The temple shook.
A deafening crack split through the obsidian floor as Zhu Kain's crimson blade carved a glowing trench between us.
Heat blasted across the chamber.
Broken stone rained from the ceiling.
Dust and sparks swirled in the air like embers caught in a storm.
I pushed myself up from the shattered pillar, my chest rising and falling hard.
Zhu Kain stood at the centre of the hall, blade lowered at his side, the golden half-mask hiding half his face.
But his eyes—
those burning red eyes—
were fixed on me with cold amusement.
"So," he said, voice smooth and poisonous, "the little insect chooses to stand beside a fallen goddess."
The chained woman above the flame circle narrowed her eyes.
"Watch your tongue, Zhu Kain."
He let out a low laugh.
"Still proud even after being reduced to this."
His gaze shifted toward Lian Xueyi.
The mocking tone in his voice made my fists tighten.
This wasn't merely betrayal.
This was humiliation.
They had imprisoned their own ruler and turned her temple into a prison.
ARINA's voice rang inside my mind.
"Warning. Additional hostile signatures approaching."
A blue panel flashed before my eyes.
Hostiles Detected: 17 Affiliation: Crimson Sect Threat Level: High. Mission update: Survive the descent.
Seventeen?
The temple doors burst fully open.
More crimson-robed figures poured inside.
Some carried curved blades.
Others held staffs crowned with burning crystals.
A sect raid force.
The entire temple was being surrounded.
Zhu Kain slowly raised his blade.
"Kneel," he said, looking at me, "and I may let you keep your corpse intact."
I spat blood to the side and straightened.
"Sorry."
I cracked my knuckles.
"I don't kneel easily."
His eyes darkened.
Lian's chains suddenly blazed brighter.
"Fool," she said sharply, looking at me. "You should have run when you had the chance."
I looked up at her.
"Not without you."
For a moment, something flickered in her crimson eyes.
A pause.
A hesitation.
Then the panel in front of me blinked.
Favorability Updated: -20 → -10
Progress.
Small.
But enough.
Zhu Kain's expression twisted.
"So even now, you still attract loyal dogs."
His blade ignited.
The red flames around it took the shape of screaming faces.
Cultivation technique.
Before I could react, he vanished.
Fast.
Too fast.
Years of martial arts training screamed through my instincts.
I twisted sideways.
The blade grazed my shoulder.
Pain exploded through my arm.
Warm blood ran down my sleeve.
I stumbled backwards.
He was already in front of me again.
A second slash.
I barely blocked it with a broken obsidian shard.
The shard shattered instantly.
The force threw me across the chamber.
I hit the floor hard and rolled.
This was different.
The assassins outside had been dangerous.
Zhu Kain was on another level.
Lian's voice rang out.
"He is at the Third Flame Realm."
I frowned.
Third Flame Realm?
Cultivation stages.
So this world had its own power hierarchy.
Perfect.
Another thing to learn while trying not to die.
The crimson-robed disciples began circling.
No escape route.
No weapon.
One goddess in chains.
Excellent odds.
ARINA's voice suddenly sharpened.
"Emergency Support Protocol activated."
A new system panel unfolded.
Temporary Skill Granted Skill: Flame Step Duration: 10 Minutes Source: Resonance with Lian Xueyi
A rush of heat surged through my legs.
Not painful.
Empowering.
The ground beneath my feet glowed faintly red.
Zhu Kain lunged again.
This time, I moved.
One step.
Then another.
The world blurred.
I appeared to his left.
His blade cut through empty air.
His eyes widened.
I drove my fist into his ribs.
The impact wasn't enough to seriously hurt him, but it staggered him.
Good.
The skill worked.
The disciples rushed in.
Three from the front.
Two from the sides.
I moved instinctively.
Flame Step.
A streak of crimson light followed my feet.
I slipped past the first blade.
Kicked one disciple into another.
Grabbed a fallen spear from the floor.
Spun.
The spear's butt slammed into a staff wielder's throat.
He collapsed.
Another came from behind.
I ducked low and swept his legs.
He crashed face-first into the stone.
The system panel flickered again.
Combat Proficiency Increased 12% → 26%
I almost laughed.
The system was literally learning with me.
This was insane.
And useful.
Zhu Kain growled.
"Enough."
He slammed his blade into the floor.
The entire chamber erupted.
Crimson fire pillars shot upward around me, forming a cage.
I skidded to a halt.
Trapped.
Lian's expression changed.
"Behind the altar!" she shouted.
I looked toward the raised stone platform beneath her.
Ancient runes.
A seal array.
That had to be the chain lock.
Of course.
The prison system was built into the altar itself.
If I could disable it—
A disciple lunged.
I blocked the strike and threw him into the flames.
Another attack came from above.
I dodged.
Barely.
My breathing had grown heavy.
The temporary skill was helping, but my body was reaching its limit.
Zhu Kain smiled.
"You think you can free her?"
He raised his blade toward Lian.
"She belongs to the sect now."
The flames around the chains pulsed violently.
Lian clenched her fists.
Her voice trembled with fury.
"I was your sovereign."
Zhu Kain laughed.
"And now you are our power source."
The words hit harder than the blade.
They had betrayed her for power.
Not politics.
Not ideology.
Greed.
Pure greed.
Something inside me snapped.
Maybe it was because I understood betrayal.
Maybe it was because Professor Mehra was still missing somewhere beyond the worlds.
Or maybe it was simply because I couldn't stand seeing someone reduced to a tool.
I tightened my grip on the spear.
"No one owns anyone."
Zhu Kain's smile vanished.
I moved.
Flame Step.
Straight toward the altar.
The disciples rushed to intercept.
Too late.
I vaulted over the burning ring and landed beneath the chained goddess.
The runes glowed beneath my feet.
ARINA's voice rang out.
"Seal Array Detected."
Unlock Condition: Break 3 Flame Nodes
Three nodes.
I scanned the altar instantly.
Left pillar.
Right pillar.
Centre seal.
Simple.
A disciple charged.
I rammed the spear into the left pillar.
Crack.
The rune shattered.
The chains trembled.
Lian gasped.
One down.
Zhu Kain roared.
"Kill him!"
The entire Crimson Sect descended at once.
And I knew this was only the beginning.