It began peacefully.Too peacefully.Sky sat in the courtyard of Rage’s home, reading a children’s book aloud to Flame and Fury, who adored him far too much. Passion sat beside him, pretending not to stare at Sky’s face while pretending to read her own scroll.Then the messenger arrived.A sealed letter.Dragon’s seal.Passion stiffened immediately. “Do not open that.”“Let me open it.”Sky smiled, naïve as always. “It’s just a letter, little one.”Passion grabbed his wrist. “My father does NOT send ‘just letters.’If you open it…you’ll regret…”Too late.Sky broke the seal.FWSSHHH!!!A thousand shimmering silver pins exploded from the parchment and latched onto Sky’s skin like eager bees.He shrieked.Flame and Fury screamed in delight.Passion facepalmed.Then,The parchment glowed.Dragon’s voice thundered through the letters, deep and horrifying like a vengeful god:“I. AM. WATCHING. YOU.”Sky froze.Even his freckles seemed to turn white.Passion sighed and muttered, “He even us

And preparations to return to the isle…The morning after Dragon’s meltdown, Sky approached Passion like a condemned man walking to his own funeral.Passion sat beneath a cypress tree in the courtyard, brushing her crimson hair, Cirax fire in every strand, just like her grandmother before her. Her eyes sparkled the moment she saw him.That was a bad sign.Very bad.Sky swallowed.“Passion… can we talk?”She tilted her head innocently.“Is it another proposal, Sky?I haven’t chosen a wedding outfit yet.”Sky nearly died right there.“I…I didn’t propose! The spell forced…Dragon forced…I was under pressure…"Passion:“Hmm.And yet… You said it.”She tapped her chin thoughtfully.“Full sentence, if I recall.‘I’ll marry her if you make me.’Very romantic.”Sky groaned and covered his face.“Please. Passion. I am BEGGING YOU…don’t use that against me.”Passion:“Against you? Oh no, Sky…I plan to cherish that moment forever.”She stood and circled him like a predator“Do you know how many

The arena of the Divine Guild shimmered like a living jewel.The stands overflowed with concubines in shimmering silks, divine heirs pacing with sharpened nerves, and elders lounging like predatory gods waiting to be entertained. The sky above the Isle of Darkness cracked with violet lightning, as if Evilside herself leaned in to watch.And then,The gong sounded.Every divine child, from Red’s youngest to Forbidden’s most troublesome, stepped into the arena in perfect formation.The concubines erupted in cheers.Flavors’ concubines, especially, were loud, waving ribbons and calling out blessings.Flavor himself sat on his throne of braided light and shadow, with Tamy, his favorite concubine and the head of his house, seated elegantly at his side.Tamy’s eyes were sharp as a blade, scanning the arena.“Concubine Saw has done well with her boys this year.”Red nearly choked on his drink.“Mother…she’s your rival.Constantly stealing Father’s attention and setting traps.”Tamy’s smile w

The gong rang again.Not loud.Not triumphant.This one was low, dragged across metal like a warning scraped from bone.Even the elders straightened.TRIAL FOUR: ENDURANCEThe arena changed.Stone receded, folding inward like a living thing. The golden sand blackened, then cracked, revealing veins of pulsing root and flame beneath. The air thickened, heavy, suffocating, old.Void frowned.“This arena hasn’t been used since the Hollow Trials…”Poison clicked her tongue.“Endurance doesn’t test strength.It tests how long you can stay yourself.”From the shadows, chains emerged,not metal, but memory.Each chain hummed with whispers.Fear. Loss. Hunger. Guilt.For Liroids, endurance was not about pain.It was about not breaking.THE CHILDREN ENTERThe remaining candidates stepped forward.Some boasted.Some prayed.Some smiled too widely.Serpent Liroid did none of those.He stirred in Snake’s arms.A sharp breath.Then,His eyes opened.Silver-green.Clear.Focused.Snake froze.Dragon

The dawn broke wrong.The sky over the arena was pale, washed thin as if the sun itself hesitated to rise. No banners flew. No music played. The air felt listening.This was not a trial of skill.This was judgment.The arena fell silent in a way that felt wrong, as if the Isle itself had drawn breath and refused to release it.No wind.No murmurs.Even the concubines stilled.High above, the elders and guild heads watched as the Final Trial circle awakened. The stone floor darkened, veins of root-light threading through it like living thoughts.TRIAL SIX: ALTER.The divine families gathered in their tiers, tension threaded through every glance.Forbidden glanced sideways at his father and grimaced.“You look awful.”Flavor didn’t deny it.“That’s why you don’t show which child you favor more.”Red snorted.“But you favor me more.”Flavor gave him a dry look.“You’re Tamy’s son. Of course I will.”Punishment laughed openly.“You contradict yourself, old man.”Tamy smiled, unbothered.“