Awakening of Power — Xiao Yan's Trial of the Phoenix Feather
Xiao Yan and Mi-An reached the heart of the trial, only to confront a horde of demons waiting to strike. Mi-An moved with lethal precision, blocking and cutting as the shadows attempted to consume them. Xiao Yan ran frantically from side to side, trying to avoid contact, his fear almost paralyzing him.
Mi-An noticed and nodded sharply in disappointment. Without hesitation, she leaped toward him, shielding him from an incoming strike—but the blade found her nonetheless. She fell instantly, collapsing to the ground.
The demons surged forward, overwhelming him. Then, from above, a barrier materialized. Red and brilliant, like molten flames, it shimmered with an aura of ancient power—crafted from a Phoenix feather.
Something stirred within Xiao Yan. His inner energy, dormant and untapped until now, erupted. His eyes turned a piercing blue. A surge of power coursed through him, and in a twinkle of light, the horde of demons before them was destroyed, leaving nothing but scorched ground.
Xiao Yan stepped forward, heart hammering, and gently placed a hand on Mi-An's head. She stirred, awakening slowly. Their eyes met, and in that instant, something unspoken passed between them—an unfamiliar warmth, a realization of feelings neither had experienced before.
Impulsively, Mi-An leaned forward and kissed him. Shocked, Xiao Yan hesitated before returning the gesture. She shrugged lightly, stepping back with a hint of embarrassment. "I don't know what got into me. Forget I did that," she said, regaining her composure.
Xiao Yan's chest tightened. Already dejected, he thought silently, but there was no time to dwell—the trials were not yet over.