Eklavya stretched his weary body beneath the fading warmth of the dying sun. His muscles were loosening slowly after the brutal trials he had endured beneath the river and against the monstrous beasts that had nearly claimed his life. The golden-orange light of dusk spilt across the valley, casting elongated shadows across the towering trees and the uneven forest floor, while the sky slowly transitioned into hues of crimson and deep violet, preparing to surrender itself to the approaching star-studded night.

  After spending nearly half an hour easing the tension from his body and allowing the lingering aches to subside, he finally began walking deeper into the jungle, determined to distance himself from the valley that had nearly become his grave. His pace remained slow and cautious, partly due to exhaustion, partly due to habit, as his sharp gaze scanned the surroundings for any movement or lurking threats. Even at his relaxed pace, he managed to traverse four to five kilometres, his footsteps silent as he navigated through dense foliage, fallen branches, and tangled roots.

  Along the way, he gathered dry twigs and fallen wood, selecting only those that would burn cleanly and steadily. When he found a suitable resting spot — a natural clearing partially shielded by thick trees — he arranged the wood into a small fire pit and ignited it with practised efficiency. The flames quickly took hold, flickering upward with soft crackles, painting his surroundings in warm amber light that danced across the bark of nearby trees.

  He seated himself upon a thick, fallen tree branch that had grown sideways instead of upward, as though the tree had long ago abandoned its ambition to reach the sky and instead surrendered to gravity, stretching lazily across the ground like a massive serpent resting in the wild. The last traces of daylight vanished beyond the horizon, and above him, the first stars began to shimmer faintly through the gaps in the canopy, twinkling like scattered shards of silver across the vast night sky.

  Distant roars and growls echoed faintly through the forest — reminders of the predators that ruled the night — but Eklavya remained unconcerned. Earlier, he had erected a wide-area concealment barrier spanning nearly a hundred meters in every direction, preventing any beast or being outside from sensing, hearing, or detecting even the faintest trace of his presence, while simultaneously shielding him from external intrusion.

  From his storage ring, he retrieved a small matchstick, striking it before carefully wedging it into a thin, sharpened stick placed beside the fire. The flames surged, intensifying their heat as he skewered a portion of meat over the blaze, allowing it to roast quickly. The scent of cooking flesh filled the air — earthy, smoky, and satisfying.

  Within moments, the meat was ready. He removed it, chewing slowly while reclining against the fallen branch, letting the warmth of the fire soothe his body. Above him, a gap between the leaves allowed a clear view of the sky, where countless stars glittered like distant worlds waiting to be explored.

  After finishing his meal, he casually tossed the leftover bone aside, then folded both hands behind his head, resting in rare, peaceful stillness.

  The forest had fallen into an uncanny silence. Even the beasts seemed to have settled into slumber, and for a brief moment, the world felt distant, quiet, and still.

  Magha’s voice echoed within his mind, breaking the calm.

  ‘I think it is time you begin learning pill refining. If you continue delaying, the medicinal knowledge and methods left behind by God Emperor Avrah and God Emperor Dashirsur will be wasted. Moreover, this skill will be invaluable to you in the future.’

  Eklavya exhaled deeply and shifted his posture before rising from the branch, his tone relaxed yet resigned.

  “Alright… alright,” he muttered. “Let’s do it.”

  ‘I have already transferred the pill cauldron into your three-colored ring,’ Magha added.

  Focusing his ki, Eklavya reached into his ring’s storage space, drawing the cauldron outward. It materialised before him with a faint shimmer, settling gently upon the ground. The artifact was forged from golden-brown metal, its surface etched with intricate patterns woven from thin strands of gold and emerald-green lines that formed complex runic formations, radiating faint spiritual resonance.

  Intrigued, Eklavya circled the cauldron slowly, brushing his fingertips across its cool surface, examining the craftsmanship from every angle. The design carried an ancient elegance — refined, powerful, and unmistakably forged by a master of divine calibre. After several minutes of silent admiration, he stepped back.

  Magha began instructing him with measured patience.

  ‘You are not yet a Master Warrior, meaning you cannot naturally control elemental energy or transform your ki into elemental force. However, this does not prevent you from refining pills.’

  Eklavya scratched the back of his head, frowning slightly.

  “I know Master Warriors and above can control elements,” he replied, “but how exactly am I supposed to use elemental flames if I don’t have that level of control yet?”

  Magha responded calmly.

  ‘There exists a second method — absorbing a flame into your body. I have a Beast Flame that you can use.’

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  He continued, explaining with scholarly clarity.

  ‘Flames are categorised into four tiers. The first is Beast Flames, which surpass ordinary qi flames in intensity and refinement capability. The second is God Flames, far more powerful, capable of incinerating matter so thoroughly that not even ash remains. The third is Immortal Flames, which are terrifying beyond comprehension, said to be capable of burning suns, stars, or even entire planetary realms in a single blaze. Lastly, there exist the so-called Defying Flames, though whether they truly exist remains unknown, as no being has ever been recorded to possess them.’

  ‘On this continent alone,’ Magha added, ‘there exists only a single Immortal Flame and seven known God Flames.’

