The final Trial.

Dalzrenth paused in thought before finally conceding to Eli.

"Hmm.. It seems you do have a point..." he paused for a second then chuckled. "Why don't we let the swords you want so badly decide."

"What do you mean?"

Dalzrenth paced back to his resting spot before replying. "I'm merely a gate keeper the swords themselves have the power to decide ownership."

Eli begun doubting whether he could actually claim ownership, further more it seemed as though the information he had been told had missed such a critical piece that would have proved vital before-hand.

Dalzrenth looked on trying gauge the boy's reaction, however Eli was careful to not show he was unnerved by this.

"Congratulations looks like the game has officially begun." The God of Gods smiled looking on.

Sigmund frowned before replying "Officially begun?"

"Yes, it didn't count before since it only had one player participating but... After this it will no longer be a single person's game. Besides am sure others have been cooking too." As he turned to his left to summon a very out of place door, white in colour standing out of place.

"Leaving so soon?"

The God of Gods turned his head back to Sigmund to reply with a smile before taking his leave.

"It is a shame though, that you won't even have the chance at trying your luck since you are out of mana it seems." Dalzrenth spoke with a hint of regret at seeing the young challenger come so close but still be out of reach. Plus it would have been entertaining to see his hopes dashed as the swords denied him.

Eli ignored what the dragon said and casually appproched the huge set of doors that were massive in both width and length.

Dalzrenth sat in confusion when he saw Eli make his way to the door. He was unsure wether Eli took to heart what he said and why he was ensuring his death, he thought about warning him again but then remembered an important detail that he had let slip.

Eli was not normal! He remembered how Eli was able to traverse the through the obstacles to this room further more, this young boy's mana kept fluctuating so it was truly hard to gauge his strength at previously in their fight he seemed to have an ocean of mana and before momentarily possessing not even a drop of mana when asked why this was, Eli unfortunately declined to answer his question. It puzzled him quite so, what sort of gift did this boy have?

Even when you used up your mana in a fight and you no longer had any or enough at your disposal you would simply collapse in exhaustion, but having mana exhaustion was totally different from having absolutely none. The only people that did have none were of those not gifted with the ability to use mana, basically they were viewed as weak and most would refer to them as a non-mana user, as these were just normal average people.

He watched Eli approach the massive doors, with excitement and curiosity at how Eli would open such a door requiring a payment of mana, that he didn't seem to have to begin with.

Eli called on the artifact to lend him power, when it did lend Eli mana an ominous aura surrounded Eli.

Dalzrenth was caught off guard by such an eruption of dense concentrated mana out of seemingly nowhere.

Dalzrenth questioned the boy's background, and was eager to know more, but he was sure with the boy's current perception of him, he would not be told of much.

Eli placed his palm on the doors, they opened to reveal within the room an altar, lit by what appeared to be a floating orb full of mana. As this happened Sigmund blinked himself right next to the altar as he waited for Eli to approach it.

The was altar was a sight to look at, covered both in gold and writings that seemed to glow. One would be captivated by just the sight of it, Eli however cared not for this, his sight was purely on the prize, what lay ontop of the altar.

Dalzrenth, a little tense due to what he had just witnessed, got up to follow the boy inside, Eli walked towards the altar, two swords lay on it and two rings.

He saw one of the swords was a Broad sword, long in length, that seemed to absorb/warp the light around it and the other was a Tachi that was light in colour, looked fragile and seemed to expel light.

The two swords seemed to manipulate light in their own way... Or it could have just been his eyes playing tricks on him.

Dalzrenth spoke whilst they walked towards the altar. "If you want to avoid having your mana being viciously fed on by the swords stay near the altar. It has supression magic that keeps them dormant." Though he was hoping Eli did exactly the opposite.

Fortunately Eli took heed of his words. Fortunate for Eli, unfortunate for him.

Eli picked up the broad sword from the altar by its red handguard, the large blade was dark in colour, light around the blade seemed to be warped as it seemed to emit its own shadow, heavy in weight it was quite a formmidable weapon. However Eli noticed it was blunt on both edges. (Think of a door and look at it from the sides this is what the blade looked like on either side of its edges.)

