The Trial of the Phoenix

Raja stepped forward, the world around him distorting. A sensation of weightlessness overtook him, as though he were suspended in the void. His vision blurred before fading into complete darkness. His instincts sharpened; he could sense something ancient and powerful stirring within the endless abyss.

In the stillness, two golden lines pierced through the darkness, expanding into a pair of gigantic golden eyes, radiating an otherworldly majesty. Raja's breath caught in his throat.

A dignified female voice resonated around him.

"Welcome, challenger. You are the first in a millennium to face the Phoenix Trial without possessing the Phoenix bloodline."

The voice carried no malice, only a calm curiosity. Raja straightened, his confidence unwavering.

The spirit revealed itself as the immortal essence of the Phoenix, explaining its role in safeguarding the trial grounds for those seeking its power. Raja's curiosity sparked, and he asked why such a trial ground was created.

The Phoenix spirit spoke of a fierce battle among three divine fire beasts—the Phoenix, the Golden Crow, and the Vermilion Bird—that led to its grievous injuries. Retreating from the Divine Realm, the Phoenix created the trial grounds to gift humanity with its strength but warned that this power must not be misused. Should any wielder harm the world with its gift, the Phoenix would strip them of it. One such betrayal had already occurred, leaving its power permanently sealed.

"You lack the Phoenix bloodline," the spirit observed. "Do you still wish to proceed?"

"I am ready," Raja replied without hesitation.

The Phoenix outlined the three stages of the trial: the Purgatory Flame Demon, the Arrows of the Phoenix, and the Corruption of the Heart's Flame. It emphasized the dangers, granting Raja the option to forfeit at any time. Raja nodded, his confidence stemming from his immunity to fire, courtesy of the Fire Seed of the Evil God.

The darkness gave way to a hellish landscape of molten lava and roaring flames. The ground beneath his feet radiated blistering heat, the air heavy with the acrid stench of sulfur. Any ordinary human would have been reduced to ashes within seconds, but Raja stood unaffected, the environment no more uncomfortable than a warm bath.

As he advanced, the lava ahead churned violently, and a towering figure emerged—a 33-meter-tall flame giant, its body wreathed in roaring fire. Its horns glowed molten red, and its bellowing roars shook the ground.

"The Purgatory Flame Demon," Raja murmured.

Jasmine, ever vigilant, warned, "This is a high-level Spirit Profound beast. Its regenerative abilities are formidable in this environment. Be cautious."

The demon hurled massive fireballs at him. Raja stood firm, unaffected by the flames but noting their immense force. He lunged forward, striking the demon's fiery body, only to find his attacks ineffective. Even with his "Evil Soul" activation, his blows barely scratched its surface.

Realizing he needed more power, Raja unsheathed his Lunar Tempest Sword, the Emperor Profound Artifact. With a precise slash, he cut into the demon's fiery exterior, revealing its blackened flesh beneath. The beast roared in pain, retaliating with a massive area-of-effect fire attack. Raja evaded with ease, his speed outmatching the demon's sluggish movements.

Jasmine directed him, "Aim for the golden mark on its head—that's its weak point."

Raja leapt high, using his "Six Styles Sky Walk" technique to dodge the demon's strike and reach its head. Channeling his Tempest Breathing Third Form, Thunderclap Tempest Sword Slash, he delivered a devastating blow to the golden mark. The demon let out a final roar before collapsing, its flames extinguished as its body disintegrated into ash.

The fiery purgatory faded, replaced by a barren wilderness under a blazing red sky. A piercing phoenix cry echoed, and countless red dots appeared above, descending rapidly. These fiery silhouettes, each shaped like a six-foot-long phoenix, plummeted toward Raja like meteors.

The first phoenix struck, exploding with tremendous force. Though the flames didn't harm him, the impact stung, forcing him back slightly. Realizing the danger, Raja began to dodge, employing his "Six Styles Shave" and "Kami-e" techniques to weave through the onslaught.

The number of phoenixes increased rapidly—three became seven, then fifteen. Raja danced across the battlefield, evading the fiery projectiles. The ground erupted in craters, but his reflexes kept him safe.

As hundreds of phoenixes rained down in the final wave, Raja unleashed his Tempest Breathing First Form: Typhoon Slash. Spinning rapidly, he created a vortex of wind and slashes, deflecting the phoenix silhouettes with overwhelming force. The battlefield echoed with the deafening roar of his technique.

When the dust settled, the phoenixes ceased their assault. Raja exhaled deeply, his body unscathed but his mind alert. He admired the strength of past challengers who had survived this trial without his fire immunity.

Darkness returned, and the golden eyes of the Phoenix spirit reappeared. Its voice resonated with newfound respect.

"You bear the aura of the Evil God, the nemesis of all elements. Should you inherit his power, you would become invulnerable to all elemental forces—fire, water, wind, thunder, and more."

It acknowledged that Raja's unique physique had given him an unfair advantage in the first two trials. The third trial, however, would be different—a test not of strength or fire resistance, but of the heart.

"Only seven have passed this trial in countless years," the spirit revealed. "It is the hardest, for it demands the challenger confront their deepest desires and make choices that define their soul."

Raja stood silent for a moment, pondering the challenge ahead. He braced himself, ready to face whatever lay within the trial.

"Let it begin," he said firmly.

Minutes passed, and nothing happened. Raja frowned, impatience creeping in. "Is this part of the test?" he muttered.

The Phoenix spirit's voice returned, tinged with astonishment.

"I cannot enter your mind."

Raja smirked, his confidence unwavering. He released a surge of Supreme King Haki, his willpower radiating like a storm.

"No one questions my will," he declared, his voice firm and resolute.

The golden eyes shimmered with approval. "You have completed the trial of the heart, not by confrontation but by the unshakable strength of your resolve."