The Shadow Wraith's dark energy crashed toward Lin Xing like a tidal wave, a writhing mass of cold malice that threatened to swallow him whole. He raised the Ember Gauntlet, its runes flaring with golden light, and the spark in his chest surged, instinctive and fierce. With a shout, he thrust his sword forward, the gauntlet channeling the Flame's power into a blazing arc of fire that collided with the Wraith's attack. The two forces clashed, gold and shadow erupting in a shockwave that shook the Ruins of Dawn, toppling crumbling pillars and scattering the lesser shadows like leaves in a storm.
Lin Xing staggered, his arm trembling from the effort. The gauntlet burned hot against his skin, its power both exhilarating and overwhelming. He glanced at Sylvara, who fought with fluid grace, her staff weaving patterns of violet light that carved through the swarming shadows. Her eyes met his, sharp with urgency. "The Wraith is too strong for brute force, Lin Xing! You must outwit it!"
"Outwit it?" he muttered, dodging a claw that slashed through the air where he'd stood. "I'm barely keeping up!"
The Shadow Wraith loomed closer, its crimson eyes locking onto him. Its voice was a guttural rasp, like gravel grinding in the void. "Bearer of the Flame, your spark is weak. Surrender it, and I will grant you a swift end."
Lin Xing smirked, despite the fear gnawing at his gut. "You talk big for a walking shadow. Come and take it."
The Wraith roared, its body splitting into a dozen tendrils of darkness that lashed out like whips. Lin Xing dove to the side, rolling across the cracked stone of the ruins. The gauntlet pulsed, urging him to act, but he had no techniques, no training beyond his forest drills. All he had was instinct—and the stubborn will that had carried him this far.
He scrambled to his feet, noticing the ruins' layout: scattered pillars, some still standing, others half-collapsed, their surfaces etched with faint runes. An idea sparked. "Sylvara!" he shouted. "Can you keep it busy for a moment?"
She nodded, her staff blazing brighter as she unleashed a torrent of violet energy, forcing the Wraith to redirect its tendrils to block her attack. "Hurry!" she called, her voice strained.
Lin Xing sprinted toward the nearest pillar, the gauntlet's warmth guiding his movements. He didn't understand the runes, but he felt their connection to the Flame, like an echo of the spark in his chest. He pressed his gauntleted hand against the pillar, willing the Flame's power into it. The runes flared, and a pulse of golden light rippled outward, staggering the nearby shadows.
The Wraith hissed, its attention snapping to him. "Foolish boy! You cannot wield the Flame's true power!"
Lin Xing ignored it, racing to the next pillar. He repeated the process, the gauntlet channeling the spark into the stone. Each pillar lit up, their runes forming a network of glowing lines across the clearing. Sylvara's voice cut through the chaos. "The runes! They're part of the temple's ancient array! Activate them all, and you can bind the Wraith!"
He didn't know what an array was, but he trusted her. Dodging another barrage of dark tendrils, he moved from pillar to pillar, the gauntlet's power flowing more naturally with each touch. The spark in his chest grew hotter, syncing with the ruins' energy. The Wraith roared, sensing the threat, and abandoned its assault on Sylvara to charge at him.
Lin Xing reached the final pillar, his breath ragged. The Wraith was nearly upon him, its claws raised to strike. He slammed his gauntlet against the stone, pouring every ounce of will into the spark. The runes across the clearing blazed, connecting in a radiant web of golden light. Chains of fire erupted from the ground, wrapping around the Wraith's limbs, pinning it in place. It thrashed, its screams shaking the ruins, but the chains held firm.
Sylvara appeared at his side, her staff glowing. "Now, Lin Xing! Strike its core!"
He didn't hesitate. Raising his sword, he channeled the gauntlet's power, the blade igniting with a flame brighter than ever before. He leaped forward, driving the sword into the Wraith's chest, where a pulsing red orb flickered—its core. The blade pierced through, and the Wraith let out a final, ear-splitting wail before dissolving into a cloud of ash.
The chains faded, and the clearing fell silent. Lin Xing collapsed to his knees, gasping, the gauntlet's glow dimming. His body ached, but the spark in his chest burned steady, stronger than before.
Sylvara knelt beside him, her expression a mix of relief and caution. "You did well. The array amplified the Flame's power, but you were the one who made it work."
He managed a weak grin. "Guess I'm not completely useless."
She didn't smile. "The Wraith was only a scout. Stronger foes will come. We must leave the ruins before more arrive."
Lin Xing nodded, forcing himself to stand. The gauntlet felt heavier now, its power a constant hum in his arm. "Where to next?"
Sylvara pointed to the horizon, where the first rays of dawn broke through the dark clouds. "The Azure Flame Continent's heart—the City of Blazing Skies. There, you'll find the next trial and allies who can aid you. But the Shadow Clans will follow. Are you ready?"
He gripped his sword, the spark in his chest flaring with defiance. "Ready as I'll ever be."
As they left the ruins, the golden light of the array fading behind them, Lin Xing felt the weight of his new path. The Flame had chosen him, and though he didn't fully understand why, he knew one thing: he'd fight to prove it wasn't a mistake.