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Zane found himself standing in the center of a barren wasteland, where the earth beneath him was cracked and blackened. The air shimmered with heat waves, and the sky above was a swirling mass of orange and crimson, swirling like the very flames that scorched the land. The ground was a vast desert, dotted with jagged, molten rocks and deep fissures that glowed with the heat of the earth's core.
He cracked his knuckles and looked around, his sharp eyes gleaming with confidence.
"Nice. This is exactly where I belong."
A rumble reverberated through the ground. From the cracks and crevices of the scorched earth, enormous beasts began to rise, their molten bodies glowing with an unnatural heat. They were massive, towering above him, with jagged spikes protruding from their backs and claws like molten blades. Their eyes burned with the intensity of flames, and as they let out guttural roars, the air around them warped with the searing heat.
Zane raised an eyebrow, unfazed by the grotesque creatures. The simulation had begun.
He took a deep breath, a slow grin spreading across his face as he flexed his fingers, feeling the power of his soul pulse through him.
"This is my element," he muttered, a cocky smirk playing on his lips. "Time to show these beasts what fire really is."
He extended his right hand, and his Soul Armor materialized around him in a flash of fiery energy. His chest was encased in a deep red-black chestplate, crackling with heat, while his arms and legs were wrapped in the same molten, obsidian-like material. The gauntlets glowed with an inner fire, and his boots left scorched footprints in the earth as he shifted his stance.
In his left hand, he summoned his Soul Weapon—a gleaming crimson longsword that crackled with the raw energy of the fire within him. The blade hummed with power, as though it was alive, ready to be wielded.
Without hesitation, Zane surged forward, his blade cutting through the air with ease as he charged toward the closest beast. The creature lunged, claws slashing at him with deadly force, but Zane was faster. He twisted to the side, avoiding the strike and bringing his sword down with a roar of flame. The blade met the beast's molten hide with a sickening crack, slicing through its leg with ease.
The creature howled in pain, stumbling back, but Zane was already moving again, leaping into the air and swinging his sword at another beast that had appeared from the shadows. His blade collided with its side, leaving a deep burn mark, but the creature didn't go down.
Zane's smirk faltered for a moment. These beasts were stronger than he expected.
He could feel his heart beating faster, the excitement of battle filling his veins. But he also felt something else—an itch in the back of his mind. Something was missing.
"Is that all you got?" he taunted, his eyes flicking from beast to beast as they circled him. "I'm not here to scrape by. I'm here to crush every last one of you."
His sword flashed again, cutting through another beast's throat with a clean strike. But there were more. Always more.
Zane gritted his teeth, frustration building. Despite his speed and strength, the beasts just kept coming, and with every moment, they seemed to grow more aggressive, more relentless. He was being pushed back, forced to react instead of dominate.
He had to stop thinking like this. He couldn't just react. He needed to take control of the situation.
He thought back to the teachings of Leo—Leo, the bastard who always pushed them, always made them dig deeper, get stronger.
"Draw. Visualize. Release. Soul Skills are born from what you lack—and what you demand from your power."
"Right," Zane muttered under his breath. "I'm here to show the world why I'm the best."
He closed his eyes for a moment, blocking out the chaos around him. His breathing slowed, and in the silence of his mind, he reached deep into his soul, summoning the raw fire that simmered there.
He could see it now. A fang. A burning, molten fang. It was the essence of who he was—proud, sharp, unstoppable. It was the fire that coursed through his veins. It was the destruction he could bring with a single slash.
Zane's eyes snapped open, and he raised his longsword high.
Scorch Fang.
The blade erupted in a blaze of fire, flames wrapping around it like a living thing. He felt the power surge within him, and with a roar, he slashed downward. The flames shot from his blade like a compressed wave, crashing through the beast charging toward him. The fire engulfed it, and the beast's molten body disintegrated in a flash of heat and light.
Zane's grin returned, wide and victorious.
"That's more like it."
He didn't wait. The next beast rushed forward, claws outstretched, but Zane met it head-on, his blade blazing with fire. As he struck, the flames spread out, catching the other beasts in their wake. The air thickened with the heat as the fire twisted and turned, burning everything in its path.
But the beasts weren't going down as easily now. They circled, attempting to flank him. Zane fought with everything he had, his sword a blur of crimson light, flames lashing out in every direction. His movements were fluid, calculated—he wasn't just reacting anymore, he was commanding the fight.
The heat around him was unbearable, but Zane thrived in it. This was his domain, his arena.
Another beast lunged, but Zane was ready. He spun, his sword crackling with fire, and with a sharp slash, he tore through the creature's neck. It collapsed in a heap of molten ash, and the others faltered for a moment, as though they could sense the tide turning.
Zane's breathing was ragged now, sweat pouring down his face, but his pride swelled. He wasn't just fighting for survival—he was fighting to prove something.
He was fighting to prove he was the best.
"I'm not just some kid playing with fire," Zane growled, his voice rising above the chaos. "I'm the fire."
With a final roar, he charged forward again, the flames from his sword blazing brighter than ever. The remaining beasts had no chance as they were consumed by the inferno he unleashed. One by one, they fell, burned away by his power.
When the last of the beasts crumbled to ash, Zane stood tall, the fire still flickering around him. His chest heaved with each breath, but his eyes were bright with pride.
"Is that all you got?" he asked, a grin on his face as he sheathed his sword. The flames around him slowly died down, leaving only scorched earth in their wake.
He had done it. He had proven himself.
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