The moment Jacob stepped through the vortex, a sensation like plunging into molten glass surged through his being. Yet he was not burned. Instead, the heat transformed into an ethereal pressure—weightless, yet all-consuming.
Then, the world changed. His feet touched solid ground, but not any stone he recognized. The floor beneath him was formed of pure flame—liquid fire hardened into glowing sigils that pulsed with terrifying rhythm.
Surrounding him was a coliseum of fire, vast and circular, its walls made of dancing pillars of eternal flame, rising so high they licked a sky of molten crimson.
In the sky above, blazing constellations shimmered, forming the Zodiac of Aries in perfect clarity.
Jacob’s eyes compressed into two beams. He sensed danger for the first time after coming into the Ashen Mirage Desert. The fiery arena was too still, too precise.
At this moment, the silence was shattered by an ethereal voice.
"The Temple of the Blazing Flames has been opened!
"Trial of Blazing Flames will be initiated!"
The voice rumbled throughout the arena like a thunderclap, and it was filled with ancient, unyielding intent. Furthermore, the language was completely different from any language Jacob had heard yet; he could understand it as if it were a mother tongue because of the mystical intent in the voice.
Furthermore, the voice wasn’t finished as it continued without regard for whether Jacob was prepared or not.
"You have entered the First Gate of the Temple of the Blazing Flames. This is the Trial of Flame-Willed!
"The reward is the Divine Inheritance: Yang Flame
"Failure: Death"
’Failure means death?!’
Jacob’s eyes flickered coldly as the air thickened. The runes beneath his feet blazed to life, encircling him in a halo of spiraling fire.
The voice rang again,
"This is a Life and Death Trial.
"You shall face ten Flame Acolytes—each equal to your current power level.
"You must defeat them all.
"Lose even once, and you will be reduced to ashes."
Jacob’s expression remained composed as he had already accepted this challenge. He might even be looking forward to it since he had no idea where his current power lies.
At this moment, the voice thundered again, but this time with a chilling and unexpected twist.
"However, this time, there are two participants."
Jacob’s eyes contorted violently when he heard this announcement, and he muttered, "Did it just say, ’Two’?"
’Is there someone else other than me who has entered this place!? Is there another entrance or another map?’ Jacob’s mind reeled as this twist completely caught him off guard.
Before he could make sense of this situation, from across the flaming arena, a second vortex opened like a rift in reality. The molten floor twisted, forming another platform of flame opposite Jacob.
Then, a tall, regal figure stepped out. His presence was commanding, and the very flames bent toward him.
He stood at least ten meters tall, with a regal, chiseled humanoid frame—but his head bore the unmistakable features of a ram. Thick, spiraling golden horns curved back over a skull wreathed in scarlet-white fur. His eyes were embers—deep, intelligent—and filled with disdain. His armor looked to be forged from crystallized flame, etched with Aries Zodiac patterns, pulsing with rhythmic heat. His forearms and shins were covered in dark red plating shaped like volcanic scales.
But it wasn’t just his appearance—it was his aura. It was like standing before a creature born from the core of a star.
Jacob’s eyes flickered coldly with a hint of astonishment because he had never seen or heard about this creature’s race before. Moreover, the Aries Zodiac pattern over this unknown creature’s armor made Jacob wary of him.
"How did you get in here?" He asked impassively, wanting to know the answer to this question.
"How did I get in here?" Finding Jacob’s question amusing, the figure chuckled with a hint of disdain—a deep, guttural rumble, but not without nobility. He tapped his chest with a curled fist.
"Let me introduce myself, I am Vortigash of the Celestial Flame Clan—one of the Chosen Flame Sons. My goal is simple—claim the Yang Flame and return it to my Clan where it rightfully belongs!
"You are in possession of the missing ’Relic’ that happened to be the key to the entrance of the Temple of the Blazing Flame. The Relic was stolen from us countless years ago, and we’ve been searching for it ever since!" Vortigash’s voice was filled with pride and arrogance as he introduced himself.
’Celestial Flame Clan? Never heard of it. It should be one of those hidden clans. Furthermore, this guy was able to sneak inside from the same pathway, which means he had been following me all this time, and yet I didn’t even discover him until now...’
Jacob felt a hint of apprehension as he wasn’t expecting to be played by this mysterious Vortigash. Furthermore, Jacob knew this guy was a Quasi-Myth, and the law of fire around him was unusual as well.
Moreover, only when the voice revealed Vortigash did he show himself, whereas before that, even the Eyes of Judge couldn’t detect any trace of him. This was too strange and also humiliating.
Jacob had no idea how long he had been followed or how this guy found his traces.
The only explanation for this was that Vortigash had been waiting in the Ashen Mirage Desert for the arrival of the Map of the Blazing Constellation, and he might also have a way to detect the map.
After all, if Vortigash was telling the truth, then the clan behind him, the Celestial Flame Clan, might really have the Map of the Blazing Constellation once before it was stolen away.
However, this had nothing to do with Jacob because he got this map as a reward from the Tower of Aries, and for all he knows, this guy might be lying about it or had been following the wrong history.
Moreover, something about Vortigash gave Jacob a peculiar feeling, like déjà vu, but he couldn’t put his finger on it yet.
At that moment, the thunderous voice rang out again, disregarding the enmity between Jacob and Vortigash.
"As there are two candidates, each candidate will be faced with Five Flame Acolytes—each equal to your current power level!
"Each match shall be a Death Match!
"If both candidates defeat their opponents and remain standing at the end, they shall have the ’Finale of Flame’ between each other to contend for the Yang Flame!
"Only the Flame-Willed May Enter the Temple of the Blazing Flame!
"Let the First Match BEGIN!"