Chapter 334 - And So It Begins

"Your Majesty, it's time," a messenger informed Dante. 

The moment he had been waiting for was finally here. As much as he dreaded it, he could not wait for it all to be over. The Celestial Tribulations was a test he had to pass. Despite knowing what lay ahead of him, Dante did not know show even the slightest tremble or fear. 

Marius accompanied him to the grounds where the trials would take place. He remained silent, keeping pace with Dante as they made their way there. His heart was pounding in his ears, knowing what lay ahead. 

When they got to the trial grounds, Marius noticed that a crowd of Celestials had gathered at a viewing point. 

"Do they think this is a show?" he muttered beneath his breath, cursing those who came to watch. 

After all, it was not every day that an emperor goes through his trials. 

"Pay them no mind," Dante said to him as he approached the trial grounds. 

Marius walked over to his Emperor and helped him to remove the long flowing cape coat he wore. As part of the rules, Dante was not allowed to have any outside assistance. Begrudgingly, he removed the Soulium Locket that Laina had given him. 

As he held it in the palm of his hand, he could feel the warmth radiating from it. He noticed it felt warmer than it had been before. Perhaps it was because his hands were colder now, though he was uncertain. 

Dante brought the locket to his mouth and gently kissed it. 

"Wish me luck, my sun drop," he whispered. 

With that, he carefully placed the locket in Marius's palm. 

"Protect this with your life," he instructed his right-hand man. 

Marius nodded, giving him the reassurance and some words of encouragement, "Good luck, Your Majesty."

Dante smiled as he pats Marius on the back before heading into the grounds. Upon stepping in, an invisible dome shape shield was raised, covering the grounds. No one would be able to enter or leave until the trials are complete. 

Heavy rain-filled clouds gathered, shrouding the land below in darkness. The celestials who gathered to watch were getting riled up. The dark skies were a sign that the trials were about to begin. Around the trial grounds, lamps were lit. 

Dante looked all around, tightening his fists as he got into a fighting stance. No matter what was thrown at him, he was ready for it.

Thunder rumbled, lightning flashed across the sky. Dante looked up at the sky, wondering if the foe he was to face would ascend from above. Just then, the ground beneath him began to crack. 

Sensing something was amiss, Dante prepared to leap into the air to avoid the attack that was coming from below. But before he could do so, he was chained down to the ground by metal tendrils that appeared through the cracks. He pulled at them to snap them off. 

To his surprise, it did not work. The tendrils held him down firmly. Their crushing weight brought him down to his knees. Dante gritted his teeth as he used every last bit of his strength to break free. But it was useless. 

He needed more strength. Dante stopped struggling. He concentrated on his breathing and calmed his mind. In the blink of an eye, he took to his dragon form. He attempted to break free from the restraints once more, even going so far as to use his elemental powers to freeze the tendrils. 

But it was useless. 

Nothing worked.

He was trapped. 

CRASH!

A bolt of lightning shot down from the sky. It struck Dante right on his back. A jolt of pain reverberated through his entire body. Dante clenched his jaw, grunting in pain. Nothing could quite compare to the pain he felt. 

Marius, who was watching from the side was sweating as he watched on. He did not know much about the Celestial Tribulations. It was an age-old trial that powerful Celestials had to go through. The Heart, Mind, and Body. One of the three would be challenged, sometimes multiple at the same time. 

"This... this is the Trial of Body, right?" Marius muttered to himself as he tried to recall what little information he had of it. 

It clicked in his mind. Ten Heaven Bolts. Dante just needed to survive all ten bolts to complete his Celestial Tribulations. But judging from the pain he was going through after the first one, Marius began to worry. 

"Come on, Dante, you can do this!" Marius muttered beneath his breath as he clutched onto the Soulium locket Dante had given to him for safekeeping. 

"For Laina," he whispered. 

It was as if Dante heard it. His pupils constricted as he got back up on his clawed feet and let out an ear-deafening roar, rocking the trial grounds. He stomped his feet as he awaited the next bolt. 

CRASH! 

The second bolt rained down upon him. There was no use dodging. Dante knew he had to take each and every bolt that attempted to impale him. The third bolt came without warning. The crowd of Celestials who gathered to watch were cheering for him. 

But he found the noise they were making to be distracting. Each bolt that rained down on him hurt worse than the last. Yet, his senses were still on high alert. By the time he was hit by the sixth bolt, Dante could no longer hold his dragon form. 

He shifted back to his human form, writhing in agony. His clothes were tattered, and scars littered his skin. The Love Curse vines were there too. Looking down at them, etched onto his skin, Dante saw Laina's face in his mind. 

"Laina, my love... my sun drop," he whispered beneath his breath. 

CRASH!

Another bolt impaled him. Caught off guard, Dante gritted his teeth. But the pain was too great. He yelled in agony. Blood spewed from his mouth. He could feel his eyelids growing heavy. 

Marius rushed to the barrier, pounding on it. 

"Just three more, Dante! You can do this!" he yelled as he hit his hands against the barrier.