The Ground Trembled Beneath Ethan's Feet As He Stepped Over The Cracked Marble That Marked The End Of His Last Battle The Air Was Still Tainted With The Scent Of Magic And Blood The Crimson Oath Now Branded Into His Very Soul Burned With A Newfound Intensity And The Darkness That Had Been Stirring In The Depths Of The Sanctum Was No Longer Sleeping
He Didn't Look Back There Was Nothing Behind Him Worth Remembering
Ahead The Corridor Stretched Like A Living Vein Pulsing With Red Light Its Walls No Longer Stone But Flesh Like A Beast Swallowed Him Whole With Every Step He Took The Flesh Pulsed Around Him Breathing Whispering Seducing
You Are The One
The Voice Slithered Through His Mind Velvet And Vicious A Feminine Whisper That Promised Power And Ruin
Ethan Tightened His Grip Around The Crimson Blade Its Edge Still Coated In The Blood Of The Forgotten His Muscles Ached His Skin Burned But His Eyes Were Clear
He Was Ready For Whatever Came Next
He Had To Be
As He Reached The End Of The Hall It Opened Into A Circular Chamber A Massive Dome Lit Not By Torches But By Floating Orbs Of Crimson Flame They Danced In A Ritualistic Pattern Humming With Magic Ancient And Forbidden
At The Center Of The Room Stood A Throne And Upon It Sat A Woman Draped In Shadows Her Face Hidden By A Veil Of Silk Her Legs Crossed Casually Her Fingers Draped Over The Armrest Like They Owned Time Itself
So You Finally Came
Her Voice Was Both Ice And Fire It Wrapped Around Ethan's Spine Sending A Shiver He Refused To Acknowledge
Who Are You
Names Mean Nothing To Those Who Have Forgotten Themselves But You May Call Me Nythera
Nythera
The Name Echoed In The Chamber The Flames Paused Their Dance The Air Thickened
I Am The Guardian Of This Gate The Last Trial Before The Cradle Of Desire If You Wish To Ascend You Must Defeat Me But Not With Blade Or Spell
Then With What
With Restraint
Ethan Narrowed His Eyes The Word Felt Foreign In This Place Of Excess And Temptation
Nythera Rose From Her Throne Each Step She Took Bloomed With Crimson Petals Her Veil Slid From Her Face Revealing Eyes That Burned Like Twin Suns And Lips Painted With Sin
You Must Endure Me Without Touch Without Lust Without Breaking
The Trial Had Begun
She Walked Toward Him Every Step A Provocation Her Gown Fell Away With Each Breath Until She Stood Bare Before Him The Flames Reacted Spinning Faster Casting Shadows That Twisted Into Shapes Of Desire
Ethan Closed His Eyes Focused On The Beating Of His Heart The Pulse Of The System Within Him
System Notification Temptation Trial Initiated
Objective Survive One Hundred Heartbeats Without Succumbing
Heartbeats Echoed Like War Drums
Nythera Moved Like Smoke Wrapping Herself Around Him Her Breath Against His Neck Her Voice Against His Chest Her Body A Mirage That Felt Far Too Real
Touch Me And You Fail
He Growled His Teeth Clenched The System Screamed With Warnings His Body Betrayed Him But His Mind Held Firm
Twenty Heartbeats
Nythera Whispered His Name Sang Songs Of Pleasure Promised Power Beyond Imagination She Made Him See Things Feel Things That Were Not Real And Yet So Real It Hurt
Forty Heartbeats
She Laughed The Sound Like Bells Drenched In Lust She Straddled Him Without Touch Her Aura Pressing Down Like A Weight Meant To Break The Strongest Of Wills
Sixty Heartbeats
Ethan Bit His Tongue Blood Filled His Mouth But He Did Not Move Did Not Touch Did Not Give In
Eighty Heartbeats
Nythera's Body Pressed Against His Without Contact Her Eyes Locked Onto His Her Voice Became A Chant That Matched The Rhythm Of His Own Blood
Ninety Nine
The Final Heartbeat
He Opened His Eyes And Spoke
No
Nythera Froze Her Eyes Wide With Something That Looked Like Respect
You Passed
The Flames Went Out And For A Moment All Was Darkness Then Light Burst From The Throne Engulfing Ethan
System Notification Trial Complete Temptation Mastered
New Trait Gained Will Of Flame Resilience Against All Lust Based Attacks Increased By Fifty Percent
