The creature stepped into the moonlight.
Its massive frame seemed stitched together from smoke and bone, cloaked in writhing shadows that hissed at the very touch of Kai's fire. Twin horns arched from its skull like the antlers of some demonic stag, and within its chest burned a core of pulsing red flame—the opposite of the golden fire that surged through Kai's veins.
It didn't charge.
It didn't roar.
It watched.
The Nightmares, who had been hurling themselves into the city like mindless beasts, now slithered backward—silent, trembling. The massive entity raised one clawed hand and pointed directly at Kai.
Linya spoke from behind him, low and tense. "That's no Nightmare… it's something else."
Kai nodded. "I feel it. It's like… the fire in me knows it."
He stepped forward. The First Fire surged through him, but now it felt less like a weapon and more like a heartbeat—syncing with him, warning him.
He has walked the Flame's ruins. He is born of the False Spark.
A memory not his own. A voice not his own. The First Fire was speaking again.
Burn him… or be consumed.
Kai grit his teeth. "Noted."
The monster moved.
It didn't attack head-on. It shifted, almost like teleportation—appearing in front of Kai with a blur of darkness. A massive claw swiped. Kai barely raised his arms in time, golden fire flaring into a shield that cracked under the impact.
The force launched him backward into the city wall. Stone shattered. Blood spilled from Kai's mouth.
But he stood again.
The creature vanished into shadow, then reappeared behind him—faster than anything Kai had ever fought.
Kai spun, unleashing a spiral of fire around his body like a flaming barrier. It collided with the monster mid-strike, burning into its arm. The beast roared—not in pain, but in fury.
It raised its head and howled.
The Nightmares answered.
Dozens rushed the city walls once again. Linya cursed, drawing her blade and charging to hold the line.
"Don't let them breach the gate!" she yelled.
Kai didn't answer.
He couldn't.
His mind was burning.
The First Fire was doing something new.
It wasn't just feeding him power—it was merging with him. Visions flashed before his eyes: Dragons of molten gold flying through shattered heavens. A city of ash. A tower built from flame. A woman with fire in her eyes whispering something as the world ended.
Kai staggered.
The creature struck again.
This time, Kai didn't dodge. He caught the strike with both hands, golden flame exploding from his palms, resisting the corrupted heat pouring from the beast's core.
The flames collided—red versus gold.
Kai screamed.
Then… something snapped.
Within his soul, the First Fire flared brighter than ever before.
A single word burned through his thoughts:
"Remember."
Suddenly, Kai wasn't just wielding the flame.
He was shaping it.
With a roar, Kai unleashed a column of gold fire skyward, vaporizing the creature's claw and sending shockwaves through the battlefield. The corrupted beast reeled backward, its chest cracked open—exposing that red core.
And Kai knew what he had to do.
One shot.
One chance.
He called the fire to his fist—no longer wild, but focused like a spear.
Then he ran.
The beast swung.
Kai slid beneath it.
He leapt, twisted, and punched directly into the core.
Time froze.
The flame surged inward.
And then—
Boom.
A blast of light rocked the field.
The monster let out one final scream before exploding into shadow and ash, the core shattering like glass.
Silence.
Then cheers. Screams. Relief.
Linya rushed to Kai, who had collapsed on his knees, smoking but alive.
"You okay?" she asked, breathless.
Kai looked up at the fading ashes, golden fire still flickering in his hands.
"No," he said. "But it's not over."