"The first trial begins at the tolling of the flame bells," Pyrothane announced.
As if on cue, bells carved from volcanic stone rang throughout the grove. Their deep, resonant tones stirred something ancient in the Great Tree itself. The glowing fruits brightened, and wisps of flame began to dance along the branches.
I glanced at my family. Emberheart's eyes were full of love and worry. Scorchclaw radiated calm confidence, a quiet assurance in his son. Sparkwing and Emberdance offered encouraging smiles, steadying me.
Elder Pyrothane stepped forward. His bulging throat moved like a piston, condensing dense crimson-bronze flame between his razor-sharp teeth. Then, he lifted his massive jaw and released it: a hundred-foot-long flare of crimson-bronze fire erupted, vaporizing the humid air in a roaring display.
"The flames of destruction, the great ancient Ragnarok, bless my civilization with your power! By your sacred fruits, help this generation of wyrmlings step onto the flame evolution path!" he bellowed.
"All family heads, present your sacrifice to the ancestral tree!"
Thirty hunter T-Rex, including my father, stepped forward, carrying struggling creatures. Flapping wings and panicked cries filled the air as Archeopteryx were held aloft. The flame roots of the Great Tree lashed out, drawing the life force from the birds in seconds, leaving them dry husks.
"I, Magmaroar, head of the Lavaforge family, present this Ichthyosaurus blood to the sacred tree!" a voice roared. "To catch it, I traveled thousands of miles across the dangerous sea. Accept my sacrifice and bless my children!"
The creature was long, sleek, and translucent, resembling an ancient dolphin with a pointed snout and large eyes. Pallet, seated beside me, whispered, "Ichthyosaurus aren't natural to the Flame Forest. By nature, we flame beasts are at a disadvantage. That's just a juvenile, too."
"If that's a juvenile, how large does an adult get?" I asked.
She nodded toward a massive marine figure approaching—the Tylosaurus. Its torpedo-shaped body, powerful tail, and twin pairs of flippers were imposing. Its ram-shaped snout and rows of conical teeth gleamed as my father held it by the neck and tossed it toward the flame roots. The roots carved into its body instantly, roasting and vaporizing it in a fiery dance.
The echoes of the flame bells faded, leaving a silence that seemed to make the entire world hold its breath.
Elder Pyrothane raised one massive claw. "Children of the Flame Forest," he began, his bronze scales glinting in the light of the sacred tree.
My heart pounded as hundreds of eyes turned toward the trial arena, a raised platform of volcanic stone carved at the base of the tree.
"Wyrmlings, the first ritual begins!"
His enormous body radiated a flickering heat aura. The surrounding temperature surged: 35°C… 40°C… 60°C… Abrupt pressure slammed onto our shoulders, forcing our knees to the ground. Even as flame creatures, the extreme and rapid shift made our bodies struggle to maintain homeostasis.
"Only those talented enough will taste the sacred fruits," Pyrothane announced. "The first phase: demonstrate flame breathing under the pressure of my aura, and impress the Lord Tree. Only then will you advance."
"Wyrmling Motormaw from the Flamefood family, step forward."
A chubby-cheeked wyrmling waddled forward, each step bouncing his plump body. The crowd snickered—but despite the heat and pressure, he reached the platform.
He inhaled deeply, throat cartilage moving like pistons, and exhaled crimson-orange sparks. Leaves on the Ragnarok Tree glimmered faintly.
"Not very impressive, but you pass," Pyrothane said lazily.
Then Pallet stepped forward. Graceful, calm, unaffected by the heat aura. Her formal breathing was precise; her throat cartilage moved ten times in a row, releasing highly condensed crimson-orange sparks. The Ragnarok Tree shimmered in response.
"Exceptional control and intensity," Pyrothane announced. "The Lavaforge bloodline shows great promise."
I stepped forward. Purple fog rose from my nostrils as I exhaled. A brilliant purple flame sparked, burning hotter than anything I'd ever produced, lasting fifteen seconds in the air.
The amphitheater went silent, then erupted into whispers and exclamations. Even the ancient elders leaned forward, eyes wide with astonishment.
"Purple flame!" someone gasped. "I've never seen anything like it!"
"Is that even T-Rex fire?" another voice asked. "Look how it burns!"
The Ragnarok Tree seemed to celebrate with me, its branches glowing brighter as if acknowledging my fire. Pyrothane stared long and hard, expression unreadable, then finally spoke.
"Purple flame," he said slowly. "In centuries of witnessing flame beasts, I have never seen fire of this color with such intensity."
He whispered with the other elders, then continued: "little one your performance is of exceptional unique. The Scorchclaw bloodline has produced something strange.
What's your name little dino"
" Thank for elder Praise , i am rider rex " i bow down without any disrespect .
Returning to my family's section, Emberheart enfolded me in a protective embrace. "Magnificent, my son. We are proud of you," she whispered. Scorchclaw's expression reflected quiet satisfaction, while Sparkwing glowed with joy.
As for other t rex family filled by jealousy of why their children names not ask by elder.
"Of the thirty-seven wyrmlings who attempted the Trial of Flame Mastery," Pyrothane announced, "twenty-nine have earned the Ragnarok Tree's approval to move to the next phase."
A wave of joy and disappointment rippled through the amphitheater.
"Among those advancing," Pyrothane continued, "special recognition goes to Pallet of the Lavaforge family for precision artistry, Thornscale from the Ironforge bloodline for raw intensity, and Rider Rex of the Scorchclaw family for unprecedented purple flame mastery."
Being singled out brought pride—but also the weight of scrutiny. Every family patriarch would now reconsider their political strategies in light of my abilities.
"The Competition of Sacred Fruits begins after the midday rest," Pyrothane concluded. "Prepare yourselves for the true test of worthiness.
Specially mothers "