Shadows of Ascension

22. Illusion - Halfway there

As the dust settled from Aiden's intense battle with the simulated monsters, he panted heavily, his muscles tense and his senses on high alert. But as he scanned the area for any signs of his defeated foes, he found nothing but empty space.

"Where did they go?" Aiden asked, his voice tinged with confusion.

Luca approached him, a knowing expression on his face. "Those monsters... they weren't real," he explained calmly.

Aiden's brows furrowed in disbelief. "What do you mean they weren't real? I fought them, I felt their attacks!"

Luca nodded patiently, gesturing around them. "This entire place is an illusion—a construct designed to test our strength and resolve. The monsters you fought were nothing more than projections, created to challenge us."

Aiden's mind reeled at the revelation. He had been so consumed by the intensity of the battle that he hadn't even considered the possibility that it was all a facade.

"So, none of it was real?" Aiden asked, his voice betraying a hint of disbelief.

Luca shook his head. "No, but the challenges they presented were very much real. Your determination and skill in facing them were genuine, and that's what matters."

As the weight of Luca's words sank in, Aiden couldn't help but feel a sense of relief mingled with newfound understanding. The trials they faced on their journey were not always as they seemed, but their experiences and growth were undeniably real.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Luca consulted his map, guiding them further along the winding path toward their ultimate goal—the celestial blades. But despite their progress, Luca knew they still had much ground to cover before they could hope to claim the legendary weapons as their own.

"We're halfway there," Luca remarked, his voice tinged with determination. "But we're still not strong enough."

With that realization weighing heavily upon them, Luca and Aiden ventured forth, seeking out new challenges to test their mettle. They encountered monsters of varying ranks—some D-rank, others even C-rank—but Aiden's strength seemed to be growing at an astonishing rate, far outpacing Luca's own progress.

Luca couldn't help but feel a twinge of surprise at Aiden's rapid improvement. It was a testament to his dedication and determination, qualities that Luca admired and respected.

"Your strength is increasing exponentially," Luca observed, his voice filled with admiration. "But mine... is slower."

As they continued their journey, Luca proposed a spar to gauge the gap between their abilities. But to his surprise, Aiden hesitated, his expression conflicted.

"Why did you refuse?" Luca asked, curious to understand Aiden's reasoning.

Aiden paused, his gaze distant as he wrestled with his thoughts. Finally, he spoke, his voice quiet yet resolute.

"I refuse because... I don't want to measure our strength against each other," Aiden said. "We're allies on this journey, not rivals. Our true test lies ahead, in facing the challenges that await us together."

With those words, Aiden reaffirmed their bond as companions, united in their pursuit of a common goal. And as they continued their journey, they knew that no matter what obstacles lay in their path, they would face them as one.