My Shard Bearer System - Elias's Legacy
Chapter 102: A Slap away

Chapter 102: A Slap away

Elias gasped, still hanging from the ledge. The bar had passed through him, like an illusion—but the pain was real.

His head pounded, his vision blurred from the phantom impact.

Dot’s hovered beside him, looking grim. "Yeah, so that’s a thing now."

Elias gritted his teeth. "Noted."

Ignoring the dull pain echoing in his skull, he hauled himself up, planting both feet on solid ground.

No more hesitation. No more second-guessing.

He steadied himself, locked his focus on the remaining path, and moved.

The last section was a blur of rapid movements—jumping, twisting, bracing against the shifting beams, weaving through the spinning bars with barely a breath between each motion.

A final leap—

He landed hard, rolling into a crouch.

A chime rang.

Obstacle 4 Cleared.

Time: 04:37

Elias exhaled sharply, dropping onto his hands and knees. Every muscle burned.

Dot’s floated beside him, poking his shoulder. "You alive?"

He let out a dry laugh. "Barely."

Dot’s smirked. "Good. Because I think I heard something about twelve obstacles?"

Elias groaned. "I hate this course."

Dot’s smirked. "Good. Because I think I heard something about twelve obstacles?"

Elias groaned. "I hate this course."

Before he could complain further, the ground beneath his feet buzzed faintly, and the lights dimmed around him. Dot’s eyes widened. "Uh-oh. This one feels different."

A low hum echoed as translucent walls rose from the floor, trapping Elias within a confined chamber. Neon letters shimmered into existence in front of him:

[Obstacle 5: The Labyrinth of Echoes]

• Objective: Find the exit.

• Note: Pathways shift based on your emotional state.

• Hint: Calm minds find the path clearly.

Dot’s floated closer, a tiny frown creasing her small face. "Oh no. You’re terrible at staying calm."

"Not helpful," Elias muttered, inhaling slowly. He stepped forward, only for walls to materialize abruptly, boxing him in. He pivoted, feeling frustration already rising. The walls shifted again, narrowing the path further.

"Great," he mumbled, "the more annoyed I get, the harder this gets."

"Then let’s try a different approach," Dot’s suggested, her voice taking on a softer, gentler tone. "Think of something relaxing—like cooking."

Elias hesitated, eyes closing briefly. "Cooking, huh?"

He imagined the kitchen at home, vegetables sizzling in a pan, steam gently rising with the familiar scent of garlic and herbs. The sizzle was rhythmic, steady, soothing.

Almost immediately, the walls around him relaxed, subtly pulling away to reveal a straightforward corridor ahead.

Dot’s blinked, clearly impressed. "Well, look at that! Maybe this won’t be so—"

The distant sound of a metallic crash echoed loudly, startling Elias. Instantly, the walls closed in tight again, forcing him back.

He exhaled sharply, frustration building. "Dammit."

Dot’s hovered closer, coaxing gently, "Keep calm, Elias. That’s the whole trick."

He nodded stiffly, clenching his fists briefly before forcing himself to breathe slowly again. Focus returned to him—this time picturing something different.

His father’s face flickered in his mind. Captain Dorian Kael’s gentle smile, the pride he’d felt as a kid standing next to him, learning how to handle a knife, to cut vegetables precisely, patiently.

The walls once more eased their pressure, moving aside to reveal a glowing path.

Dot’s smiled gently. "Good, keep that thought."

Elias moved forward steadily, breathing deeply, each step carefully measured. As he progressed, illusions flickered beside him—faint, shadowy reflections of his fears, distorted memories attempting to break his focus. Flashes of alien attacks, his father’s disappearance, and Vincent’s face, twisted with rage.

Each image threatened to pull him back into anxiety, but Elias clung to his memories—the warmth of his childhood home, the simple comfort of cooking for people he cared about.

The path cleared further with each calming thought, walls sliding open gently, guiding him through a maze of shifting barriers. The exit appeared ahead, outlined in gentle blue light.

"Almost there," Dot’s whispered, barely audible.

With a final, steadying breath, Elias stepped through the exit gate. The maze dissolved instantly, walls fading into nothingness.

A soft chime echoed overhead.

"Obstacle 5 complete. Obstacle 5 time: 5 minutes, 14 seconds."

Elias sank to a knee, exhaling heavily as relief flooded him. "I really, really hate this course."

Dot’s gave a small laugh. "I know. Only seven more to go, right?"

The moment Elias stepped into the next chamber, his feet sank slightly, the ground shifting under his weight. He glanced down, seeing a mesh of taut wires stretched across the room.

Dot hovered closer, inspecting the obstacle carefully. "Looks like you’re going to need more than brute strength for this one."

Elias sighed, nodding in agreement. Carefully, he placed his foot onto the first wire, testing its resistance. The wire quivered dangerously beneath him, forcing him to draw in a sharp breath and steady himself. He shifted his weight, arms spread wide to keep balance. Every step required meticulous precision, his body taut and controlled, inching forward one delicate move at a time.

"You’re doing good, Elias," Dot encouraged quietly, trying not to break his concentration.

Minutes dragged by, Elias’s muscles beginning to ache from holding the tense position. Just as he neared the final stretch, his foot slipped, snapping a wire with a sharp ping.

"Penalty: plus thirty seconds," a mechanical voice echoed around the room.

"Damn," Elias muttered, forcing himself to maintain focus as he moved forward again, even more cautiously this time. After what felt like an eternity, he finally reached solid ground, exhaling deeply with relief.

"Obstacle six cleared. Total time: seven minutes and fifteen seconds," the voice chimed.

Dot twirled lightly in the air beside him. "Nice job!"

"Thanks," Elias said dryly, shaking out his stiff legs. "Let’s keep moving."

They stepped into the next chamber, immediately met by towering metallic walls with a single thick rope hanging down from the center, illuminated starkly by an overhead spotlight.

Dot glanced upward, then back at Elias. "I hope you’re not afraid of heights."

Elias rolled his shoulders, eyeing the rope warily. "I’m starting to get over it," he joked, gripping the rope tightly and beginning his climb.

Initially, the ascent was manageable, but soon his arms began to burn, sweat dripping down his face and slicking his palms. He clenched his jaw, determined to push through.

"You’ve got this," Dot said softly, staying close.

Midway, Elias paused briefly, gasping for breath. The moment he stopped, a faint shock ran through the rope, jolting him slightly. "Seriously?" he growled through clenched teeth, forcing himself to climb faster despite the pain.

Finally reaching the top, Elias pulled himself onto the ledge with exhausted relief, panting but refusing to collapse this time.