Upon sensing the terrifying power radiating from the Cinder Demon, every genius within range felt their faces drain of color.

  Without a moment’s hesitation, they turned and bolted.

  It was no joke; an entity of this caliber was not something they could hope to resist. Many Speakers who ruled entire planetary systems lacked the strength to defeat such a monster. If the Speaker of a minor system like Planet Silvermoon were to face this thing, he would be nothing more than a sacrifice.

  "A Tier 4, 6-Star Cinder Demon? Perfect. Just what I need to test my limits," Lance muttered, his lips curling into a predatory smirk.

  High above, the gargantuan demon hauling itself out of the volcano turned its cold, murderous gaze toward him.

  "Hmph. Humans... it's your kind again! Why do you carry the aura of my kin!?" the Cinder Demon roared, its voice vibrating with primal fury.

  "It can talk? Its intelligence must be fairly high," Lance said, letting out a laugh. "Of course I have their aura. My weapon was forged from the Void Core of one of your kin. Isn't that obvious?"

  The demon’s rage boiled over instantly.

  "Damned human! You’re dead!!"

  The Cinder Demon let out a world-shaking bellow.

  Rumble!!!

  A terrifying aura erupted from its massive frame. Searing flames surged around it, transforming the titan into a colossal ball of living fire. Like a falling star, it hurtled toward Lance with the force of a kinetic bombardment.

  It moved with such blinding speed that it appeared before Lance in the blink of an eye.

  "Bring it on!!!"

  Lance’s grin widened. He gripped the pitch-black spear and swung it with bone-shattering force toward the descending demon. At that moment, the ambient light seemed to be swallowed by the obsidian flames of the [Black Flame Spear].

  BOOM! RUMBLE!!!

  The moment the spear collided with the demon’s body, a deafening explosion rippled across the plains. A shockwave of pure destruction expanded in every direction, pulverizing everything it touched. Within a hundred-mile radius, the terrain was instantly leveled.

  The geniuses who were still fleeing felt the impact and looked back in stunned silence toward the epicenter of the clash. They were no longer thinking about hunting; their minds were consumed by the sheer scale of the battle.

  "What kind of monster is fighting that demon!?"

  "Could it be an expert from the Solaris Intermediate Sector practicing here!?"

  "Must be. I heard the demon yelling about a human expert."

  "Maybe it’s a genius from the Solaris Academy!"

  "He sucked in a sharp breath... with that kind of power, they’d have to be a Grade 7 or 8 student, right!?"

  The geniuses continued their frantic retreat, even as they discussed the battle with breathless excitement.

  In the Solaris Academy, there were ten grades, but each "grade" didn't represent a single year—it represented a decade of study. This meant a student could study at Solaris Academy for up to a hundred years.

  It made sense; those who qualified for entry were already high-level [Awakened] at the late Gold Tier. Within the first ten-year grade, most would achieve the rank of [Grandmaster], granting them a lifespan of a thousand years. Spending a century in study was a minor commitment for someone who would remain in their physical prime for hundreds of years.

  Most students would reach Rank 5 of the [Grandmaster] stage by the time their hundred years were up, eventually being assigned to various star systems to replace aging Speakers. A few chosen paragons might even reach the [Great Grandmaster] level within that century. Such individuals were considered once-in-a-millennium miracles even within the hallowed halls of Solaris Academy.

  Naturally, witnessing Lance’s combat, the onlookers assumed they were seeing one of these legends. While this was the designated trial ground for the million examinees, nothing prohibited other warriors from being present in the sector.

  ROAR!!!!!

  Back at the center of the explosion, a shrill, agonizing scream erupted from the Cinder Demon’s maw.

  The magma-clad titan was a mess. The entire right side of its massive body had been reduced to slag by Lance’s single strike. The demon’s face contorted in sheer agony.

  "Human... who the hell are you!?" the demon hissed, its voice trembling with a hint of growing panic.

