The Ember Tournament was no longer just a proving ground.
It had become a furnace—where weak ambitions were burned away, and only steel-hard will remained.
Twenty-four contenders now stood between Kai and the finals.
And the next round… would be unlike anything before.
At dawn, the remaining fighters were summoned not to the arena—but to Ashgate Canyon, just outside Verdane's southern edge.
An open ravine, filled with cracked obsidian, flickering flame vents, and the skeletal remains of old battles. Rumors said it was once the site of a Great Sect War, where fire cultivators clashed and left the land permanently scorched by Ki storms.
Fang Duun's voice was gravel in Kai's ear as they stood before the transport wagon.
"They call this one the Trial by Fire. It ain't just a duel. It's a survival match. Three hours inside the canyon. Randomized team placement. Environment hazards. Wild spirit beasts. And if you're lucky—an opponent stronger than you."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "If I'm lucky?"
"Yeah. Because the strong ones don't die fast. You follow 'em, maybe you make it out alive."
Kai climbed aboard.
[System Notice – Team Placement Randomized]Assigned Team: Unit 7 – Flame SectorTeammates:— Mako Rin | Level: 10 | Dual Blade/Flame Art— Vash Tenru | Level: 9 | Wind Breaker Fist— Kai | Level: 9 | Unknown Style
He'd heard of Mako Rin.
A local favorite. One of the few blessed by the Inner Circle and trained under a Flame Sect remnant. Fast. Merciless. Charismatic in battle.
Mako met him with a nod as they approached the scorched entry of the canyon.
"You're Kai, yeah? The mist girl couldn't touch you."
"She did," Kai said. "She just missed the part that mattered."
Mako smirked.
"Good. You'll need that attitude where we're going."
[Trial Begins – Time Limit: 3 Hours]
The moment the gate dropped, the air changed. Kai could feel pressure in every breath. The environment wasn't neutral—it fought back.
[Environmental Debuff: Firestorm Field – Passive Ki Drain (Light)]
The ground cracked beneath their boots. Vents of flame burst at irregular intervals. The team advanced through narrow paths, cliffs, and broken statues from a bygone war. But the real danger wasn't just the terrain.
It was them.
From the cliffs, three enemies descended—gliders with red cloaks, their blades laced in gold.
[Scan Activated]— Brenn Korr | Level: 10 | Lava Fang User— Sera Taln | Level: 9 | Whip Chain Form— Unknown | Cloaked | Power Concealed]
No time to ask questions.
Mako yelled, "Fan out!"
The fight exploded instantly.
Kai dove into the fray, activating Fang Step Lv.3, his body weaving between falling stones and fire vents. He focused on Sera, who lashed twin whips through the air, their chains tipped with curved metal claws.
[Ki-Surge Activated: Fang Lash – Precision Strike]
Kai deflected the first whip, redirected the second, then spun low and slashed her across the ankle.
She cursed and backed away.
"Who are you?" she spat.
Kai didn't answer.
He was already gone—chasing the cloaked figure now weaving between fire vents. He could sense something wrong about their presence. Their movements weren't based on martial styles—it was something deeper. Instinctive. Ancient.
[Scan Failed][Perception Check Incomplete – Unknown Entity (Level ?)]
Kai stopped.
And the figure turned.
Their mask fell away for just a moment.
A mark glowed on their forehead—shaped like a cracked sun.
His breath caught.
The figure smiled faintly.
"Let's see if your System is ready for me."
Then vanished into flame.
[Trial Progress: 84 minutes remaining]Current Objective: Survive. Gather 2 Spirit Cores. Reach Central Flame Circle.]
Mako regrouped, blood across his jaw but eyes lit with adrenaline.
"You saw him too, huh?" he said, panting. "The non-ranked one."
Kai nodded. "He's not from the Outer Ring."
"No," Mako said. "He's a candidate. Probably from the Inner Trial. They're testing him. Just like they're testing us."
Kai looked toward the center of the burning canyon.
This wasn't just a test anymore.
It was a selection.