When the darkness disappeared Teddy found himself on the top of a tall frozen mountain. Snow was everywhere and the wind was howling.
The strange thing was Teddy wasn't cold. And yet somehow he knew it was because of his new Stormforged Raiment.
Teddy didn't have time to think about this. Why? Well there was a strange beast heading his way. And this beast didn't seem friendly.
The initial thought that Teddy had was he has this new cultivation technique that obviously is allowing him to control lightning.
He was also given some garments and a staff to help with his lightning control and cultivation.
Why don't he use this lightning to fight with this beast? But something did not sit right with him. Other than having fangs and claws, this beast didn't really seem as impressive as a cultivator.
He thought he would try something first and see what happens. Hopefully this won't backfire on him.
He stretched out his staff and started circulating his cultivation technique. Immediately storm clouds formed overhead and lightning danced in the sky.
With a loud clap of thunder lightning struck the tip of his staff and surged towards the beast. The bolt of lightning was a stick as a tree.
Suddenly the lightning struck the beast with a loud bang. Lightning flew in every direction as a blinding light made it impossible to see.
When Teddy's vision returned, what he saw was unbelievable. There was the beast standing in the middle of a massive crater. And the beast was smiling without a scratch on him. Not even his fur was singed.
The beast then mockingly jumped into the air and started to form an electric ball around his hand. He then darted towards Teddy his intention clear.
Teddy instinctively reacted. He formed an electric dome around him to shield him from the attack. The beast struck the dome and though the dome withstood the hit, it wasn't long before it collapsed.
Teddy stared at this beast. It's obvious that by himself the beast cannot beat Teddy. Or at least that's how it appears.
Then Teddy remembered something. The spirit told him that nothing in any of these trials are what they seem.
Would that apply to this beast as well? Then if he wasn't supposed to defeat the beast by fighting him, then what was he supposed to do?
Teddy became more and more confused. Confusion is not good for a cultivator. Confusion will interrupt a cultivators ability to use his cultivation techniques.
What is Teddy going to do? What can Teddy do? What will Teddy do? Then Teddy got an idea.
"I'm sorry if I sound rude but what is your name?"
The malicious grin on the beast face turned into a knowing grin. It was almost as if the beast could see that this cultivator learns quickly. Then the beast responded to Teddy's question.
"I have no name. I am merely a tool. But if you want to call me something, you can call me stranger since we don't know each other."
Teddy not at his head politely and responded, "Okay stranger, I'm Teddy. May I ask why you immediately attacked me when I arrived?"
The beast said amusingly, "If someone breaks into your house, do you not defend it? You can consider this realm almost my house."
So there was the first clue. But this little bit of information was not enough to pass the trial. So Teddy decided to push further.
"This is true that one would defend their own house. And you could consider me as an intruder or you could consider me as a victim as well."
The beast was amused. He asked, "What do you mean by a victim as well?"
Now Teddy was getting somewhere. Each trial was indeed different. If the first trial was about testing one's cultivation. The second was definitely about understanding ones surroundings. So this one must be understanding one's opponent.
"Well stranger, it's not like I intended to barge in. You can almost consider me thrown into your house. So the real perpetrator is the one that forced me here."
This beast was beginning to like Teddy. This cultivator seemed to know how to word things. He had almost an elegance to his words.
"Well then Teddy, you may have not wanted here but you still are here. When it be prudent to compensate one for their troubles?"
Then it hit him. Teddy finally understood how to pass this trial. Didn't he have several electric orbs in his storage bag? And this beast seems to be immune to electricity.
When he thought about it maybe this beast is not just immune to lightning and electricity. Maybe this beast cultivates it himself somehow. This was a long shot but one worth pursuing.
"Stranger I do have some way to compensate but I don't know if you will accept it."
This got the beast attention.
"Okay Teddy. How are you going to compensate me?"
With a grin on his face Teddy responded saying, "I found some electric orbs. Would you be interested in them?"
The beast not only seemed interested but puzzled too.
"You have electric orbs? What kind of electric orbs?"
Teddy pulled out one of the orbs from his storage bag and showed it to the beast.
"That is an orb of an electric specter. Though the electric specters are not very strong, the electric specters forms electric orbs when they die. And for an electric type creature such as myself, those orbs are priceless. They can help me increase my strength and ultimately evolve into something stronger."
The beast looked at the orb with greed in his eyes. He knew that if Teddy had one he had more.
"I'll tell you what kid, you hand over all of the orbs you have and I promise to leave you alone. In order for me to effectively absorb the power in those orbs I must go into hibernation anyways."
So he was correct about the nature of this trial. It wasn't about combat. Rather it was about understanding his opponent.
You don't always have to fight to get out of a difficult situation. Sometimes talking or trading could make a bad situation into a good one. And who knows you may even make a friend in the end.
Stop Teddy was certain at this beast was not willing to be his friend. However if he was willing to put away being his enemy, someone who takes a neutral position is better than having an enemy.
So Teddy pulled out all of the electric orbs in his storage bag. He tossed them over to the beast.
The beast was almost overjoyed with so many electric orbs. It was way more than he thought he was going to get.
"I tell you what kid, I was going to betray you. But since you have given me such a plentiful harvest, I have no choice but to let you go. You have given me enough to definitely evolve. So I will pay one favor for another."
And with that the beast disappeared leaving Teddy standing there by himself. There was a lot for Teddy to take in.
Then the space around Teddy changed. Teddy found himself back in the cave. In front of Teddy was the spirit.
"Congratulations on passing the third and final trial. Any cultivator that reaches that trial, always ends up battling the beast until they are dead. Sometimes making a friend is better than making an enemy. Also never forget, a cultivators greatest weapon is his or hers mind."
Teddy was elated. He had passed the trials. He will be able to see his family again. Then he realized he's been in this cave for a hundred years. Yes he has only aged about fifteen years, but all of his family would be dead by now.
Almost knowing his dilemma the spirit spoke.
"Though it has been one hundred years in this realm, time has only passed fifteen years in the earth realm. You will see your loved ones when you leave. But be careful of your new power. As you cultivate, you will get stronger. And your cultivation is going to speed up with your new equipment."
As soon as the spirit said this a mask and gauntlets floated in front of Teddy. The mask was mostly white trimmed in a golden-silvery metal. And the gauntlets was mostly that golden-silvery metal.
This was his reward for passing the final test. Soon he would be able to leave this place.