Location: Driftrock Isles – 3 Days After the Judicator Encounter
The reefs of the Forgotten Sea faded into memory, but not their weight.
The Red Blade now sailed toward a stretch of volcanic isles off the Grand Line's deeper route—a place long marked in red ink on ancient maps.
Locals called it:
Ignaros – The Burning Chain.
Smoke rose from blackened islands. Rivers of molten rock ran like veins through the ocean floor, painting the waves orange and red.
This was the second Gate's rumored resting ground.
Below Deck – Ankit's Vision Disturbs Him
Ankit sat alone, shirtless and drenched in sweat. The memory of Velka's eyes haunted him—not from fear, but because they had seen through him.
And now the Gate within him pulsed again.
System Notification:
Fragment Detected – 2nd Stormmark Gate Near.
Trial Probability: 91%
Location Signature: Mount Veskar, Isle of Ash.
But something was wrong this time.
He wasn't being called to fight.
He was being summoned to burn.
Makino's Warning
"You're burning up," Makino said, placing a damp cloth on his forehead.
Ankit was pale, his veins glowing faintly like molten silver.
"I've been called again," he murmured. "But this one… it's not like the Echo."
Benn Beckman leaned on the doorframe. "You're syncing faster than expected. That's dangerous."
Ankit looked at them both.
"This trial… I might not come back the same."
Shanks entered behind them, silent as ever.
"You won't," he said, "but that's not the same as not coming back."
Landfall – Isle of Ash, Ignaros Region
The Red Blade dropped anchor a mile off the coastline of Mount Veskar.
The mountain towered like a dying god, ash constantly pouring from its crown, molten rivers cascading into a crater-like valley.
As they approached in rowboats, the heat grew unbearable.
Birds didn't fly here. No animals. No vegetation.
But a trail had been carved into the obsidian.
Fresh.
Someone—or something—was expecting them.
System Update – Ankit Enters Trial Range
Trial of the Living Flame – Status: Inactive
Trigger Condition: Willing Entry into the Flame Chamber
Warning: Trial involves soul resonance. Combat skills may malfunction.
Emotional State Monitoring: Required.
Suggested Gear: None. Flameproof armor ineffective. System will adapt internally.
Ankit stripped his upper garments. His twin blades vibrated slightly but remained sheathed.
Shanks stepped beside him.
"You're not going alone this time."
Ankit shook his head. "This isn't a trial for swordsmen. It's for souls. I can feel it."
Shanks placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then leave a piece of yours with us."
Makino tied a string of obsidian beads around his wrist.
"For the way back."
The Trial Begins – Flame Chamber Entrance
Inside the volcano, no magma bubbled.
Instead, a circular chamber lay carved from molten obsidian, smooth and hollow.
Ankit stepped into it alone.
The walls closed behind him.
Stormmark Trial: Second Gate – Living Flame Initiated.
Resonance Sync: Accelerated.
Warning: Internal Trial Will Commence Within Mind-Soul Nexus.
Suddenly—he dropped.
Not through floor.
But into himself.
Mental Plane – The Inner Furnace
He stood in a world of flame, but the fire did not burn him.
Around him stood five versions of himself—each one forged from a different emotion.
Fear-Ankit – trembling, wild-eyed, holding a cracked sword.
Anger-Ankit – burning, fists clenched, constantly muttering curses.
Hope-Ankit – scarred, smiling, bleeding but upright.
Guilt-Ankit – kneeling, shadowed, holding his parents' photo from Earth.
Resolve-Ankit – silent, armored in light, blades crossed over his chest.
The flame above them twisted into a serpentine beast—faceless, shifting.
Trial Directive: Choose your flame.
All others will burn.
Ankit's mind screamed.
This wasn't a trial of strength.
This was a trial of self-annihilation.
Battle of the Flames – Internal War
Anger-Ankit attacked first, rushing with a blade of red-hot hate.
Fear-Ankit tried to run, but guilt tripped him.
Hope-Ankit parried anger's attack—then whispered:
"You can't move forward while dragging all of us."
Ankit watched, frozen.
The Trial demanded choice. Only one self could leave with him.
The rest would be burned into embers.
System: Emotional Disintegration Threshold Reached.
Stormmark Trial entering Phase II – Soulfire Selection.
The beast above descended.
Ankit took a breath.
And stepped into the fire.
Climax – Becoming the Firebearer
Each version of himself lunged, trying to take over.
Fear clawed at his back. Anger drove toward his chest.
Resolve stood firm.
Ankit roared and drove both blades into the ground of his soul.
"ENOUGH!"
Flames surged from beneath.
All five forms were engulfed.
He stood alone in the center, eyes glowing gold and red, his body burning but not turning to ash.
He had not chosen one self.
He had become all of them.
Trait Unlocked: Flame of the Self – Emotional Integration Complete.
+20% resistance to mental interference.
Immune to fear status effects.
Storm-triggered rage mode becomes controlled instead of berserk.
Relic Acquired: Ember Core – Stormmark Flame Thread 1.
Can ignite twin blades with purified soulflame. Consumes 4% stamina per minute.
Return – Ankit Awakens
He gasped awake inside the chamber.
The walls were blackened. Steam hissed from the floor.
Shanks and Makino were there, dragging him out.
He couldn't speak.
But his eyes glowed like coals.
Shanks grinned. "Looks like you're alive."
Makino whispered, "But are you still you?"
Ankit looked down at his hands.
Then drew one blade.
Flames licked along the edge—but they did not burn. They shimmered, shaped by his breath.
"Yes," he said finally. "But I'm not just me anymore."
🔹 SYSTEM PANEL – Ankit 🔹
System Sync: 49.7%
Skill Level (Twin Flow Style): 11.2
New Trait: Flame of the Self
Soul-bonded flame channel. Grants resistance to emotional/soul attacks.
Enables Soulflame Blade ability.
New Skill: Soulflame Blade (Active)
Coat blades in soulfire. Adds mental pressure to each strike. Weakens enemies with fear-based minds.
Duration: 60 sec max. Cooldown: 15 min.
Stormmark Fragments: 2 / 7
Echo Blade Shard
Ember Core
Final Scene – Cipher Pol Briefing Room
Judicator Velka knelt before a black monolith.
"We failed."
The agent standing before her nodded.
"It was expected."
"But he has passed the Second Gate."
"Then," said the figure in gold-plated robes, "we send in a Judge."
A third voice—old, shriveled—spoke from behind the screen:
"And the real hunt begins."