> "Power stirs. Fire breathes.
The scent of awakening calls predators near."
Those words echoed across Floor Three.
Within hours, everything changed.
---
Somewhere Else on Floor 3…
A group of ten armored climbers gathered beneath a sky of golden leaves. Their leader, clad in crimson leather and a jagged crown of bone, knelt beside a burning feather.
"Confirmed. The Second Flame has been claimed," he growled. "And it's unstable."
A woman with twin scimitars hissed, "Do we kill or capture?"
He smiled, darkly.
> "Both."
---
Seo Joon's Camp – Dusk
The air grew thick with tension.
Birds had gone silent.
Even the illusions began to retreat into the trees.
Kael peered through a glass shard, whispering, "We're being surrounded. Four teams. All climbers. All armed."
Yu-ri tightened her grip on her spear. "They want the Seed."
Seo Joon stood slowly, the fire-light in his eyes burning brighter than ever.
"Then let's give them something worth fighting for."
---
The Crimson Hunt Begins
The first wave struck fast—archers cloaked in wind and silence, firing rune-etched arrows that curved midair.
Kael dashed through the shadows, disrupting their formation with daggers that shattered when they struck flesh—each one carrying memory-poison.
Yu-ri leapt through the chaos like lightning, her reconstructed spear dancing in the golden dusk.
Seo Joon faced the front line.
Five elite climbers closed in, their weapons glowing with hunger.
One struck—only for their sword to pass through Seo Joon's illusion.
The real Seo Joon appeared behind them, eyes blazing.
"Your chains," he whispered, "are your greed."
Chains exploded outward—constricting, binding, ripping weapons away.
One enemy screamed as flame seeped into their armor.
> [Seed of the Second Flame – 59% Awakened] [New Ability Unlocked: Crimson Pulse – Ignite enemies marked by chain contact.]
The battlefield lit up like dusk on fire.
---
The Crimson Leader Arrives
From the treetops, he descended.
Crimson armor. Crown of bone. Two-handed black blade.
"I am Theron of the Bleeding Path," he boomed. "Bearer of the First Flame. You will kneel."
Seo Joon stepped forward, unafraid.
"So the First Flame lives in you?"
Theron nodded. "And I will not let the Second rise."
Their swords clashed—fire meeting fire.
Theron's flame was brute strength, volcanic and punishing.
Seo Joon's was adaptive, dancing, learning with every strike.
Yu-ri tried to assist—but a barrier repelled her. This duel wasn't meant for two.
Kael shouted, "He's stalling! Look—reinforcements!"
Dozens more were coming.
Seo Joon gritted his teeth.
Time to end it.
---
Flame vs Flame
He let go.
No more restraint.
Chains ignited fully—turning from silver to incandescent gold. The Seed responded with a surge of wild heat.
Seo Joon vanished—reappearing above Theron.
> "Crimson Pulse: Chainstorm."
Hundreds of blazing chains shot down like divine lightning.
Theron tried to block—failed.
He was engulfed.
When the smoke cleared, he lay broken, blade snapped, armor melted.
The other climbers… ran.
---
Aftermath
Kael whistled low. "So… that happened."
Yu-ri gave Seo Joon a look. "You okay?"
He didn't answer.
The Seed pulsed—now bright as a miniature sun.
> [Seed of the Second Flame – 73% Awakened] [Warning: You are now Marked.]
Kael cursed. "They'll come harder next time. You're glowing like a beacon."
Seo Joon looked at the sky above the treetops.
> "Then let them come."
---
Far Above… in a different Realm
In a throne of glass and memory, a true god opened one eye.
"The Second Flame… finally breathes again."
He stood.
> "Then the game begins."
---