Fire Road

Trevon still lay on the bone floors, but a smile appeared on his face. "HAHAHAHAHA!!! I win. I win. I win."

"Ugh…" He gathered his energy to sit. His entire body felt painful and tired.

[That is close, Rabbink! This place is dangerous.] Trevon started by complaining to the Rabbink.

"However, you win, right? Gwahahaha." Master Rabbink laughed.

[Is there any other danger?]

"Erm… It should be safe now in this area. Gwahahaha."

[Watch around me! I need to meditate.] Trevon continued to eat some pills for his recovery. He went into a meditation to recover his injury.

The guard Rabbink rolled a straw mat and took some strange looking foods from God knew where. It enjoyed the Halloween themed viewing picnic while Trevon meditated.

"Ah! This tea is perfect for this." Master Rabbink brew a pot of tea. An aromatic smell appeared soon. To celebrate its picnic, the Rabbink even made some bone sakura trees from the bones around. The Rabbink also made a moon to make his Halloween themed picnic became scarier. [Watching sakura under the moon.]

Once in a while, Master Rabbink would remind Trevon to do the stupid thing based on the dungeon rules. Trevon did that while he closed his eyes in the cultivation state. He had to gather his spiritual energy and mended the broken part of his body.

Trevon moved the energy to help the recovery from the pills. The young master could feel the warm energy followed by a cooling sensation on his injuries. Nevertheless, the biggest problem was his reserved energy. A Rank 1 warrior like him stored the spiritual energy in the entire body parts. He had to replenish them.

Two hours later, Trevon finished his meditation. He blew a foul breath from his mouth and opened his eyes.

[GAAAhhhhh!!! What is this?] He took his weapon again while he saw many bone trees were around him.

"Gwahahaha. These are some trees for my tea time enjoyment." Master Rabbink swiped its small hand and made those bone trees disappear.

"You could create things in a dungeon? Isn't a dungeon master the God of this dungeon?"

"Yes. However, this Rabbink is the boss of every dungeon master. " Master Rabbink proudly bragged.

"Did you make that scary looking giant?" Trevon thought the Rabbink did that to troll him. He squeezed the sword in his hand.

"No. That golem is the summoned monster by the dungeon master. It is the test for you. Go read the monolith if you don't believe!"

Trevon didn't directly go toward the monolith. He took the time to take Nana from his universe first.

"Nana!" He flew toward the Wailing Tree and shouted.

"Squeak…" Nana was enjoying the treatment from her subordinates. She was fed some fruits by some mice. Some other mice were massaging the donna. While another group was fanned Nana with some leaves.

"…" Trevon was speechless. He had just fought a life and death battle while Nana was enjoying her life.

"Nana! I need your help."

"Squeak…" Nana jumped toward Trevon's leg and hurriedly climbed toward his shoulder.

Trevon returned back to the dungeon in the bone field.

"Squeak!" Nana didn't prepare to move from a bright place to this dark place.

"This is a test. I just defeat a powerful opponent. He was defeated by my powerful sword slash." Trevon bragged. While he was bragging, Trevon took another shining pearl, the necklace one was disappeared after the battle.

"Squeak! Squeak!" Nana said she could defeat it too.

"The opponent is as large as a mountain." Trevon described his battle. Nana only listened and squeaked once in a while.

"Crak… Crak… Crak…" The noise always followed each Trevon's step. It made Trevon felt nervous. [Hopefully, not another bone golem.]

Trevon continued his walk toward the monolith. While he couldn't reach the monolith while being chased by the Giant. It only took him five minutes to reach the monolith.

[What is this?] He felt strange standing before the monolith. The monolith was dark with only words. There had been some rules written in a Universal Human Language.

[Ragam Phoenix Inheritance Test.]

[Congratulations for passing the test. My name Ragam Phoenix. I am a Rank 4 warrior protecting the Heavenly Phoenix Country. If you read this test, that would mean you have passed my first test, the bravery test. To obtain my inheritance, you must be braver than your enemy. You must be aggressive. Attack! Attack! Attack!]

Trevon wanted to cry. This inheritance didn't suit him at all. He would love something powerful that could protect his life. The young master wanted something that could help him have a peaceful and blissful life.

"Hey! This is a wrong inheritance. I might suit the main inheritance better." Trevon raised both of his hand complaining to the Dungeon Master.

However, the dungeon master didn't answer him. "…"

"Nope. It is correct. The dungeon master judged your character suited this inheritance." Master Rabbink said. "Coming here also means your destiny. This inheritance is connected to you."

