Noah gasped for breath as he stood still. The fight was quite the intense one for him. Luck had played a big part in his win, but still a win is a win. Noah closed his eyes, a wide smile spread on his face.

He had learned a lot from this duel. He had always used his shield for defense, but he had never thought that it could also be used to attack. The dragon warrior had taught him a lot. He opened his eyes and bowed in respect, where the dragon warrior had turned into dust.

Just then, the door to the next floor appeared at the center of the platform. It opened wide and the bright light coming from the other side could be seen again.

Noah collected his shield and hammer. He then moved towards the door and passed through, moving on to the next trial. After coming out of the other side he found himself standing on a hard stone floor. the ceiling was lost in shadow, but an oval eye shaped structure was present, suspended between two pillars. It was just as how it was for Luke.

FINAL TRIAL: TRIAL OF WORTHINESS

DO NOT BEND IN FRONT OF AN UNIMAGINABLE POWER

STAND FIRM AND PROVE YOUR WORTHINESS

After some time, the oval eye shaped structure opened up to reveal a huge eye with red iris and a vertically slit pupil. The eye of a true dragon appeared.

Intense pressure assaulted him. The air in the surrounding got concentrated, giving a murky look to it. Noah groaned and his face contorted in pain. He had never endured the dragon pressure previously. It was the first time for him.

Fear gripped his mind. The pressure was so huge that he felt lightheaded. His vision started getting blurry, his legs wobbled as he fell on his knees on the floor. It was getting difficult for him to even breath.

05:58

05:57

05:56

The flame strands morphed into a timer and started ticking. Noah somehow managed to see the timer from the corner of his eyes. He realized that he had to endure the six minutes to pass the trial.

He bit his lips hard as blood flowed out. He tried to move his body so that he could sit in the lotus position, giving him a chance to meditate, helping him endure better. But when he tried to move, not a single muscle in his body listened to him. it felt like his bones and muscles had turned into lead. So heavy that moving them was like moving mountains.

The timer ticked away. There were now 5 minutes and thirty seconds left. Noah fell face flat on the floor. his whole body slammed down, touching the floor. He was holding to his consciousness somehow. Every second felt like an eternity.

"Will he be able to endure? I think it's getting too difficult for him." Ruby said with concern.

"He just has to endure for a minute, and he'll pass." Luke said.

"Really?" Ruby asked in surprise. Her face finally relaxed when she heard that.

"How many minutes did you endure?" Shane asked curiously.

"Whole 6 minutes." Luke said with a grin, making Ruby and Shane's eyes to open wide in shock.

One minute passed. Noah was still holding somehow. Stormbreaker nodded in praise seeing this. since the young dragon warriors that took the trial, were all half awakened. They were already strong enough to endure a minute easily. But more than a minute was where the challenge lied.

But Noah was still a human. To endure a minute was a great achievement never heard of before. Luke was a different case, since he had a higher class of bloodline and had a special cultivation method.

The pressure got intense again. there were four minutes left now on the timer. But this seemed to be the limit for Noah. his eyes had rolled back and he lost consciousness.

The timer stopped at 03: 58. The dragon pressure vanished. Stormbreaker disappeared from Luke's side and appeared in the trial floor. Mana poured out of his hand and covered Noah whole. His body started floating up and the golden mana formed the healing sphere around him.

"When did the senior get there? A-And what's that?" Ruby asked, surprised.

"Don't worry. That's a healing sphere. All the internal injuries will be healed inside it." Luke said, assuring the two of them.

Noah was floating unconscious inside the healing sphere. The golden strands of mana were moving from the sphere and seeping through the pores of his body, healing all the internal injuries he suffered from facing that intense dragon pressure.

After an hour, Noah finally opened his eyes. He found himself floating inside a golden sphere and standing in front of him with a smile on his face, was Stormbreaker.

Stormbreaker removed the healing sphere and Noah slowly levitated back on the ground. Another door appeared out of thin air in front of them. it opened up, revealing a blinding light from the other side.

