FWOOM!
A powerful burst of white flames erupted from Solace's hands, swirling and crackling as they took shape. The fire felt hotter than anything he had ever summoned before, the intensity in the air making the very atmosphere feel like it could ignite at any moment.
The flames took the form of a small, controlled sphere, its core burning with a ferocity that seemed almost unnatural. Solace held it in his palm, watching the flames dance with awe. "So, does this mean I have a fire affinity as well?" he asked, a mixture of curiosity and confusion in his voice as he sat cross-legged on his bed, the white flames still hovering above his hand.
[No, it's a bit weird, but the Phoenix Fire is the only fire you will be able to use.]
Solace frowned, his expression deepening into thought. "Wait, can't I assimilate anything into my race or bloodline?" His eyes shifted from the ball of fire in his hand to the surrounding room. The flames flickered gently, their white glow casting strange shadows on the walls.
[...Yes, but you shou—]
Before the system could finish, Solace cut her off with a wild decision. With a grin, he threw the entire fireball into his mouth, swallowing it whole. His eyes widened slightly as the intensity of the flames burned through him.
The moment the white flames entered his body, they didn't just dissipate—they began to spread inside of him like a wild, unchecked firestorm. His insides ignited, and a searing pain shot through his body as the flames consumed him. It felt as though his very bones were being scorched, each second more unbearable than the last.
His body trembled, unable to contain the intense heat. The flames spread throughout his body, scorching him from within as he tried to scream, but no sound escaped. His muscles tightened, his skin smoking, and yet the fire still burned hotter. The agony was unrelenting.
[This idiot~]
From within his sea of consciousness, the beauty, who had been observing Solace's reckless actions, snapped her fingers.
Instantly, the room around Solace shifted. The flames that were tearing through his body were erased in an instant, and the furnishings in the room returned to normal. However, Solace himself was gone, his body reduced to nothingness as the Phoenix fire consumed him entirely.
[Well, this will take awhile…]
The voice of the System echoed in his consciousness, but there was little that could be done. The Phoenix Fire had overwhelmed him, and now, the consequences of his reckless actions were catching up. The beauty, annoyed but resolute, snapped her fingers again. A formation of energy radiated from her fingers, spreading around the room.
The formation was a barrier, one that wouldn't allow anyone—whether through physical means or Divine Sense—to enter or even see inside. Solace was sealed within the confines of his room, cut off from the outside world while the fire still worked its way through him, in an effort to complete the transformation.
Time passed. A full month had come and gone, but in the confines of Solace's room, the outside world continued without him. The barrier had prevented anyone from entering the room or sensing what had happened. Guards, servants, even the royal family had no idea what occurred in the room.
Then, on a day like any other, a soft ping echoed through the room.
[Ding!]
[New Affinity - Fire]
[New Race Assimilated - Phoenix Race]
Solace, now cross-legged on his bed, opened his eyes slowly. He blinked, his pupils glowing slightly with a new power coursing through him. The fire that had burned him alive had reshaped him from the inside out. His body had absorbed the Phoenix fire, and now, it had fully integrated into his bloodline.
Solace could feel the heat within him—life, death, and rebirth all intertwined in his veins. It wasn't just fire anymore. It was something far deeper, more intrinsic. The Phoenix Race had been assimilated into his bloodline, a force of immense power that would allow him to regenerate, harness the flames with greater control, and even rebirth from death itself, should it be required.
Solace flexed his fingers, the flames now a part of him, but something different than before. He could feel fire affinity, but it wasn't just any fire. It was Phoenix Fire—a unique, raw energy that pulsed through his very being.
With a slow exhale, Solace stood, his body now feeling stronger, his power surging in ways that had never been possible before. He could already sense the transformation in his soul, the weight of the Phoenix bloodline now coursing through him.
Looking around his room, now returned to normal, Solace could feel the effects of his new power. He could manipulate fire at will—Phoenix Fire, a fire like no other, with its ability to burn hotter, but more importantly, its ability to heal, regenerate, and rebirth.
"Phoenix Fire..." Solace murmured to himself, a quiet sense of satisfaction filling him. His plan had worked. He had transformed, assimilated the power, and now he was stronger than ever before.
But even as he felt the heat of his power, the complexity of the game around him remained. He had gained this strength, but now, he would need to decide how best to use it. The Fire Dragons, the royal family, and every other faction were all still in play. The Phoenix Fire gave him immense power, but it was not a cure-all. He still had to maneuver his way through the tangled web of politics and intrigue.