It floated next to Trevon. "Read the monolith again! See his ranking! You won't regret obtaining his inheritance."

[Rank 4 warrior? Phoenix family…]

"This person is more powerful than the main predecessor?" Trevon couldn't believe this. Eberk Rockminer was only a Rank 3 knight.

"Yes. Sometimes, universe law will see certain inheritance as more important. The important inheritance will become the main inheritance. However, that doesn't mean the other inheritance was weak. It might be the main inheritance from another dungeon in the past."

"Wait do not change! I like this inheritance more. Hahaha." Trevon would prefer a Rank 4 warrior inheritance. Those Rank 4 cultivators were legendary.

"…" The dungeon master only watched Trevon.

"Where is the second test?" Trevon looked around.

"Put your hand on the monolith!" Master Rabbink stopped Trevon from trying to sit on the monolith.

Trevon touched the cold monolith. He saw everything around him moving at the speed of light. When everything stopped moving, he appeared on a small island in a volcanic field.

As far as his eyes could see everything was red. An endless five-meter-wide path was started before him. Flanked the path were lava lakes. Trevon could see boiled lava lakes with many gas bubbles while the smokes reduced the visibility in the area. He could only smell a stinky sulfuric smell.

Just standing in the place for a moment already made Trevon drenched in sweat. However, his sweat could only drip onto the floor and turned into steam.

[I have to protect myself with spiritual energy.] The young master thought. He used his spiritual energy to cover his body. Nana as a Rank 2 demon beast could make an even stronger protection. She wasn't as bad as Trevon.

Trevon came closer to the monolith and read it.

[Ragam Phoenix Inheritance Test.]

[Congratulations for passing the first test. Bravery is not enough to become my inheritor. You have to show your determination to obtain my inheritance. Find the other monolith at the end of this path to prove your determination.]

Trevon looked at the endless path. [This should not be difficult.] He thought.

He used his spiritual energy to activate his storage ring and took a spirit stone pouch. As usual, the dungeon master automatically took the spirit stones from within. Trevon could only feel the pouch slightly lighter.

Trevon walked toward the path. The path was made from a black stone made from the cooling magma.

[This is very hot.] Trevon just walked on the path for ten minutes, but he could see his boots started to smoke.

The more he walked, the harder it was to move his leg. He could see some fire creatures were playing around in the lava lakes. The creatures were snakelike demon beasts made entirely from the fire. Each was around two meters long. They swam around in the lake, sometimes jumping outside the lava lake surface. However, they didn't attack or get closer to Trevon.

Nevertheless, those creatures made Trevon felt annoyed. While he had a difficulty walking, those creatures happily bathed in the lake. Sometimes they sprayed the lake lava into each other. Worse, they also sprayed the lava into his path. This increased the temperature of the path.

[Gr…] Trevon felt angry. He had to use more spiritual energy to cover his feet.

The young master continued to walk on the hot path. Once in a while he would take his water pouch and drink it. After passing the area where the flame snakes played around, he looked at his boots. It already turned a shade darker even with his spiritual energy protection.

"Squeak!" Nana complained. As an Ice Mouse, she didn't like this area.

"We are a contracted partner. You should share my happiness and my sorrow."

"Squeak!" Nana used her Ice Beam ability to make herself cool.

"That is a good idea. You should use your ability to the road to make it cooler." Trevon thought.

"Squeak!" Nana shook her head.

"What? You say that would cost too large spiritual energy?"

"Squeak! Squeak!" Nana nodded to say her answer.

However, Trevon found Nana's body was cool. He took Nana and put her on his neck. [AH! This is a cool scarf.]

"Squeak!" Nana angrily squeaked.

"At least, you should help me to get cooler."

"SQUEAK!!" Nana complained.

"What? You want me to return you to the secret based? No way! Hahaha. Wait!"

Trevon thought of something. He used his core management ability and transferred himself.

[Hahahaha.] Trevon saw a green field before him. [I can take a break. Hehehe.]

"Squeak!" Nana jumped from Trevon. She ran away toward the tree.

"Hey! You should not leave me."

"SQUEAK!!!" Nana angrily answered. "Sqeuak… Squeakk."

"What? You didn't want to accompany me to a hot place."

Nana nodded.

"How about if I met some danger? Don't you want to protect me?"

"Squeak…" Nana prayed to the mouse God.

"Pray alone is not enough!" Trevon used his Planet Making ability to make the land captured Nana and brought her to him. "I need you to guard me. I will give you ten bats for food."

Nana shook her head. She pointed toward the dead mole.

