NOVEL WEB Chapter 13: The Trial of Ashes
The wind howled across the Forbidden Wastes, carrying with it the scent of decay and the whispers of lost souls. Murong Chen stood at the edge of a vast chasm, the ground beneath him cracked and scorched. Before him, half-buried in the blackened earth, lay the ruins of an ancient temple—its stone arches crumbling, the pillars charred and stained with blood. This was it—the Crypt of Ashes, the resting place of the Eternal Flame and the grave of countless forgotten warriors.
The Ashen Blade pulsed at his side, humming with a deep, resonant energy. It seemed to recognize the place, as if it, too, had come home.
Lu Fan stepped beside him, eyes narrowing as he took in the ruins. "This place feels wrong. Like it wants to consume us."
Chen nodded. "It does. The Flame inside… it's not meant for the unworthy."
They descended the slope, each step met with resistance—as though the very air sought to hold them back. Shadows danced across the temple's surface, shifting like smoke. The entrance gaped before them, carved with symbols of fire and ruin. Chen traced a finger along the markings, his eyes narrowing.
"These runes… they tell a story," he murmured. "A tale of betrayal, of warriors who sought power and were devoured by it."
He stepped inside, the temperature dropping sharply. Darkness engulfed them, but the Ashen Blade flared to life, casting crimson light across the chamber. Bones littered the floor—skeletal remains of those who had come before, their weapons rusted, their armor shattered. In the center of the room stood a pedestal, atop which burned a flame of deep orange, flickering as if alive.
As they approached, a voice echoed through the chamber—deep, ancient, and filled with sorrow.
"Who dares disturb the Crypt of Ashes?"
From the shadows emerged a figure clad in tattered robes, his face obscured by a hood. His eyes glowed with a faint gold, and in his hands he held a staff crowned with a blade of bone.
"I am Murong Chen," Chen said, stepping forward. "I seek the Eternal Flame."
The figure tilted his head. "Many have sought it. All have failed. To claim the Flame, you must face the Trial of Ashes… and offer your soul to judgment."
"I am ready."
The figure gestured, and the chamber trembled. The ground split apart, revealing a staircase descending into darkness. Chen followed, Lu Fan hesitating at the top.
"This is your path alone," the figure said. "He may not follow."
Chen nodded once to Lu Fan. "Guard the entrance. If I do not return…"
"You will," Lu Fan said, clenching his fist. "You must."
Chen descended into the depths. The stairs seemed endless, winding into the earth's core. As he walked, the shadows pressed in, whispering his name, reminding him of his failures, his betrayal, his pain.
At the bottom, he emerged into a vast chamber lit by a spectral flame at its center. The walls were etched with murals—depicting warriors consumed by fire, their bodies turning to ash. Before the flame stood three figures, each draped in ancient armor, their faces hidden behind masks.
"The Guardians of the Flame," Chen whispered.
One stepped forward, his voice echoing. "To claim the Eternal Flame, you must endure the Trial of Ashes. We will test your strength, your will, and your truth."
"I accept."
The Guardian raised a hand, and the flame surged, engulfing Chen in a torrent of heat and light. Pain seared through his body as the fire invaded his veins, testing him, judging him.
Visions flooded his mind—Zhao Wei's betrayal, the slaughter of his clan, the cold laughter of his enemies. His knees buckled, but he stood firm.
"I will not fall. I will not break."
The second Guardian stepped forward, striking with a blade of fire. Chen met it with the Ashen Blade, sparks flying as steel clashed with flame. Each blow tested him, but with every strike, he grew stronger, his resolve hardening.
The third Guardian spoke, his voice a whisper. "What do you seek, warrior?"
Chen stood tall, his eyes blazing. "Justice. Revenge. And to reclaim what was taken from me."
Silence followed. Then the flame dimmed, retreating into the pedestal. The Guardians stepped back.
"You have endured. You are worthy."
From the pedestal rose a shard of fire, hovering in the air. Chen reached out, and as his fingers closed around it, power surged through him. The Eternal Flame merged with the Ashen Blade, transforming it. The runes glowed brighter, the steel humming with new life.
He had passed the trial.
As he ascended the stairs, the whispers fell silent. The air felt lighter, the darkness retreating.
Lu Fan rushed to meet him at the entrance, eyes wide. "You did it?"
Chen nodded. "It's only the beginning."
Beyond the Wastes, Zhao Wei's empire awaited. And Murong Chen was ready to burn it down.