The Earth After Rebirth

Hubris slowly looked at the place the shard disappeared to. He didn't have time nor the speed to react to it.

"Do you think this will cause us problems?" He asked, unsure of what to make of it.

"Maybe it'll explode. Maybe we will be able to control its powers. Don't worry about it too much." Kiro said nonchalantly biting onto the chicken leg he was holding.

After their little rest stop they ventured deeper into the temple, they found themselves in a vast, dimly lit chamber. The air crackled with a cold anticipation, and the ground beneath their feet felt solid and sturdy. It didn't feel like it would crumble at any moment, but they were still expecting it, they didn't trust this temple at all.

The sound of distant echoes filled the room, like long lost warriors battling it out but they couldn't be seen, this was hinting at a challenge awaiting their arrival.

In the center of the chamber, an imposing stone door stood tall, decorated with elaborate carvings of warriors in fierce battles, just like the ones they were hearing but could not see. Though nothing suggested that, the carvings would move to entertain them if only a little.

Kiro didn't know what the temple was, but he got a gist that these were tests and in order to get out of here, they had to adhere to whatever was thrown at them, to reach the end they had to play.

With determination etched across his face, he slowly approached the stone door. As he reached out to touch it, a surge of energy coursed through his veins, and the room transformed around them.

They found themselves in a vast arena, surrounded by towering walls, with spectators lining the stands, their eyes fixed upon them with great anticipation, as if they even refused to breathe.

Before them stood a towering figure, a mythical creature with gripping muscles and eyes gleaming with fierce determination to kill. This was clearly a challenge in the form of a mighty duel, pitting them against a formidable opponent known as the Titan.

They figured the name because now the crowd cheered louder than ever, singing its name as if it were a battle warcry. The duo felt out of place.

The Titan's voice boomed, resonating throughout the arena, even with the crowd making a noise they could hear him very clearly. "To proceed forth, you must prove your worth in combat seed of the monkey king and King of the Underworld. Defeat me, and the path shall be yours."

Hubris was confused as to why he called him that, he was no king, at least not yet.

They steeled themselves, drawing from their inner reserves of strength and strong wills. They had come a long way together, this too shall be an obstacle they climb over.

The clash began, the Titan's movements were fluid and powerful they denied his size, its strikes akin to thunderbolts. Kiro with Ryu met each blow with unwavering determination, showcasing his own agility and skill. Showing the titan he may not have been in many battles like him, but he had his fair share of experience.

The duel intensified, the sound of clashing weapons reverberated through the arena. Hubris was working as Kiro's mount, since he could now go in and out of intangibility with his master, he had taken the position of defense.

Kiro channeled his instincts and honing his combat prowess with the new Kaos energy, finding his rhythm amidst the chaos.

They fought with unwavering resolve, using both that strategy and physical prowess to counter the Titan's overwhelming strength.

As minutes turned into hours, fatigue threatened to seep into their unbreakable fighting style. But with Hubris feeling useless all the time his determination burned brighter, fueling their resolve.

The crowd was in awe of their battle strategy, nobody had ever lasted this long with the Titan, they started to think the Titan was going easy on them. They couldn't understand how his swings were met with a tiny staff that couldn't be broken in half.

With one final, mighty effort, Kiro sent a flurry of strikes the Titan's way, his weapon connecting with the Titan's defenses. Together, Kiro sent a lightning rain while Hubris sent hellfire.

A resounding roar filled the arena as the Titan staggered backward, it had never been moved by any warrior from where it stood. That seem to have made it angrier.

Silence fell upon the arena, broken only by Kiro's tired breaths. An indescribable feeling washed over, they knew that, if they didn't find a way to subdue the Titan they'd be utterly destroyed.

The Titan showed off its speed and lunged at them, Hubris wasn't any quicker, as the huge axe grazed his behind but managed to escape with intangibility. He could see the glimpses of the future, but avoiding it was another matter entirely.

Their weak bodies was their undoing, after hours of dancing with a legendary creature, fatigue stole the victory from them. Fortunately the Titan wasn't out to murder them as they believed, as his axes turned to dust as it sliced through them.

The crowd erupted into thunderous applause, their cheers and chants filling the air. They had just been gifted a spectacle, and the path forward for the two was revealed.

Not having won, they were confused about the treatment. It boosted their confidence nonetheless, with the newfound sense of confidence, they pressed on, leaving the arena behind.

It seemed like there was no next challenge, but the door to leave this arena room was far filled with towering walls, treacherous pits and the like.

"Isn't this just criminal after fighting that big thing?" Kiro complained, he was about ready to get out of the room but the room wasn't quite done with them.

It seemed to have been wanting to test not just combat, but also endurance. The climbed walls, jumped over pits and travelled to the door, when they reached it, Kiro was drenched in sweat.

He could feel his entire physiology changing, the fatigue weaved into his muscles as a new strength, he felt tired but he felt good.