The victory in Cursed Depths brought fame—and scrutiny.
Blazing Dawn had taken down a B-rank dungeon with raw talent and unorthodox power, but that kind of light casts long shadows.
And some of those shadows struck back.
---
An Unlikely Invitation
A week after the raid, Aira received a summons from the Central Guild Alliance.
Officially, it was for a strategy briefing on dungeon destabilization zones.
Unofficially… it was a trap.
---
The Poisoned Chamber
The briefing room was lavish but empty. A long crystal table, expensive drapes, a single cup of tea waiting for her.
She didn't drink it.
She never had to.
Because when she turned to leave—a single dart pierced her neck.
Aira's world spun.
Flames sputtered.
Her knees hit the ground, and her system screamed:
> WARNING: Unknown Toxin Detected
Status: Bloodstream Contaminated
Mana Channeling Severely Inhibited
[Phoenix Heart] — Activation Possible
Trigger: Imminent death
Progress: 71% resonance
Decision Required: Trigger Emergency Regeneration?
[Y/N]
She barely whispered, "Yes…"
---
Descent Into Death
Her pulse slowed.
Vision tunneled.
Voices—faint, mocking—echoed around her. The cloaked figures stepped into view, faces hidden.
"Should've joined a guild, girl," one sneered. "No protection means no consequences."
"She'll burn out. And no one will ever know who lit the match."
As her vision dimmed, a flicker ignited inside her chest.
Then another.
And another.
---
Phoenix Heart: Awakened
Suddenly—flames burst from her mouth. Her eyes. Her veins.
> Phoenix Heart Fully Activated
Effect: When near death, convert internal mana into regenerative flame
Status: Curses, toxins, and necrotic damage purged
Passive Upgrade: Immolation Pulse — Enemies within 5m suffer fire backlash on contact.
The toxin was gone.
The heat returned.
And Aira stood—reborn in fire.
---
Judgment Flame
The room combusted.
Drapes turned to ash.
The assailants panicked, blades drawn too late.
With no chant, no spell formation—Aira raised one hand.
A pillar of flame consumed them, one by one, their screams drowned in crackling firelight.
Only silence remained.
> System Notice: "Phoenix Resonance" increased to 81%
System Trait Unlocked: Partial Flame Rebirth — Can self-revive once per 24 hours at 10% HP (cooldown applies).
---
Aftermath
Kael, Korin, Mira, and Lina found her standing in the wreckage an hour later—half-burned robes, soot-blackened skin, but very much alive.
"You died," Mira whispered.
Aira smiled faintly. "I burned through it."
Korin's voice was gruff. "Next time someone tries to kill you, let us help incinerate them."
---
The attack was buried by
guild politics.
No culprits. No consequences.
But Aira didn't need justice to keep moving forward.
She had fire.
She had her heart.