Chapter 10: Trial of Flame
It had been several days since Rhaizen's last fight with the Crimson Fang bandits. Every day, he trained relentlessly. He ran, he punched, he pushed his body until it burned. He focused on refining his two new techniques — Crimson Step and Crimson Strike — and learning to keep control over his Qi without exhausting himself.
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Rhaizen stood in the open clearing he had claimed as his practice spot. His body ached, every muscle stiff from repeated strikes. The black-red aura glowed faintly around him. When he concentrated, he could feel it boiling, ready to be unleashed.
He lifted his right arm. "Crimson Strike."
Flames wrapped around his fist as he punched forward. A shockwave of heat hit the ground, leaving a scorched mark. Rhaizen's arm trembled afterward. He exhaled sharply, forcing himself to focus again.
Next came Crimson Step. He bent his knees, channeling Qi into his feet. With a sudden burst, he propelled forward, the ground beneath him igniting slightly with red fire.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Each step faster than the last. He dodged imaginary attacks, moved around rocks, and jumped over logs. By the tenth repetition, sweat streamed down his face, his lungs burned, and his legs screamed in protest. But he pushed himself again and again.
Finally, he paused, kneeling on one knee. His hands shook from exertion, and his chest rose and fell rapidly. He looked at the faint marks of flame left behind.
"Better," he muttered. "I can feel it. I can really use them now… if I survive long enough to test them."
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Rhaizen was still catching his breath when a low growl broke the quiet of the forest. He froze. The sound was deep, animalistic, but not just a normal predator.
A Forest Thornbeast emerged from the trees. Its skin was covered in jagged, bark-like armor, and its glowing green eyes fixed on him. It was huge, bigger than any normal wolf or boar he had faced before.
Rhaizen's heart pounded. He clenched his fists. "Alright… let's see if I can do this for real."
He stepped back, letting his aura flare. The black-red light wrapped around his body, his muscles pulsing with energy. He could feel the familiar heat of his ability to convert Qi into fire, ready to enhance his body.
The beast charged.
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Rhaizen moved first. He dashed forward, using Crimson Step to speed past the Thornbeast's first swipe. Its claws barely missed him, raking the dirt behind him.
He countered with Crimson Strike, punching the side of the beast's head. The flames burst outward, scorching its bark-like hide. It roared and staggered back, enraged.
The Thornbeast lashed again. This time, Rhaizen leapt, landing behind it, and punched its flank with another fire-imbued strike. The beast bellowed, spinning to swipe him.
Rhaizen barely dodged. He stumbled, and a claw grazed his shoulder, tearing his sleeve and skin. Blood mixed with sweat, but he forced himself to stand.
"I can't hold back," he growled. "I need to finish this fast, or I'll be crushed."
He used Crimson Step to move around the beast again, then leapt high, landing a jumping Crimson Strike to its back. The fire burned, but the Thornbeast barely flinched. Its strength was terrifying.
Rhaizen's chest burned. Every strike, every movement, drained him. His Qi flickered dangerously. He knew he couldn't overuse it or he would collapse.
But he couldn't stop. He had to push through.
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The Thornbeast turned suddenly, charging at him full speed. Rhaizen braced himself. He dashed to the side, planting his feet firmly, and channeled all his Qi into one arm. His Crimson Strike ignited brighter than before, flames swirling violently around his fist.
He slammed it into the beast's chest. A huge explosion of fire and energy burst outward, throwing the Thornbeast back several meters. The ground cracked under the force.
Rhaizen fell to one knee, panting. The aura around him dimmed slightly, drained from the effort. His vision blurred, his arms trembled, but he forced himself up.
The Thornbeast, though injured, rose slowly. Its glowing eyes burned with rage. It charged again, faster this time.
Rhaizen's heart pounded. He could feel the limits of his body and Qi, but he remembered the fights he had survived before. He had overcome worse odds.
"Crimson Step!" he shouted. His feet burned as he dashed forward, moving faster than the beast could track. He circled behind it, landing multiple Crimson Strikes in rapid succession.
Each strike scorched, each one drained him. Sweat poured down his face. Blood stained his hands and arms. Every movement sent waves of pain through his body.
The Thornbeast roared, staggered, and swung wildly. Rhaizen dodged the massive claws by inches. Then he noticed a weak spot — a crack in the Thornbeast's bark armor near its shoulder.
He clenched his fists, his aura flaring brightly. "One chance… I have to end this now."
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Rhaizen used Crimson Step to launch himself into the air. Flames enveloped his entire body. He focused his Qi, converting it into his innate fire. His fists glowed, burning hotter than before.
"Crimson Strike!"
He slammed both fists into the weak spot simultaneously. Fire exploded outward, engulfing the Thornbeast in a blazing shockwave. The creature roared, staggering back.
Rhaizen hit the ground hard, knees digging into dirt. His body was screaming, his arms numb, and his lungs burned with every breath.
The Thornbeast collapsed. Smoke rose from its scorched hide. Its glowing eyes dimmed. It twitched once, then lay still.
Rhaizen's vision blurred. He sank to the ground, panting. His fists were scorched, his chest burned, and every muscle screamed in agony.
"I… I did it…" he muttered. His voice was weak, but his eyes shone with determination.
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He looked at his hands. The black-red aura was still faintly glowing. His fire ability had worked perfectly, but he had barely survived.
Rhaizen pushed himself to sit up fully, chest heaving. "I can control it… but not for long. If I overuse it, I'll collapse for sure."
He wiped blood and sweat from his face. He had tested the limits of Crimson Strike and Crimson Step in a real fight. And he had learned one important thing: his techniques were strong, but he needed to manage his energy, or he wouldn't survive the next battle.
Rhaizen looked at the fallen beast. For a moment, he felt pity. Then he shook his head. There was no time for emotions like that. Not now. He had a mission — he needed to get stronger and continue toward the next town.
He stood, body trembling. The forest was quiet. Smoke rose from the scorched clearing, and the heat from his own fire still lingered in the air.
Rhaizen flexed his fists. He felt pain, but also power.
"This… this is just the start," he muttered. "I can do more. I will do more. I need to get stronger… faster."
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Reflection
Rhaizen walked to the edge of the clearing, looking back at the fight. His body ached. His Qi was low. He could feel every bruise, every scrape, every burn.
But there was also a strange satisfaction. He had pushed himself beyond limits. He had faced a real threat, something that could have killed him instantly.
And he had survived.
He smiled faintly. "I'm getting stronger… slowly, but I'm getting there. Crimson Strike… Crimson Step… I'll master you both. And I'll keep going."
He adjusted his posture. The forest still held dangers, but he had faced one head-on and survived. That confidence, small as it was, fueled him for the journey ahead.
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Rhaizen continued on the path through the forest. He had no idea what lay ahead, but he knew he would encounter more threats — bandits, beasts, and powerful warriors.
But now, he had new tools, new techniques, and a body tempered through fire and battle.
The world was dangerous, and he knew it.
But Rhaizen was ready to step forward, one Crimson Step at a time.