Sekiro awoke with a start. His heart pounded in his chest as his eyes snapped open, his breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. The comforting darkness of the sleeping quarters was gone, replaced by a stark, cold light. He lay on his back, staring up at a sky that was neither day nor night, an ethereal twilight that cast everything in shades of gray. The air was thick with a tension that made his skin crawl.

He wasn't in his bed.

Sitting up quickly, Sekiro scanned his surroundings. He found himself in a wide, barren field surrounded by towering mountains that loomed like silent sentinels. The ground beneath him was hard, cracked earth, devoid of life. A thick mist hung low in the air, swirling around his ankles like ghostly tendrils. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the faint sound of his own breathing.

*Where am I?* The thought barely had time to form in his mind before a familiar voice rang out.

"So you're awake."

Sekiro turned to see Futsunushi standing a few paces away, his form barely visible through the mist. The god's eyes were cold and unreadable, his posture as imposing as ever.

"This is the beginning of your Great Trial," Futsunushi said, his voice carrying an edge of authority that left no room for argument. "You must prove yourself worthy of becoming a Shinobi. This will not be easy, Sekiro. Many before you have failed, and they did not survive. But if you succeed, you will take your first steps towards mastering taking vengeance against those who have wronged you."

Sekiro stood, his body tense and ready. Despite the confusion that clouded his mind, a sense of purpose began to settle over him. This was it—the moment that would decide his fate.

"What do I have to do?" Sekiro asked, his voice steady despite the uncertainty gnawing at him.

Futsunushi's lips curled into a faint smile, though it lacked any warmth. "You must find your way through this mountain and reach the shrine at its peak. Along the way, you will face trials designed to test your strength, your wits, and your resolve. The path will not be easy, and you will encounter dangers that may kill you if you are not careful. But remember this, Sekiro: Hesitation is defeat."

With a flick of his wrist, Futsunushi produced a small, green, ornate dagger, its blade gleaming in the dim light. He tossed it to Sekiro, who caught it instinctively.

"This dagger is infused with magic," Futsunushi explained. "It will protect you, and help you overcome the challenges ahead. However if you overuse the magic in the blade it will shatter leaving you with nothing, it will not do the work for you. You must rely on your own strength, your own skill."

Sekiro nodded, gripping the dagger tightly. The cold metal felt reassuring in his hand, a tangible reminder that he was not entirely helpless. He looked up at the god, his resolve hardening.

"I'm ready."

Futsunushi's smile deepened, and for a brief moment, Sekiro thought he saw a flicker of pride in the god's eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.

"Then go," Futsunushi said, his voice carrying the weight of command. "Prove your worth, Sekiro Ado. Show me that you are deserving of the power I have given you."

Without another word, the god turned and disappeared into the mist, leaving Sekiro alone once more.

Taking a deep breath, Sekiro steeled himself and began to move forward. The mist seemed to part before him, revealing a narrow path that wound its way up the mountain. The air grew colder with each step, the chill biting into his skin. But Sekiro pressed on, determined to see this trial through to the end.

As he ascended the mountain, the path grew steeper and more treacherous. Loose rocks crumbled underfoot, threatening to send him tumbling down the slope. But Sekiro's training had honed his reflexes, and he moved with a grace and precision that belied his young age. He climbed steadily, his breath coming in controlled bursts, his focus unwavering.

xxxxxxxxx

The first trial came without warning.

A sudden roar echoed through the mountains, and I barely had time to react before a massive, shadowy figure lunged at me from the mist. It was a creature of my nightmares, a monstrous wolf standing on its own two legs with eyes that burned like embers, its fur bristling with dark energy. Before I had time to think the wolf like creature leapt forward, in response I clumsily rolled to the side scratching my arms on the coarse rock below me. Its jaws snapped inches away from my legs, I quickly recovered from my roll and leapt further back just in time to avoid being torn apart.

The wolf growled, its red eyes locked onto Sekiro with predatory intent. It circled him, its movements slow and deliberate, as if it were toying with him.

I tightened my grip on the dagger, 'This monster was faster and stronger than me and I have little to no fighting experience, if I make one mistake here i'm dead.' My legs were shaking I couldn't move, I haven't been more afraid of anything in my whole life. 'Was this how weak my resolve was, what's the point of me making these bold claims if I can't even get through the trial.' Cutting of my thoughts the wolf lunged again, its jaws wide open, ready to rip me to shreds. In a frantic panic I held out my dagger bracing for the attack.

The wolfs jaws came into contact with my arm and the dagger with it, wincing I braced for the pain, staring at my arm waiting for the blood to begin pouring out. Blood poured out of the wolf like creatures mouth, but there was no pain. The wolf howled and retracted itself from my arm.

"Huh." Why was my arm still here? Why was there no pain? I looked at my left arm, and with it all my fear cast aside.

"The arm of titan," I laughed at my revelation." I.. I can fight I can win"

But the wolf was not defeated. It snarled and whipped around, before I could react its massive paw slashed at my side I used my prosthetic arm to tank the claws that were threatening to pierce through my skin but the brute force of the attack was too much for the rest of my body and I was sent flying crashing into the ground. Pain exploded in my ribs, and for a moment, the world spun around me.

"This is .nnh.. nothing compared to the pain of having your arm chopped off."

I rolled back onto my feet steeling my resolve but the wolf had no mercy as it charged again, its eyes blazing with fury. I inhaled deeply, calming my nerves. I could feel my body becoming lighter, my surroundings feeling closer yet more distant than ever, the wolfs movements seemed more slower and simplistic, my body was at an all new high. I raised the dagger, bracing for the impact. Yet at the last moment, I relaxed my legs and ducked low, below the foul creatures grotesque jaw , and drove the blade into the wolf's throat. The creature let out a strangled cry, its body shuddering violently before it collapsed to the ground, its life force draining away.

