The pyre towered above the ruins, molten silver and fire writhing like a living entity. Its eyes, glowing like twin suns, locked onto Kael, measuring him. The ground trembled with each pulse of energy, but Kael stood firm, spear of condensed fire glowing fiercely in his hands.Ryven’s shadows coiled around the group, protective and alert. “Kael, the pyre reacts to intent. Show it your mastery, your resolve, and do not hesitate. It will exploit weakness in an instant.”Kael’s heartbeat synchronized with the pulse of the pyre beneath him. He inhaled deeply, centering himself. “This is my flame. My will. My fight.”He thrust his spear forward, igniting a lattice of fire that collided with the pyre’s tendrils. The energy burst outward, shaking the ruins, scattering debris and molten shards. Sparks and silver light danced across the battlefield as fire met molten silver in a violent, radiant storm.The pyre recoiled slightly, testing Kael’s reaction, its semi-humanoid form shifting with ri

The battlefield lay in ruins, scarred by the clash between Kael and the pyre. Smoke and steam rose from molten fissures, mixing with the scent of scorched stone and burnt earth. The survivors gathered, exhausted but alive.Kael’s fire had dimmed to a soft glow, his arms trembling from the immense exertion. He looked at his allies, sweat and soot streaking their faces. “We… held it,” he whispered, still catching his breath.Lyra placed a hand on his shoulder. “We did. But we’ve only just scratched the surface. That pyre… it wasn’t the master’s full power. It was a test.”Ryven’s shadow stretched across the courtyard, coiling protectively around the group. “Indeed. The master watches. He will not remain idle. Every move you make, every victory… he observes, learning your strengths and your weaknesses.”Mira’s water barriers shimmered faintly as she stabilized the remaining fissures. “Do you think he will come soon?”Kael’s eyes narrowed, fire flickering faintly. “He’s already here… just

The battlefield was consumed by chaos. Sparks, shadows, and molten energy collided violently, turning the ruins into a storm of fire and darkness. Kael’s lattice of fire flared, but cracks continued to form under the master’s relentless assault.Talric was thrown back by a crushing wave of dark energy, barely stabilizing himself. Mira’s water barriers were dented and faltering, and Lyra had been forced to abandon offensive strikes to shield allies. The master’s attacks were precise, exploiting every weakness.Ryven’s shadow coiled tightly around Kael, whispering urgently: “This is the moment. You must push beyond all limits, Kael. Your fire must not only defend… it must dominate.”Kael’s fire pulsed violently, licking the ground and spiraling into spears, shields, and blades. Sweat ran down his face, but his eyes blazed with determination. “We will endure,” he shouted. “Together, we hold!”Kael closed his eyes briefly, drawing inward. He felt the rhythm of the pyre, the echoes of the

Flames roared as if the world itself was on fire. Kael stood in the heart of it, his chest heaving, his flame spiraling higher than it ever had before. Every breath felt like swallowing fire, every heartbeat thundered like a war drum.The pyre beneath the ruins was alive, no, it was hungry. Its molten veins pulsed in rhythm with Kael’s flame, beckoning, demanding more of him.“YOU HAVE CLAIMED THE PYRE’S FLAME,” the master’s voice cut through the chaos, deeper, colder, vibrating in Kael’s bones. “BUT CLAIMING AND CONTROLLING ARE NOT THE SAME. THE PYRE DEMANDS A PRICE.”Kael grit his teeth, fire spilling from his palms as if his very body could no longer contain it. “Then let it take it from me. I don’t care what it costs. I’ll pay it all if it means stopping you!”The master raised his hand, and the battlefield twisted. Blackened tendrils shot upward, clashing with Kael’s blazing spear. Sparks showered. Stone cracked. The ground itself screamed.Mira’s voice rang out desperately: “Kae

The battlefield went silent. Mira, sprawled on the cracked ground, lifted her head just in time to see Kael rise. His movements were jagged, unnatural, like a puppet pulled by invisible strings.The glow in his eyes wasn’t light, it was hunger, fire that saw nothing and wanted everything. “Kael…?” Her voice trembled, fragile.The figure turned. His face was his, but wrong. His skin cracked with glowing fissures, molten rivers tracing across his arms and chest. Each breath released embers that scorched the air. And his mouth when he spoke, it was not his voice.“THIS VESSEL IS MINE.”Mira’s heart shattered. “No. No, you can’t he’s still in there! I know he’s still in there!” The master smiled faintly, crimson eyes glimmering. “So the boy has fallen. The pyre devours him, and in return, I gain my weapon.”The vessel stepped forward. With every footfall, the ground cracked and burned. His shattered spear reformed in his hand, not the weapon Kael once wielded but a blazing infernal pike,