The sun rose over the horizon, casting an orange hue across the training grounds. Kaiden's breath was steady, his body moving with a rhythm he'd long since mastered. Sweat dripped from his brow as he performed his push-ups, each repetition slow and deliberate, focusing on both strength and control. The weighted vest on his back made the movements harder, but it only served to strengthen him further.
"One finger push-ups... people think they're a joke," Kaiden muttered, sweat dripping down his neck. "But when you have to build the muscles in your back to support them... that's where the real work begins."
He lowered himself to the ground with one hand, his muscles straining as he pushed himself back up. He wasn't just training his arms or chest—he was working his entire body, focusing on strengthening every weak point he'd identified. Each muscle, every movement, was a deliberate step toward becoming stronger, more adaptable, more capable.
Kaiden paused, standing and rubbing his sore shoulder. His muscles were fatigued but strong, the burn in his back a sign of progress. Feels like I'm getting stronger, he thought, his eyes narrowing as he thought back to the fights he had endured. He was preparing for something big, something even tougher than the last trial, and he knew he had to be in peak form for it.
Just as he was catching his breath, the sound of the intercom crackled through the air, cutting through the silence of the morning.
"Attention, all participants. Stage 4 of the Trial of Blades is about to begin. Please gather in the arena immediately."
Kaiden's heart skipped a beat. Stage 4… His eyes narrowed, and a small smirk tugged at his lips. He had been preparing for this moment, knowing that the trials would only get more difficult. But this one, the "Pyric Ascension," was a test of something far more dangerous than pure physical strength. It was a test of mental and physical endurance, a trial where every sense of comfort would be stripped away.
With one final breath, Kaiden turned toward the training area and quickly made his way to the central platform.
The Stage 4 Trial
Kaiden arrived at the arena, and what he saw made his blood run cold. The ground was scorched, the air thick with the scent of sulfur and ash. Thousands of thrones were set in place, each one surrounded by swirling masses of Flow energy that seemed to burn with an unnatural intensity. The entire arena had been transformed into a hellish landscape—a place where the air itself seemed to burn and the ground pulsed with overwhelming heat.
As Kaiden stepped forward, his heart raced. The challenge ahead was clear—Pyric Ascension. The goal was simple: meditate atop the Pyric Throne and endure the heat and Flow for one full hour, without succumbing to the inferno.
There was no margin for error.
The guard standing at the edge of the platform gave a low whistle, his voice loud and clear across the arena. "Stage 4 is designed to test your endurance in both mind and body. You'll be facing extreme heat, Flow manipulation, and hallucinations. The intensity will increase with every passing minute. Only those who can adapt to the environment will succeed. You must control your Flow to survive."
As Kaiden took all of this in, his gaze shifted toward the other participants, his eyes scanning the arena. His gaze landed on Lucian Kasir, who stood several paces away from him, adjusting his stance, his face set in a focused expression.
Kaiden activated Transparent World. His mismatched eyes glowed as the Flow patterns of his surroundings shifted into focus, the intensity of the arena's energy surrounding him.
It was then that Kaiden noticed something peculiar. Lucian, whose body had seemed so unusual to Kaiden before, was different now. His muscles appeared... normal. Yesterday, they had seemed to bulge unnaturally, shifting in a grotesque way. But now, under the effect of Transparent World, Kaiden could see that Lucian's muscles seemed to be composed of the same Flow energy that coursed through the rest of the environment. It was subtle but noticeable.
What happened to you? Kaiden thought, intrigued.
The Flow's effect on Lucian was apparent. The once-contorted muscles now seemed more aligned, less unnatural. Lucian stood rigid for a moment, his body stiffening as if he felt the weight of Kaiden's gaze. Kaiden couldn't help but notice how Lucian's body trembled, his veins visibly pulsing, reacting to the pressure of the Flow in the air.
He's affected by this too, Kaiden realized, watching as Lucian shivered uncontrollably. His gaze softened slightly, but he quickly dismissed the thought. Lucian was a competitor, and Kaiden didn't need to concern himself with him right now.
The guard's voice rang out again, snapping Kaiden from his musings.
"You have 30 seconds to prepare. Take your seat and get ready. The clock will begin the moment you touch your throne. If you falter at any point, you will be disqualified and pulled into the flames. Good luck."
The Trial Begins
Kaiden approached one of the thrones, the heat growing more oppressive as he drew nearer. The seat was carved from what seemed like obsidian, its surface black and slick with heat. As soon as Kaiden touched the throne, the arena seemed to tremble, the air around him growing heavier.
He sat down, settling himself into a meditative position, his eyes closing. His mind focused on the task at hand. Survive the heat. Control the Flow. Do not falter.
The air around him began to heat up, and the oppressive, fiery atmosphere seemed to push against him. Kaiden could feel the Flow in the air trying to invade his body, forcing him to fight it off. He concentrated, his Flow rising within him as he began to regulate it, just as he had practiced.
The first ten minutes were relatively manageable, the heat rising steadily but not yet unbearable. Kaiden adjusted, his breathing steady, and his Flow kept at a consistent level.
But then, things started to change.
The Inferno Intensifies
Kaiden's body temperature began to rise, the sweat pooling on his brow as he felt the first signs of fatigue. His body was heating up, and the air itself seemed to press against him with unbearable force.
The Flow around him intensified, and his vision blurred momentarily as hallucinations began to take form. Shadows danced around him, twisting into monstrous shapes. His mind began to feel the pressure—disorienting images of past battles, of raiders attacking his village, of his family's faces contorting in pain. The hallucinations pushed him to the brink, making him feel as though his mind was on fire.
Kaiden's hands clenched into fists, his teeth gritting against the overwhelming sensory overload. "Focus," he muttered under his breath. "Focus..."
His Flow fluctuated, but he fought to control it, to not let the heat or the hallucinations consume him. He couldn't afford to fail—not here, not now.
Lucian's Struggle
Lucian, too, was struggling in his own way. His body had been contorting again as the heat began to press in on him, the Flow overwhelming him more than he had anticipated. The way his muscles moved and shifted, adjusting to the pressure of the environment, only made the experience more grueling. He tried to hold onto his composure, but his veins were nearly glowing with Flow as his energy reserves began to drop.
Lucian's breath became shallow, his focus slipping, and it was then that he realized—this was more than just a test of strength. This trial was trying to break them mentally.
The Shifting Flames
The heat grew unbearable, and the platform Kaiden sat on began to shake. As predicted, the intensity of the flames began to rise again, threatening to burn away his control. His Flow was being pushed to the edge, but Kaiden refused to let it slip. He focused on regulating the Flow within his body, using every bit of his concentration to keep his mind sharp.
Then, at the halfway point, the ground shifted. The platform beneath him seemed to move, a deep rumbling shaking the cavern as the twist of the trial began. The fire around him began to shift as well, swirling into patterns that threatened to engulf him.
Kaiden clenched his fists, feeling the pressure in his chest. He had to maintain control—there was no room for error now. He could feel the weight of the challenge pressing down on him, but there was no turning back.
End of Chapter 69
Kaiden has begun Stage 4, Pyric Ascension, facing the intense heat and hallucinations in a desperate battle to maintain control of his Flow. As the trial escalates, he must stay focused—and survive the inferno. What other tests will be thrown his way in this fiery crucible?
To be continued...