The fire trial

Kevin, Emily, and Zoey sat in stunned silence, the crackling of the fire the only sound between them. Zoey's revelation that she was a ghost had left them all reeling, but it was her next words that truly shook them.

"My father is one of the creators of Kakze," Zoey began, her voice tinged with sorrow. "I was murdered by his secretary because I discovered his plans to scam my father and steal everything from him. When I died, my spirit couldn't leave the company where I worked."

Kevin and Emily exchanged glances, struggling to process the enormity of what Zoey was saying.

"One day, while wandering around, I decided to try the game. Somehow, the game recognized me as a human player, and that's how I ended up here, trapped just like you."

Emily frowned, her mind racing. "But how did the game mistake a ghost for a human?"

Zoey shook her head. "I don't know. Maybe it's because of my connection to the game's creation, or maybe the game just doesn't recognize the difference. All I know is that I'm here now, and I'm not leaving until I find a way out."

Kevin clenched his fists, his determination hardening. "Then we'll help you, Zoey. We'll find a way out together."

Zoey smiled faintly, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Kevin. And thank you, Emily."

With renewed resolve, the group set off once more, the forest around them growing darker and more ominous. After walking for what felt like hours, they entered a clearing only to be confronted by a pack of cub-like creatures, their bodies ablaze with fire.

"Fire cub lions," Emily identified, her voice tense. "We need to be careful."

But before they could react, a much larger figure emerged from the shadows—a boss fire lion, its mane a roaring inferno, its eyes glowing with malice.

Just then, a message flashed across their screens:

**Rule: Do not use physical combat. Only use special skills. If you disobey, you will lose one life.**

Kevin smirked, gripping his sword tightly. "Rules, huh? I'm not one for following rules. Since I got this sword, the game doesn't seem to recognize me as a player anyway. And besides, I don't have any special skills. Whenever I check, all I get is an error message."

Emily's eyes widened in alarm. "Kevin, no! You'll lose a life!"

Kevin shook his head, his expression resolute. "I'll do things my way. The game's already stacked against us, so what do I have to lose?"

With that, Kevin charged forward, his sword glowing with an intense blue light as he prepared to defy the game's commands.

Kevin's pulse quickened as he charged forward, sword in hand, determined to break the game's rules. The fire cub lions roared, their bodies ablaze with fierce flames, but Kevin wasn't intimidated. He had played countless VR games, and his combat instincts kicked in, guiding his every move.

With practiced precision, he swung his sword, slicing through the first lion. It dissipated into embers, the intense heat momentarily scorching his face. A smirk tugged at his lips. "Who needs special skills when you've got real ones?"

Beside him, Emily's focus was razor-sharp. Her Moonblade gleamed under the eerie light of the sky as she threw her Lunar Shield with a smooth, practiced motion. The shield collided with a fire cub lion, and instantly, its shadow locked in place, freezing the creature mid-snarl. Emily moved in with a graceful slash of her blade, dark energy cutting through the immobilized beast. With each defeated lion, her level surged, her power growing in tandem.

She caught the returning shield effortlessly, her eyes flickering with a newfound confidence. "Looks like I've leveled up," she noted, a hint of surprise in her voice.

Kevin couldn't help but quip, "What's next, Captain America?"

Emily chuckled, but the levity was short-lived. The boss fire lion stepped forward, its massive frame dwarfing the smaller cubs. Its mane was a raging inferno, and its eyes glowed with an intensity that sent a chill down Kevin's spine.Zoey analyzed the situation. Using her menu, she discovered that the fire cub lions were all at level 5, while the boss fire lion loomed at an intimidating level 50.

Kevin, whose sword seemed to defy the game's mechanics, accessed a deeper level of information. He discovered the fire cub lions could only spit fireballs, while the boss fire lion had a broader range of attacks—larger fireballs, searing fire claws, and rapid movements. This insight, impossible for a regular player to obtain, gave them a crucial advantage.

Zoey stepped forward, her pink-accented hair glowing slightly as she activated her own skill: **Kakze's Acid Skill: Wet Burn.** Her sword emitted a pink acid, burning through the fire cub lions with precision. As her sword's level increased to 10, her own level climbed to match, empowering her attacks.

"The boss is at level 50," Zoey warned, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her. "We need to be careful."

But Kevin was already moving, eyes locked on the massive beast before him. His sword hummed with energy, a glitching artifact that defied the game's rules. With a burst of speed, he lunged at the boss lion, but before he could strike, a fireball hit him square in the chest. The impact was like a punch to the gut, knocking the wind out of him. He staggered back, clutching his side as the game's cold logic took over.

**Life Lost: Respawning in 13 seconds…**

Kevin's vision blurred, and then everything went black.

When his sight returned, he found himself on one knee, gasping for breath as the world around him reformed. The 13 seconds felt like an eternity, a stark reminder of how precarious their situation was. His sword, once powerful and bright, now dimmed, its level dropping to 4. The game was punishing him, and the realization hit hard—this was no ordinary battle.

"Kevin!" Emily shouted, concern etching her face as she blocked another attack with her shield. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," he grunted, forcing himself to his feet. "But this is going to be tougher than I thought."

Zoey glanced at him, her eyes filled with determination. "We can't afford any more mistakes. If we go down, we need to come back stronger."

Kevin nodded, gripping his sword tighter. The boss fire lion snarled, its eyes locking onto Kevin as if sensing his moment of weakness. But Kevin wasn't about to give up. He wasn't just fighting for himself—he was fighting for all of them, for their chance to escape this twisted game.

The boss roared, the sound shaking the ground beneath them. Kevin braced himself, knowing that this was only the beginning. The fire cub lions were just the warm-up. Now, they had to face the real challenge.

With a renewed surge of energy, Kevin raised his sword, the light within it flickering back to life. He might have lost a life, but he wasn't out of the game yet. Not by a long shot.

Together, they charged at the boss fire lion, knowing that their survival depended on more than just strength—it depended on each other.