A Pyromaniac's Ascent: Nothing Fire Can't Burn

Finn had to admit, he wasn't exactly a model student back in school. But he was pretty sure he could still name all the planets in the Solar System, and Vanov wasn't one of them. And the Torrina System? What even was that?

Was this some kind of joke? Phoenix? Vanov? Torrina System? Was he being pranked?

But the creature didn't look like it was joking, or lying, for that matter.

Maybe this was just some misunderstanding on his part—like how the Mayans misinterpreted the stars?

When Finn didn't respond, the creature spoke again.

"It's the planet where orcs live. That's what I am. My Name is Yukha, by the way, I apologize for not introducing myself earlier," the orc said, extending a rough, calloused hand.

An orc?

"I'm Finn... a human," Finn responded absently, reaching out for a handshake.

"So, those tusks? Are they real?" he asked.

"As real as the armor I wear," Yukha replied with a grunt, tapping the thick metal plating on his body, producing a heavy clang.

"Want a feel?" he asked, his voice laced with dry humor.

"No, I'll pass," Finn quickly answered.

He started to doubt everything he knew. Maybe he'd been rejecting reality all along. Still, he decided to go along with it for now and focused his attention back on Yukha.

"But you said you're a human? This is the first time I've ever seen one," Yukha said. "So this is how humans look. I've only ever heard about you from legends."

"I mean, I haven't seen an orc before either," Finn said awkwardly. "And humans don't usually have this," he added, pointing to his scar.

"Yes, I can tell," Yukha chuckled lowly. "So, a human... that means you're from Earth?"

"Uh… yes? You know, from the Solar System? Which, until just a minute ago, I thought was the only habitable place in the whole universe."

At Finn's confirmation, Yukha raised an eyebrow, his expression hardening.

"So, it's true then... How creatures from Earth are sheltered," Yukha said. "Not many know of your kind. Rumors say your planet is favored by something ancient."

"Earth is favored? What do you mean? I've been living there for over 20 years and wouldn't exactly call it favored," Finn replied, his confusion growing.

Yukha snorted, shaking his head slowly. "Ah, boy, you wouldn't understand. Such things are passed down through generations. They say Earth is under the protection of something mighty—stronger than any of the Great Gods. It keeps your world safe from corrupted elementals."

Great Gods? I thought there was only one?

"Corrupted elementals?" Finn asked, still confused.

Yukha's sharp eyes softened with a hint of pity. "You truly do not know, do you? Did not know about the phoenixes either, calling them just a flaming bird. What a shame. I assume there's no elementals either... not on your Earth."

"Sorry, I'm lost. Elementals? Corrupted elementals? Gods?" Finn asked, genuinely baffled.

"You really don't know, do you?" Yukha said, his voice tinged with a mix of disbelief and amusement. "Even though you're a candidate? I was under the impression an invitation was required to even reach this place."

He sat down with a grunt, crossing his legs and gesturing for Finn to follow.

"Well, we have some time. I might as well explain things to you. Being clueless now is one thing, but it will not serve you once the ascent begins. Without understanding what lies ahead, you will not last long."

Finn hesitated, but seeing Yukha's seriousness, he sat down too, ready to listen.

Besides, judging by Yukha's responses, he was starting to realize something. Maybe he was the one who was out of his element here. Perhaps it was him who had misunderstood the universe all along.

"First, the universe. I assume you at least have some idea of how vast it is?" Yukha began. "In fact, it's so immense that there are countless planetary systems—like your solar system and our Torrina system—that can't even begin to be fully counted. And with every passing millennia, more systems are born. Among these systems lie habitable planets, like ours."

"And how do you know this?" Finn asked, narrowing his eyes.

"I know because some members of orckind travel to these other planets—either for trade or to provide aid during against wars, much like I do," Yukha replied with a hint of pride.

Planetary travel? What the hell?

Yukha noticed Finn's stunned expression and smirked. "Judging by your face—like a merchant lost in a battlefield—I'm guessing you humans don't yet have the means to visit other planets?"

"Well," Finn began defensively, "we've been to our moon once."

At this, Yukha let out a hearty laugh. "Adorable," he said, shaking his head.

Finn's cheeks burned, but he bit his tongue, choosing instead to focus on what Yukha was saying.

"Now, let's move on to the Four Great Gods," Yukha continued, his tone shifting to something more reverent.

Four? So, he wasn't talking about the Trinity?

"First, the Stone God, Terron—the eldest among them," Yukha explained. "Then Maris, the Water God, the second oldest. Isha, the Fire God, the second youngest. And finally, Lirael, the Wind God—the youngest of the four."

Gods based on the four basic elements? A fire god?

"Those elements sound familiar, but I've never heard those names before," Finn said, frowning.

