CH5: Celestial Game Hunt
717 Words
Chapter 5: The Trial of Flame
Yuuto stood frozen as the last echoes of the celestial's warning faded into the night. Lyra had disappeared into the mist, leaving only the faint shimmer of her divine aura behind. He clutched the Celestial Feather in his hand, its faint glow now absorbed into his palm like a scar etched by fate.
The next morning, Yuuto’s phone pulsed with radiant light. The app had changed—again. The interface was sleeker, and a new tab had appeared.
[New Function Unlocked: Trials of the Celestial Path]
[Beginner Trial: The Trial of Flame]
[Location: Mount Karyu - Estimated Risk: High]
[Reward: EXP +200 | Item: Ember Sigil | Unlock: Hidden Trait Progression 5%]
Yuuto’s eyes widened. "Mount Karyu? That's in the outskirts—abandoned after the forest fire years ago."
His heart beat faster. He was starting to recognize a pattern: the quests weren’t just digital—they were real, physical challenges laced with supernatural elements. The line between fantasy and reality had blurred.
He packed a bag—water, some snacks, a flashlight—and took the train toward the mountain. The closer he got, the more the world began to distort. Trees whispered as he passed, and the sky shimmered like it was filtering reality itself.
At the base of the mountain, a barrier pulsed in the air like heatwaves. Yuuto stepped through it and immediately felt it—a pressure on his chest, like stepping into another realm.
[Entering Trial Zone: Mount Karyu - Celestial Realm Layer I]
The air inside was thick with heat and ash. Lava flowed between cracked earth paths. Flaming stones hovered in place, and the scent of sulfur clung to everything. In the center, a massive gate loomed—carved with phoenix wings and ancient script.
"To proceed, you must withstand the flames of judgment," a voice intoned. It wasn’t Lyra. This voice was deeper, older.
A flaming wraith rose from the magma pool ahead. Its body was molten rock, its face a shifting mask of burning fury.
[Trial Boss: Ember Wraith - Lv. 8]
Yuuto gulped. His current level was only 3.
"Status Unlock," he whispered. The interface flickered.
[Skill: Status Unlock Lv. 1 - Active] [Temporary Stat Boost Activated]
Strength: 3 → 6
Celestial Affinity: F → E
He could feel the surge immediately. His limbs felt lighter, his senses sharper.
The wraith roared and charged, flinging a fireball straight at him. Yuuto rolled to the side, barely avoiding it. He lunged forward, swinging a branch he’d wrapped in cloth and lit ablaze at the base.
The attack barely made a dent. The wraith retaliated with a flaming tendril that whipped across Yuuto’s shoulder, sending him sprawling.
"Think, Yuuto. It’s not just about brute force. What did the app say? Celestial Affinity... maybe I can use that."
He held out his hand, concentrating on the heat around him. The feather’s mark on his palm pulsed.
[Skill: Celestial Echo - Inherited] [Channeling ambient energy...]
A sphere of glowing flame formed in his palm—not destructive, but pure.
He hurled it at the wraith. The creature shrieked, its form distorting. It stumbled back into the magma, destabilized.
Yuuto didn’t stop. He sprinted toward the phoenix gate. The carvings responded to his presence, glowing with the same light as the flame he conjured. The doors creaked open.
The heat vanished. Inside the chamber was an altar. Upon it lay a necklace forged of glowing ember stones.
[Item Acquired: Ember Sigil - Grants Resistance to Heat and Unlocks Fire Affinity Spells]
[EXP Gained: +200]
[Level Up! New Level: 4]
[Hidden Trait Progression: 5%]
He grabbed the Ember Sigil and slumped to his knees. His skin was blistered, his shirt torn, but he was alive—and stronger.
The air shimmered again. Lyra appeared in the chamber, arms folded, watching him.
"You’re advancing faster than expected," she said.
Yuuto smirked despite the pain. "You watching me?"
She didn’t smile. "Everyone is. The gods. The fallen. And your enemies. You’ve drawn attention. Be careful."
Then, just like that, she was gone.
Yuuto looked at the Ember Sigil in his hand. The flame inside it flickered like a heartbeat.
He wasn’t just playing a game. He was being forged by one.
And the hunt had only just begun.
- Writer
