Author: The real fun starts from here!
Liang Feng's breath quickened as he stepped cautiously toward the source of the ethereal blue light shimmering deep within the chasm. The cursed flame in his palm flickered uneasily, its crimson hue clashing with the soft radiance that pulsed in the distance. It wasn't just light—it was alive, moving in rhythm with some unseen force, as though it beckoned him forward.
The air around him grew heavier with each step, the weight pressing against his chest. Liang could feel the heat from the molten fissures in the cavern floor, their faint glow illuminating jagged rock walls that seemed to close in on him. Yet, it was the blue light that dominated his senses, drawing him forward like a moth to a flame.
What is this? he wondered, his thoughts a whirlwind of curiosity and apprehension. The cursed flame—so often chaotic and wild—felt subdued now, as if it, too, was captivated by the mysterious glow. It pulsed faintly in his palm, an echo of the blue light's steady rhythm. Was it a warning? A connection? He couldn't tell.
Liang's steps faltered as the light grew brighter, spilling over the edge of a jagged precipice ahead. He approached the edge, his breath catching as the full view unfolded before him. The chasm below was vast, its depths hidden in shadow, but at its heart burned the source of the light. A crystalline structure jutted from the earth, its facets shimmering with an otherworldly brilliance. Threads of blue energy spiraled upward from its core, dancing like living flames.
His chest tightened. The sight was beautiful, mesmerizing even, but there was something unnerving about it. The energy radiating from the crystal was unlike anything he had encountered before. It hummed with an ancient power that made the cursed flame in his palm flare, as if in defiance.
Liang took a step back, his instincts screaming at him to turn away. Yet, he couldn't. The pull was too strong, the promise of answers too tempting. Somewhere, deep in his soul, he felt a connection to the light—a resonance that whispered of things long forgotten.
He knelt at the precipice for a moment, allowing the faint vibrations of the light's energy to seep into him. The cursed flame in his palm seemed to react, its usual chaotic heat smoothing into a rhythm that matched the pulse of the crystalline glow below. Liang hesitated, his mind racing. Was this a sign of harmony or a warning that the flame recognized a greater threat?
Doubt crept in, threading through his thoughts like a poison. What if this was a trap? What if the elders had been right to dismiss the Phoenix Clan's legacy as myth? The warning signs he'd seen earlier flashed through his mind—the skeletal remains, the scorched runes, the oppressive energy that lingered in every corner of the trial site. How many had stood where he stood now, only to fall victim to the same allure?
A chill ran down his spine, but he couldn't let fear win. This wasn't about them. This was about him. The cursed flame in his palm had already marked him as an anomaly, a danger to those around him. If there was even a chance that the Phoenix Clan's secrets could help him tame it, he had to try.
Taking a deep breath, Liang edged closer to the precipice, his gaze fixed on the crystalline structure. His thoughts churned with questions. What was this light? Why did it feel as though it was calling to him? And most importantly, what would he find if he answered that call?
The cursed flame pulsed again, its warmth spreading through his hand and up his arm. It wasn't painful this time, but it was insistent, a reminder of the stakes. Liang clenched his fist, extinguishing the flame for a moment to steady himself.
He stared down into the chasm, his heart pounding. Fear and determination warred within him, but the latter won out. Whatever lay ahead, he would face it—not because he was fearless, but because he had no other choice.
As he began his descent, the path proved treacherous. Jagged stones jutted from the walls, and loose gravel shifted beneath his boots. Liang kept his gaze fixed on the crystal, its glow cutting through the oppressive darkness. He gripped the rocky edges tightly, his breaths shallow but steady. Every step brought a new wave of unease. The closer he got, the more he felt the ancient energy thrumming in his chest, filling the air with a pressure that threatened to overwhelm him.
Small bursts of heat radiated from the cursed flame, breaking through his clenched fist to dance faintly along his arm. It was as though the flame was alive, testing its boundaries and feeding off the energy that enveloped the chasm. Liang paused, bracing himself against the wall. His heart pounded in his ears, and for a moment, he questioned whether the flame was his ally or his adversary.
"Is this what you wanted?" he muttered under his breath. The flame flickered but gave no answer. His gaze returned to the crystal, its light unwavering in its pull. There was no turning back now.
Reaching the base of the chasm, Liang was struck by the sheer scale of the crystalline structure. Up close, its facets shimmered with shifting patterns that seemed to defy logic. Each surface reflected not just light but fragments of images—memories, perhaps—that felt familiar and alien all at once. He approached cautiously, every nerve on edge.
The cursed flame surged to life, illuminating the ground around him. Strange markings, similar to those etched into the trial site's walls, crisscrossed the earth in a spiral pattern, converging at the base of the crystal. Liang knelt to inspect them, tracing their grooves with trembling fingers. The symbols pulsed faintly under his touch, sending a jolt up his arm that made the cursed flame flare brightly.
A sudden, sharp vibration rocked the ground. Liang stumbled back, his eyes darting to the crystal as it pulsed brighter, the threads of blue energy coiling and writhing like living beings. The hum that had filled the air earlier grew louder, resonating deep in his chest. The cursed flame burned hotter in response, its crimson glow clashing with the blue radiance.
For a moment, he thought he saw movement within the crystal. Shadows shifted, twisting in ways that defied logic. Was something inside it? Or was it an illusion brought on by the overwhelming energy? Liang's instincts screamed at him to retreat, but his body refused to obey. The pull of the light was irresistible, drawing him closer even as every fiber of his being protested.
"What are you?" he whispered, his voice barely audible over the rising hum. His fingers hovered inches from the crystal's surface, the cursed flame flaring wildly as if in warning. Yet, he couldn't stop himself. Slowly, hesitantly, he placed his palm against the cold, smooth surface.
The world exploded into light.
A searing heat shot through his arm, spreading like wildfire through his veins. Liang cried out, his body convulsing as the energy of the crystal surged into him. The cursed flame roared to life, battling the invading force with a ferocity he had never felt before. His vision blurred, the cavern around him dissolving into a kaleidoscope of blue and crimson light.
Images flooded his mind—flashes of phoenixes soaring through skies ablaze with fire, their cries echoing with power and sorrow. He saw a grand city built of flame and stone, its towers reaching toward an endless sky. He felt the weight of countless lives, their hopes and fears entwined with the energy coursing through him.
And then, as quickly as it began, the vision ended. Liang collapsed to his knees, his breath ragged and his body trembling. The crystal's light had dimmed, its threads of energy now a faint glow that pulsed in time with his heartbeat. The cursed flame in his palm flickered weakly, its once-unruly heat subdued.
Liang stared at the crystal, his mind reeling. Whatever had just happened, it had left its mark. The cursed flame no longer felt like a foreign entity within him. It was still dangerous, still volatile, but for the first time, it felt… connected.
He pushed himself to his feet, his gaze fixed on the faintly glowing crystal. Just as he steadied himself, the air around him shifted. The ground beneath his feet trembled, and a sudden pull yanked at his very core. Before he could react, the world around him shattered like glass, fragments of the cavern dissolving into a swirl of blue and crimson light.
In the blink of an eye, he was no longer in the chasm. Instead, he stood in a vast expanse that seemed eerily familiar—an endless sky of fire and stone towers, just like the vision burned into his mind moments before. The oppressive energy of this alternate dimension pressed against him, and he realized with a sinking feeling that the trial had already thrust him into the unknown.