Boom!
Thunder cracked through the dark skies as lightning carved jagged lines across the clouds. The Sky Temple loomed ahead—an ancient fortress of silver stone perched atop the cliffs, half-shrouded in mist and illuminated only by the blood-red flare still burning in the sky.
Rivan's cloak whipped behind him as he sprinted toward the gates with Seris and Kael close behind. The howls of Ashborn echoed through the mountain valleys behind them.
Hooooowwwwlll…!
Kael huffed, barely keeping pace. "We should've stayed in the cursed tomb! At least there weren't flying demons chasing us!"
"Shut up and run!" Seris barked, her staff glowing with lightning.
As they reached the Sky Temple gates, a trio of guards raised their weapons. But the moment they saw Rivan's flaming swords, they froze.
"The Heir…!" one whispered.
"Open the gate!" another yelled.
Crrrrrrnnnkkk!
The gates groaned as they opened, just as a swarm of winged Ashborn descended from the clouds.
Rivan turned, his voice thunderous. "Defend the temple!"
He leapt onto the stone wall, flames erupting from both swords.
FOOOMMM!
A geyser of fire spiraled upward, cutting through the first wave of attackers.
ScreeEEEchhh!
The Ashborn wailed in pain, wings catching fire and bodies crashing into the cliffs.
Kael loosed arrows with terrifying speed, each tipped with blessed ember. "Hahaha! Eat that, birdbrains!"
Seris muttered a spell, her eyes glowing white-blue. "Let the storm answer..."
CRACKKKK!
Lightning danced from her staff, leaping from creature to creature like divine vengeance.
But still they came—hundreds of them—shadows with claws and teeth, their eyes glowing like coals.
One of them screeched as it dive-bombed toward Rivan.
"Tsk tsk tsk…" it hissed. "Little fire child… you burn so bright… you'll burn out!"
Rivan snarled. "Not today."
Slash!
He sliced it in two with the Emberfang, its body dissolving into smoke.
Behind him, the temple shuddered.
A bell rang.
DONG... DONG... DONG...
War had come.
The Sky Temple Burns
The Sky Temple had once been a beacon of wisdom—a place where fire sages preserved the ancient flame rites. But now, smoke filled its sacred halls. The Ashborn had breached the outer ring.
Rivan ran through the corridor, helping evacuate villagers who had taken shelter.
"Mama, I'm scared!" a child cried.
He knelt beside her, putting a warm hand on her shoulder. "You're safe now. I promise."
The girl's wide eyes stared at his burning blade.
"You're the Flame Prince…"
He gave a soft smile. "I'm just someone who won't let the dark win."
Seris grabbed his arm. "Rivan—we've got a bigger problem."
They reached the Grand Hall—massive crystal columns now cracked, the sky visible through a shattered roof.
A massive creature stood in the center—a Darkwing, ten feet tall, covered in black feathers and bone armor. Its eyes were pits of shadow.
It let out a terrible roar.
ROOOOAAARRRHH!!!
"Okay, yeah. That's definitely worse," Kael muttered, nocking two arrows.
The Darkwing spoke in a guttural voice.
"You are the Heir of Fire. Good. The Ash King wants your soul charred and broken."
Rivan pointed his sword. "Tell him I'll return the favor."
"Hahaha…" it laughed. "Let's see how bright you burn."
THWOOOM!
The creature lunged, smashing the floor with a massive claw. Rivan rolled aside and slashed upward—flames danced off the beast's armor.
Kael loosed arrows into its eyes. "Eat this!"
Thwip! Thwip!
The creature roared again, shaking the temple.
Seris whispered an incantation, lifting herself into the air with lightning swirling around her.
"By the storm above, I banish thee!"
She hurled a bolt directly at the Darkwing's chest.
KABOOM!
It reeled back—screeching in agony—but didn't fall.
"Not enough!" Rivan shouted. "We strike together!"
He leapt forward, channeling fire into both blades, crossing them in an X before hurling a wave of flame at the beast.
FWOOOOMMMM!!!
The creature howled as fire engulfed it. Seris struck with another bolt, Kael with three more arrows.
With a final roar, the beast collapsed into burning ash.
Silence fell.
Rivan dropped to one knee, panting.
"That was... too close," Seris said.
Kael chuckled nervously. "That... thing needs to never come back."
But something was wrong.
The flames didn't fade.
Instead—they formed a circle.
And from the ashes… a figure emerged.
The Crimson General
A man stepped forward, cloaked in black and red armor, a greatsword crackling with embers on his back.
He wore no helm.
His skin was pale ash-gray, eyes a piercing gold, and his voice like velvet soaked in blood.
"Greetings, Heir of Fire."
Rivan stood, blades ready. "Who are you?"
"I am General Marcan, Crimson Blade of the Ash King. And I've come to offer you a choice."
"Hahaha," Kael said dryly. "Oh this'll be good."
Marcan smiled. "You can surrender. Swear fealty to the King. Become his sword. Or..."
He pointed his burning greatsword at Rivan.
"Die now."
"Tsk tsk tsk…" Rivan grinned. "You really think I'd kneel?"
Marcan's eyes narrowed. "I think you fear what's coming."
Rivan said nothing.
He leapt forward—both swords aflame—striking with blinding speed.
CLAAAANG!!!
Sparks exploded as metal met metal.
Marcan didn't flinch. He countered with brutal strength, slamming Rivan across the room.
BOOM!
He crashed into a pillar.
"Rivan!" Seris screamed.
Kael shot another arrow, but Marcan caught it mid-air and snapped it in two.
"Impressive," Marcan said. "But you're no king."
Rivan stood slowly, blood on his lip.
"I don't need to be a king," he said. "I just need to end yours."
He surged forward again—faster this time—spinning, slashing, parrying. Flame and shadow danced together in furious motion.
Seris added lightning blasts. Kael covered them with arrows.
Together—they pushed Marcan back.
But he laughed.
"Hahaha! Yes! Show me your strength!"
With a roar, he unleashed a wave of black fire, sending all three flying.
The temple floor cracked beneath their bodies.
Rivan gasped. "We… we're not ready for him…"
Marcan raised his sword.
"I'll spare your friends. Join us. Become what you were meant to be."
Rivan's vision blurred—but deep in his soul, the Phoenix roared.
He felt it again—that fire—that ancient power.
"No," he whispered.
His eyes burned gold.
"I… will never be yours."
He stood, flames erupting from his body.
The Phoenix mark on his chest glowed fiercely.
Marcan's smile faded. "What…?"
Rivan let out a shout—pure, primal flame—incinerating the entire chamber in white-hot fire.
KAAAAAABOOOOOOM!!!
Aftermath
When the fire cleared, the temple's upper floor was half-destroyed. The sky above was full of stars.
Marcan was gone.
Vanished into shadow.
Rivan fell to his knees, coughing.
Seris rushed to him. "You did it… you forced him to retreat."
Kael limped toward them. "You looked like a freaking sun god, man."
But Rivan didn't smile.
"He was testing me. That wasn't his full strength."
He stood, eyes solemn. "This was a warning. The Ash King knows I'm ready."
Seris nodded. "Then we don't have time to rest."
Kael gestured toward the horizon. "Where to now?"
Rivan looked toward the north—where the Ember Peaks glowed faintly red.
"We go to the Fire Spire," he said.
Seris's eyes widened. "That's where the Ember Core is sealed."
Rivan nodded. "And where I'll either become a weapon… or the fire that breaks the chains."
The Phoenix mark on his chest flared once more.
And far to the east, in a throne of obsidian, the Ash King opened his burning eyes.
"So the heir rises…"
"Let the world burn."
To be continued...