Reborn with the SSS-Rank Creator System-Chapter 22: The Sect Gates

Moments later, the silhouette of a massive beast emerged from the mist—a level 2 Steelhide Terrorclaw.

The creature, named for its impenetrable hide and deadly claws, towered over them, its glowing eyes scanning its prey with feral intelligence. Its silver-grey fur glistened with moisture, and the jagged claws scraping the ground left deep gouges in the rock. The narrow pathway left no room for retreat, and the Terrorclaw wasted no time, lunging at them with terrifying speed.

Theos's dagger flashed as he leapt forward, meeting the beast's charge head-on. He slashed at its forelegs, the blade sparking as it struck against its tough hide. The beast roared in fury, swinging a massive claw toward him. Theos ducked and rolled, the force of the swipe sending debris flying off the cliffside. "Xiphos! Keep to the side!" Theos shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Xiphos moved swiftly, his sword drawn as he flanked the beast. He waited for the perfect moment, then struck at its exposed side with a calculated slash. The creature bellowed in pain, whipping its tail in a wide arc. Xiphos ducked under the strike, his movements precise despite the limited space. "Theos, we need to finish it now" Xiphos called, his grip tightening on his sword.

Theos nodded, darting toward the beast's rear. With a burst of spirit energy, he propelled himself onto its back, his dagger plunging into its spine causing the ground to crack. The beast thrashed violently, its claws scraping the rocky walls of the narrow passage. Xiphos seized the opening and channeled spirit energy into his arms, delivering a powerful thrust into the creature's chest.

The beast let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing, its massive body shaking the ground as it fell. Theos leapt off just in time, landing beside Xiphos with practiced agility. The Steelhide Terrorclaw's lifeless body slid slightly before tumbling into the crevice below, its claws gouging into the rock as it disappeared into the depths. The narrow passage trembled from the commotion, but it held, leaving only the echoes of the battle lingering in the air.

They paused briefly to catch their breath before continuing through the dense fog, the echoes of their battle fading into the mist.

"That wasn't normal," Theos muttered. Xiphos nodded silently, the tension between them thick as they pushed forward.

Xiphos also nodded.

The journey seemed unnaturally convenient. Although there were some difficulties, they were nothing Theos and Xiphos couldn't handle. Dangerous areas were avoided as though the path was planned. Beasts roared in the distance without attacking. Weather conditions shifted from fierce winds to calm moments just when they needed.

This wasn't mercy; it was a filter. If they failed here, they would never take the main test. If the children couldn't even survive in this test simulated enviroment, they would never survive in the real world.

Throughout their journey, Theos and Xiphos even felt unseen gazes fixed on them, watching their every move. It was subtle but unmistakable—moments when the air seemed heavier, or the sensation of being evaluated made their hearts race.

Theos was correct, the sect's instructors were manipulating the environment to test survival skills and decision-making under pressure.

However, the encounter with the Steelhide Terrorclaw had been entirely unplanned. One of the instructors, tasked with monitoring their progress, had dozed off momentarily, allowing the beast to wander into their path. Although a level 2 beast was manageable for Theos and Xiphos, the limited space on the narrow pathway made the encounter exceedingly dangerous

. This lapse in oversight added an unintentional layer of peril to their trial, turning what should have been a controlled test into a harrowing fight for survival.

They continued the journey for two more days, encountering a mix of engineered challenges and natural obstacles. From crossing unstable wooden bridges to navigating a forest alive with predatory plants, they endured. Finally, they reached the top of a mountain beside a roaring waterfall. The towering gates of the sect loomed ahead as they emerged, tired but determined.

"That was fun." Theos said, his voice steady despite his fatigue.

Xiphos nodded, his blindfolded gaze directed toward the towering gates in the distance, feeling the energy pulsing through the air.

From their position atop the mountain, the path ahead was clear. They needed to climb down the steep slope and cross the dense forest below to reach the towering gates of the sect. The waterfall beside them roared as its mist filled the air, adding a touch of unease to the serene yet foreboding landscape. The forest stretched out like a thick blanket, its shadows concealing whatever challenges lay within. This was the final stretch of their journey before they reached the sect gates.

Xiphos, ever pragmatic, gestured toward a rocky slope nearby. "We should find a way to climb down. The mist could obscure dangerous currents or rocks at the bottom."

