The map fragment Bo Ren unfolded shimmered faintly as Jiang Han held his flame near it.
Yue raised a brow. "This treasure map better not lead to another cursed temple."
Bo shook his head. "Worse. This leads to a hidden dungeon sealed since before the Flamewheel broke."
> "The Storm Vault," he whispered.
Zhao Kai perked up. "Sounds rare. What's the loot table?"
Bo Ren looked up. "No one knows. It's ranked S-tier in ancient realm logs—difficulty unknown, reward structure unlisted."
Tian Xue whispered, "But I heard rumors… of a soul pet bound to lightning. One that chooses its master."
Jiang Han sheathed Emberfang and nodded. "Let's find out."
---
Vault Entrance – Thunderlock Ridge
The Vault was buried beneath a jagged ridgeline split by constant, flickering storms. Lightning danced like veins through the rock. Each thunderclap echoed like the roar of a chained beast.
Lin Yao placed her hand on the cliff.
> "There's a seal. Layered… old. It's reacting to your flame aura."
Jiang stepped forward, holding out his palm.
His Sovereign flames burned together, casting golden-silver light.
The rocks split apart.
> [SYSTEM NOTICE: Hidden Dungeon Discovered – "Storm Vault"]
Recommended Entry Level: Tier 6 Sovereign or Above
Entry Detected: 6 Party Members
Challenge Scaling Activated
Bonus Objectives Unlocked: Soul Pet Bonding (1), Vault Heart Trial (1), Flame Resonance Gear (1)
Zhao Kai read aloud, grinning. "Now that's the old system I missed."
The entrance gaped open like the mouth of a leviathan.
And lightning sang within.
---
Storm Vault – Inner Chambers
The interior was vast: metallic halls laced with glowing spirit veins, ancient generator pillars spinning arcs of lightning in every direction.
Traps activated as they passed—
Lightning pendulums swept from the ceiling.
Thunder mines erupted beneath their feet.
Storm spirits surged from rune clusters, screeching in elemental tongues.
Yue danced through the chaos, arrows slicing through energy nodes.
Bo Ren laid counter-runes to suppress the traps.
Jiang led the charge, shielding Tian Xue and Lin Yao as they advanced deeper into the vault.
> [SYSTEM NOTICE: You have passed the first lightning corridor. Vault Charge increased: 34%]
> [Treasure Room Discovered: Hidden Cache — Opening...]
A side wall collapsed, revealing a chest bound in storm-forged chains.
> Item Obtained: Thunder-Woven Cloak (Epic, Lv. 40) — Increases Lightning Resistance by 60%, Dodge +15%
> Bonus Triggered: Jiang Han's Sovereign Flame attunes to storm resonance!
---
Encounter: Soul Pet of the Vault
As they reached the heart of the vault, the lightning ceased.
All sound died.
And in the center of a floating chamber, curled within a crackling nest of thunderwood, lay a beast.
Its body was lean and sinuous, like a dragon serpent carved from liquid silver and stormglass. Lightning crackled in its breath. Its eyes opened—intelligent, ancient, and lonely.
> [SYSTEM ALERT: Wild Soul Pet Detected — "Voltshadow Wyrmling" (S-rank, Element: Lightning)]
Bonding State: Unclaimed
Condition to Tame: Survive its Trial. Show harmony between flame and storm.
Bo Ren gasped. "That's a Wyrmling-class Soul Pet. They only bond once in their lifetime!"
Tian Xue reached for Jiang's hand. "You have to try."
The creature stood, rising on coils of mist and voltage.
And then—
It attacked.
---
Soul Pet Trial – Flame vs Lightning
Jiang met the charge head-on.
Emberfang clashed with arcs of living electricity.
The beast didn't want to kill—it tested.
Each blow synchronized deeper into Jiang's soul threads. His flames clashed, surged, pulsed… then yielded, adapting to the rhythm of the storm.
He remembered the Mourning Flame's patience… the Beast Flame's reflexes… and the Drowned Flame's enduring heart.
> "I'm not here to tame you," Jiang said, panting.
"I'm here to walk beside you."
The Wyrmling stopped.
Lightning slowed.
Then—
It bowed.
---
Soul Pet Bonded
> [Voltshadow Wyrmling has chosen Jiang Han as its Flamebound Partner]
Name: Tempest
Type: Lightning/Storm
Rank: S
Passive: Static Barrier – absorbs one elemental strike every 60 seconds
Active: Thundercoil Surge – bonds with Jiang Han to unleash a lightning-flame fusion strike
Growth Potential: Evolving Soul Beast (???)
Yue whistled. "We finally have a pet."
Zhao Kai pouted. "Why does he get the cool ones?"
Tian Xue smiled. "Because he earns them."
Tempest curled around Jiang's shoulders, crackling lightly—content.
---
Final Treasure
A pedestal rose in the vault's center.
> [Vault Heart Trial Complete – Claiming Resonance Treasure]
Item Acquired: Stormheart Ember Core
– When fused, increases compatibility between Sovereign Flames by 12%
– Unlocks future "Elemental Fusion Paths" (Lightning-Flame Artifacts)
– Required Material: 1/3 for "Flamewheel Rebirth Engine" (???)
Jiang clenched it in his fist.
> "We're getting closer."
Bo Ren nodded. "The next Flame may not be in a ruin. It may be guarded… by something worse."
> "Or someone waiting to join us."