When Vaan's body made contact with the raging whirlpool of lava, his flesh sizzled with burns from the heat.
However, the temperatures were only slightly higher than the third stage's lava pool. It wasn't terrifyingly high like it actually seemed.
As such, Vaan successfully made it through to the fourth stage without getting incinerated into ashes.
His leap of faith had paid off.
Fortunately, he had made the right call. The overwhelming sense of threat and death was just an illusion and didn't possess any substance.
But considering it could fool him and all the dragon lords, it wasn't just any low-level illusion. If he had the opportunity, he really wanted to dissect it and learn how the illusion worked.
Nevertheless, a completely different scene unfolded in the fourth stage.
He did not free-fall in another vast open space. Rather, he was already standing on solid ground when he gained awareness of his surroundings.
Vaan recalled a brief moment when he felt space was warped and realized his body must have passed through a type of teleportation magic array.
This was further proven by the engraved magic circle on the ground beneath his feet.
After Vaan studied the magic circle and memorized all of its complex details, he finally shifted his attention to the rest of the fourth stage.
The teleportation magic array had sent him to one corner of the fourth trial region.
There weren't any fire pillars, inferno geysers, lava pools, or rock islands filled with quality fire-attribute magical plants.
It was just a desert filled with sand that did not melt despite the terrible temperature in the fourth stage.
Clearly, it wasn't ordinary sand.
At the center of the fourth trial region was an enormous black pyramid blocked off by a wall of raging yellow flames.
Vaan quickly spotted a large fire phoenix resting on top of the black pyramid while overseeing the entire fourth trial region.
At the same time, the large fire phoenix glanced back after sensing Vaan's gaze.
[Welcome to the fourth stage. I am the guardian of this stage and the gatekeeper of the fifth stage. If you pass my test, you will receive thirty drops of the Fire Dragon God's blood essence and access to the fifth stage.]
[Additionally, you would have the right to rule the Red Dragon Clan. Unfortunately, you do not possess dragon origins. Thus, the Red Dragon Clan will not listen to you unconditionally. At most, you can only be an honorary dragon lord.]
[However, on the off-chance that you do manage to pass the fifth stage, no dragon will question your legitimacy and right to rule the clan. Every dragon in the clan will obey you unconditionally.]
The Quasi-Divine Fire Spirit spoke.
"I heard the reward for clearing the fourth stage was only seven drops of the Fire Dragon God's blood essence?" Vaan mentioned.
[Seven drops of the Fire Dragon God's blood essence is only the minimum reward for passing the fourth stage. It's only natural that better performance deserves better rewards.]
[Since you have passed the previous three stages perfectly, thirty drops of the Fire Dragon God's blood essence is the right amount you deserve once you pass my test.]
The Quasi-Divine Fire Spirit explained.
[Also, you have three unused quotas. Thus, your quota for the fourth stage has been raised to six. Aren't you glad you didn't use them earlier?]
Vaan could sense the Quasi-Divine Fire Spirit's smirk after he listened.
Nevertheless, judging by the progressively increasing quality of fire-attribute magical plants in each stage, the fourth stage was expected to possess Rank 5 fire-attribute magical plants.
However, Vaan could not spot a single fire-attribute magical plant, let alone any Rank 5 fire-attribute magical plants.
[The Rank 5 fire-attribute magical plants are kept in a special environment to grow. I will grant you entry to the garden when you wish you use your quotes.]
The Quasi-Divine Fire Spirit explained, knowing what Vaan was thinking.
"I see," Vaan acknowledged with a nod before focusing on the fourth stage. "What do I need to do to pass your test, Lord Fire Spirit?"
[Nothing complicated. You just need to pass through the wall of flames to clear my test. But, of course, I will evaluate you on the time taken and the means used. Straightforward enough, right?]
Quasi-Divine Fire Spirit stated.
Of course, he wasn't naïve enough to believe that a straightforward objective was equivalent to being easy to accomplish.
After all, it was still the fourth stage.
Furthermore, he was situated on the edge of the fourth trial region. And yet, he could sense the terrifying heat emanating from the wall of flames surrounding the black pyramid.
The temperature would definitely soar once he approached the center.
Nevertheless, Vaan didn't hesitate to take his first step forward. The objective was clear, and time was ticking.
That said, Vaan didn't get very far before being forced to stop and retreat a few steps from the wall of flames.
The heat emanating from the wall of flames was even more terrifying than he could have imagined.
'Of course, I anticipated that it wouldn't be easy. But to think I would be burned this badly before I even get close…' Vaan frowned.
He was hoping to save his Fire Dragon God's blood essence until the last stage in order to use it all at once.
However, he wouldn't be able to proceed with the fourth stage unless he relied on the Fire Dragon God's blood essence for swift improvements.
'Since the Quasi-Divine Fire Spirit called itself the guardian of this stage, those must be its flames,' Vaan guessed.
He might have improved a lot, but he was still a mortal.
On the other hand, the Quasi-Divine Fire Spirit possessed some aura of divinity. It was no different from a demigod, a being that transcended mortality but was not quite a god yet.
'If I want to pass the fourth stage, I don't have much choice,' Vaan settled on his decision.
Man proposes, but god disposes; not everything would go according to one's wishes.
After Vaan took out the three bottles containing the fifteen drops of the Fire Dragon God's blood essence, he decisively consumed them all at once.
Vaan quickly grunted with gritted teeth as the potent fiery power of a Rank 6 coursed through his body.