CH 16 Celestial Game Hunt
709 Words
**Chapter 16: Trial by Fire**
The underground chamber trembled beneath Yuuto's feet as flames licked the stone pillars surrounding him. The heat was real. Not just game-generated visuals or AR illusions—he could feel the scorching wind against his skin. He blinked through the sweat as the HUD flickered erratically.
[WARNING: Celestial Trial in Progress]
[Difficulty: Unknown]
[Survive until the Flame Lord deems you worthy]
"How did I even get here?" Yuuto muttered, stepping backward as the fire surged forward in a wave.
One moment he was investigating a new quest icon marked on his Celestial Map, the next, he was swallowed by a flash of light and dropped into this furnace. His hand still clutched the silver dagger Lyra had entrusted him with.
A booming voice echoed throughout the chamber, neither male nor female, but ancient.
"You seek divine favor, mortal. Then face the fire that sears away falsehood."
A massive figure emerged from the flame—eight feet tall, made entirely of molten rock and fire. Horns curved back from its brow, and glowing orange eyes locked onto Yuuto.
[Flame Lord Ignar has appeared]
Yuuto instinctively rolled to the side as Ignar slammed his flaming fist down, cracking the floor. Debris flew in every direction. He activated his speed buff and darted across the room, searching for cover. The pillar he hid behind instantly began to heat up under Ignar's proximity.
"I'm not strong enough for this..." Yuuto thought, teeth gritted.
But quitting wasn’t an option.
[Quest Penalty: Death will result in loss of Celestial Affinity Rank]
Ignar roared, sending a jet of fire hurtling toward Yuuto. With barely a second to react, Yuuto threw himself behind a broken statue. The fire scorched the edges of his hoodie.
He opened his inventory, quickly scrolling.
[Item: Tear of Lyra - Restores 50% HP + Temporary Resistance to Fire]
He downed it. The moment it touched his lips, a cooling sensation rushed through his veins. The HUD blinked:
[Fire Resistance Buff: 3 minutes]
"Three minutes to make this count."
He charged forward, ducking past Ignar’s flaming arm, and stabbed the dagger into the Flame Lord’s leg. It sank halfway before the molten body reacted. Ignar let out a pained bellow and backhanded Yuuto across the chamber. His ribs screamed as he hit the wall.
[HP: 23% Remaining]
He coughed blood, struggling to stand. His vision blurred. Then he remembered the words of the cloaked elf from his dream: *"Your real weapon isn't forged. It's awakened."*
He clenched the dagger, focusing. Golden light burst from his palm.
[Hidden Trait Activated: Celestial Invocation - Level 1]
The dagger transformed, elongating into a radiant spear etched with celestial runes. Yuuto blinked.
"What the hell?"
The voice returned. "You now bear the Flamepiercer, divine weapon of the Vanguard. Use it."
Yuuto surged forward, empowered by a force beyond him. He leaped, twisting mid-air, and drove the spear into Ignar’s chest. Fire erupted in all directions.
Ignar howled, collapsing onto one knee. The heat intensified.
[Phase 2 Initiated: Ignar, Unbound]
"Oh come on!"
The Flame Lord shed his outer shell, revealing a core of pure energy. Firestorm levels of power swirled in the chamber.
Yuuto's thoughts were loud and terrified. *I'm going to die. I'm going to die here. Alone.*
But then, a distant voice cut through the flames.
"Yuuto... you promised you'd return."
Lyra?
Her voice, like a whisper of wind through leaves, echoed in his mind. Was it memory? Or something more?
Ignar lunged.
Yuuto, driven by sheer instinct and Lyra’s words, met him head-on, slashing upward with the spear. The chamber cracked with light.
For a moment, everything froze.
Ignar stood still, flames extinguished.
[Trial Complete]
The Flame Lord slowly bowed his head. "You have passed."
The chamber dimmed. A platform of glowing symbols rose beneath Yuuto. As he stepped on it, warmth—not heat, but radiant calmness—enveloped him.
[Reward Earned: Title - Flameforged]
[Celestial Affinity Rank: Upgraded to E]
[Skill Learned: Fire Bind Lv.1]
Yuuto collapsed to one knee, breathing hard.
"This hunt is getting insane," he muttered, before everything faded to black and he was teleported back to the surface.
Above, the rain had stopped.
But somewhere out there, the celestial clock was ticking faster.
- Writer
