Raiyen leaves the ruined battlefield behind, his black flames carving glowing marks into the scorched earth. Smoke rises with every step, and the air grows heavy, as if the world itself is reacting to his presence. From the shadows, Veyra and Korrin continue to observe. Though Raiyen senses them, his focus remains singular—power, revenge, and the next god to fall.
Without warning, a rift tears open beneath him, swirling with black smoke and crimson light. A voice echoes from within, declaring that Raiyen has survived the first trial and must now face the second.
From the rift emerges Zharok, the Pain Warden—a towering entity forged from suffering. His obsidian-like body bleeds endlessly, yet regenerates without pause. His aura radiates despair, fear, and agony. Zharok announces himself as the Trial of Blood, challenging Raiyen to prove whether his flames and cursed blood are truly worthy.
Raiyen attacks first, combining black flames and blood aura into a crushing blow. The strike detonates on impact, but Zharok regenerates instantly. Raiyen realizes that brute force alone will not be enough. Zharok counters by releasing an aura that distorts Raiyen's Soul Flame, shaking his body with unbearable pain. Instead of retreating, Raiyen chooses to push further.
Activating the Godslayer Sigil at full power, Raiyen begins testing advanced techniques. He forms a Blood Spear of Anguish, piercing Zharok's chest, and follows with a massive Soul Flame Surge that floods the area with rage and pain. The Sigil scans Zharok's body, identifying regeneration nodes and pain thresholds. For the first time, Zharok staggers—injured, but not defeated.
The battle shifts into a trial of endurance.
Zharok slams the ground, shattering the terrain and flooding the battlefield with black lightning and crimson mist. Raiyen is forced to adapt on the fly, pushing his Cursed Blood into overdrive to delay regeneration while refining his flame control for speed, intensity, and defense. His movements become precise and lethal, no longer reckless but calculated—those of a true god-killer in the making.
From the shadows, Veyra watches with growing admiration, while Korrin smiles in quiet intrigue. Raiyen is learning—but the question remains whether he can sustain this power.
Raiyen unleashes a final, devastating combination: Soul Flame, Blood Spear, and a concentrated shockwave of pain strike directly at Zharok's core regeneration points. The Pain Warden collapses, bleeding uncontrollably. Acknowledging Raiyen's growth, Zharok declares him worthy—for now—before vanishing back into a crimson rift.
The trial ends, but the warning remains: the true test still lies ahead.
Raiyen walks away stronger than before. His Soul Flame burns darker, the Godslayer Sigil shines brighter, and his presence feels heavier than ever. Veyra predicts that the next obstacle will push him toward destruction—or something beyond it. Korrin knows one truth for certain: the Gods have already made a fatal mistake.
Raiyen whispers to the darkness, ready for whatever comes next.
Nothing will stop him now.