  Eklavya memorised every detail carefully, his mind absorbing the knowledge like a sponge.

  “So… what exactly do I have to do to absorb this flame?” he asked.

  Magha’s voice turned dry.

  ‘You simply have to eat the Beast Flame.’

  Eklavya’s eyes widened instantly.

  “…Are you trying to kill me?”

  “Why would I try to kill you?” Magha scoffed inside his mind, his tone carrying a mixture of irritation and amusement. “You simply need to swallow the flame after consuming the pill I am going to give you. The pill will protect your internal organs and stabilise the flame’s violent nature. Without it, you would indeed burn from the inside out.”

  Eklavya let out a small breath and nodded. “You should have said it like that from the beginning,” he muttered.

  Magha chuckled faintly within the ring, clearly entertained by his reaction. Hearing that laughter, Eklavya smirked slightly and shook his head. “Well, if you are done laughing at my potential death, shall we begin?”

  “Proceed,” Magha replied calmly.

  With a focused expression, Eklavya summoned a small metallic box into his left hand along with a single pill that radiated a faint medicinal fragrance and subtle spiritual aura. The surface of the pill shimmered with complex patterns, indicating its high refinement grade.

  “Swallow the pill in one motion,” Magha instructed, “and immediately consume the flame afterwards. Do not hesitate.”

  Eklavya obeyed without delay. He tossed the pill into his mouth and swallowed it whole, feeling a faint cooling sensation spread through his throat and chest as its medicinal energy dissolved within his body, forming an invisible protective barrier around his organs.

  Then he pressed the button atop the metallic box.

  With a sharp mechanical click, the box unfolded on its own, panels sliding apart with a crisp metallic sound. As soon as it opened fully, the container began to disintegrate, its structure crumbling into fine ash that scattered into the air with the gentle breeze, as though it had fulfilled its only purpose.

  Hovering above his palm was a bluish-purple Beast Flame, flickering violently like a living entity, twisting and curling in erratic patterns, emitting intense heat and a predatory spiritual presence that made even the surrounding air feel distorted.

  ‘Swallow it. Now!’ Magha urged sharply.

  Eklavya did not waste a single second. He clenched his jaw and swallowed the flame in one motion.

  The moment it entered his body, searing agony exploded within him.

  It felt as though molten fire poured down his throat, ripping through his oesophagus in a scorching torrent, the heat so intense that his instincts screamed at him to cough it out, yet the protective power of the pill prevented his flesh from being incinerated into nothingness.

  Still, the pain remained unbearable.

  His mouth, throat, and chest felt like they had been ignited from within, every nerve screaming as the flame burned through his internal pathways, not destroying them, but forcibly tempering and reshaping them.

  His breath hitched as he hurriedly sat cross-legged, forcing his shaking body into a meditative posture, beads of sweat instantly forming across his brow.

  “Refine it immediately,” Magha commanded.

  Grinding his teeth, Eklavya closed his eyes and forced his mind into focus, suppressing the pain long enough to guide the violent energy through his Channels.

  The Beast Flame surged wildly inside him, resisting control, thrashing through his ki channels like a feral creature trapped within a cage. Wherever it passed, his channels felt as though they were being scraped raw, stretched, burned, and expanded simultaneously, the sensation akin to molten blades carving new pathways throughout his body.

  He guided the flame forward inch by inch, forcing it deeper into his internal circulation. The heat intensified.

  His veins bulged beneath his skin, glowing faintly with flickering purple-blue light as the flame travelled through them. The channels connected to his limbs, organs, and even his spiritual ki core began to widen under the pressure, cracking and reforming, expanding to accommodate a greater flow of ki in the future.

  Pain clawed at his senses. Every heartbeat felt like a hammer striking a furnace.

  His bones trembled. His muscles spasmed uncontrollably. Even his soul felt scorched, as the flame’s essence brushed against the core of his consciousness, threatening to destabilise his mental sea if he lost focus for even a moment.

  Memories flickered at the edges of his mind. Instincts screamed. A primal fear of burning alive surged through him, yet he refused to surrender.

  He forced the flame onward, driving it toward his Sea of Consciousness.

  As it entered, the pain spiked once more.

  It felt as though a blazing star had been forcibly planted inside his mind, its radiance scorching his thoughts, testing his willpower, challenging his right to control it.

  His consciousness trembled. His vision darkened, but he held on.

  Slowly — painfully — deliberately — he began refining the Beast Flame, compressing its violent nature, binding it to his ki circulation, imprinting it with his will so that it would become a part of him rather than consume him.

  Minutes stretched like eternity. His breathing grew ragged. Sweat poured from his body.

  His heart pounded violently as though threatening to tear free from his chest.

  Finally, the flame stabilised.

  Its raging energy calmed, transforming from a destructive inferno into a controlled, obedient core of heat nestled within his spiritual centre, ready to be summoned and wielded when needed.

  Eklavya exhaled heavily, shoulders sagging as exhaustion washed over him.

  The pain slowly receded. Yet beneath the agony, he could feel it.

  A new power. A burning presence within him. A flame that now belonged to him.