"Come child. It's time for your rewards." Stormbreaker said.

"B-But…I failed senior. I couldn't endure the pressure for the whole time. I fainted in between. How can I take the rewards." Noah said with a crestfallen expression.

"Who said you failed? You had to endure the pressure for just a minute. you crossed that mark and doubled it. Even I was surprised with your performance. Don't be discouraged. You should be jumping in excitement." Stormbreaker smiled at Noah as he said.

"R-Really senior? Does that mean I can awaken now?" Noah asked, surprised and excited.

"Why not? You have earned it."

"Come. Follow me." Stormbreaker then started moving as Noah followed him. after passing through the door, Noah was back in the room where Luke and the others were.

"Congratulation Noah!" Luke said, with a wide smile on his face.

"Congrats man!" Shane jumped up in excitement, hugging Noah.

"Congratulations on passing the trial Noah." Ruby said with a smiling smile.

"Thank you guys!" Noah couldn't stop smiling. He felt that for the first time, he was earning something with his own hard work and not be pitied and given gifts.

"Since you've passed the basic score and exceeded it, you can choose one weapon, armor or other gears and accessories from the armory." Stormbreaker said.

"Great! well done Noah. I saw a dragon shield there. Also there are many strong armors for you." Luke said excitedly.

"I already know what I'll take Luke. If I awaken, I won't be needing an armor. Since, I'll be a dragon with the toughest defense." Noah said.

"What do you want then?" Shane asked curiously.

"The dragon core potion."

"But why? You'll awaken already." Shane asked.

"It will be a gift for someone special." Noah said with dreamy eyes.

"Tch…pervert." Ruby mumbled, annoyed as her face fell immediately.

"It's your choice. I can't say anything here." Luke shrugged his shoulders.

"Aiya!! This fool. Wasting your chance. Just know that I'm disappointed man." Shane shook his head and walked back, disappointed at Noah's decision.

"Are you sure about this? Would you like to take a look though?" Stormbreaker asked.

"No senior. I'm firm about it." Noah said.

"Alright then." Stormbreaker waved his hand as a small portal appeared in front of him. He put his hand inside and pulled out a glass vial with the murky golden liquid of the dragon core potion out.

The potion floated from Stormbreaker's hand and moved towards Noah. Noah moved his hand forward as the potion softly landed on his palm. With a smile on his face, Noah put it inside his dimensional ring.

"Time for the final reward then." Stormbreaker then procured another door out of thin air, with the bright light coming from the other side.

"I think we should wait here. Let Noah and senior go in." Luke said.

"Huh? But why though? I want to see the awakening process." Shane was surprised at Luke's suggestion. He was quite exited for the awakening and wanted to witness it with his own eyes.

"Because Ruby is here." Luke said.

Ruby was surprised when Luke mentioned her. She looked at him questioningly. "What harm would I cause though?"

"Well, it's just that…Noah would have to go naked inside the pool. I don't think you'd like to see that. Right?" Luke said, teasing her as he looked at her with a grin.

"L-Let's n-not go t-then. Shane! S-stay here." Her cheeks got red. She turned her head away, hiding her embarrassment and shyness.

"B-But…alright." Shane accepted. His face fell with disappointment.

"Good luck Noah." Luke nodded at him as Noah nodded back.

The two of them then moved through the door and appeared inside the room with the pool of awakening. Noah gasped looking at the murky red liquid inside the pool. He could feel a faint dragon pressure coming from it.

"Remove your clothes and go inside the pool. Remember, you have to sit in lotus position and activate your cultivation technique inside. only then will the awakening process start."

"I understand senior." Noah then removed his clothes and moved inside the pool. He submerged inside the pool and when he reached the bottom, he sat in lotus position and activated his cultivation technique.

"I pray for your success, child. I hope the world could witness the roar of the earth dragon again." Stormbreaker thought as he released a deep sigh, but his eyes were filled with hope.

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