The wooden gate was over halfway raised.

Crash.

A large horn broke through the bottom of the gate, sending splinters flying in all directions.

Ash took in the gigantic creature. It was much like a rhinoceros. It had the horns, armor-plated body and thick trunk like legs. However, upon a closed look, one could see that it was a mass of rocks forming the shape. Without a doubt, a high-level crystal user had composed this terror.

Though the beast was terrifying enough to stop most people in their tracks, Ash didn't show an ounce of fear. She pushed off the ground, charging at the creature that was blindly thundering in her direction.

Every step brought the girl and the giant closer. They bore down on each other at a swift pace. Though she was moving, Ash's eyes calculated her next steps.

A moment before collision, she dropped low.

The girl slid across the ground. Her timing was perfect. She slipped under each and every one of those gigantic feet moments after they lifted and was past them a second before they touched down.

As soon as she was in the clear, Ash was on her feet and sprinting in the direction where the gigantic gate had now finished its ascent. She dashed underneath as the rhino-like creature let out a bellow.

In the moment Ash was under the gate, her eyes already told her there was no trigger to bring it back down. Thus, as the giant struggled to turn around in the narrow space, Ash gained some much-needed distance.

Turning a corner, she didn't let the second chilling bellow affect her.

Callous made comment on her choice of flight over fight. She had said she was going to pass on her own.

Ash kept the most important thing at the front of her mind – only the first fifteen people to escape would pass. She didn't have time to waste fighting a threat as large as this one.

The path curved to the right, giving Ash no choice but to follow.

She felt the ground shudder behind her, telling tales of a certain beast that was now in hot pursuit.

A fork opened up before her. Without the luxury to choose, Ash took the right.

She turned the next corner only to skip to a halt. The sudden stop made her totter a few steps forward.

"Ah."

Ash found herself face to face with a second beast identical to the first.

The rocky creature's head snapped up from the pile of fresh hay it had been sniffing longingly, as though wishing it could eat – if only rocks could do so. The small pebbles around the gaps forming the creature's nostrils, quivered as it took in a deep breath. Two beady black energy balls that served as eyes peered at the girl.

Ash took a slow step back. The shaking ground grew stronger, warning her of the other monster that was gaining ground.

Still want to hold back? Callous probed, seeming slightly excited at the thought of joining the action.

The girl didn't respond, eyes glued to the rhino before her.

It glared in her direction for a moment before, with a snort, it lowered its head and simply continued to sniff at the hay.

While Callous let out a disappointed sigh, Ash slowly crouched. She was aware of the creature watching her while it contently inhaled its potential dinner. Slowly, the girl's fingers enclosed around a small pebble. She felt the rough texture in her hands as her heartbeat remained steady.

Two things happened at once as Ash exploded into action. She hurled the pebble true and straight, striking the mountain of death on the nose. Even as it flew, Ash had already turned to sprint back in the direction she'd come from.

She heard the new bellow of rage behind her as the mighty creature pawed the ground and then lurched after the girl that had dared to attack.

Ash pushed her legs, hairs on the back of her neck rising in warning at the massive bullet that quickly bore down on her. When she reached the fork, she didn't go the new way but headed back in the direction she'd come from.

In her mind, the first rhino had been bad luck, but finding the second had been the best possible scenario – if her plan worked.

Even as she skidded into the straight path, Ash came face to face with the first creature that was still in pursuit. It bore down, shaking its head back and forth. The animal lowered its sharp horn, seeming to not believe his luck as its intended target ran right back toward it.

The second rhino thundered around the corner and onto the straight, eyes seeking the enemy.

With death on either side, Ash was well and truly trapped. However, she kept her calm, counting each and every step.

A mere few paces away from the being she was facing, Ash changed her path.

One.

Two.

On her third step, she launched into the air. Her foot connected with the wall and she pushed off. Her height increased dramatically.

While her world slowed down, Ash flipped in the air. As her head faced the bottom, she witnessed the two dumb creatures collide. Ash turned and rocks exploded, catapulting through the air.