Theos, however, had other plans. His grin widened, and he turned toward the edge of the waterfall. "Climb down? That's so boring," he said, his tone laced with mischief. Xiphos frowned, sensing Theos's intentions. "What are you—"

Before Xiphos could finish, Theos stepped onto the slick rock and leapt into the air. Mid-fall, he crossed his arms in front of his chest, exuding unshakable confidence as he descended. His body cut through the mist, falling straight down in a standing position, his red eyes glowing faintly with excitement. The sound of the waterfall was deafening, the rush of water blending with the eerie quiet of the abyss. To an observer, it might have seemed reckless or suicidal, but Theos's posture was calm, exuding unshakable confidence.

Xiphos stood at the edge, a small smile tugging at his lips despite himself. "That idiot," he muttered. Shaking his head, he stepped forward. Unlike Theos's dramatic launch, Xiphos dove forward in a controlled arc, cutting cleanly through the mist as the waterfall roared around him. The wind howled around him, and for a moment, he felt weightless, the roar of the waterfall swallowing everything else.

The descent was brief but exhilarating. As the mist parted, both landed near the base of the waterfall. Theos hit the water first, crashing into the pool in a standing position with a loud splash that sent ripples across the surface. He emerged seconds later, shaking water from his hair, his grin wide. "Now that's what I call a shortcut."

Xiphos followed right after, but his landing wasn't as graceful as he expected. As he hit the water, the current pushed him forward, sending him hurtling directly toward Theos. "Watch out!" Xiphos shouted, his arms flailing as he struggled to steady himself. Theos turned just in time to see Xiphos barreling toward him and tried to move aside, but Xiphos's momentum was too strong. Xiphos ended up crashing into Theos, sending both of them sprawling into the water with a loud splash.

Theos surfaced first, coughing and spluttering, his hair plastered to his face. "Xiphos! You almost drowned me!" he exclaimed, his voice a mix of exasperation and amusement.

Xiphos emerged seconds later, brushing water off his blindfold. "Serves you right for jumping first," he retorted, though a faint smirk betrayed his own amusement. "You're unbelievable."

Theos shook his head, his grin returning. "Unbelievably awesome, you mean. Next time, try not to use me as a landing pad."

Xiphos, now steady on his feet, let out an exasperated sigh. "Maybe that's karma for your recklessness," he muttered, brushing droplets off his blindfold. His face was calm but carried a hint of amusement.

Theos shrugged, wringing water from his hair. "Maybe. Besides, wasn't it fun?"

Xiphos sighed, though a faint smile crept onto his face. "You're insufferable," he said, though there was no malice in his tone. "But I suppose it's... efficient."

Theos laughed, clapping Xiphos on the shoulder. "Admit it. You liked it."

"Not as much as you," Xiphos replied, though his smirk betrayed him.

This had become a pattern between them: Theos would do something reckless, and Xiphos would follow it up with a sharp rebuke, though not without an underlying hint of having fun himself.

Xiphos turned toward the river, the current gentle yet purposeful as it flowed toward the forest that lay between them and the sect's gates. "This river should lead us closer," Xiphos said, his tone returning to its usual calm. "We should follow it."

"Agreed," Theos replied. The two began walking along the riverbank, the sound of the waterfall fading behind them.

However, as they followed the river, they realized its direction diverged from the path toward the sect's gates.

Theos glanced toward the distant gates in the sky visible through gaps in the forest canopy and nudged Xiphos.

They turned away from the river, moving steadily toward the gates. The forest grew denser with every step, the air heavy with the mingled scents of damp earth and moss. The foliage above thickened, casting long shadows over the undergrowth. As they trudged on, the sound of voices reached their ears, growing louder with each passing moment.

Ahead, they stumbled upon a fierce skirmish between two children who appeared to be around Theos and Xiphos's age, both wielding real weapons crafted with care and precision.

One, a boy with scruffy brown hair and a wiry frame, wielded twin curved daggers that gleamed faintly in the light. He wore a tattered green tunic and moved with the agility of a predator, his strikes sharp and unrelenting.

His opponent, a taller girl with striking auburn hair tied in a braid, wielded a slender but deadly glaive. Her movements were precise, her sharp blue eyes gleaming with focus as she countered the boy's wild, aggressive attacks with practiced ease.

The boy darted forward, his daggers spinning in tight arcs, aiming for the girl's midsection. The girl twisted her body just enough to avoid the strike, using the shaft of her glaive to deflect his follow-up attack. Sparks flew as metal met metal, the sound of their weapons clashing echoing through the forest. With a burst of energy, the boy leapt backward, his daggers poised for another attack.

"You're faster than I thought," he admitted, his grin widening. "But let's see how long you can keep up."

