> [Judgment Flame Trial Initiated]
Balance Required: Internal Truth vs External Purpose
Outcome: Sixth Flame Acceptance OR Soul Burnout
Light surged from the flame altar.
Jiang Han cried out as his chest was flooded with heat—not pain, but division.
His vision split.
His soul… separated.
---
Two Sides, One Soul
When Jiang opened his eyes, he stood on a cracked obsidian plain.
Across from him stood a version of himself in deep crimson armor. Same eyes. Same sword. Same face—but colder. Fiercer.
> "Who—"
The other Jiang stepped forward.
> "I am the flame you hide. The part of you that would sacrifice anyone for the end goal."
> "The Jiang Han who would burn the world to save it."
Jiang gritted his teeth. "I'm not like that."
> "Aren't you?" the crimson Jiang sneered. "You burned through a Flamebound God. Broke a legacy. You didn't hesitate to kill those Serpentsteel dogs."
> "And you're bonded to a Phoenix you haven't earned."
Jiang raised Emberfang. "We're not the same."
The crimson Jiang smiled.
> "Then prove it."
---
Duel – Judgment Mirror
> [Duel of Soul Initiated – Internal Combat Form: Mirror Flame]
Skills and Flames Equalized. Only Intention Differentiates Outcome.
The battle began.
Sword met sword—Emberfang against Emberfang.
But Jiang's flame pulsed with memory, sorrow, instinct.
His reflection's flame surged with cold logic and raw drive.
Crimson Jiang struck faster. Cleaner.
> "You fight with restraint. I fight with focus."
Jiang was driven back—cut along his arm.
But then he remembered—
Tian Xue's hand on his chest.
Bo Ren's quiet faith.
Zhao Kai's jokes. Yue's grit. Tempest's loyalty.
> "I fight," he whispered, "for the ones who stay with me."
He stepped in.
And embraced the mirror.
---
Merging Flame
The crimson Jiang froze.
> "What are you—"
> "I'm not destroying you," Jiang said quietly.
"I'm accepting you."
The flame around him turned white.
The mirror shattered.
And a new flame formed between his palms.
Not fire. Not heat.
> Balance.
> [You have passed the Trial of Two Flames]
Sixth Flame Acquired: Flame of Judgment – "Equilibrium Flame"
• Skill: Soul Weighing – Detects emotional imbalance, reveals hidden truths
• Passive: Flame Fusion Stability +30%
• Flame Trait: Just Judgment – When defending an ally, counterattacks increase by 100%
Flame Throne Count: 5/12
---
The Temple Answers
Outside the altar, the flame columns dimmed.
Tian Xue held the Phoenix Egg close—it glowed brighter, its feathers just beginning to show in its shell.
Tempest chirped.
Bo Ren and Yue exchanged stunned looks.
> "The Sixth Flame… it accepted him."
Then the doors of the inner sanctum opened.
A voice spoke from within.
> "One more trial remains."
Jiang emerged, breathing heavily, the new flame swirling in his eyes.
> "Then let's finish it."
---
Secret Chamber – Forbidden Flame Memory
Inside the sanctum was a sealed vault.
Bo Ren gasped. "This is… the Flamewheel's record vault!"
Yue stepped forward. "Wait—this seal. I've seen this before. On Long Chen's tomb relic."
Tian Xue touched the lock.
> [Long Chen Memory Fragment Detected. Playback Initiated.]
A vision formed.
Long Chen, ragged and half-burned, stood before the same altar.
> "I failed. The Sixth Flame judged me… and found me too heavy."
He looked at the camera—at them.
> "If someone's watching this… take what I couldn't. Burn better than me."
The vision ended.
Tian Xue was crying.
Jiang placed a hand on the vault door.
> "I will."