The night passed in silence, the distant howls of wolves and the rustling of leaves being the only sounds breaking the otherwise peaceful atmosphere. Vill Long Feng and Luis Karpilo remained atop the craggy hill, their eyes fixed on the horizon, where the shadow of the Black Flame Sect loomed closer.
Vill could feel it. The weight of impending danger pressing down on him. It wasn't just the power of the Black Flame Sect that troubled him. It was the knowledge that someone, something, had been watching him for far longer than he had realized. His journey had begun with the death of his father, the struggle for survival, and his rise from a struggling underdog to the powerful figure he was now. But the presence of a sect—an ancient, ruthless sect—brought a new level of complexity. A new level of danger. The path he had carved for himself would now be tested in ways he had never imagined.
"I never thought the Black Flame Sect would come after you this soon," Luis said, breaking the silence. Her voice was soft, yet heavy with the weight of her words. "Their reach is vast. And their methods are even darker. We're not just talking about a fight for power. We're talking about a war."
Vill's expression was unreadable as he stared into the distance. The sun had not yet risen, but the sky was beginning to glow faintly in shades of purple and orange. He could feel the anticipation in the air. Something big was coming.
"I don't care about their war," Vill muttered, his fists clenching. "I care about one thing. Surviving."
Luis looked at him, her gaze softening for a moment. "Survival isn't enough, Vill. If you keep thinking like that, you'll lose everything before you realize it."
Vill's gaze hardened. "Then I'll protect what matters."
Luis raised an eyebrow, as though reading between the lines. "And what matters to you, Vill? You've made it clear that you care about no one. About nothing but your own strength."
The words stung, though Vill refused to show it. His entire life had been a battle of survival, of proving himself against all odds. He had learned to trust no one—especially not anyone who might try to bind him to their goals, their desires. And yet, in his heart, there was a growing sense that Luis spoke a truth he was too afraid to admit.
"I'll protect what I've built," he said, his voice low and full of conviction. "My strength, my path, my future. That's all that matters."
Luis studied him, and for a long moment, there was only silence. She seemed to be searching for something in him, something he couldn't quite grasp. Finally, she gave a nod, a single gesture that spoke volumes. "Alright, Vill. I'll stand by you. But just remember, the flames you carry aren't just for your enemies. They're for everything you love, too. Don't let them consume you."
Vill didn't respond. His mind was already focused on the path ahead. The Black Flame Sect was coming, and he would need every ounce of his strength to face them. He had trained for this moment, honed his power for years, but even now, he could feel the unease creeping in. The Phoenix and Dragon bloodlines within him were powerful—immensely so—but they were also untested against a sect as dangerous as the Black Flame. The trial that lay ahead would either solidify his place in the world, or break him completely.
Luis seemed to sense his thoughts, and without another word, she turned and began walking toward the mountains. Vill followed her, his mind sharp with purpose.
As the first rays of dawn broke through the horizon, they arrived at the base of the mountain range. The air was colder here, the wind biting at their skin. The landscape was more treacherous—steep slopes and jagged rocks that would be difficult to traverse, even for a seasoned cultivator.
"We'll need to move carefully," Luis said, glancing up at the towering peaks. "There's a pass through the mountains about three days' travel from here. We can use it to avoid detection for now."
Vill nodded. He had no interest in being detected. The element of surprise was his greatest ally, and he would use it to his advantage.
But as they began their ascent, Vill couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Every rustle in the wind, every movement in the trees, felt like it was a sign of something—or someone—lurking in the shadows.
And then, without warning, a voice broke the stillness of the morning air.
"You really think you can escape them?"
Vill's eyes snapped to the source of the voice. A figure stood atop a rock ledge, his silhouette dark against the rising sun. The man was tall, lean, and dressed in robes of deepest black, a faint crimson glow flickering beneath the fabric as though the very air around him burned with some kind of restrained power.
"I don't know who you are," Vill said, his voice cold, "but you're in my way."
The man's lips curled into a smirk, his gaze fixed on Vill. "Oh, I think you do know who I am. I've been watching you, Vill Long Feng. Your power, your potential… and your bloodlines. You're a fool if you think you can hide from the Black Flame Sect. We've known about you for far longer than you realize."
Luis stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "I knew it. You're with them."
The man's smile widened, revealing sharp, gleaming teeth. "I'm more than 'with them.' I am one of them. And I've been sent to bring you in. Whether you like it or not."
Vill's expression darkened. The flames within him began to stir, his blood boiling with the intensity of the Phoenix's rage and the Dragon's fury. He didn't need to know this man's name to know he was an enemy. And if there was one thing Vill Long Feng had learned through all his trials, it was that enemies didn't deserve mercy.
"I'm not interested in being captured," Vill growled, his voice dripping with menace.
The man's smirk never faltered. "Then you'll have to kill me."
With that, the air around them seemed to crackle with tension. The Black Flame Sect's influence had reached Vill Long Feng at last, and the first of many battles was about to begin.