The girl didn't respond, her expression steady and calm. She tightened her grip on the glaive, her stance shifting slightly as she prepared for his next move. The boy charged again, this time feinting to the right before spinning to the left. The girl anticipated the maneuver, bringing her glaive down in a sharp arc that forced him to leap away to avoid being struck. The tip of her weapon carved a shallow trench in the ground, a testament to the force behind her swing.

Their movements became a blur of strikes and counters, each showcasing their skill and training.

Arlen unleashed a rapid flurry of spinning dagger slashes, each motion leaving faint afterimages in the air, a technique designed to confuse his opponent. Selene responded by planting her feet and spinning with her glaive, using the momentum to deflect his blows and deliver sweeping arcs meant to knock him off balance.

At one point, Arlen somersaulted over a low sweep, landing behind her and nearly scoring a hit—only to be blocked by a swift backward jab of the glaive. Dirt and leaves scattered under their feet, and small gouges formed where their weapons struck with force.

The clash of steel rang through the clearing as they pressed on, testing each other with every move.

The boy's attacks were wild yet calculated, his agility allowing him to exploit any opening he could find. The girl's defense was unyielding, her precision and discipline keeping his relentless offense at bay. Both combatants seemed evenly matched, their determination evident in every move.

Theos leaned casually against a tree, watching for a moment before calling out, "Friendly sparring or is this a full-on fight?" The combatants paused, both breathing heavily. The boy wiped sweat from his brow and grinned. "Sparring. Mostly."

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

The girl straightened, her expression calm but wary as she glanced at the newcomers. "And who are you?" she asked, her tone clipped but not unfriendly.

"We're travelers heading to the gates, same as you, I suppose" Theos said, stepping forward. "I'm Theos, and this is Xiphos."

Xiphos gave a small nod, his blindfold hiding his expression. "We heard the commotion," he added.

"I'm Arlen," the boy said, sliding his daggers back into their sheaths. "And this is Selene. We're heading for the entrance test as well." His eyes flicked briefly toward Xiphos's blindfold, curiosity flashing across his face. Selene, too, glanced at it, her expression unreadable but clearly intrigued, though she said nothing.

Selene nodded but didn't relax her grip on the glaive. "And you just happened to be passing by?"

"Pretty much, I dont think there is any other way to reach the door" Theos said with a shrug. "Nice form, by the way."

Selene's eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded in acknowledgment. "Thanks. You two don't look like average cultivators." She noted their composure despite their apparent lower cultivation level compared to her and Arlen.

Theos smiled and did not say anything.

Arlen chuckled, glancing between them. "Well, the more, the merrier."

As the group began moving together, more figures appeared along the path—other children around their age, their faces a mix of determination and exhaustion.

Among them, Theos noticed a stocky boy with a shaved head and a confident stride, introducing himself as Eryk, who carried a broad axe on his back. Beside him was a quiet girl with silver hair and piercing green eyes named Lyra, wielding a pair of throwing knives strapped across her belt.

Lyra's gaze lingered on Xiphos for a moment, her expression unreadable but clearly intrigued. Though she said nothing, the sharpness in her eyes softened slightly as she observed him, an unspoken curiosity evident in her demeanor.

As they marched, snippets of conversation revealed glimpses into the lives of their new companions.

"My master once made me fight for a week straight!" Arlen said, waving his hands animatedly. "Said it would sharpen my instincts."

Selene responded coolly, "Discipline matters more than gimmicks. My clan made us meditate under waterfalls for days before we were even allowed to hold a weapon."

Eryk let out a booming laugh. "You two had it easy. I once cleared a whole forest with an axe just to get stronger. Best strength training there is!"

Lyra remained quiet, her eyes constantly scanning the path ahead.

Theos and Xiphos exchanged glances. "Interesting bunch," Theos muttered.

"Mm," Xiphos replied, tilting his head subtly. "Strong too."

The forest gradually fell silent as they approached a clearing. Towering in front of them stood the gates—massive and majestic—emerging from the woods like sentinels of an ancient test.

Their sheer size was overwhelming, each door standing hundreds of feet tall, engraved with intricate carvings of mythical creatures and celestial patterns. The gates shimmered faintly, a barrier of energy pulsating just beyond their reach. Around them, the clearing buzzed with activity as over a thousand cultivators of various ages and backgrounds gathered, their faces a mix of determination and apprehension. The group exchanged quiet glances, walking towds the line that was forming in front of the gate.

------------A/N ------------

Get Ready for some action packed Chapters in the next few days.