"Is this really one of the famed legendary swords? What am I supposed to do with this? Club my opponents to death?"

Sigmund let out a small chuckle when he heard Eli say this.

Dalzrenth simply looked on as Eli let out his thoughts.

Eli then grabbed the Tachi by its black handguard, it was not as heavy set as the other blade nor was it blunt. It was everything a sword is meant to be well balanced and actually able to cut something. Like a polar opposite to the other sword it seemed to radiate light, Eli was unsure wether his eyes were playing tricks with him. It was basically everything the other sword wasn't.

"Are you done with your inspection?" Dalzrenth asked whilst Eli was holding both swords to feel them out.

"Yes am done. So what next?"

"You will have to leave the safety of the altar to begin this trial. At the moment they are dormant but once you leave the safety of the altar they will awaken and so will their thirst for mana. To get them to recognise you, you will feed their thirst, feed them too much and it may lead to your demise. Feed them too little and they will never recognise you."

(Think of the swords thirst, as you will a pig. A pig will continue eating even when its satisfied its appetite, feed the pig too little and you will never gain its love. You must feed it just enough to satisfy its appetite but not too much that its unhealthy both for you and it.)

The final hurdle that Eli had to pass heavily rellied on a high degree of mana control. Mana control is different from using mana. For example if you used a spell most of the time you were paying mana to use such a spell.

However mana control was a nessaccery and a vital skill to know, if you wanted to keep the spell consistent both in strength and stability you had to have knowledge in mana control. Otherwise it would lose its integrity and may have repercussions.

However Eli wouldn't have such a problem as he had a high degree of mana control. it still wouldn't be easy though, as the swords were keen to get their way. (Well you hoped that is.)

"So how will i know they have recognised me?" Eli asked.

"When their thirst for mana will no longer be over-bearing.... You have to be the one in control not them. Only then will they recognise your authority."

Eli begun to walk from the altar and as soon as he did he was hit with the swords malice almost knocking him out. The thirst was that strong. He almost collapsed but used the swords as surpport as he went into a kneeling position still grasping the swords.

After regaining his composure, Eli closed his eyes in concentration, dulling his senses, trying to block out everything else and concentrate at the task at hand.

Eli could feel his mana being drained from him but he had to be the one at the controls, as of the moment he wasn't. He fought back trying to direct/limit how much mana was being leeched by the two swords.

Dalzrenth sat at a distance he watched the dance between the two as Eli fought to take lead. A dragon's eye could see that which most could not see. He could see the aura between the two clashing in a struggle, as the swords were keen to over power Eli, some how Eli held on. Dalzrenth actaully found himself rooting for Eli.

Dalzrenth saw a sudden surge of the swords aura as they seeked to overpower, he found himself to be worried for the young boy when this happened. Eli wasn't going to let that happen though as he braced himself. Dalzrenth could see Eli's face twisted in concentration.

Like a wolf that kept clawing at the door the swords could not overpower Eli like they wanted to, but they were still sucking him dry. That is atleast what they thought, but Eli was winning the duel between the two.

Sigmund watched as Eli fought for control. His calm gaze hiding his emotions. He approched the two swords and placed his hands on them. He started for the moment aiding Eli in subduing the swords to him.

Eli seemed to be the one taking the lead as he started winning their duel, this was reflected by the fact that the amount of mana being leeched off him changed. It was no longer strong a current it was before.

Sigmund let go when he saw he had done enough to help out Eli. He backed away to return to the spot he was standing from before.

Dalzrenth watched as Eli overpowered and took lead of the dance, the swords aura was no longer pontent in strength as before it was over powered out right by Eli. Eli gasped as he opened his eyes and relaxed himself from his tense stance.

Dalzrenth finally relaxed when he saw Eli was no longer being leeched upon. The aura was completely suppressed by Eli. It seemed as though the swords had been forced to recognise Eli and a victor had been chosen. He satisfied their appetite and they had not rejected nor strapped him of his mana.