"Pain is the tuition for power. Bleed or burn. Choose."
— Instructor Dal
---
Dawn broke like fire across the Ashen Spire.
Renzo was already on his feet. His cot barely looked used.
He hadn't slept.
Not because he couldn't — but because the flame inside him wouldn't shut up.
It pulsed beneath his skin. Warmth crawling up his spine. His hands twitched every time he remembered the ignition. It was still there. Still hungry.
Across the dorm, Kael pulled on his training vest and nodded at him.
"Hope you stretched, newbie," he said. "Today's when they try to kill you."
Renzo blinked. "What?"
Kael smirked. "First Trial. Mandatory for all untrained flame users. Welcome to the Dominion."
---
TRIAL CHAMBER – "THE PYRE PIT"
Massive steel doors hissed open as dozens of new recruits filed into a colossal chamber that reeked of sulfur and blood.
Above them: A balcony full of Dominion elites. Shadowsidian armor glinting faintly in the forge light.
The Pit itself was ringed in obsidian — circular, 50 feet across, with veins of glowing fire flowing through cracks in the floor. This wasn't just a battlefield. It was alive.
Instructor Dal stood at the center, arms crossed. Behind him, floating on a fiery glyph: a scroll bound in dragon glass.
He raised one hand.
"All initiates, hear this: You will face your flame today. Not mine. Not your enemy's. Yours."
He pointed to Renzo. "You. Cavite boy. You go first."
The crowd buzzed. Whispers. Smirks. Pity.
Renzo stepped into the circle.
---
TRIAL TYPE: MIRROR FLAME COMBAT
Glyphs around the pit activated. A voice rang out:
> TRIAL INITIATED.
> OPPONENT: SHADOWSELF.
> FLAME RECOGNITION: RED.
> COMBAT LEVEL: CLASS C.
Across from Renzo, a figure erupted from the floor.
It was him.
But twisted.
Eyes burning like coals. Movements animalistic. The aura flame danced across its body like liquid hate. Unlike Renzo's, this flame moved with purpose.
Renzo swallowed hard.
"What the hell—?"
Yna's voice crackled through the intercom above. "That's your shadowself. Every mistake, every rage, every weakness you've ever had — given shape and flame."
Instructor Dal added, "If you lose, you die. If you win... congratulations, you're still pathetic. But alive."
---
BATTLE: RENZO VS SHADOW RENZO
The clone moved first.
It blurred forward, red flame trailing like chains behind it — a punch aimed straight at Renzo's chest.
BOOM!
Renzo rolled aside, barely dodging. His right hand ignited instinctively — a blast of red fire forming around his knuckles.
He threw a punch. Missed.
The clone spun, landing a flaming kick into Renzo's ribs. He skidded across the floor.
Too fast… too clean.
The clone didn't speak. Just kept coming — a reflection of everything he hated about himself. The rage. The fear. The helplessness.
Why are you scared?
Why didn't you fight when Dad disappeared?
Renzo screamed and slammed his fist into the floor.
FWHOOM.
A pillar of red fire exploded upward. The clone flinched. Renzo pushed forward, eyes burning.
"I'm not scared of you!"
"I am you!"
He punched through the shadow's guard, fist wrapped in roaring fire — one, two, three hits, until the clone shattered like glass made of embers.
Silence.
The trial glyph dimmed.
> "TRIAL PASSED."
---
MEDICAL BAY – LATER
Renzo sat shirtless, his ribs wrapped in bandages. His flame hadn't gone out — it flickered calmly now, like a candle after a storm.
Instructor Dal entered, tossing him a bottle of water.
"You lasted longer than I expected."
Renzo grunted. "Thanks, I think."
"You've got potential," Dal said. "But it's not enough."
Renzo looked up. "What is?"
Dal's voice dropped low — serious.
> "Control. Without it, you're just a bomb waiting to go off."
He turned to leave, but paused.
"There's a reason most people never make it past red. Anger's easy. Mastery? That's hell."
---
ABOVE THE EARTH – VERUS' SANCTUM
In a space that bent gravity and starlight, Verus floated in quiet fury.
He watched the flame signature of Renzo's trial flicker on a celestial chart. The red spark was... growing.
Verus gripped the edge of the galaxy map until it cracked.
> "A mortal with red flame shouldn't be beating his own shadow. Not this clean."
From the dark behind him, a voice spoke.
"You fear the boy."
Verus turned, eyes glowing gold. "No. I envy him."
He raised his hand, summoning a new flame. But it didn't obey. It fizzled. Empty. Still trapped at gold.
> "The Void doesn't answer gods who fake emotion."
He stared at Renzo's growing flame signature.
> "But it listens to him."
---
IGNIS DOMINION – FLAME RANK BOARD
Kael walked up to Renzo in the mess hall, holding a roll of bread and an energy drink.
"You moved up to Yellow threshold," he said. "Most people don't even pass their red trial without losing a finger."
Renzo blinked. "Wait… I thought I was Ember class."
Kael grinned. "Not anymore, buddy."
He held up his wristband — it pulsed.
> Rank: Igniter Class — Yellow Initiate.
Flame Stability: 81%.
Renzo stared at his own band.
> Status: Updated.
> Aura Flame Classification: Yellow.
He felt it. A strange calmness rising inside him. Like the flame respected him now. Like it had decided to stay.
But one question remained.
What's next?
---
To be continue...