The Reborn Luna: Claimed by the Billionaire Alpha

Chapter 10 – The Trial of Flames

The cavern still radiated with heat from Selene's unleashed power. The golden-red flames had faded, leaving behind glowing embers embedded in the obsidian floor. The armored figure remained unmoving, watching her with those molten eyes.

Selene felt light-headed, her body trembling from exhaustion, but something deep inside her pulsed with newfound strength.

Killian sheathed his sword and approached cautiously. "Selene…" His voice was steady, but there was something in his eyes—concern, and maybe even fear.

Elira stepped beside him, her hands still faintly glowing from the magic she had wielded. "That fire… it wasn't ordinary magic. It felt ancient."

Selene swallowed hard. She didn't understand it either. It had felt like an eruption, something inside her breaking free after being dormant for so long.

The armored figure finally spoke. "The First Flame has chosen you."

Selene straightened. "What does that mean?"

The figure stepped forward, the ground beneath it cracking with molten light. "It means you have taken the first step toward reclaiming what was lost." It gestured toward the throne, its jagged surface glowing with deep red energy. "This is the seat of the Forsaken King—the last ruler to wield the power of the Primordial Flame. He fell… and with him, the balance of this world was broken."

Elira's eyes widened. "The Forsaken King? That's a myth. There's no proof he ever existed."

The figure let out a low, rumbling chuckle. "And yet, you stand within his tomb."

Selene's heart pounded. She had read legends about the Forsaken King—a ruler who had once commanded an unimaginable fire, but whose power had led to his downfall. His throne was said to be buried beneath the earth, sealed away to ensure no one could claim his strength again.

And now, she was standing right in front of it.

The figure turned back to Selene. "The flame within you is older than any kingdom, any empire. It is the same fire that once burned in the heart of the Forsaken King. But power alone is meaningless." It pointed toward the far end of the cavern, where a massive set of blackened doors loomed, their surface engraved with ancient symbols. "To claim your destiny, you must face the Trial of Flames."

Selene's fingers twitched. Another trial? She barely had the strength to stand.

Killian stepped forward. "She just fought off those creatures. Whatever this trial is, she needs time to recover."

The figure's burning gaze turned to him. "There is no time. The longer she waits, the weaker the seal becomes. If she does not face the trial now… the darkness beyond those doors will be unleashed upon the world."

Silence.

Selene forced herself to stand tall. She was terrified, but she couldn't afford to hesitate. If what the figure said was true, then she had no choice.

She nodded. "I'll do it."

Killian clenched his jaw but didn't argue. Elira, though worried, simply said, "Then we're going with you."

The figure shook its head. "This trial is hers alone." With a wave of its hand, an invisible force pushed Killian and Elira backward, keeping them from stepping forward.

Selene turned to them, her heart aching at the sight of their helpless expressions. "It's okay," she said softly. "I'll come back."

Killian's fists clenched, his eyes burning with frustration. "Be careful."

Elira nodded. "We'll be right here."

Selene took a deep breath and stepped toward the massive doors. As she approached, the symbols on them lit up, one by one, until the entire surface glowed like molten gold. The heat was almost unbearable.

Then, with a deep, echoing boom, the doors swung open.

Beyond them was darkness.

Selene took one last look at Killian and Elira before stepping inside.

The doors slammed shut behind her.

Inside the Trial

The moment Selene entered, the air changed. The cavernous chamber was silent, filled with an eerie stillness. The ground beneath her was smooth, reflecting her image like black glass.

Then, the first flame ignited.

A torch flared to life on the far end of the chamber, casting long shadows against the walls. More torches ignited one by one, creating a long path leading to a massive brazier in the center of the room.

Selene stepped forward cautiously. As she moved, whispers filled the air.

"You are not strong enough."

"You will fail, just as he did."

"The fire will consume you."

Selene gritted her teeth. She knew these voices weren't real. This was the trial, meant to test her resolve.

She kept moving.

Then, the ground shook, and from the shadows, a figure emerged.

It looked like a warrior, clad in scorched armor, its face hidden behind a helmet that was cracked and blackened. Its hands were wreathed in flames, and in one hand, it held a massive, molten blade.

Selene's pulse raced. This was no ordinary opponent.

The warrior lifted its blade, pointing it at her. The final trial had begun.

The Trial of Fire

The warrior lunged.

Selene barely had time to react before the massive flaming sword swung toward her. She threw herself to the side, narrowly dodging as the blade crashed into the ground, sending a shockwave of fire across the chamber.

She had no weapon—only the fire within her.

Summoning her power, she thrust her hands forward, releasing a blast of golden flames. The warrior didn't flinch. It simply walked through the fire, completely unaffected.

Selene's eyes widened. It was immune?

The warrior raised its sword again, this time moving faster. It struck, and Selene barely managed to throw up a barrier of flame, absorbing some of the impact. The force of the attack sent her skidding backward, her arms trembling from the strain.

Think, Selene. There has to be a way to defeat it.

Then she saw it—the cracks in the armor.

The warrior was powerful, but it wasn't invincible. If she could strike at its weak points, she had a chance.

When the warrior charged again, Selene didn't run.

She stepped forward.

At the last second, she dodged low, rolling beneath the warrior's swing. Her hands glowed white-hot, and she drove them into the cracks in the armor.

The warrior screamed.

The flames within her ignited, pouring into the weak spots. The warrior shuddered, its molten energy overloaded.

Then, with a final, earth-shattering explosion, the warrior collapsed into ash.

The chamber fell silent once more.

Then, the final brazier ignited, its flames burning brighter than the sun.

