Is this really a Game?!

The shift in the atmosphere was palpable as Hemmel now stood in front of them, his previous form gone, now looking like a regular human instead of the fearsome and monstrous Warden of Death that they had battled against.

Reign and the others, who had spent so much energy fighting for their lives against the Warden were now left speechless as they stared at him, completely confused at the appearance of this 'Warden' that now stood in front of them.

"The Warden is just a body that can be used by high-ranking individuals of the arena to test groups, usually, we just supply it with a bit of our strength and that is all, rarely ever does a situation like this happen," Hemmel said with a smile.

His calm, disarming smile was almost unnerving after the incredible danger and the immense pressure that they had gone through.

His transformation from a towering force of destruction into a serene, human-like figure caused an odd dissonance within the group. The intense battle they had fought, the sheer power they had felt, now felt distant as if they were meeting a different person entirely.

Reign, still hovering slightly from the power of his Nephilim form, was the first to speak. His voice was steady, but his curiosity was evident. "You're one of the managers of the arena?"

Hemmel nodded, his eyes gleaming with amusement as if finding the confusion of the group endearing. "Indeed. As I have said, this body you fought is one of the many tools we managers use to test individuals like yourselves. It allows us to administer trials like this one and gauge your potential. I rarely use it personally, but in your case, I decided to make an exception."

"Why?" Wolf asked bluntly, still eyeing Hemmel with suspicion. His chaos flames flickered weakly around his body, though he didn't lower his guard completely.

"Your team intrigued me," Hemmel replied, his tone calm and friendly. "You've shown not only skill but also a keen understanding of your abilities. More importantly, you've demonstrated adaptability. That is what truly piqued my interest."

"So, this trial was more of an observation than a test?" Mia asked, her brow furrowed in thought.

"Both," Hemmel corrected, smiling softly at her. "The trial is real, and the consequences are real. You were expected to wound the Warden, and you succeeded. But I was observing how you handled soul power, and how you coordinated as a team. It's rare to see a group so synchronized, especially under such pressure."

Reign's wings flared slightly, his energy still burning brightly. "You mentioned soul power earlier. You used it to weaken us during the fight, but what exactly are we supposed to learn from that?"

"As you have already seen, I can use soul power, but the rest can only observe it slightly when focusing, nothing else."

"Yes, I am aware of that," Hemmel said with a warm tone before his gaze grew more serious, though the warmth in his eyes didn't fade.

"Soul power is a fundamental force that binds life and death, reality and the ethereal. You have already tasted it in battle, but there is much more to learn. In the higher realms, soul power is as common as mana, if not more so. It is used to enhance attacks, defend against intangible forces, and communicate with beings beyond the physical.

Without a basic understanding of soul power, no matter how strong you are, your growth will be stunted."

He looked at Reign, his blue eyes studying him intently. "You, especially, are on the brink of something greater. Your Nephilim form taps into soul power instinctively, but you haven't learned to control it fully yet. That's why I subjected you to the aura of soul devastation—so you could begin to sense the depth of what lies ahead."

Reign's expression hardened as he absorbed Hemmel's words. "You mean to say there's more to soul power than just the aura you used and the way I utilize it?"

"Much more," Hemmel confirmed. "What I used on you was a fraction of the true potential of soul power. When you reach higher tiers, you'll encounter beings who wield it as easily as you now wield mana or physical strength. That's why this trial was important. It's not just about wounding me—it's about understanding that power."

"Of course, as a Nephilim, you already know that, so please don't take me for a fool and try to trick me like that, I am well aware of the powers being like you have," Hemmel said, prompting Reign to scratch the back of his head and meekly nod.

Jin stepped forward, his eyes sharp as he asked, "So, the next trials... will they focus more on this soul power? Will we have to face more opponents like you?"

"I am not in charge of those trials, so I have no idea, perhaps some will, but I doubt it, after all, you are still far too green to be going through such trials."

Reign's wings flapped softly behind him as he processed what Hemmel said. The idea of soul power being more prevalent than mana in the higher realms was both exhilarating and daunting. He had sensed it during the fight—his Nephilim form was instinctively linked to soul power—but hearing it confirmed made the path ahead seem even more treacherous.

Wolf was the first to break the silence. His purple flames flickered and sputtered around his body as he crossed his arms. "So what? You're telling us we're supposed to just figure this out on our own now? No more guidance?"

Hemmel's eyes softened, his smile never fading. "Not entirely. You've taken your first step, and that's the hardest part. But soul power isn't something that can be taught like swordsmanship or magic. It's a force you'll have to learn to tap into through experience, intuition, and—unfortunately—struggle. Each of you will grasp it differently based on your abilities and experiences."

"So, no shortcuts," Mia said quietly, her gaze distant as she pondered the weight of that reality.

Hemmel chuckled softly. "No shortcuts. But I suspect you already knew that. If you're still standing after this trial, it's because you're not afraid to face what's difficult head-on."

Jin, ever the tactician, frowned slightly. "You mentioned we're too green for the upcoming trials to focus solely on soul power. But we'll still encounter it, won't we? There's no avoiding it."

"Indeed," Hemmel nodded. "Soul power is intertwined with the very fabric of existence in the higher realms. Even if your future trials don't specifically challenge you with it, you'll come across enemies and obstacles that use it. The more you understand it now, the better prepared you'll be."

"I heard that even in the higher realms, there aren't many who specialize in soul power, that is quite different from what you just said." Reign suddenly said, staring at Hemmel.

"Hahahahah, well of course it is!"

"A basic understanding of soul power and specializing in it are too very different things young Nephilim, the difference between those two terms is incredibly big."

Hemmel's laughter echoed softly through the arena, a surprising contrast to the tension that had dominated the air just moments before. His relaxed demeanor as he explained the concept of soul power made the entire group feel slightly at ease, though his words still carried weight.

"A basic understanding of soul power," Hemmel continued, "is something every being in the higher realms must grasp if they wish to survive. It's akin to understanding how to breathe or control mana. It's fundamental. But specializing in soul power—that is an entirely different pursuit."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

He turned toward Reign, his blue eyes glinting with amusement and wisdom. "What you sensed in your Nephilim form is just the surface. You have the potential to tap into a deeper reservoir of soul power. But to truly master it... well, that's a long and arduous path, and one not many choose."

"So, what you're saying," Jin interjected, his sharp eyes fixed on Hemmel, "is that we need to be ready to face opponents who use soul power, but we don't necessarily need to specialize in it ourselves?"

"Exactly," Hemmel confirmed, nodding. "In fact, it's rare for someone to fully specialize in soul power. Those who do are often beings of incredible age and experience. But having a basic understanding—knowing how to defend against it, how to sense its presence—that's what will allow you to progress and survive in the higher realms."

"For you, that path will be much easier, in fact, using soul power is said to be akin to breathing to Nephilims, even the very young ones," Hemmel said as he glanced at Reign.

"You should try to teach them that, to train the rest of your team at least a bit, which I see you have done already."

"Never forget to train soul power, without a basic understanding of it, you might find yourselves dead when fighting an enemy that seemingly didn't even make a move."

"Ah, our time is up." Hemmel suddenly said and smiled at them.

"Good job on passing this trial, and good luck on the remaining three, you'll need it."