Raiyen walks away from the ruins, his black flames weighing heavily on the world around him. The air grows dense and oppressive as if reality itself is resisting his presence. Without warning, a strange rift tears open before him—a circular portal swirling with black and crimson energy, filled with faint, unsettling whispers.
Raiyen immediately senses that this is no ordinary distortion. Before he can react, an unseen force seizes him and drags him into the portal. His black flames struggle against the pull, but the rift overwhelms even his power. For the first time since his rebirth, Raiyen feels something that does not fear him.
When he regains awareness, Raiyen finds himself in an alternate timeline. The sky is drowned in red and black clouds, jagged mountains rise like blades, and rivers glow with cursed crimson light. The air is saturated with magic and pain. Raiyen instinctively understands—this realm is far more dangerous than the last, and therefore the perfect place to grow stronger.
A familiar voice welcomes him, declaring that his true evolution begins here.
From the shadows, Veyra and Korrin continue to observe. Veyra recognizes that this realm feeds on rage and suffering, accelerating Raiyen's growth. Korrin, pleased, notes that once he reaches the edge of destruction, the Gods themselves will be forced to respond.
Raiyen is suddenly transported to the realm's central arena—a massive circular space of floating platforms surrounded by lava and black mist. Each platform pulses with raw pain and energy feedback. A disembodied voice announces the condition of the trial: survive, and Raiyen will unlock his first true power point.
The trial begins immediately.
Cursed energy spikes erupt from the platforms, each strike damaging Raiyen's soul rather than his body. The assault forces him to refine his control. Raiyen pushes his Soul Flame and Cursed Blood into overdrive, carefully regulating flame intensity while manipulating his blood to counter incoming attacks. Every movement is deliberate. Every strike destroys a platform—and with each wave of pain, his power grows.
Rage and suffering are no longer distractions. They are converted directly into raw strength.
When the trial ends, a dark red-black energy orb materializes at the arena's center. Raiyen touches it, unlocking his first power point: Soul Flame Mastery — Level One. His black flames come fully under his control, able to change shape and intensity at will. His aura now spreads naturally without draining stamina, and the Godslayer Sigil's ability to detect weaknesses is significantly enhanced.
Raiyen feels the change immediately. His rage has become a sharper, more efficient weapon.
Veyra admits that Raiyen's evolution is exceeding expectations. Korrin, satisfied, chooses to keep the next layer of his growth hidden—for now.
As Raiyen stands at the center of the arena, his black sigil blazing and soul flames roaring toward the sky, whispers echo from the portal once more. The next trial awaits him at the edge of destruction.
Raiyen does not hesitate.
This is only the beginning.