Their swords crossed. Joseph couldn't hold back the hit. He got pushed back and Charles instantly attacked at the opening. He cut Joseph's right hand and then tried to cut his chest, but he moved away. His hand had no wounds on it, even though it got cut.

"What is thi...?"

He had no time because the skeleton was attacking him constantly. He barely got away from a strike that would've beheaded him. He tried to ripost, but it got reflected and responded by a stab in his stomach.

He felt pain, but there was no mark of the stab. He hit Charles's head with his left hand, but it had no effect. He got more and more cut and stabs as it was going on, but he had no wounds. He only felt incredible pain. Even though there was no mark, the pain stayed and after a while he barely could move without feeling the ache in every inch of his body, but he still did strike back once more.

He hit the skeleton's body and it stopped moving.

"Very good!"

The pain subsided from his body.

"You passed the test. Your mind is really strong."

Joseph sit down sighing.

"What are you talking about?"

"It's simple. You did not faint from the pain in your body, but moved and stroke back."

Joseph laughed.

"That was a hell of a "test"!"

The skeleton walked back to it's throne and touched it.

"If you would've passed out you would've died. But now you can take on the real challenge. Beat all of them and come back to me!"

"What?"

Everything went dark for him. After a few seconds he got back his vision. He was in a room like the first one he entered in.

"Back here? Come on!"

A transparent guy in cloak appeared on the otherside of the room. His face and features were all blank. He held out a rapier and jumped towards Joseph thrusting with his weapon.

Joseph parried the attack and tried to hit back, but his opponent was faster. He dodged Joseph's attack and aimed at the hearth, but failed and a sword came down on his back. He vanished into the air.

"That's done."

As soon as he turned to the other side to look for the door a bigger guy with a giant cleaver was standing there.

"Really? How many are there going to be here?"

This one came with a big swing at him. The weapon sweaped Joseph away and he fell to the ground. Instead of parrying he decided to dodge the next attack and ripost when the guy attacked. He pierced the guy's chest and he disappeared.

The next one was wielding a long sword. They exchanged a few blows before Joseph finally found a hole in his defense.

Joseph was sweating and breathing heavily. He was to tired to continue, but an other guy come out with a short sword and a small kite shield.

When Joseph parried his attack, he bashed his shield in Joseph's face and tried to cut him down, but Joseph fell to the ground and rolled away. The guy ran after him and tried to kill him, but Joseph kicked his shield and stabbed him in the chest.

The whole place went dark again.

"What is going to happen now?"

He heard a clapping.

"Very good!"

He was back in the throne room with the skeleton.

"They were only shadows of themselfes, but to win against all of them is still good. You can become a lot better swordman if you keep it up and I will help you."

"What are you talking about?"

"When you awake and use my sword I will help you strike at your enemies. I will guide you hand through the battles. Your opponents will have no chance."

Joseph didn't belive him one bit.

"And what is the reason behind this? Is there a price possibly?"

The skeleton laughed.

"Yes there is!"

He stood up from the throne.

"You have to kill a black mage that has cursed me, so I can get to the other side!"

"I barely won here and you want me to kill someone you couldn't?"

"It's not that I couldn't, I had no chance because he stabbed me in the back."

"That makes me more comfortable..."

"I will assist you to become stronger before you face him. After all. You can get a lot stronger the more you fight!"

"What are you talkin..."

Everything went dark again.