"What? No. That mole might be useful in the future. I will summon ten Ice mice to be your followers."

Nana seemed to think, but she shook her head.

"Fifteen?" Trevon saw the cost to summon Ice Mouse. They were expensive at one thousand spirit stones each.

"Squeak!" Nana raised three claws.

"Thirty?"

Nana nodded.

"You have to accompany me until the end of this dungeon for thirty!"

"Squeak!" Nana jumped on Trevon's shoulder again. She patted her chest.

Trevon took the time to cool himself in his universe before he returned to the dungeon. He didn't forget to refill his water pouches.

A fully cooled Trevon felt the dungeon totally hot. However, he used the method to move between the places. He would walk on the hot path until he depleted his spiritual energy and returned to his universe. In his universe, the cheating young master would cool himself and regenerate his spiritual energy.

The dwarf dungeon master looked at Trevon and frowned. He didn't plan the trial to be done in parts. A challenger would walk the long path based on one's cultivation. The hot environment would test their perseverance to walk the harsh path.

He even had summoned some demon beasts to annoy the participants. Those beasts also would ensure the path kept burning with the hotness. Only the people who determined enough to finish would be able to complete it.

[Hm…] He thought. [No. No harder.] The dungeon master remembered that he wanted this young human to quit his dungeon as soon as possible.

Trevon just returned from his universe again. Together with Nana on his shoulder, he walked a bit more. He even went to Redwood to purchase some ice blocks and sold them to the universe store. Master Rabbink still grumbled because of it.

Trevon also found another way to enjoy himself. The Universe Store was filled with strange artifacts called air conditioner. They could cool the temperature. So, Trevon visited the store frequently.

Trevon walked a bit further and took some ice block again from his storage ring. With just one energy he could get lots of ice blocks. Nana also enjoyed the ice. However, the ice quickly melted, turned into water, then disappeared as a steam. The place was too hot.

The sulking Rabbink was floated behind while taking ice cream from God knew where. Trevon felt a bit strange with the Rabbink's ice cream. It didn't melt in the room.

"Rabbink, could you sell the ice cream in the universe store?"

"Hmph…" Master Rabbink was still angry.

"Hey! As a guide, at least you could tell me how you do it."

"Slurp…" The Rabbink pretended it didn't listen to Trevon and licked the ice cream.

"Ah! Fine." Trevon could only walk forward. He didn't know how long it was. Nevertheless, he had to purchase some boots to replace the old one.

He returned to his universe and purchased a new one from the universe store.

Trevon returned and walked again.

[Sigh… This is boring.] He thought.

"Don't you think this test is boring?!" He shouted toward the dungeon master.

The dwarf was monitoring Trevon when the young master shouted. [Hm…] A twinkle appeared on his eyes. [Hehehe.]

"Ah! Even the dungeon master is boring." Trevon could only walk forward. He walked another five minutes before he saw something. [Eh? What is in front?] He used his scout.

[Name: Spike]

[Age: 1.564 Years]

[Sex: Male]

[Species: Dark Flame Cerberus]

[Potential: 52/56]

[Affiliation: Eberk Rockminer Inheritance Dungeon]

Trevon couldn't feel his cold sweat because everywhere around him were lava lakes.

[Sh*t!] He shouted in his heart. In front of him was a three-headed guard dog blocking the path. Its body was fully black with a flaming tail wagged left and right. All three heads were reclined on its front legs. The beast was sleeping.

[Do I have to pass it?] He looked at the demon beast. The demon beast wasn't big. On its sleeping position, it was only two meters tall. From its breathing, Trevon could see some fogs exhaled from the beast's nostrils.

However, the sleeping demon beast could make Trevon couldn't move.

[That is a Rank 3 demon beast.] He feared them. If the beast used its aura lock, he wouldn't be able to escape.

Even Nana didn't dare to squeak. She kept her mouth silent. While using her connection with Trevon to ask her master to quit the challenge.

[Should I give up? I have gone this far.] Trevon thought.

At the same time, the dungeon master also saw Trevon. [Hehehe.] A big smile appeared on his face.

Actually, the cerberus was moved from another trial. It was one of the dungeon bosses. The cerberus was placed to become a scarecrow for Trevon.

[This test.] The dungeon master looked at Trevon. Since he couldn't test Trevon's determination in passing this harsh environment. He decided to test Trevon determination to pass a Rank 3 opponent. Any logic would tell Trevon to give up. Even a brave person wouldn't mess with a Rank 3 opponent. Aura pressure wasn't something a lower rank cultivator could face.

