Prometheus's Prideful Domain

The sun blazed overhead, its heat almost unbearable as the group made their way deeper into Leo's domain. The once shimmering golden sands had turned into burning stone, glowing faintly with magma veins running beneath the surface. The air itself seemed to shimmer, distorting their vision and making each breath feel heavier.

Kazuki wiped the sweat off his brow. "Are we… walking into an oven? What is this place?"

Sonnet pulled at her shirt, fanning herself. "Correction: an oven mixed with a volcano. On steroids."

Lumi marched ahead, her eyes scanning the horizon. "Leo's domain is one of the most powerful places in Eidolon. The heat is part of its natural defense." She paused, glancing back at them. "But that's not why I picked this place first."

Kazuki raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Lumi crossed her arms. "During the War of the Great Era of Heroes, most of Eidolon was corrupted by chaos and destruction. The land changed, twisting into something unrecognizable. But Leo's domain is one of the few places that survived mostly intact. Its power burned away any corruption, making it the safest place for us to start."

Andreas nodded in approval. "Smart move. Less corruption means fewer surprises… hopefully."

The landscape grew harsher with each step. Great stone statues of lions lined the path, their eyes glowing red as if watching every movement. Rivers of molten lava crisscrossed beneath their feet, and the ground trembled occasionally, sending a dull rumble through the air.

Lumi pointed to a massive obsidian gate ahead. "There. That's the entrance to Leo's core domain."

The gate groaned as it opened, revealing a massive throne room carved from volcanic rock and gold. The air was thick with power, the temperature soaring even higher.

At the far end of the hall, sitting upon a towering throne of molten stone and golden lions, was Prometheus, the True Leo. His fiery mane crackled around him like a living inferno. He leaned lazily on one armrest, his golden eyes glowing with a dangerous light, a faint smirk on his lips.

"You've finally arrived," Prometheus said, his voice a deep rumble that seemed to shake the walls. "I've been expecting you."

The heat in the room flared suddenly, and Kazuki instinctively stepped back.

Sonnet whispered to Andreas, "Is it just me, or does he give off serious final boss vibes?"

Andreas chuckled nervously. "Nope, that's not just you. He's definitely ready to drop a one-hit KO."

Prometheus leaned forward. "You who dare step into my domain… do you come here seeking power? Or do you seek death?" His smirk grew wider, his gaze locking onto Kazuki. "I hope you're stronger than you look. Otherwise, this will be over in mere seconds."

Kazuki clenched his fists, swallowing the lump in his throat. He could feel the sheer power radiating from Prometheus—a power so overwhelming it made him question if he was truly ready for this.

Prometheus tapped his finger on the armrest. "Well? Show me if you're worthy to stand in my presence. Otherwise, you'll burn like all the rest."

Prometheus raised his hand, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Let the trial begin," he said, snapping his fingers.

The world around them warped. The ground crumbled beneath Kazuki's feet, and before he knew it, they were all standing in a grand Colosseum surrounded by roaring flames.

Kazuki blinked and looked around in confusion. "Wait… How did we—"

Above him, Sonnet, Andreas, and Lumi found themselves seated in the arena's stone bleachers. A blazing barrier surrounded the fighting pit, locking Kazuki inside.

"Hey! Why am I down here and you're up there?!" Kazuki shouted.

Lumi, munching on popcorn from out of nowhere, shrugged. "Prometheus's rules. He wants to test you. Have fun!"

Sonnet leaned forward, pointing at the barrier. "Oh yeah, we can't get through that. Looks spicy."

Andreas nodded sagely. "Yep. Extra spicy. No touching."

Kazuki stood in the middle of the blazing Colosseum, his eyes darting around as flames licked the edges of the massive stone walls. Sweat dripped down his forehead—not just from the heat, but from the situation he found himself in.

Prometheus sat high on his throne, his voice booming through the arena. "Let's see if you can entertain me, little spark. You seek the power of the Zodiac? Prove your worth by defeating the Honorable Heroes—warriors who once fought in the Great Era of Heroes."

The ground rumbled, and from the shadows at the edge of the Colosseum, figures began to emerge—clad in ancient armor, their eyes glowing like embers. Each of them carried the aura of a seasoned warrior, their presence alone enough to make Kazuki's knees feel weak.

Up in the stands, Sonnet crossed her arms. "So… this is fine, right? Kazuki totally has this, right?"

Andreas leaned back. "Yeah. Sure. If by 'has this,' you mean he's absolutely gonna get wrecked."

Lumi sighed, casually biting into an apple she had somehow acquired. "He'll figure it out… eventually."

Kazuki's thoughts were running wild.

"Fire vs. fire? How is that supposed to work? Do I just… out-burn them? That's not a thing, right?" He stole a glance at his opponents. One was carrying a flaming spear, another wielded twin swords that glowed like molten metal, and a third had a massive shield covered in roaring flames.

His heart raced."Okay, think, Kazuki. Last time I awakened, I got stabbed in the chest and nearly died. Should I… stab myself again? Is that how this works?"

He took a deep breath and raised his fist dramatically, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Behold! The flames of my soul… shall ignite the battlefield!"

Sonnet slapped her forehead. "Oh no… he's going full anime protagonist."

Andreas smirked. "I respect it."

Kazuki's opponents didn't give him time to reflect on his questionable life choices. They charged, their footsteps echoing across the arena like thunder.

Okay, new plan! Kazuki thought as he backpedaled furiously. If theses won't activate my powers, maybe panicking will.

He turned to face his charging opponents and decided to go all-in on the cringe. "Witness the birth of my ultimate move! Ignite! Blazing Soul Overdrive!!"

…Nothing happened.

Kazuki stared at his hands. "Seriously?! Not even a spark?"

The spear-wielding warrior lunged at him, and Kazuki barely managed to roll out of the way. "Okay, that's it. Plan C: survive!"