As Vill Long Feng grasped the flame-shaped crystal, the chamber trembled, and the sheer power of the Sovereign of the Eternal Flames surged into his body. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced before—fire hotter than the sun coursed through his veins, threatening to incinerate his very being. His muscles tensed, his skin cracked as fiery veins spread across his arms, and his blood boiled with uncontainable energy.
Yet, he did not let go.
Instead, he gritted his teeth and focused, allowing the power to merge with him, to become one with his body and soul. His Dragon and Phoenix bloodlines resonated, intertwining in perfect harmony, feeding off the endless flames. His vision blurred, and suddenly, he was no longer in the chamber.
He stood within an endless inferno, a realm of flames that stretched beyond sight. The sky was crimson, burning with golden embers, and an oppressive heat bore down on him. In the distance, two colossal figures emerged—one a mighty dragon, its scales shimmering like molten lava, and the other a majestic phoenix, its wings spanning across the sky, radiating an eternal blaze.
"You have reached the precipice of true power," a voice rumbled, ancient and commanding. "But can you endure it?"
Before Vill could respond, the Dragon roared, sending a devastating torrent of fire towards him. At the same time, the Phoenix flapped its wings, creating a storm of golden flames that converged upon him.
It was a trial unlike any before. There was no running, no blocking—only overcoming.
Vill took a deep breath, allowing his instincts to take control. He embraced the flames, his own power rising to meet them. The Dragon's fire collided with his body, but instead of burning him, it was absorbed into his very essence. His bones hardened, his muscles strengthened, and his aura expanded.
The Phoenix's flames wrapped around him, engulfing him in an ethereal blaze. He did not resist. Instead, he let the golden fire refine him, burning away all weakness and hesitation. His soul trembled, but at the same time, it soared.
Time was meaningless in this realm of fire, but after what felt like an eternity, the flames settled. Vill stood tall, his entire being transformed. His body radiated a divine glow, his black hair now carrying crimson streaks of burning energy, and his eyes burned with an eternal flame. His very existence had evolved.
The Dragon and Phoenix watched him with approval.
"You have inherited the Sovereign's power," the Phoenix said. "Now wield it wisely."
The realm of fire shattered, and Vill found himself back in the chamber. The crystal had dissolved, its energy fully absorbed into his being. His breath was steady, his body no longer aching but instead filled with unshakable strength.
He clenched his fist, and with a mere thought, golden flames erupted around him, forming intricate runes of power in the air. His control over fire had reached an entirely new realm—his flames no longer mere energy, but a divine force of creation and destruction.
The chamber trembled again, and before him, a doorway of fire materialized, leading to the unknown.
Vill exhaled.
He had conquered the trial, but his journey was far from over. If anything, it had only just begun.
With firm steps, he walked through the portal, embracing whatever lay ahead.
As Vill Long Feng stepped through the portal of fire, the world around him shifted once more. The chamber of flames vanished, replaced by an open expanse unlike anything he had ever seen.
The sky above burned with streaks of gold and crimson, as if the heavens themselves were made of fire. The ground beneath him was solid yet seemed alive, pulsing with molten veins of energy. He stood upon what felt like an ancient battlefield—scorched ruins stretched into the distance, and remnants of colossal structures lay crumbled under the weight of time.
At the center of it all stood a towering monument, shaped like a blazing sun. It radiated an overwhelming aura, calling to him, urging him forward.
Vill's body still hummed with the newly absorbed power of the Sovereign of the Eternal Flames. He clenched his fist, and a flicker of golden fire danced in his palm. The sensation was different now—his flames no longer wild, but precise, controlled, and infinitely more powerful.
But before he could take another step, a deep, guttural growl echoed across the ruins.
Vill turned sharply, his instincts screaming in warning. From the darkness of the broken structures, shadows began to stir. At first, they were shapeless, mere flickers of movement, but soon, they took form—fiery beasts of pure destruction. Their bodies were made of molten rock, their eyes burning embers, and their breath exhaled plumes of smoldering ash.
Infernal Guardians.
He recognized them immediately. These creatures were legendary, said to be forged from the remnants of an ancient battle between the Dragon Gods and the Phoenix Kings. Their sole purpose was to destroy anyone unworthy of wielding the Eternal Flames.
And they had marked him as their prey.
Vill exhaled, his expression calm despite the overwhelming presence of the beasts. He had just conquered the trial of fire—he would not falter now.
One of the Infernal Guardians lunged, its massive claws slicing through the air with devastating force. Vill sidestepped at the last moment, feeling the heat of the attack singe his robes. Before the beast could recover, he struck.
His fist ignited with golden fire as he delivered a crushing blow to the creature's core. The impact sent a shockwave through the battlefield, and the molten beast let out an agonized roar as cracks spread across its body. Then, with a final burst of flames, it shattered into embers.
The other beasts hesitated.
Vill smirked. "Come, then."
As if understanding his challenge, the remaining Infernal Guardians roared in unison and charged.
But Vill was already moving.
With each step, his flames flared, his body moving faster than ever before. He twisted through their attacks with fluid precision, his strikes landing with devastating impact. His flames no longer merely burned—they erased, consuming the very essence of the beasts.
One by one, they fell, their forms dissolving into ashes.
And then, silence.
Vill stood amidst the destruction, his flames still crackling in the air. His breathing was steady, his body unscathed. The battle had ended in mere moments—a testament to his newfound strength.
But something else stirred.
Beyond the battlefield, past the ruins, the great monument of flame pulsed brighter, as if reacting to his victory. A deep hum resonated through the air, and the ground trembled beneath him.
Vill's eyes narrowed.
This was not the end.
This was only the beginning of the true trial.
And whatever lay ahead... he was ready.