The aftermath of Staryo's rebirth still lingered in the air like thunder after a storm. The arena glowed faintly from the flames that had nearly consumed everything. The marble floor was cracked and smoldering, yet in the center of that chaos stood Staryo—breathing, alive, and impossibly calm.
His body still shimmered with golden embers, faint traces of the Celestial Flame dancing along his skin. He looked upward, toward the Emperor of Solaris—Aru's father—who stood on the high dais, his expression unreadable.
The Emperor's cloak billowed like living light as he stepped forward, eyes sharp as blades.
> "So, you survived the Trial of Celestial Flame," he said. "Even the fire that has burned saints and sinners alike has bowed before you. Perhaps your name truly carries weight beyond this world."
Staryo remained silent, his gaze unwavering. The pain from the Cart Method still echoed through his veins. The memory of his bones breaking, his soul dissolving, and his will reforming from nothingness haunted every breath he took. But beneath that pain, something else burned—a clarity, a quiet strength he hadn't known before.
Whispers spread across the stands.
> "He survived that?!"
"That flame killed three cultivators last year!"
"Maybe he really is… something else."
Among them, Kaelith smirked slightly. "They have no idea what kind of monster he's becoming," he murmured to himself.
Aru's eyes shimmered with tears as she looked down at him. She could feel his pain, his exhaustion—but also his unbreakable resolve. Yet before she could call out, her father's voice thundered once more.
> "But strength alone does not make a man worthy of my daughter."
The crowd went silent. Aru's hands trembled.
> "Father…" she whispered.
> "The first trial was merely a test of endurance," the Emperor continued coldly. "Now begins the Trial of Endless Mirage—a trial that measures truth, loyalty, and the purity of your spirit."
The ground beneath Staryo's feet began to hum. Golden runes formed in a circle around him, glowing with the power of the Emperor's own divinity.
> "You will face illusions of your past," the Emperor said. "Your failures, your fears, your sins. Only one who can face himself can stand beside the heir of Solaris."
As the energy built, the crowd murmured again—but this time, the sound wasn't awe. It was doubt.
> "Aru's father is really going to put him through that?"
"No one's ever come out sane from the Endless Mirage…"
"This is cruelty disguised as honor."
Aru's fists clenched at her side.
> "You're going too far, Father," she whispered. But her voice didn't reach him.
---
The Sneak Attack
Just as the light of the formation began to rise, a sudden flash of black energy burst through the arena's barrier. A sharp whistle cut through the air.
Kaelith's eyes widened. "Wait—someone's interfering!"
From the side platform, a silver-haired figure leapt forward—Rethis Vorn, the newest prodigy of the academy, known for his arrogance and spite.
> "So this is the boy everyone's worshiping, huh?" he sneered, drawing his void-forged blade. "Let's see if the reborn hero bleeds like the rest of us."
The crowd gasped as he vanished in a blur of movement. His blade, charged with shadow essence, slashed toward Staryo's neck.
Aru screamed, "STOP—!"
But before the blade could connect, the Celestial Flame erupted to life around Staryo once more.
The golden inferno surged upward, wrapping around him like divine armor. The strike collided with the barrier—and shattered the blade like glass.
The explosion of force sent Rethis skidding backward, his eyes wide with horror.
> "What… what kind of monster are you?!"
The flames hissed, alive with fury. Then, as if guided by instinct, they began merging back into Staryo's body, flowing into his veins like molten light.
His pupils dilated—golden rings expanding, glowing brighter than ever before.
Pain tore through him again—sharper, deeper, endless. The world faded into brilliance.
---
The Evolution of the Cosmic Eyes
The Celestial Flames roared around him, but this time, they didn't burn him—they feared him.
The audience watched in breathless awe as Staryo's gaze turned upward. Golden light streamed from his eyes as five celestial circles appeared within each iris.
Level 11… 12… 13… 14… 15.
His aura exploded outward. Wind ripped through the stands. The energy made even seasoned cultivators step back.
And with each pulse, new power awakened within him.
> "Impossible," murmured one of the Elders. "He's… advancing during a trial?"
The Emperor's eyes narrowed. For the first time, the unshakable ruler of Solaris looked uncertain.
> "No mortal has ever reached that threshold. What are you, boy?"
But deep down, he already knew—the gaze of the boy before him held the light of creation itself.
---
The New Abilities
Flashes of energy shimmered through Staryo's mind—each one a memory, a skill, a secret whispered by the universe.
1. Soulflare Vision – his gaze could now see the essence of any living being, exposing truth and weakness alike.
2. Temporal Gaze – the flow of time slowed within his perception; he could read every heartbeat, every breath.
3. Illusory Break – falsehoods shattered before him, no illusion could deceive his sight.
4. Judgment Veil – a divine ability to judge the morality of a person's heart.
And above them all rose the main skill—
> "Gaze of Genesis."
A power that could shape energy itself, rewrite reality's flow, and call forth creation from emptiness.
The crowd fell silent. Even the Emperor's composure faltered.
> "You truly… are not from this world," he whispered.
Rethis stumbled back, trembling as Staryo's gaze met his. In that moment, the arrogant rival saw his own reflection burning in Staryo's eyes—and for the first time, felt fear.
> "If you try that again," Staryo said quietly, "I won't hold back."
---
The Second Trial Begins
The Emperor straightened his robe, though his hands were trembling slightly.
> "Enough interruptions," he declared. "The second trial shall begin immediately."
He raised his scepter high, and the ground beneath Staryo began to shift. Dozens of glowing mirrors emerged from the marble floor, surrounding him in a perfect circle.
Each mirror shimmered like liquid glass, reflecting not just his image—but fragments of his memories, his pain, and his past lives.
> "This," the Emperor said, his voice echoing, "is the Trial of Endless Mirage.
You will face your own reflection, your deepest sins, and the shadow that hides within your soul.
Survive this trial… and perhaps you will be worthy to stand beside my daughter."
Aru's eyes widened.
> "Father, please! He's just recovered! You'll kill him!"
The Emperor didn't reply. He simply turned away, his voice low.
> "If he is truly who he claims to be, this trial will not kill him."
Staryo stepped toward the mirrors, feeling their pull. The Celestial Flames within him flickered but did not vanish. They pulsed like a heartbeat, as if they, too, feared what was coming.
He glanced once toward Aru. Her gaze met his—filled with silent trust.
> "I'll return," he said softly. "I promise."
And with that, he entered the light.
---
End of Chapter 11
As the mirrors sealed around him, the world outside dimmed. Aru pressed her hand against the barrier, whispering,
> "Come back to me, Staryo…"
High above, the Emperor sat back on his throne, his eyes shadowed by uncertainty.
> "That light… it wasn't divine. It was something older."
Kaelith muttered, "If the first trial was fire… and the second is illusion… what will the third be?"
The Emperor looked to the sky where thunderclouds began to gather.
> "A storm of destiny," he said quietly. "And when it comes… not even I may stand against it."
And deep within the mirrors, a second Staryo smiled—a dark reflection, his eyes burning crimson.
> "Welcome, reborn one," the reflection whispered. "Let's see if you're truly fit to live this time."