Other than lifting a hand to shield her face from the shower, Ash showed no further reaction. She landed on her feet beyond the pile of debris, whose blast had caused the very walls to shake.

Straightening, Ash calmly turned to survey the damage.

Not bad, Callous grudgingly praised.

Flicking several pebbles from her shoulder, Ash resumed her journey. She stepped over the large pile of rocks, kicking a smaller one before her.

The girl went down the same path as before, always following the wind. She kept alert at all times, knowing full well that trials usually came along in sets of three.

Just as expected, the third challenge appeared soon after.

This time, she found herself stepped through an archway into a large room.

More torches than before flickered to life, brightly lighting the whole room. Seated on a large rock in the middle of the room, sat a young man. His feet were crossed, his arms resting on his knees, and his eyes closed. The hair on his hair was dark as night, a contrast to the white uniform he wore.

As Ash came to a stop, his eyes flickered open. They landed on her. Without a word, he stood and jumped from the rock.

Ash watched, waiting for his move.

Callous perked up.

The man moved his hands as he walked toward Ash. A blade appeared from thin air.

"If you survive three minutes against me," he spoke as he walked. "I'll let you pass." A hand across the blade and it burst into flame. A moment later, the man's body blinked from existence.

Watch it! Callous warned not a second too late.

Ash felt the swish of air and heat pass by almost too close for comfort as the man shimmered into view in the spot she'd been but a moment before. He turned, seeming somewhat surprised at her speedy escape. His lip's twitched upward.

Don't take him lightly, Callous warned.

"I know." Ash retreated again. While her senses remained on the threat, her eyes scanned the area.

In order to dodge another blow, she dropped to a knee, eyes still searching. When she found what she was seeking, she locked the location in her mind.

Whirling, she faced the next attack head-on. She moved her whole body to the side, stepping behind the attacker and reaching out. Her hand grasped thin air as the man easily escaped her clutches.

The next attack came faster than she anticipated. Once again, Ash narrowly dodged by taking a large step back. Seeming to read the movement, the blade followed in a stabbing motion. Ash escaped the only way she could, by ducking and rolling.

Again, the blade followed. Again, Ash rolled, each dodge bringing her toward her target. She got to her feet and pivoted on her toe at the same time, eyes following the fiery sword that slid by. The heat singed the hair on her arms.

Ash's calm eyes met those of her attacker and she grinned tauntingly.

The next attack was the fastest of all, blade moving at such speed the fire was a blur. This time, Ash barely did a thing to dodge. The blade grazed by, melting the side of her clothes and lightly searing the skin below.

The pain as nothing compared to what it would have been had the blade cut its intended target, but it still hurt. However, it was a needed sacrifice.

In the same moment, the blade did its damage, Ash reached out. She grabbed the hand of the man that seemed just as surprised at causing injury as by being grabbed. Not giving him even a second to pull away – which she didn't doubt he easily could – Ash delivered a harsh kick.

The unsuspecting attacker stumbled back.

Instead of following up, as anyone would in such a battle, Ash moved in the opposite direction. A few strides brought her to the target she'd steadily approached all while retreating. She paused at the part of the wall that shimmered.

Turning, she shot a look at the man she knew had been going easy on her.

Flaming sword by his side, he stared in astonishment.

Ash tipped an imaginary hat at him while giving a bow.

The look of surprise turned into a grin. The man's laughter at her trickery was the last thing Ash heard as she stepped through the shimmer that was, in fact, her doorway.

The attacker has said he'd let her pass if she survived three minutes, however, he hadn't mentioned anything about her leaving on her own before then.

I see the training paid off, Callous mused as Ash was engulfed by cold darkness.

How about you let me take credit this time? She couldn't help but think in reply.

Callous' simply chuckled as his presence disappeared.

A faint light grew in the darkness. It became brighter and brighter and the cold turned to heat. Ash kept walking, raising her hand to shield her eyes.

The light enveloped her and her ears rang. A moment later, it disappeared.

"Congratulations," a voice announced.

Ash lowered her arm.

She found herself standing back on the plateau she and the other contestants had started on.

A small group of five others was waiting.

"You've qualified for Dragon Bane."