Chapter 10: Flames of Resolve
The atmosphere inside the labyrinth's heart was thick with tension, every ember of silence echoing with danger. The Embarkers stood at the center of a wide, circular chamber, its walls pulsing faintly with energy. And standing before them—between them and the ancient Writh—was a presence cloaked in menace.
Clad in black and crimson armor, Captain Darion Valros radiated the fury of the sea and the malice of shadow. His crimson eyes locked onto Pol with contempt, and his jagged blade pulsed with dark energy.
"You dare defy the Order?" Valros sneered, stepping forward, the metal of his boots clicking against the stone. "Then I'll show you why the Grand Fleet rules these waters."
He moved with terrifying speed. One moment he stood still, and the next he was a blur of darkness, his blade slashing through the air toward Pol. The young Flaminger barely had time to react, parrying the strike with his own sword in a burst of sparks.
"Stay sharp!" Pol barked to his team, stepping back, muscles coiled and ready.
But Valros was already moving again.
His crimson eyes turned toward Nira. "You… the heart of this crew. Break the heart, and the body will follow."
With a sudden leap, he slashed toward her. Time seemed to slow.
"Nira!" Kaiden shouted, lunging forward, but too late.
The blade struck.
Nira was hurled across the chamber like a ragdoll, her body crashing against the far wall with a sickening thud. She crumpled, groaning, pain etched across her face as she clutched her ribs.
Pol's breath caught.
Flames sparked from his hands, uncontrolled and wild. He ran to her side, the heat radiating from him intensifying by the second.
"You'll pay for this," he growled, kneeling beside her.
Kaiden stepped in front of them protectively, sword drawn.
As Pol rose, the fire around him roared to life. It wasn't just rage—it was awakening. A deep, ancient force stirred within him. His eyes burned with white-orange flame, and the fire around his fists grew into roaring infernos.
"Flamo…" Sonia whispered, wide-eyed. "He's awakened it."
Pol stepped forward. The air shimmered from the heat. "You wanted a fight, Valros?"
The captain's confident smirk faltered slightly.
Pol surged forward in a blaze of motion. "Flame Bullet!"
He thrust his arm forward, and a projectile of pure fire exploded from his palm. The searing heat was enough to blister the stone walls. The attack struck Valros head-on, engulfing him in a fiery cyclone.
Valros screamed, staggered, and dropped to one knee. His blade shattered into sparks as the flames consumed him. A final pulse of dark energy flickered—and then died.
Pol stood above him, his chest rising and falling as the flames around him dimmed.
It was over.
---
The crew slowly gathered. Sonia supported Nira, who, despite her injuries, managed a small, proud smile.
"You… awakened," Kaiden said, awe flickering behind his usual calm.
Pol glanced down at his hands. "I didn't mean to. It just… happened."
"And it saved us," Nira whispered.
Pol turned to the pedestal at the center of the chamber. Resting atop it was the Writh—the artifact they had risked everything for. Intricately etched and glowing faintly, it radiated ancient, untamed power.
He stepped forward and placed his hands on it. It was cold—cold, but alive.
"So, this is what we've been fighting for," he said.
Kaiden walked beside him. "One Writh down…"
"Eight more to go," Pol finished, nodding grimly.
---
Later — Aboard the Aurion
The Aurion sailed away from the crumbling Isles of Avaris, the last remnants of the maze vanishing beneath the sea behind them. The Writh, now secured within the ship's vault, pulsed faintly with light.
At the helm, Pol gazed toward the horizon. His fire had quieted, but his heart burned brighter than ever.
"The Order of Eclipsia won't stop," he said, his voice steady.
"But neither will we," Kaiden added, resting a hand on his sword.
Pol turned to his crew. Mirae, Lamin, Nira, Sonia, Sorin—all of them bruised, but unbroken.
"Together," Pol said, "we'll uncover the truth of the ST Clan. Together, we'll face destiny."
The wind filled the sails as the crew shouted in agreement.
Their journey was far from over.
But their resolve had never been stronger.
End of Chapter 10
And this marks the End of the Isles Of Avaris Arc
Next in chapter 11:The Writh Of Truth