"I did not think you would," Yukha replied. "Your kind likely does not know much about the gods. In any case, all living beings in this world borrow their power. Humans, though... can your kind even do that? I have never been sure."

"Well, I can kind of summon fire. Does that count?" Finn said.

"Summon fire? You mean make it appear out of thin air?" Yukha asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Yeah, out of nothing," Finn confirmed.

"And this... was it before or after you got the system?" Yukha asked, leaning forward a little.

"What system?" Finn asked, genuinely confused.

Yukha blinked, then let out a deep chuckle. "Well, consider me shocked. You might actually be a natural. That would explain a thing or two, wouldn't it?"

"A natural? What's that supposed to mean?" Finn said, frowning.

Yukha exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "I told you earlier how we borrow the Great Gods' power, didn't I? Most of us use the elements already around us—Wind, Stone, Water, even Fire that's already burning. But naturals don't need to borrow. They can make the elements themselves, out of thin air."

"I see. And what about this 'system' you mentioned?" Finn asked.

"The system is how we see our stats, skills, and elemental affinities," Yukha explained. I got mine at the same time as the invitation to the Ascension Ceremony. Same as everyone else here, I'd wager. What, you seriously don't have one?"

Stats? Skills? Affinities? Finn definitely recognized the terms but couldn't connect them to anything in this place, if it really wasn't Earth.

"No idea," he admitted.

Yukha chuckled again, shaking his head. "You've got a lot to learn, Finn. Best bring it up with the organizer when he shows up."

"And what's the Ascension Ceremony? The organizer mentioned something about a Tower of Ascension—what's that about?" Finn asked, still trying to piece things together.

Yukha leaned back, folding his arms across his chest. "Like I said, worlds are born every millennium. When those worlds evolve enough to have sentient beings, they need someone to lead and protect them. That's where the tower comes in. The invitation says if you make it to the top and conquer the tower, you are granted the power of a demigod and get a planet to rule over."

"Becoming a demigod? Ruling a planet?" Finn said with a dry laugh. "Just a moment ago, all I wanted was to survive. Now this?"

Yukha snorted. "If you make it to the top, that is. Everyone here's gotten the invitation, and we've all been given a system, ten years ago. A decade to train, get stronger, and level up."

Level up? Another familiar phrase. But from someone who wasn't even supposed to be from Earth? That was unexpected. Did other races have RPG games too? Or even know what they were? Whoever had handed out these systems clearly knew something about them, though.

"Okay, but if I was brought here and haven't gotten the system yet. And if everyone had been training and leveling up with the system for a decade... Does that mean I'm way behind? Am I not in a position to even try for the tower?" Finn's voice dropped as the realization began to seep in.

Yukha met his eyes steadily. "That's for you to figure out. But if you want the truth, everyone here is one of the strongest beings in the universe. No one is getting through the tower without power. And that's what the system is for."

Before Finn could speak out his worries again, the blaring sound of hundreds of trumpets blasted through the air, an overwhelming, deafening cacophony. Finn winced, immediately covering his ears to shield them from the assault.

A single beam of light pierced through the air, brighter and more brilliant than any of the floodlight-like lights around them. It illuminated the space like a spotlight, drawing every eye to its source.

Finn squinted and looked upward, expecting to find some sort of ceiling. But there was none. Above him was an endless expanse of blue, dotted with puffs of white, like the clear skies of a perfect afternoon.

"The sky?" Finn murmured to himself, his heart racing. His mind struggled to make sense of it. "Don't tell me… this place—The Threshold, is still somewhere on Earth?"

But then, something even more bizarre happened, forcing him to reconsider.

The sky above them didn't just open; it ripped apart, violently, like a great whirlpool tearing through the heavens.

In that moment, for the third time in what felt like mere minutes—if it had even been that long—Finn thought he was about to die... Again.

As the swirling vortex above him seemed to threaten to swallow them whole, starting with him, it did the unexpected. Instead of pulling them in, it spat something out. No—someone.

Even from a distance, Finn could make out their form. The figure wore a milky white robe that shimmered with an ethereal glow. At the hem, a line of gold traced the edges, as if they were draped in the very fabric of the sun itself.

An angel? Am I in heaven now? Where really even is The Threshold?

When the glowing figure reached a height where Finn could clearly see him, the whirlpool snapped shut. The blaring sound of trumpets ceased abruptly, replaced by an eerie silence. Not a single murmur, no rustle, no sign of movement filled the air.

"Greetings, candidates. Let me introduce myself again," the still-floating man said, his voice slicing through the quiet like a sharp blade.

His words were crisp and clear, resonating off the unseen walls of the vast space.

Amid the whirlwind of questions tumbling in Finn's mind, one stood out more than the rest.

"My name is Halgon, a demigod. You can think of me as one of the messengers of the Four Great Gods. "