The Abyssal Furnace pulsed with an eerie glow, its lava veins flowing like the blood of a forgotten god. Shadows leapt across jagged walls as molten geysers hissed upward, and Blazing Dawn stood on a narrow platform of obsidian. Below them lay the core chamber—a sprawling crater lined with magma vents and ancient machinery.
Aira inhaled, her senses alight. The smell of sulfur, the oppressive heat—it felt like home.
> "This place... it's alive," Seris whispered.
> "Or it's trying to kill us," Kael muttered, checking his gear.
Aira focused, summoning a Flame Clone. Then another. Then two more. They shimmered into existence, each standing ready.
> System Update: Flame Clone Mastery — 83%.
Their forms had grown more stable. One gripped a blazing greatsword. Another held fire-forged throwing spears. They no longer looked like simple copies. They moved like soldiers—fast, lethal, purposeful.
> "Formation: Vanguard Crescent," Aira commanded.
The clones leapt forward first, blazing a path through the molten gauntlet below.
Phase One: The Gauntlet
Lava wargs—hunched, fire-cloaked beasts—charged from side tunnels. The clones engaged immediately, acting like extensions of Aira's will.
The first clone impaled two with its greatsword, erupting in a fire nova as it fell. The second clone spun with its spears, creating a cyclone of flame that drove back a trio of beasts. Kael swept through the opening, blades slicing, winds funneling the heat.
> "We're getting better at this," he shouted.
> "Don't jinx it!" Mira snapped, casting protective barriers as magma slugs lobbed fireballs from the ridge.
Aira snapped her fingers. A third clone leapt, intercepted the fireballs mid-air, and detonated in a burst of radiant fire. The shockwave shook the ridge loose.
> "Clone three down," Aira reported.
> "That blast cleared the path," Seris said. "Push through!"
They surged forward, following the flame trail toward the core.
Phase Two: Echo Chamber
The group entered a spherical chamber—walls etched with fire runes, its center dominated by a floating prism of dark crystal.
> "What is that?" Mira asked.
> "Looks like a fire core… but corrupted," Aira said. "Let's try not to break it—yet."
Suddenly, shadowy figures emerged from the runes—mirrored reflections of the team, but warped and flickering.
> "They're… us?" Kael said.
Aira's eyes narrowed. "No. They're echoes. Defense constructs."
The battle was brutal. Flame met flame. Seris faced a doppelganger who mimicked every strike. Mira's clone cast distorted light magic. Kael clashed with a twin wielding wind infused with black smoke.
> "They're adapting!" Mira shouted. "Every spell we use—"
> "They counter it faster!" Kael finished.
Aira summoned her last two clones and fused them into one Elite Flame Clone. It was larger, cloaked in white-hot fire, and radiated pure willpower.
> "Let's see you mirror this," she growled.
The Elite Clone charged its counterpart, dragging the corrupted prism's energy into itself. For a moment, the chamber pulsed like a heartbeat—then imploded.
Dark flame vanished. The prism shattered.
Phase Three: Trial of the Phoenix
Beneath the shattered core, a stairway opened. Aira led the way. The heat grew intense, no longer just physical—it was spiritual. At the bottom waited a phoenix statue twice her height, wings spread in judgment.
> "This is old," Seris whispered. "Pre-Guild Era."
> "It's watching," Aira said, stepping forward.
A burst of fire engulfed her. She vanished from sight.
---
She stood alone. The sky was aflame, and a voice echoed.
> "You wear the fire like armor... but will you burn for others, or because of them?"
Aira clenched her fists. "I burn to protect."
> "Then show me."
A mirror-image appeared—her own self, but cold, ruthless, and unchained.
They clashed. Sword to sword. Flame to flame. The duel pushed her limits, forcing her to draw upon every lesson, every pain. Her Flame Clone surged to her aid, blocking the dark-Aira's killing strike.
> "My fire is never alone," she said.
She struck once—twice—thrice. The dark image broke.
The phoenix statue blinked once, then bowed its head.
> System Update: Flame Clone Mastery — 100%
> Talent Unlocked: Phoenix Convergence — Combine with Flame Clones for a temporary god-tier form.
Epilogue: Reunited
Aira reappeared in the chamber. Her team gasped. Her armor had changed—sleeker, forged with crimson wings etched into her back.
> "You okay?" Mira asked.
> "Better than okay," Aira said. "Let's finish this."
Above them, the furnace shook. The final guardian stirred.