  "Not bad," Lance said, ignoring the question. "You actually held together after a full-strength strike without me even using a [War Art]. Your defensive rating is easily on par with a [Grandmaster (Rank 8)]."

  The demon’s expression shifted again. He didn't even use a [War Art]!?

  The Cinder Demons were a sapient race with potential far exceeding that of humans, but their low birth rate and slow cognitive development, combined with the extreme difficulty of their cultivation, had allowed humanity to suppress them over the last million years. However, they had developed a complete martial system of their own. They knew exactly how much of a multiplier a [War Art] provided.

  The fact that Lance had shattered half its body with a basic strike left the demon paralyzed with fear.

  "Human, this is the domain of the Cinder Demons! If you kill me, you’ll never leave this system alive!" the demon warned, its voice cold as it drew magma from the earth to knit its shattered form back together.

  "You talk too much," Lance sneered.

  He tapped his foot against the void. Instantly, boundless flames manifested, coalescing into a fiery divine dragon beneath his feet.

  ROAR!!!

  With a thunderous cry from the flame dragon, Lance transformed into a streak of fire, tearing through the vacuum.

  BOOM!!!

  A secondary explosion rang out. In a heartbeat, the streak of fire had punched a hole clean through the Cinder Demon’s chest.

  Lance reappeared several kilometers behind the demon, standing calmly in the air. In his hand sat the demon’s [Void Core], still pulsing with residual heat.

  With a flick of his will, the soul essence within the core was instantly snuffed out.

  ROAR!!!

  The Cinder Demon let out one final, agonizing howl before its entire body detonated, turning into a rain of molten rock that showered the landscape below.

  Lance looked at the [Void Core] with curiosity.

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  "So their life form is purely magmatic, and the [Void Core] serves as the biological heart?" Lance wondered.

  Normally, if a [Void Beast's] core was removed, its power would plummet, but it wouldn't die instantly. Given time, it could even regenerate a new core, as its soul resided in the [Consciousness Hub]. But the Cinder Demons were different; their souls were anchored directly within the core. Removing it was an instant death sentence.

  "The universe truly is a vast and strange place," Lance mused. He tucked the core away and prepared to fly toward the horizon.

  As for the points, not a single one was added to his score.

  Lance wasn’t a fool. He had no intention of attracting the immediate attention of the Solaris Emperor, or worse, the God of War. For a fifteen-year-old to slaughter a Tier 4, 6-Star Cinder Demon was beyond "talented"—it was utterly absurd. It would instantly mark him as an SSS-Rank Paragon, a classification that would bring the God of War straight to his doorstep.

  That sounded like a massive headache.

  Consequently, Lance commanded his Central Intellect to ghost the recording of this specific battle. He would only allow his scores to be logged when he started hunting Tier 4, 1-Star demons. This would still comfortably secure him the top rank and an "SS-Rank Genius" label while masking ninety percent of his true combat potential. It was a solid compromise.

  "Master, are you absolutely certain what we’re looking for is inside the sun?"

  In the heart of the Pyre System, Selina was currently hovering near the surface of the central star, enveloped in a protective shroud of mental energy. She stared at the roiling furnace of the star’s corona with wide, curious eyes.

  "It’s here," Sovereign Glacia replied, her spectral form drifting out of Selina’s body to gaze into the solar depths. "When my soul first drifted through the Milky Way, I sensed the unique aura of the [Ice Spirit Star Flame] passing through this sector. Combining its behavioral traits with this environment, I am ninety percent certain it’s nested within."

  "But... isn't the [Ice Spirit Star Flame] an Aether Fire? My affinity is Frost," Selina asked, clearly puzzled. "Won't they conflict?"

  "What do you know of true power?" Glacia scoffed, though her tone remained patient. "Fire and Frost are two branches of the same lineage: the manipulation of temperature. One branch drives it upward, the other downward. They are fundamentally the same concept expressed through seemingly opposite attributes. Most people remain ignorant of this, assuming they are incompatible."

