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## Chapter 4: Trial by Flame
Morning sunlight crept through the blinds of Sylvan's room, but his mind was elsewhere. Today wasn't a day for rest. Today, he would test himself.
He moved through the house with calm purpose, slipping past his brothers' rooms toward a chamber set apart from the rest—the gaming room.
A sleek metallic door hissed open to reveal a vast, dimly lit space. Dozens of VR pods, or "zooms," lined the walls in neat rows, each capable of rendering a world beyond reality. Sylvan approached one, its surface glowing faintly in anticipation.
Inside the zoom, he fastened a pair of silver rings onto his fingers—smooth, humming with neural-sync energy. Then came the leg bracelet—wrapped around his calf with a quiet click. It pulsed once. Connection established.
"Begin session," Sylvan said.
The world dissolved.
### Into the Jungle
When it reformed, he stood in the heart of a dense jungle. Towering trees stretched above him, sunlight filtered in golden rays, and the rustling of leaves echoed from all directions. The scent of moss, the damp air, the hum of insects—it felt real.
Too real.
He walked forward, cautious. Two minutes passed. Then—
A growl.
His eyes darted upward just in time to see a blur of orange and black.
A tiger burst from the treetops, crashing down in a deadly arc. Sylvan twisted, narrowly dodging its outstretched claws. Bark exploded behind him where it landed.
He extended his palm.
A blue glyph shimmered.
**Weapon Summoned: Katana of the Chaos God**
The blade materialized in his grip—sleek, curved, and pulsing with dormant fire.
The tiger snarled and raised its paw.
Three crescent-shaped blades of water shot toward Sylvan.
He leapt, ducked, spun. The slashes whistled past him, one slicing the edge of his sleeve.
As he landed, the sword ignited.
"**Fiery Sword Art... First Form: Fiery Inferno!**"
Flames roared from the blade in a searing arc. The tiger was engulfed mid-leap. It let out a tortured roar as it was flung backward, crashing into a tree.
Smoke curled into the air.
Sylvan approached the fallen beast and knelt.
**\[Beast Core Obtained: Element - Water | Grade: Low]**
**\[Progress: 1/10 Opponents Defeated]**
He stood. His breath fogged lightly in the heated jungle air.
Then—
**\[System Notification: Daily Challenge Accepted – Objective: Defeat 10 Opponents | Reward: 10 Attribute Points]**
He moved forward. The next test awaited.
### The Trials Begin
A low hiss coiled through the grass. A serpent slithered into view, twice the size of any normal snake, its eyes glowing violet. Its scales shimmered like oil—dark, iridescent, and laced with venom.
The snake struck first—lunging with fangs bared. Sylvan slid under it, flames flaring around his blade.
"**Fiery Sword Art… Second Form: Flame Vortex!**"
He spun, a cyclone of fire spiraling outward. The serpent recoiled, hissing, its flesh scorched. But it wasn't done.
The serpent opened its jaws—releasing a torrent of acidic mist.
Sylvan dashed through the vapor, fire shielding his body, and leapt.
"**Fiery Sword Art… Third Form: Flame Serpent!**"
A snake-shaped flame erupted from his sword, mimicking the enemy's form and slamming into the serpent with explosive force. The enemy writhed and collapsed, sizzling into smoke.
**\[Beast Core Obtained: Element - Poison | Grade: Mid]**
**\[Progress: 2/10 Opponents Defeated]**
### One by One
The jungle grew more hostile.
A falcon made of lightning, a bear coated in stone armor, a shadowy wolf that vanished and reappeared—one by one, they came.
Sylvan fought with relentless focus, wielding each form of his Fiery Sword Art:
* **Third Opponent: Lightning Falcon – Fiery Inferno**
**\[Progress: 3/10 Opponents Defeated]**
* **Fourth Opponent: Earth Bear – Flame Vortex**
**\[Progress: 4/10 Opponents Defeated]**
* **Fifth Opponent: Shadow Wolf – Flame Serpent**
**\[Progress: 5/10 Opponents Defeated]**
* **Sixth Opponent: Wind Foxes (Pack) – Fiery Inferno + Flame Tornado**
**\[Progress: 6/10 Opponents Defeated]**
* **Seventh Opponent: Ice Gorilla – Flame Vortex to melt armor, then Fiery Inferno**
**\[Progress: 7/10 Opponents Defeated]**
* **Eighth Opponent: Fire Boar – Flame Tornado**
**\[Progress: 8/10 Opponents Defeated]**
* **Ninth Opponent: Toxic Beetle – Flame Serpent**
**\[Progress: 9/10 Opponents Defeated]**
* **Tenth Opponent: Thunder Stag – Fiery Sword Art, all forms in a final combo**
**\[Progress: 10/10 Opponents Defeated]**
Sylvan stood over the stag's fading body, panting, his sword still glowing.
**\[Daily Challenge Complete: 10 Opponents Defeated]**
**\[Reward Granted: +10 Attribute Points]**
**\[Distribute Points Now?]**
Sylvan nodded.
"Allocate: +1 to Strength, +1 to Agility, +1 to Endurance, +1 to Perception, +1 to Vitality, +1 to Energy, +1 to Charm, +1 to SP, +2 to Luck."
The system pulsed in response.
### System Update
**\[Updated Status – Host: Sylvan Crimson]**
**Age:** 18
**Race:** Chaos heir / Dragon
**Level:** 2
EXP: 7 /100
**Strength:** 33
**Agility:** 33
**Endurance:** 33
**Energy:** 33
**Vitality:** 33
**Perception:** 33
**Charm:** 33
**Luck:** 5
**Energy Points:** 20,000
---
Sylvan sheathed his katana. The jungle shimmered—beginning to dissolve.
Session complete.
And yet, the fire in his chest still burned.
This was just the beginning.