New Path Unlocked Crimson Ascension
Nythera Smiled Fading Into Light Her Voice The Last Thing He Heard
Welcome To The Cradle Of Desire
Ethan Collapsed To His Knees But Only For A Moment He Rose Eyes Glowing Body Alight With Power A New Gate Opened Before Him Its Frame Forged Of Bone And Desire
And Beyond It The True Game Began
This Was Only The Beginning Of His Real Seduction
The Shadows Would Burn And He Would Rise
The Fire Wasn't Just Around Him It Was Inside Him
Ethan Took A Step Into The Forbidden Corridor Known As The Ember Spine A Place So Rarely Entered That Even The System Issued A Warning Before He Stepped In The Ground Beneath His Feet Smoldered With Heat Each Tile Embedded With Ancient Runes That Glowed Brighter The Deeper He Walked
His Muscles Tensed As The System Flashed
System Notification New Trial Unlocked Path Of The Flamebound Temptations Survive The Flameborn Challenges To Unlock The Next Evolution
He Smirked The Flames Might Have Been Meant To Burn But He Was Meant To Rule
The Corridor Twisted Like A Serpent Each Turn Leading Him Deeper Into A Realm Of Heat Desire And Madness The Walls Whispered His Fears His Regrets His Secret Desires Each Word Sounding Like A Lover's Breath Against His Ear
First Trial Ignited
Three Flamebound Maidens Appeared Formed From Fire And Lust Their Bodies Ethereal Their Eyes Glowing With Infernal Hunger They Encircled Him Their Heat Pressing Into His Skin Like A Second Flesh
Temptation Protocol Initiated Resist Or Command
He Chose Command
Ethan Raised His Hand Channeling The System's Aura Into A Single Command Submit
The Flameborn Hesitated Shivered Then Sank To Their Knees Flames Flickering Low As If Bowing To His Will
System Update Flame Command Unlocked Control Over Lesser Flame Entities Acquired
With A Satisfied Nod He Continued The Corridor Opened Into A Chamber Where Pillars Of Fire Shot Into The Sky And Runes Suspended In Midair Spun Rapidly Emitting Melodic Hums That Resonated In His Chest
A New Form Emerged From The Flames A Man Taller Than Ethan Clad In Fire And Bone His Face Hidden Beneath A Crown Of Smoke
Welcome Flamebearer The Entity Roared His Voice Causing The Chamber To Tremble Your Lust For Power Has Drawn You Here Prove You Deserve It
The Flames Responded Forming Weapons Around Them Axes Spears Whips Made Of Pure Fire Ethan Grinned And Summoned His Sin Aura Letting It Burst From His Body In A Crimson Wave
Battle Initiated
Ethan Dodged The First Attack Twisting Through Fire Like A Dancer His Body Moving With Purpose Grace And Seduction He Used The Whip Of Flame To Bind The Entitys Leg Then Drove Forward With A Pulse Of Crimson Energy Straight Into His Chest
Damage Critical Enemy Staggered
But The Entity Recovered Unleashing A Torrent Of Heat That Knocked Ethan Back
HP Reduced Severe Burn Detected Activating Regeneration Protocols
Ethan Roared His Eyes Glowing With Power You Want Flame Ill Show You Inferno
He Called Upon The Lessons From Althea The Chains From The Hall Of Sin The Strength From The Dream Prison Each One Answered His Summons Forming A Lattice Of Power Around Him
System Enhancement Sinbound Convergence Activated
He Struck Again This Time His Attack Overwhelming The Entitys Defense The Flames Around The Enemy Dimmed Flickered And Finally Died Out
Trial Complete
Flame Crown Acquired New Trait Dominance Over Fire All Flame Based Temptations Are Nullified And Can Be Controlled
As The Enemy Crumbled Into Ash Ethan Took The Crown Placed It Upon His Head And Watched As The Chamber Shifted Again The Walls Melting Into A New Corridor Lit With Violet Flames And Perfume Thick In The Air
Second Trial Awaits The Corridor Of Crimson Nights
He Stepped Forward Knowing The Next Temptation Would Be Deeper More Personal And More Dangerous
But He Would Not Stop Not Now Not When The System Was Finally Bending To His Desire
He Was No Longer Just A Player He Was Becoming The Flame
And The World Would Burn With His Name