  "The [Ice Spirit Star Flame] possesses a vast range of temperature control. At its peak, it can incinerate a [Stellar Class] expert with extreme heat, or snap-freeze them into a statue of absolute zero. It is an SS-Rank Supernatural Trait, and its power is extraordinary."

  "I see... no wonder it’s called the Ice Spirit Star Flame," Selina muttered, realization dawning on her.

  "Let’s head down. I’ll guide you," Glacia said with a faint smile. She took control of the protective barrier and dove headlong into the colossal star.

  Selina felt the ambient heat spike frantically. However, under the protection of Sovereign Glacia’s remnant power, she suffered no ill effects. They were moving at a terrifying velocity; within a single minute, they had bypassed the outer layers and plunged into the star's deep interior.

  Strangely, as they went deeper, the temperature began to plummet. Soon, it reached a level where everything seemed to be in a state of absolute stasis—a frozen world hidden within a furnace.

  "This is the primary trait of the [Ice Spirit Star Flame]," Glacia explained. "This star was effectively colonized by the flame. It uses the exterior as a thermal shield, masking a core that is incredibly cold. Without experience, it’s almost impossible for someone to find this anomaly."

  Seeing the frost meant they were on the right path. This was going to be a massive boon for her young disciple.

  They pushed through thick layers of stellar ice for several more minutes until Selina broke through into a serene, azure-colored sub-space. In the very center of this void, a single blue flame flickered softly.

  "Master, is that it?" Selina asked, mesmerized by the blue fire.

  "Yes. This is the Aether Fire Space. Don't be fooled by the lack of ice; if a [Stellar Class] warrior entered this space without protection, they would be flash-frozen instantly," Glacia warned.

  She had searched for this flame for years during her prime, only to find it when she was already too powerful for it to be of significant use. Now, she would ensure her disciple reaped the benefits. With this, Selina could cultivate both Fire and Frost, reaching heights Glacia herself had never attained.

  "Selina, clear your mind. Prepare to host the power of the [Ice Spirit Star Flame]."

  "I'm ready!" Without a hint of hesitation, Selina closed her eyes and opened her soul.

  Buzz!

  Sovereign Glacia blurred, appearing instantly before the blue flame. She reached out with her spectral hand and snatched the [Ice Spirit Star Flame].

  Rumble!!!

  The flame reacted with primal terror, flaring up in a desperate attempt to resist. It unleashed a wave of terrifying energy that caused the internal temperature of the entire star to begin a frantic, chaotic climb.

  The most immediate witness to this change was the Cinder Emperor, who had been cultivating in the mid-layers of the star for centuries.

  "What is happening!?" the Emperor roared.

  He knew this star was unique. While a normal star of this size would have a core temperature even he might struggle with, the core of this sun had always been strangely manageable. In fact, cultivating here was twice as fast as anywhere else in the sector, which is why he had moved his entire clan to this system.

  But now, the temperature was rising at an exponential rate. Even for a being born of fire, the heat was becoming unbearable.

  "No... it’s getting too hot!"

  The Cinder Emperor, a gargantuan being hundreds of thousands of meters tall, attempted to flee toward the surface.

  BOOM!!!

  Suddenly, the internal temperature of the star spiked ten-fold.

  "Curse it! Why!?"

  The Emperor let out one final, agonized roar before his colossal body simply melted into the surrounding plasma. A supreme, [Planetary Class] fire-being had been burned to death by the very sun he called home. All that remained was a massive [Void Core] drifting in the solar currents.

  The phenomenon wasn't restricted to the star’s interior. The surface of the sun began to glow with a blinding, incandescent intensity, radiating a heatwave that washed over the entire Pyre System.

  On the planet Pyre-7, the landscape began to liquefy. Rocks that were already hot turned into flowing rivers of slag. The candidates scrambled to reinforce their flight suits, praying the insulation would hold against the skyrocketing radiation.