I stood over the fallen beast, breath coming in ragged gasps. All of a sudden my body became heavy, it ached, muscles screaming in protest. 'I can't rest, not until it's all over.'

Wiping the blood from the dagger, I continued my ascent. The path grew narrower, more treacherous, and the mist thickened until I could barely see a few feet in front of me. Every step was a test of endurance, every breath a struggle against the cold, thin air.

'I wonder what could be the next trial, another wolf monster? A goblin? In the end it doesn't matter what it is all I have to do is keep pushing forward, if I never give up how could I lose'

As Sekiro neared the summit, the air grew thick with a suffocating pressure, and it was only getting darker and harder to see. Eventually the mist parted to reveal a small figure blocking his path. It was still too dark to see any details but I could tell that the figure was a girl, no a woman, maybe in her mid 20's deprived of everything but white ragged clothes that contrasted her snow white hair. She was clearly starving her body barely bigger than his own despite the absurd age gap. Still holding the dagger tight in my left hand I walked up to her.

"Are you okay"

Startled She got up and with a desperate attempt she leapt forward at me, in her right hand laid a brown knife. The words of a certain god rang in my head, 'hesitation is defeat.'

I readied myself and in return with all my might I slashed my knife forward attempting to intercept the blade. Suddenly a metallic chain like noise rattled through my ears and my blade never met its target, completely missing and instead slashing the air. The next moment the blade I was holding glowed a bright green disorienting the both of them. The blade crackled with newfound energy, fierce winds propelled itself from the blade and sent the woman flying through the air. Before she could hit the ground, once again the sounds of chains rattled in the air, along with it a crunching sound as she screamed falling back onto the ground.

She laid on the floor clutching her foot screaming in agony. In shock I continued to blink trying to get my eyes to adjust to this darker environment, slowly walking towards her, only for my foot to get caught in a chain. 'This woman was being chained up here and I'm supposed to fight her, Is this really a trial'

"Kill her." A Deep voice radiated from the fog. "This is the last trial, killing her will prove your worth to the Shinobi"

A lump swelled in my throat.

"But she's defenseless" I protested hoping to reason with the voice.

"Exactly, if you don't have the willpower to kill a defenseless lady, how will you be able to fight against those who have no second thought of killing you."

The voice took a deep breath and continued. "Sekiro, in this world any hint of mercy is vanquished, hesitation in any form will lead to your demise. That is the way of war."

"I..I.. I understand."

"Good now complete the trial."

The woman was sprawled out on the ground no longer clutching at her feet but instead accepting her fate. She looked up at me, and I was met with two blue eyes. Her pupils shined like pearls lying peacefully at the bottom of a sea. Her mouth spread ajar for some unknown reason all the fear in her face and body instantly disappeared and instead was replaced with an expression filled with sorrow.

"Alfia.." the woman sounded weak and afraid, her voice no louder than a whisper.

'Alfia? She has clearly gone delusional'

She continued

"Alfia I'm so sorry, my body can't handle this anymore." She sobbed, "tell him im sorry, tell him I love him."

"Who"

"Tell my baby rabbit I love him"

Confused, I hesitated, 'baby rabbit?' but I eventually replied.

"Don't worry I will."

Realizing it's her dying wish I went along with her delusions.

"Thank..yo.." She whispered in between ragged breaths. Her eyelids fell and her body relaxed completely.

'She's out cold..'

I reached out my hand over her mouth, I waited for a second until I felt her breath on the back of my hand.

'Still alive..'

I inhaled deeply, looming over the sleeping woman.

'At least this way she wont feel any pain'

I raised my dagger, heart pounding in my chest. 'This was it-the final trial. If I kill this woman, I would have proven myself worthy of becoming a Shinobi. But if I fail…'

I closed my eyes and imagined my village, the horrific sounds of screams, the dreadful scent of blood, and the grotesque sight of burnt corpses scattered across the ground. My breath grew ragged, holding the blade tight I bolstered my resolve, the blade glowed the same vibrant green. I lifted her head up with my right hand and with all my might slashed at her neck. The blade seeped into her skin and with the help of the wind magic, it cut clean right through detaching the head from its owner.

'I did it..'

'My first kill.'

I fell back in disbelief, staring at my blade. I lifted my head to look at the body only to see blood pouring out of her neck at an accelerating rate.

'What have I done... No there is no going back, what's done is done.'

In disbelief I walked past the body. My stomach felt sick, and my throat was moist, my body was urging for release. After walking up a hill for what felt like an hour, a beam of light radiated into my eye. I was met with 2 red pillars, with green writing plastered all over that I couldn't recognise.

In the center of the pillars was a jade stone. My vision was still messy because of the everlasting fog but I could tell this had to be the shrine.

I heard footsteps approaching from my left..

"Congratulations Sekiro, you have passed the Great trial." The voice emerged from the smoke revealing Futsunushi. "You have shown your adaptability in battle despite your lack of combat experience. You shall become a great asset to the Shinobi."

Still terrified of what I've done, all I could do was nod in response.

"Now come, We shall return back to the monastery." Futsunushi turned away. "I could imagine you are quite ravenous after all your efforts"

I followed him, straining myself just to keep my mind clear.

Note: RIP...

Yeah so sorry I didn't clarify it last chapter but Alfia is aged up. She had Sekiro when she was 18 meaning she is 7 years older then the original story. When other characters from the main story appear I will be mentioning their age at the bottom of the page if their age is changed.