The Legendary Mage (Alavin)

Alavin was in excruciating pain. He was pierced through by eighteen chains. These were not simply embedded within him. Rather, they transformed into countless tiny links, thousands upon thousands, binding his entire skeleton. Even the smallest joints were entwined and fused with the chains.

Alavin and the chains had become one. His bones felt as if they were corroded, and the unbearable pain nearly caused him to faint, as if countless ants were gnawing at his bones. It was a torment beyond words.

This was judgment, this was the ultimate trial!

"Eh..." The Ivory Turtle, suddenly hanging limply in front of Alavin's chest, was stunned. It turned its head to look behind at the glaring ivory chain on its shell. "What's going on? Am I dreaming? Why would I dream such a thing? Am I addicted to suffering? No, this is real, these are chains."

It glanced at its shell, then at the chain around Alavin's neck, and after a moment, let out a hoarse cry of despair, "Curse you all! Can't you leave me be?"

The little turtle's spirit sank. It slumped, hanging from Alavin's neck. Its eyes were vacant, and its expression was one of utter sorrow.

In the chaotic forest, all eighteen royal effigies descended, enshrouded in a light so strong it was like a cluster of proud suns, illuminating the land. Thick chains stretched out from within, extending into the deep forest ahead, where Alavin was half-kneeling, drenched in cold sweat. His expression looked pained, and his body trembled slightly.

The chains went from thick to thin as they burrowed into his back, fusing into his entire skeleton.

"My lord!" Godfred flew into the forest. His shock was inexplicable as he watched the tormented Alavin and the chains protruding from his back. His gaze followed the chains to the light beyond, where many terrifying beasts seemed trapped. Their presence shook the earth and startled the night. The dreadful aura made his heart tremble. What was this?

"Godfred..." Alavin's voice trembled as he slowly rose.

"Eh? My lord, what are they...?"

"Clear a path for me!" Alavin clenched his teeth, his muscles writhed as he summoned the brute strength within him, and took a few steps forward, tightening the chains. "Wwhat path?"

"As mountains crumble, so shall they be scaled. As rivers flood, so shall they be bridged. Forge me a path straight to Stormcast, for I am to drag them... back to the ancient city." Alavin's voice was hoarse, and his expression seemed pained yet resolute. He tore off his upper garment, revealing a muscular torso. With a muffled growl, his muscles tensed, and he took a large step forward, pulling on the chains that extended five hundred meters behind him, plunging into the vast tide of light. Each chain embedded in his chest was of eighteen royal statues.

With each step Alavin took, the chains tugged the royal statues forward by a meter, moving millions of tons of weight. The strain was nearly enough to shatter his bones, an agony beyond words. Desolation swept through Alavin's heart as he looked up into the dim forest. "Each step is so hard, how shall I return to Stormcast? How long will it take?"

The Kings fell silent, like ordinary statues, submerged in the blinding light. Each statue weighed over a million tons, and with eighteen of them, one could only imagine. To drag them over two thousand kilometers across mountains, rivers, and dense forests seemed nigh impossible. Yet, this was the very trial set for Alavin. "Succeed, and we shall rise again to guard; fail, and sorry, but we shall return to the depths of the earth, to slumber forever, and even... relinquish our legacy."

"Lord Alavin, what has happened? Tell me!" Godfred was frantic, his plea almost a roar.

"Godfred! Clear the way! For the Mallister family, for the ancient city, for the future of us all... clear the way..."

Alavin took a deep breath, and his teeth clenched in a fierce cry. His body tightened, muscles bulged, and veins popped. His eyes, veined with tiny blood vessels, shone with a fierce golden light. He could not compromise, could not give up. It was but a trial, and he... accepted it!

"Is it not but two thousand kilometers? Is it not but statues of millions of tons? I... Alavin... accept the challenge!"