Selene stood there, her breath ragged, her body trembling.

She had done it.

A voice echoed through the chamber. "The flame is yours."

The fire rushed toward her, wrapping around her like a second skin. It didn't burn—it felt like pure energy, merging with her very soul.

Then, everything went white.

The world was white-hot.

Selene's entire body felt like it was floating, yet an unimaginable power coursed through her veins. The fire from the brazier had merged with her, wrapping around her in golden-red tendrils of heat, but it didn't burn—it became a part of her.

Her heart pounded. The voices that had whispered doubts into her mind were now silent, replaced by a deep, resounding pulse that echoed within her soul.

This is what I was meant for.

Then, just as suddenly as it had started, the blinding light vanished.

Selene gasped, stumbling as she found herself standing in the chamber once more. The ground beneath her was cracked with embers, and the air was thick with heat. But something was different.

The brazier that had once burned so fiercely was now dim, its fire transferred into her. The obsidian walls, which had once shimmered with an eerie glow, had darkened, as if the entire room had lost its source of power.

Selene looked down at herself. Her hands, once ordinary, now pulsed with golden veins of fire, flickering like living energy beneath her skin. The sensation wasn't painful—it was alive, as though the very essence of the Forsaken King's flame had accepted her as its vessel.

I passed the trial.

A deep, echoing voice filled the chamber.

"You have proven yourself worthy."

Selene turned, and the armored figure from before stood before her, no longer looming but kneeling. The molten glow in its eyes flickered, and its armor, once fearsome and unbreakable, now seemed… lighter, almost as if it had lost the weight of an ancient burden.

"The First Flame has chosen you," the figure said again, this time with reverence. "The power of the Forsaken King now resides within you. But power alone is not enough. You must learn to wield it, lest it consumes you as it did him."

Selene swallowed. The weight of his words sank in. She had survived the trial, but that didn't mean she was safe from the fire inside her.

She took a deep breath. "What happens now?"

The figure gestured toward the sealed doors at the far end of the chamber. "Beyond this gate lies the truth—the past that was erased from history. It is time for you to see the fate of the last wielder of the Primordial Flame… and why you must not follow in his footsteps."

Selene hesitated. She had barely begun to understand her power, and now she was expected to face more secrets?

But she had no choice. This was her path.

With a slow nod, she stepped forward. The massive black doors rumbled, then slowly began to open. A gust of scorching air rushed out, carrying with it the scent of ancient ashes.

Killian and Elira's voices were muffled behind her. She knew they were still trapped outside, unable to follow.

This is my burden alone.

Taking one last breath, Selene stepped through the doorway and into the past.

Visions of the Forsaken King

The world shifted.

Selene wasn't in the chamber anymore. She stood in a grand throne room, but unlike the ruins she had seen, this one was whole—glorious and untouched by time. Massive banners of crimson and gold hung from the towering obsidian pillars. A brilliant chandelier of molten crystal bathed the room in a soft, golden glow.

At the center of it all sat a man upon a throne of black stone, fire dancing around him like a living entity.

The Forsaken King.

He was younger than she expected. His golden eyes burned with intensity, and his presence radiated unmatched power. His armor, unlike the broken husks she had seen, was gleaming and regal, its surface engraved with the same symbols that had adorned the trial chamber.

Selene wanted to speak, but she couldn't move. She was merely an observer in this vision.

The throne room doors suddenly burst open, and a group of warriors stormed inside. Their expressions were grim, their armor scarred from battle.

"My King," one of them spoke, bowing. "The enemy is at the gates. The capital will fall."

The Forsaken King's expression didn't waver. He simply leaned forward, resting his chin on his fist.

"I warned them," he said, his voice smooth but filled with something dark. "I told them not to test me."

The warrior hesitated. "My King… if you use the full power of the flame, there will be nothing left."

A slow smile crept across the King's face. "Then let there be nothing."

Selene's breath caught in her throat.

The flames around the Forsaken King flared violently, and suddenly, the vision shifted again.

Now, she was outside, standing atop the capital walls. The sky was black with smoke, and in the distance, a massive army of shadows loomed. But the Forsaken King stood alone, his flames growing brighter, more uncontrollable.

Then, with a single gesture of his hand, he unleashed hell.

A golden firestorm erupted from his body, spreading across the battlefield like a tidal wave. Screams echoed. The enemy—thousands of soldiers—vanished in an instant, reduced to nothing but ash.

The vision flickered.

Selene found herself standing amid the ruins of the same kingdom. The city that had once been great and powerful was now nothing but blackened rubble. The Forsaken King stood alone, surrounded by a wasteland of his own making.

And in his eyes, Selene saw it.

Regret.

Then, the vision faded, and she was back in the chamber.

The Price of Power

Selene gasped, stumbling forward. Her body felt heavy, as if she had truly lived through the destruction. Her heart raced.

She had seen the truth.

The Forsaken King wasn't a tyrant… he was a man who had been driven to the edge, forced to unleash a power that ultimately destroyed everything he loved.

And now, that same power rested within her.

The armored figure watched her solemnly. "Now you understand."

Selene clenched her fists. She could feel the fire inside her, more powerful than ever. But now she knew its price. If she wasn't careful, she could end up just like him.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. No. I won't let that happen.

The figure nodded approvingly. "Then your next trial begins."

Selene blinked. "Next?"

The figure gestured toward another sealed doorway. "The Trial of Shadows awaits."

Selene exhaled. She wasn't sure she was ready, but she didn't have a choice.

She had passed the Trial of Flames.

But fire alone was not enough to fight the darkness that was coming.

And so, she stepped forward—into the next unknown.