The sun hadn't even cleared the eastern towers of Guild Plaza when the air was already buzzing—magically, electrically, and from the chorus of nerves humming through every rookie adventurer present.
Hundreds of guilds had gathered in the coliseum-like arena at the edge of the capital. Floating platforms hovered overhead. Crystal drones zipped by, projecting scenes onto massive scrying walls that lined the upper arc. Commentators shouted into megaphones, trying—and failing—to explain the first event of the Guild War Trials.
"And in Round One, we begin with the Gauntlet: a brutal, mind-bending, soul-questioning obstacle course forged by the hands of mad wizards and bored royalty!"
That should've been the first clue that nothing about this event would make sense.
We were lined up with thirty other guilds in our bracket, all standing in a staging zone behind a set of glowing gates. Through the enchanted bars, I could see some of the "challenges" waiting for us.
A ten-story rotating tower of spike-covered platforms. A lava pit guarded by spell-casting squirrels. A trampoline maze that, for some reason, involved pies. And further down the path? A three-headed goose standing guard over the checkpoint crystal.
Lina whistled. "Okay, I'll admit it… this looks kinda fun."
"I feel like my bones are going to be turned into soup," I muttered.
"You say that before every quest," Iris replied. "And then you trip into success."
"I'm not tripping this time," I said firmly. "This time, I have a plan. I studied this course last night. I memorized trap triggers. I synced my reflexes. I am—"
A loud chime rang. The gates burst open. The trial had begun.
Someone behind us shouted "CHAAARGE!" and chaos erupted.
"—not ready!" I screamed as a berserker from another guild barreled past, knocking me sideways. Lina yanked me upright and darted ahead, flames already flaring from her palms.
Iris glided behind us, casting a protective slow-time bubble as arrows rained from above. Kaela summoned a glowing panther made entirely of vines and vines, leaping across a swinging bridge like it was nothing.
I tried to follow. I really did.
But as soon as I stepped on the first enchanted tile of the Gauntlet, it triggered a random System challenge.
System Notice: You are being scanned for Compatibility Magic. Nearest match found: Target – Ember Vash, Pyromancer (Rank: S). Initiating Adaptive Mimicry.
My stomach dropped.
A rush of heat surged through me. Sparks exploded from my fingertips.
"Wait—WAIT, NO—!"
BOOM.
The first trampoline platform ignited beneath me. Fire burst from my shoes. I was launched into the air like a flaming bottle rocket, screaming and flailing as I cartwheeled over half the arena.
Below, I heard someone shout, "HE'S FLYING! IS THAT A STRATEGY?!"
"FIRE JUMP TECHNIQUE! BRILLIANT!"
"No, it's a PANIC JUMP—!"
I slammed into a rotating wheel of elemental runes. It spun violently, launching me across a lava pool—right onto a panel marked with a glowing skull.
System Warning: Danger Tile – Triggering Random Effect…
A geyser of glitter erupted from beneath my feet.
I sparkled. I twinkled. I flailed helplessly as I tumbled end-over-end into the air again, this time landing directly atop the three-headed goose guarding the crystal.
It honked in three tones: fury, confusion, and what I think was judgment.
Before it could peck my soul into oblivion, I instinctively raised my hands. The fire still in my system surged outward—and I accidentally cast a high-tier flame wave straight from Ember Vash's legendary repertoire.
The goose exploded.
So did the checkpoint crystal.
And the entire upper section of the arena.
Everything went white for a second. Then… silence.
Ash floated through the air.
Cracked stones smoked around me.
In the distance, someone coughed.
Then the crystal drones began replaying the moment in slow motion—over and over again on the giant screens, complete with dramatic music.
"Oh no," I whispered. "Oh gods, I blew up the trial. I blew up the entire round."
From the wreckage, Lina jogged over, covered in soot and grinning. "Hey! You passed!"
Iris followed, her hair slightly singed but otherwise composed. "Technically, you completed every objective. Including the secret one for defeating the Final Beast Guardian."
"I didn't mean to!"
Kaela arrived last, carrying a dazed wizard pig in her arms. "You vaporized half the field. The judges are arguing whether to disqualify you or build you a statue."
"Not a statue! I don't want a statue! That's attention! I was trying to go unnoticed!"
Behind us, the announcer's voice boomed from the damaged scrying crystals. "In a shocking display of power, Linked Hearts finishes Round One with the fastest clear time on record!"
The crowd went wild.
I buried my face in my hands.
My guild patted me on the back.
One girl called me a fire prince.
Someone else threw their bra at me.
The System pinged again:
Title Unlocked: Accidental Arsonist.Affection +3 (Lina, because she loves chaos).Affection +2 (Iris, impressed despite herself).Affection +1 (Kaela, amused by goose destruction).
This was it.
There was no turning back now.
The Gauntlet had begun…
…and somehow, I had just set the entire stage on fire.
END OF CHAPTER 33