[I can't give up. I will try my luck.] Trevon raised his foot slowly. He tried not to make any sound. The young master made some portals after a certain distance for his safety backup. [Wait! I should just make a portal in the Core Room! Hehehe.]

Trevon went to his Core Room. He opened the panel and made another portal. While it cost him one thousand spirit stones per portal. That allowed him to pass the scary looking cerberus.

[Hahaha. I am smart.] Trevon made a portal one by one. He could only make them around three meters from the previous portal.

[Hahaha.] Trevon had made a portal ten meters away from the demon beast. He returned back to the dungeon.

The dungeon master shook his head, even his test could be evaded by Trevon.

Trevon quickly walked away.

"Wait! This is the time for you to bark!" Master Rabbink had helped with counting the counter.

[What?]

"Bark now!"

Trevon wanted to cry. He was required to bark while the cerberus was behind him.

"Woof! Woof!" Trevon could only follow the dungeon rule.

However, the bark annoyed the cerberus. All three heard opened their eyes. It was blazing orange like fire.

[Brothers! He said we are very ugly.] The left head talked to his other two heads.

[I can't understand the human's aesthetic, he is very thin, pale, and furless.] The middle head answered.

[We have to give him a lesson. Hehehe.] The right head talked to his left head.

[Yeah! While we can't attack him, we can tease him. Hehehe.] The middle head said.

While they were laughing, in Trevon's eyes was an angry cerberus showing its sharp fangs. Trevon could see the saliva dripped from their mouths.

"Wrough! Wrough! Wrough!" The three heads barked back to Trevon.

"They said they are very angry because you said they are very ugly." Master Rabbink helped with translation.

"Gah! I didn't say that. Please tell them that!" Trevon could feel the cold sweat in the hot environment. It quickly turned into mist. Most problems in the hero stories were the misunderstanding. He finally faced a dangerous misunderstanding.

"They are thinking about what should they do to you." Master Rabbink said. It didn't lie, the cerberus planned to toy with Trevon.

"Squeak!" Nana said to escape.

"Woughf! Woughf! Woughf!" Trevon tried to communicate again. He showed a bowing movement asking for forgiveness.

[Brothers! He is taunting us now. He said we have to kowtow to him.] The right head frowned.

[Grr… We have to teach him the lesson.] The middle head felt really angry.

"Wrough! Wrough! Wrough!"

"He said you are taunting them. You asked them to kowtow to you. Run!" Master Rabbink didn't need to translate for Trevon. Trevon could see from the flaming eyes of the cerberus.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!" A young master with a snow mouse followed with a floating Rabbink ran toward the other side of the road.

"Wrough! Wrough! Wrough!"

Behind him, the cerberus's middle head pretended to bite. The clanking sound of the beast bite made Trevon felt afraid. The other heads threw fireballs into the lava lakes. The fireballs made the lava splashed everywhere.

"Help me! Help me!" Trevon was no longer care about the hot temperature. He ran toward the other side of the road.

[Gah! I should enter the portal.] The young master remembered only after he had run twenty meters away from the portal.

Trevon could only run forward. The dwarf dungeon master only nodded in satisfaction. This is what his test should be. He smiled while stroking his beard. [Chase fast Spike!] He told the cerberus.

"Wrough!" The cerberus increased its pace.

"AGH!" Trevon was very determined. He was very determined to save his life.

Another twenty minutes of high-speed chase happened. Trevon started to feel tired. However, in this environment, he couldn't sweat. It was only Nana who gave him the coolness.

[GAH! What is that?] He saw a blue light in front of him.

"Monolith!" He shouted.

Trevon used Wind Piercing Dash to move faster. However, the cerberus was a Rank 3 demon beast. He couldn't get a distance from the demon beast.

"Agh! Agh! Help me!" Trevon made the last dash away from the monolith and quickly put his hand on the monolith. His other hand slapped the cool monolith as if he fanned something. He didn't even read the monolith contents. "Quick! Take me to the next test!"

A blue glow started to cover Trevon.

"Huff... Huff… Huff…" Trevon only could look at the cerberus again. He tried to gather his breathing.

However, he saw the cerberus was just sitting outside the monolith area.

"Woof! Woof! Woof!" Two of the heads were laughing seeing the desperate Trevon. Another mocked Trevon by showing the desperate face of Trevon. It even acted in a hyperbolic manner.

"YOOOUUUU!!!! I am not like tha…!" Trevon shouted. He knew the demon beast played with him. But he had disappeared from the place, leaving the laughing cerberus behind.