It was supposed to end with the provocation.
Lin You had completed the mission. He had seen K1726's corrupted flame. The system had rewarded him with Faithvision access and a divine tracking permit. That should've been it.
But the gods didn't like clean endings.
Especially not when blood could still be spilled.
The burning trail left by K1726 hadn't cooled. Lin You barely had time to retreat from the plaza when a system warning cut across his vision.
> **[Alert: Target K1726 has entered Hostile Pursuit Mode]**
> **[You have been marked as the Provoker · Elimination Status: Active]**
"Perfect," Lin You muttered.
He dove behind a pile of rusted sheet metal just as a burst of fire exploded where he'd stood a heartbeat ago. The impact lifted him off his feet and slammed him against a half-buried wall. Pain bloomed through his ribs.
Smoke. Heat. Laughter.
"You think you can manipulate me and just walk away?" K1726's voice came from the haze. "You exposed my alignment. That's a death sentence, little vine."
Lin You coughed, wiping ash from his face. "You're the one who lost his temper."
Another fireball surged toward him.
> **[Skill Activated: Tree Spirit Summon]**
Green light flared. His summoned guardian—smaller than before due to hasty cast—threw up a shielding veil of leaves and bark. The flame struck it and burst apart, sending embers scattering.
The tree spirit wilted, flickering.
K1726 stepped through the smoke, eyes glowing red, flames licking his shoulders like a second skin. His power pulsed—tainted, raw, and eager.
> **[Dark-Fire · Class: Flame Reaper]**
"Darkness," Lin You said between breaths, "doesn't make you strong. It makes you disposable."
"Tell that to the pile of Light Faithholders I've burned."
He lunged.
Steel met flame.
Not Lin You's steel—someone else's.
A shield, broad and gold-rimmed, slammed between them. Sparks erupted. K1726 snarled and stumbled back.
A man in black and bronze armor stepped forward.
> **[Faithholder ID: S0348 · Metal · Alignment: Unknown]**
"You're making a scene," he said coldly, eyes never leaving K1726. "And I hate fire."
K1726 spat. "You protecting him?"
"No," the man said. "I just like crushing arrogant pyros."
A second later, his shield surged forward, launching K1726 into a nearby wall. The Dark-Fire user rolled and vanished in a streak of heat, fleeing into the ruins.
Silence returned.
Lin You collapsed against a wall, every nerve shaking.
> **[Skill: Tree Spirit Summon · Cooldown: 98 seconds]**
> **[Health:47%]**
> **[Alignment: Light-Wood · Qingshen]**
> **[Visibility: Public – Remaining Exposure Time: 2 minutes]**
He wasn't just wounded.
He was now marked.
The Metal user approached. "You're lucky."
Lin You nodded, still catching his breath. "Thanks."
"You're Light?" the man asked.
Lin You hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah."
"Then don't die. We need more of you."
The armored man walked away without another word.
Lin You exhaled. His hand trembled as he touched the vine sigil on his chest.
This wasn't just a trial.
It was exposure therapy, faith under fire—literally.
**
He moved again before his time ran out, ducking into an abandoned train station as his alignment indicator faded from public view.
> **[Light Alignment: Visibility Status — Hidden]**
Finally, some breathing room.
He sat beside a cracked terminal and let himself think.
Faith wasn't just a choice here—it was a brand. The moment you used your skill, the moment someone saw your effect, it wasn't hidden anymore.
Qingshen's gift—Tree Spirit Summon—was one of the most obvious Light skills.
It healed. It shielded. It bloomed.
It gave him away.
He didn't regret choosing it.
But that didn't mean he was ready.
His thoughts were interrupted by a soft chime.
> **[New System Message: Internal Faith Report Available]**
> — Faithholder E1127 —
> Alignment: Light-Wood
> Class: Forest Warden
> First Skill Use: Verified
> Exposure Count:3 Observers
> Status: Watchlisted
> Current Risk Tier: Moderate
>
> Next Phase Recommended: Initiate Faith Growth Mission within 24 hours
> Reward: Class Passive · Faith Reinforcement · Qingshen Recognition Increase
"Faith growth," he murmured.
He stood.
There was no going back now.
**
Later, as he reached a high overlook above the trial zone, Lin You looked down at the ruined cityscape.
Explosions echoed in the distance. Someone else was fighting. Somewhere, another Faithholder was bleeding.
He realized something.
He had survived three engagements.
He had exposed a Dark-Fire, fended off pursuit, and kept his Light-Wood power intact.
He wasn't strong.
But he had faith.
And maybe… maybe that counted for something.
**
As he descended toward the next checkpoint, vines stirred quietly beneath his boots.
The Tree Spirit, now dormant, pulsed once from within his soul.
Faith wasn't just about being seen.
It was about standing anyway—even if the world caught fire.