The crowd outside the Temple of the Sun-Kin roared as Aira emerged from the collapsing ruins, her armor scorched, her hair wild with soot, and her eyes blazing like twin suns. News of her triumph over the Molten Colossus had already spread, carried by the Dungeon Guild's live scrying broadcasts. She was no longer just an SSS-ranked anomaly. She was a national force.
But the guilds wanted more.
The Summons
Three days later, as Blazing Dawn rested in Emberhold, a sleek black airship descended upon the city. Emblazoned with the golden sigil of the Central Dungeon Authority, it was a rare and prestigious sight.
Aira received a sealed scroll from a guild emissary:
"By decree of the Guild Conclave, Aira Flameheart is hereby summoned to undergo the Elite Adventurer's Trial to determine qualification for S-Class clearance and unrestricted dungeon access. Refusal is not an option."
Kael whistled. "They're scared of you."
"They want to control me," Aira muttered. "Let them try."
The Inferno Arena
The trial location was an artificial dungeon constructed inside a volcanic chasm — the Inferno Arena, a sacred ground where fire-wielders were tested not just for power, but for control, precision, and resilience.
Dozens of officials, adventurers, guildmasters, and nobles watched from a floating platform as Aira descended into the trial zone alone.
She wore her enchanted gear: Flameweaver Cloak, Embersteel Bracers, and the Core of the Colossus embedded in her chestplate.
Above, massive crystal orbs recorded every movement.
Trial One: Ember Serpents
The first test unleashed a swarm of flame serpents—blazing creatures of pure elemental energy. Their scales reflected the heat around them, making illusions and false trails.
Aira didn't flinch.
She extended her domain in pulses—using Inferno Domain not as a hammer, but as a heartbeat, pulsing outward to disrupt illusion. Each serpent caught in the rhythm flickered—revealing its true form.
She Scorchstepped through the swarm, delivering precise flame spears that incinerated them midair.
In three minutes, the chamber fell silent.
Trial Two: Heat Cage
The second trial began without warning. The temperature surged to deadly levels, and walls of solid flame closed in. At the center stood a construct of mirrored heat energy—immune to direct fire magic.
Aira exhaled, sweat running down her brow.
She dug deeper.
She used Kael's old trick—mixing wind with fire. A flame vortex, spinning at such speeds that the air ignited, but also created negative pressure.
The heat cage faltered.
Then she used her body as a lightning rod for flame.
She activated Phoenix Heart.
The fire healed her. Empowered her.
With a scream, she drove a column of compressed flame into the heart of the construct.
The mirror shattered.
Trial Three: Duel of Ascension
For the final trial, the Guild introduced a surprise:
An elite fire-user challenger.
From the opposite side of the arena emerged Rei Ashbourne, current Rank-S adventurer, wielder of Crimson Tempest Flame, and known for having destroyed an entire bandit city single-handedly.
He smiled at Aira.
"I heard you like burning things too."
"Let's see who burns brighter," Aira replied.
The duel was a spectacle of flame mastery. Rei's style was chaotic, tornadoes of fire and ash. Aira was precise—sculpting fire into blades, chains, and shields. They clashed midair, scorching platforms, igniting the very stone beneath.
When Rei tried to overwhelm her, Aira activated Scorchstep, blinking above him.
Her hands surged with radiant flame.
Phoenix Rain.
Thousands of tiny firebirds descended, piercing through Rei's guard.
He fell to one knee.
He grinned.
"You win."
Aftermath
The floating platforms erupted in cheers. The Guildmasters nodded among themselves.
Aira stood at the center, breathing hard, surrounded by scorched earth and fading flames.
An elder stepped forward and placed a burning medallion in her hand:
"By fire and trial, you are now Elite. Welcome to S-Class, Flameheart."
Aira looked
to the sky.
Above, the sun burned brighter than ever.
But something in the wind warned her:
This was just the beginning.