Fallen Heaven: Rise of Faizi Tian
Episode 45 – The Truth Behind the Blade
The arena's air was heavy, every breath like inhaling molten iron.
Faizi Tian stood locked in a deadlock with Elder Ren, their swords grinding against each other. Crimson sparks leapt between the blades — not from metal, but from the oppressive power of the Demon Seal itself.
*"Kill him."*
The Seal's voice was no longer a whisper — it was a command, pounding inside Faizi's skull. *"He covets me. He will betray you. Strike now!"*
Faizi's teeth clenched. "Get out of my head."
Ren pushed forward suddenly, forcing Faizi back three steps. His eyes glowed like burning coals, and yet… in the depth of that glow, there was something else. Pain. Struggle.
"This is your last chance, boy!" Ren's voice was a snarl. "If you can't cut me down, you're not fit to survive what's ahead!"
Faizi's mind churned. If this was truly Ren, corrupted by demonic influence, killing him might be mercy.
But if this was just the Seal's trial, giving in would mean becoming its puppet.
The Seal hissed, sensing his hesitation. *"A heart that wavers cannot command me."*
Faizi exhaled slowly, loosening his grip on doubt. "If you were truly my enemy, Elder Ren… you'd never warn me how to survive."
In the same instant, he changed his stance — no longer aiming for the kill. His blade blurred in a flurry of deflections, catching Ren's strikes and redirecting them harmlessly. Then, with a sudden twist, he disarmed Ren completely, sending the old man's weapon skittering across the arena floor.
Ren froze. His crimson eyes flickered — then shattered like glass, revealing the familiar steel-gray beneath.
The oppressive darkness recoiled with a piercing shriek. The Seal's voice was venomous. *"You defy me?"*
Faizi raised his head, meeting the unseen presence with unwavering resolve. "I choose my allies. Not you."
The arena cracked beneath his feet, the void below roaring in fury. The world spun, the stone shattering into fragments as black flames surged upward. But before Faizi could be consumed, a firm hand gripped his shoulder.
It was Ren — the real Ren — steady and calm. "You passed."
The illusion burst like a bubble. They were back on the plateau, the storm still raging overhead. Faizi's chest heaved, sweat dripping down his brow.
Ren looked at him for a long moment, then spoke in a low tone. "If you had killed me, the Seal would have claimed you. It feeds on fear and doubt… and on blood freely spilled."
Faizi swallowed. "So… this was your doing?"
Ren's mouth curved in the faintest of smiles. "I only led you to the gate. The Seal decided the trial."
"And if I failed?" Faizi asked.
"Then I would have cut you down myself," Ren said simply. There was no malice in his tone — only grim certainty.
Lightning flashed in the distance, and Faizi finally understood: Elder Ren was neither friend nor foe in the simple sense. He was a wall — one that would stand in his way if Faizi strayed, and one that would fight beside him if he stayed true.
The Seal pulsed faintly against Faizi's chest, as if displeased.
*"You resist now… but resistance erodes. We will see how long you last."*
Faizi ignored it. His path was his own.
Ren turned toward the mountain pass ahead. "Come. The final trial awaits."
Without another word, they walked into the storm.