fought strategically. They could have used their numbers advantage to end the fight swiftly, yet it dragged on for much longer. It was all instinct, all raw power, no coordination.
Even if they were able to reach the top before the others in this trial, that would be one measly victory in the face of tens, hundreds, maybe even thousands more to come. Oblivious to what lies beneath the surface of each trial would eventually lead them to ruin.
With each passing second, I felt their gazes pressing deeper into me. They knew something was off about me. My hesitation. My way of thinking. The way I carry myself. The old me that they knew would've been gone by now, already vanishing past the trees, too fast for anyone to catch.
That wasn't me anymore.
I exhaled, watching the first few demons disappear into the forest, their figures gone into the darkness.
"We're not running," I said.
Zakir furrowed his brows. "What… Did you just say?"
Sylva scoffed. "You're kidding right?"
I turned to face them fully. "Think about it. Why give us three days? Everyone can easily make it up there within the time limit that they set. What was the point of setting a limit?"
Zakir crossed his arms. "You don't know that. Maybe they were being considerate of the weak. Not our problem."
Sylva snorted. "Being considerate? These are the heavenly trials, Zakir. Every day, our fellow demons are dying left and right. Even if that's true, the goal is still the same. Get to the peak before the deadline. An easy task for the three of us, no?"
"Can you sprint for 3 days straight? What happens when you inevitably decide to rest?" I asked, voice quiet.
Sylva blinked, "Huh?"
I took a step closer, lowering my voice just enough to force them to listen.
"This is nothing new. You know how things work. The moment someone is vulnerable, they become a target. The weak that you were just talking about, Zakir, they aren't eliminated because they are too slow to reach the summit. They are eliminated because they never got the chance to finish."
Their silence told me they understood, but Zakir didn't like it.
"This trial isn't about getting there first," I continued, "It's about getting there while making sure others don't."
Sylva clicked her tongue, "So what? You want us to start fighting all the other groups? We can't win them all, y'know."
"Not directly." I glanced towards the trees.
"If we fight them all directly, we'll waste time. But night will fall, and so will they. The moon will witness their last breath, and the sun will rise over their graves."
Zakir's grip on his blade tightened.
"You're talking about ambushing those that are resting."
"No," I corrected. "I'm talking about making them turn on each other."
A slow realization dawned upon them.
"The neat thing about racing through the mountains—is that there are only so many paths leading to the top. However, that's not the only thing in our favor. Demons, us, them, we are all very predictable. We trust our own instincts above all else, but those same instincts can be manipulated. If they believe they're under attack, they'll retaliate without hesitation."
Sylva's eyes flickered with interest, as she was always one to seize an opportunity, especially if it meant gaining the upper hand. Zakir, however, was caught between the reality of the trial and his own upbringing.
"I—I don't think I can do what you want me to do. Something as back-handed as attacking when they aren't expecting to be attacked; I can't do it," said Zakir.
I knew full well his personality, and everything was within expectations up to this point. I knew that no matter how much I tried convincing him, asking Zakir to belittle his family's honor was like ripping out his heart and expecting him to keep living.
"Oh Zakir, the most honorable demon within the depths of darkness, a warrior whose honor remains unshaken even in the face of turmoil. Don't you worry, Sylva will take care of it. You and I just need to sit back and enjoy the show," I mocked, trying to assume the identity of my former self.
Sylva's eyes darkened. "Excuse me?"
"Your speed," I clarified as more memories came rushing back, the same way it did earlier. "As the eldest daughter of the Celeris family—a family who pride themselves on their speed, surely you're fast enough to get in and out before they notice. If you strike a group and make it look like another team is attacking, well, the result, you and I both know."
Zakir mumbled under his breath. "That's dirty."
"Oh please. You tried to kill me the other day with the help of a certain Celeris. You think you still have honor?" I retorted.
Zakir turned away, muttering something about having no other options, but his words were lost in the air.
Sylva seemed to be considering my proposal, tapping her fingers against her thigh again. Zakir, on the other hand, still unconvinced.
"So what, we just sit and wait for nightfall?" he asked.
"No," I said. "We move, but not at full speed. We track the others, wait for them to stop, then we make our move. Sylva, the last part of the plan is all you."
Sylva sighed. "Here I thought you would volunteer to fight. Never thought I'd see the day when the white demon—excuse me, the vampire Zhao Feng would let me take all the glory for myself."
Zakir shook his head "You've totally changed man."
I met his gaze.
"Is that a problem?"
His expression was unreadable for a moment before he scoffed.
"No, just weird."
Sylva stood, stretching her body before taking off.
"Fine, I'll listen to you once. But if this fails, I'm sprinting to the top myself."
I smirked. Knowing her, she was the type who would never live it down if she didn't succeed. She's too proud, and would be too embarrassed to show her face around us.
"Not that she has a choice to leave us," I thought, remembering the events of the previous night and the things I've accidentally revealed.
We started moving. Not fast, not slow—just enough to track those ahead without catching their attention. The forest near the bottom of the mountains was thick, the sounds of distant movement filling the air.
A few hours passed. We saw the first group slowing down. Three of them in total, breathing heavy, stopping to rest near a cluster of rocks by the mountain range.
I nodded towards Sylva.
"Let the spectacle begin."
She gave me a sharp grin before vanishing into the trees.
Zakir watched her disappear, then exhaled.
"You know, Sylva had a point. Why are you letting her take all the credit? The old you would have taken off the moment we laid eyes on them." Zakir said, as his gaze hardened.
"You really think we didn't notice you trembling and looking anxious earlier when we were given our task for the second trial? Don't tell me, along with your memory, you also forgot how to fight?"
I didn't answer.
Because deep down, that was the truth. I was powerless at the moment.
I saw Zakir's hand gravitate towards the handle of his sword, his eyes narrowing.
Memories of my brother's death flashed before my eyes, as I gulped.
"This can't be happening right now. Is he being serious?" I said, as the wind's eerie rustle was the only sound that dared pierce the heavy silence between us.