  Fortunately, the suits held. But the youths were left in a state of sheer panic.

  "Why did the sun suddenly get so bright!?"

  "Is the Cinder Emperor attacking!?"

  "That’s impossible. Even at the [Planetary Class], how could he influence a star of this magnitude?"

  The examinees were baffled.

  Lance looked up at the sky, shielding his eyes from the blinding white glare that had replaced the star's usual orange hue. Below him, the very ground was turning into a sea of liquid fire.

  "What is going with that sun?" Lance muttered. "Intellect, run a scan and analyze the solar output. Now."

  The temperature had reached such a terrifying level that even some of the weaker Cinder Demons were being burned to death.

  Something was fundamentally wrong.

  [System Alert: Scan results analyzed. An anomalous energy body has manifested within the stellar core. Calculations suggest a 70% probability of an Aether Fire birth. Estimated grade: S-Rank or higher!]

  The result from his Tier 7 Intellect came through quickly. While it wasn't a perfect 100% accurate prediction, it was more than enough to give Lance a clear picture of the situation.

  "An S-Rank Aether Fire?" Lance’s eyes sparkled with interest. "It would be a waste not to check it out."

  He glanced at his current flight suit and immediately frowned.

  "The flight speed on this thing is a joke. Top speed is only a hundred thousand kilometers per hour. By the time I fly to the sun, the show will be over."

  In the context of ancient history, 100,000 km/h was a terrifying speed for a personal transport. But for Lance’s current needs, it was practically a crawl.

  A smirk played on his lips. "Wait, I have the system. I’ll just fix it."

  Lance focused his consciousness on the wrist-mounted flight module, checking for its hidden flaws.

  [System Alert: 41.3 million Exploits detected within the Flight Module!]

  The number made Lance’s heart skip a beat. Over forty million [Exploits]? That meant this would undoubtedly become a Rank 8 flight system.

  "Incredible. System—[Reconstruction]!!"

  [System Alert: Command received. Commencing Reconstruction!!]

  A brilliant, blinding radiance enveloped the watch-like device on Lance’s left wrist. The light flared and then vanished instantly. In its place was a sleek, violet-colored timepiece, its surface humming with a persistent layer of dancing electricity.

  [System Announcement: 41.3 million Exploits successfully repaired. The module has been optimized into the [Star-Thunder Wings] (Rank 8, Middle Grade).]

  [Star-Thunder Wings]: A Rank 8 Mid-grade flight technology. It features an embedded [Void Core] of a Star-Thunder Bird, empowered by the [S-Rank Supernatural Trait: Thunder Power]. Its flight velocity is extreme.

  Core Features:

  Thunder Barrier: Manifests a localized storm shield that acts as a survival suit, capable of negating attacks from [Galactic Realm] experts.

  Trans-Stellar Drive: Capable of accelerating the user to the threshold of [Dark Space] entry in seconds, allowing for physical transit across the void between stars.

  Void Stealth: Provides an active cloaking effect capable of masking the user’s bio-signature from star-system-level scanners.

  Lance sucked in a sharp breath as he read the description. The defensive rating alone was enough to withstand a [Galactic Realm] powerhouse, and the speed... it was capable of interstellar travel.

  This was borderline absurd for a personal flight system. Accelerating a single human body to the speeds required to enter [Dark Space] usually required a specialized cruiser. Then again, this was a Rank 8 artifact; such reality-defying performance was only to be expected.

  "With this, I’m essentially untouchable. Even the [Black Slayer Set] doesn't provide this level of protection," Lance laughed.

  He didn't waste another second. He tapped the device, and a surge of violet energy wrapped around him. He kicked off the ground.

  BOOM! RUMBLE!!!

  An earth-shaking thunderclap echoed across the molten plains. Lance transformed into a jagged bolt of violet lightning, tearing through the atmosphere in a heartbeat and hurtling toward the blinding white sun.