The Prometheus's Challenge

Kazuki's flames roared brighter, wrapping around his body as he dashed across the arena. His speed increased with every step until he became a blazing streak of fire. He zigzagged past the warriors, leaving trails of flame in the air.

"HAHAHA!" Kazuki laughed mid-dash, his voice suddenly cocky and full of pride. "BEHOLD MY FLAME SPEED! Bow before my power, mere mortals!"

Sonnet blinked from the audience. "Okay… when did he turn into an overpowered anime villain?"

Andreas shrugged. "No idea. But if this is how he's gonna act, I'm here for it."

"Wait, is it just me, or does he sound way more confident all of a sudden?" Lumi asked, frowning slightly.

Kazuki's flaming body zoomed past the stands like a firework gone rogue, his voice echoing. "No one can touch me! I am SPEED!"

Suddenly, THWACK! He crashed full-force into the barrier at the edge of the arena and bounced off like a rubber ball, rolling backward until he landed flat on his back in the center of the Colosseum.

Everyone stared for a beat.

Sonnet stood and clapped. "Ten outta ten! Best stunt of the year!"

Kazuki groaned, flames flickering around his body as he sat up. "Okay… maybe I overdid it. But you gotta admit, that was kinda awesome."

"Awesome?" Andreas laughed. "Dude, you looked like a ping-pong ball on fire!"

Prometheus leaned forward on his throne, his eyes gleaming with approval. "Kazuki… Chaos truly chose well. This raw power, this fearlessness… You're reckless, but you have potential. I'm impressed."

Kazuki, still half-dazed from hitting the barrier, smirked. "Yeah… I meant to do that. Totally part of my strategy."

Sonnet raised an eyebrow. "Sure, buddy. And I meant to lose 50,000 gold last time I gambled. Totally part of my strategy too."

Lumi crossed her arms. "Is it just me, or did Kazuki's personality shift again? He wasn't this arrogant two minutes ago."

Andreas scratched his chin. "Huh. Maybe it's like a side effect of using his powers too early. You know, merging with the zodiac's personality or something."

Kazuki got to his feet, shaking off the dizziness, his flames reigniting around him. His eyes gleamed with newfound confidence, his grin sharp and cocky. "Merging? Side effects? Whatever. All I know is, I'm unstoppable now!"

He blasted forward again, his speed even faster than before. This time, he zipped around the arena in a flaming blur, leaving shockwaves in his wake. The warriors barely had time to react before he launched a powerful kick that sent one of them flying across the Colosseum.

Prometheus laughed again. "YES! Show me more, Kazuki! Embrace the flames!"

Kazuki slid to a stop, striking a dramatic pose, his flames swirling around him. "Witness the birth of the Flame King! Tremble before my burning might!"

Andreas leaned over to Lumi. "Okay, how much longer do you think this Flame King nonsense will last before he embarrasses himself again?"

Lumi smirked. "Give it… ten seconds."

Exactly ten seconds later, Kazuki tried to stop his momentum mid-sprint and ended up tripping over his own feet, tumbling across the ground in a rolling ball of fire.

Sonnet sighed. "Called it."

Kazuki lay on the ground, smoke rising from his body, and gave a thumbs up. "Still… part… of the plan."

Kazuki barely had time to catch his breath when the heat around him intensified. Prometheus stood from his throne, the entire arena trembling under his presence. His white and blue flames burst to life, spiraling around his body like a raging inferno.

"That's enough playing around," Prometheus said, his voice calm yet brimming with authority. "You've shown me glimpses of your potential… but it's far from enough."

In the blink of an eye, Prometheus disappeared. The only trace of his movement was the sudden gust of heat that swept past Kazuki. Before Kazuki could react, Prometheus reappeared directly in front of him, his hand gripping Kazuki's collar tightly.

The world around them shifted once again. The Colosseum faded into an endless, fiery wasteland. Jagged rocks jutted from molten ground, and the sky was an oppressive crimson, split by white-hot cracks that radiated pure heat.

Prometheus released Kazuki, allowing him to drop onto the molten ground. He crossed his arms, standing tall, his flames roaring around him like a living aura. His golden eyes burned with unshakable pride.

"The rules are simple," Prometheus declared. "If you can lay a single finger on me, it's over. The trial ends, and you'll have proven yourself worthy." His grin widened, his pride burning as fiercely as the flames around him. "But I wouldn't count on it. No one has ever succeeded."

Kazuki wiped the sweat from his brow, his heart pounding in his chest. The playful energy from earlier was gone. What stood before him now wasn't just some overconfident king—this was Leo, the true Prometheus, embodying power and pride.

"You're seriously fast for a big guy," Kazuki muttered, trying to stay calm. "So I just have to touch you once? Easy enough, right?"

Prometheus chuckled, his flames flickering brighter. "Oh, you think it's that simple? Go ahead. Try."

Kazuki dashed forward, flames bursting at his feet to propel him faster. He closed the gap between them in an instant, aiming to grab Prometheus's arm. But before his hand even got close, Prometheus sidestepped with effortless grace, leaving Kazuki grasping at thin air.

Kazuki stumbled, nearly losing his balance. "Uh… okay. Not that simple."

"You'll have to do better than that," Prometheus said, his tone almost mocking. "Come on. Show me the strength Chaos saw in you!"

Kazuki steadied himself, his mind racing. Alright, don't panic. Just stay cool—well, as cool as you can be in a literal oven. His flames flared up again, and he tried to think of a strategy.

In the distance, Sonnet and Andreas watched from a safe platform hovering above the battlefield.

"Ten gold says Kazuki's gonna trip over himself again," Sonnet said, leaning on the edge of the platform.

"Twenty gold says he actually manages to touch Prometheus… by accident," Andreas replied, squinting at the scene below.

Lumi sat beside them, calmly munching on a piece of fruit she pulled out of nowhere. "You two seriously have no faith, huh?"

"None," Sonnet and Andreas said in unison.

Back in the arena, Kazuki grinned awkwardly. "Alright, take two. Let's go!"

He sprinted forward again, his flames blazing hotter and faster. Prometheus waited, perfectly still, his eyes locked on Kazuki. Just as Kazuki got close, Prometheus moved with lightning speed, circling behind him and tapping him on the back of the head.

"Too slow," Prometheus said.

Kazuki groaned. "Oh, come on!"

Prometheus turned, his flames swirling higher. "You'll never touch me with brute force alone. Think, Kazuki. Use what's within you, not just the flames around you."

Kazuki paused, narrowing his eyes. "Use what's within me…?" His gaze flicked to his hands, then back to Prometheus. A flicker of determination crossed his face. "Alright… if that's how you want it, I'll show you what I've got."

Prometheus smirked. "Let's see if you can surprise me."