Episode 1 – The Night of Ruin
Prologue – Before Fire
"Long ago… humans were not the hunters.
They were the hunted."
A claw—massive, scaled, dripping with blood—ripped through a hut of straw and wood. Screams echoed into the night as families scattered. Fire bled across rooftops, sparks dancing into the heavens like dying stars.
"Huge beasts ruled the land. Their roars shook the sky. Their steps shook the ground."
Families huddled in caves, pressed into shadows. Mothers muffled their children's cries with trembling hands, whispering desperate prayers no god seemed to hear. Beyond the rocks, glowing amber eyes gleamed, stalking the silence.
"Humans were weak. They made fires. They built walls.
But the monsters always came back."
A river of blood spilled into the soil. A lone hunter stood, knees quaking, raising a shaking spear toward the silhouette of a colossal beast. His shadow, trembling against firelight, was dwarfed—swallowed whole—by the monster before him.
"Every morning began with fear. Every night ended in loss.
This was not living.
It was only surviving."
The voice deepened, heavy as the rumble of the earth itself.
"And yet… humanity did not vanish.
Not because they were strong…
…but because they refused to disappear."
The voice faded into silence. Only the sound of fire crackling remained.
"This was the world before hope.
Before fire itself became a weapon.
This… was the beginning.
The beginning of Flameborn: The Last Ember."
Orvale
At the base of the Greyfang Mountains, wrapped in forest and river, lay a quiet village.
Orvale.
The sun poured golden light across fields of wheat that swayed gently in the breeze. The river shimmered like silver glass, its waters carrying laughter of children who splashed along the banks. Birds darted from tree to tree, their songs harmonizing with the hum of cicadas.
Orvale was not mighty. It was not rich. But here, life was simple.
Men tilled the fields, sweat streaking their brows. Women carried buckets of water from the stream, their voices rising in chatter and laughter. Children ran barefoot through grass, chasing one another in playful games.
At dusk, families gathered around the central firepit. Flames flickered on their smiling faces as food and stories were shared.
Every soul had their place.
Every soul belonged.
And for a time, Orvale lived untouched.
The Children of Orvale
Among the sounds of laughter was Kaen—a boy of restless energy, his eyes always wandering toward the horizon as though searching for something unseen. His grin stretched too wide for his face, often leading him into trouble that his friends had to pull him out of.
At his side was Riku—quiet, composed, with sharp eyes that noticed everything. Where Kaen's spirit burned like fire, Riku's calm steadiness kept them from stumbling into danger. She had a way of listening deeply, as if every word mattered.
Then there was Lira—gentle-hearted, her brown hair often tied into neat braids. Animals followed her as if enchanted; rabbits nibbled berries from her hand, and stray dogs curled at her feet while she hummed softly. Her laughter was light, bright, and carried warmth like spring sunlight.
And lastly, Daren—loud, bold, his presence larger than life. Taller than most their age, he often boasted, puffing out his chest. If Kaen dared to leap a fence, Daren swore he could leap two. If Kaen waded into the river, Daren plunged deeper. Though teasing never ended, neither did his loyalty.
The four of them—Kaen, Riku, Lira, and Daren—were inseparable.
They raced barefoot through the fields.
They stole apples from the orchard.
They lay under the stars, whispering dreams they swore they'd one day chase.
And in those moments, it felt like forever.
The First Tremor
That night, the sky was crystal clear. The moon hung high, painting the village silver. The oak tree at the edge of Orvale stretched tall, its leaves whispering in the calm night breeze.
Beneath its shade, the children laughed.
Kaen swung from a low branch, feet kicking air as Riku scolded him gently. Daren, as always, boasted he could climb higher, louder, stronger. Lira giggled, brushing dust from her dress as she watched them argue.
For a moment, the world was still.
Then—
The wind shifted. Clouds devoured the moon.
The forest stirred unnaturally. Birds shrieked as they burst into the night sky. Deer stampeded from the shadows, crashing blindly through fields. Wolves howled—an edge of fear rarely heard in their voices.
And then… the ground trembled.
Subtle, at first. Like a whisper beneath the soil.
Then stronger. The vibration deepened, rumbling through their bones.
The children froze.
Branches shuddered. Lanterns swayed.
And then—
A roar.
Deep. Endless. Ancient.
A sound that clawed at the soul and froze the blood in their veins.
From the forest, shadows emerged. Massive, shifting, their forms too large, too wrong, to be mistaken.
Scales glistened. Claws dug trenches into the soil. Teeth gleamed like daggers, dripping with hunger.
Dinosaurs.
Predators of a forgotten age, their bodies scarred by hunts long past.
And leading them—something greater.
The ground shook beneath its steps. Its body towered above homes. Its skin was cracked, scarred, jagged like stone split by fire. Old wounds carved rivers across its hide. Its eyes glowed like embers—burning, unrelenting.
Flames licked from its jaws.
Fire spilled with every breath.
The villagers gasped. Some whispered its name in trembling voices—an ancient terror passed down in warnings.
The Bringer of Ruin.
The nightmare had come.
Chaos
Orvale erupted.
Walls collapsed beneath claws. Straw rooftops caught fire, flames racing with the wind. Smoke swallowed the sky. Screams split the air, blending with the thunder of monstrous steps.
"Run! Everyone, run!"
Kaen's chest pounded. He seized Riku's hand, dragging her through the chaos. Daren stumbled behind, his boasting voice silenced by terror. Lira clutched her skirt, breath trembling.
They ran—
But death followed.
A beast broke through the haze. Its jaws gaped wide, teeth glistening with saliva. Its claws slashed the ground, gouging furrows as it charged.
Daren tripped. His knees struck the dirt.
"Go! Leave me!" he shouted, eyes wide with fear.
But Kaen spun back, refusing. His small hands gripped Daren's arm, pulling, straining, teeth clenched.
The monster's shadow loomed. Its breath burned hot against their skin.
Kaen froze. His muscles locked. His eyes widened as the beast lunged—
And then—
A blur cut through the night.
The Phantom Warrior
A rider appeared—mounted on a raptor-like beast that darted with unnatural speed.
Black armor gleamed in firelight, etched with scars of battles long past. Twin blades flashed in the warrior's hands, steel gleaming as though it split the very night itself.
One strike.
One flash.
The dinosaur's head fell.
Its body crashed to the ground, shaking the earth.
Kaen's breath caught.
The warrior didn't pause. Didn't speak. Didn't even glance at them.
He rode onward—into fire, into chaos—his blades painting arcs of death across the battlefield.
To Kaen, he wasn't a man.
He was a phantom.
For the first time that night, awe eclipsed fear.
The Safe Place
Through the clash of roars and screams, another voice cut clear:
"Children! To the safe place! Go—don't look back!"
It was Ragna, one of Orvale's defenders. His sword dripped with blood, his eyes fierce with unyielding resolve.
He rushed past them, swinging his blade with a roar that challenged even the beasts.
Kaen tightened his grip on Riku's hand. Daren stumbled alongside. Together with Lira, they ran.
Smoke clawed their lungs. Fire licked at their heels. The ground cracked beneath monstrous weight.
But Kaen thought of only one thing—
Home.
Ashes
The path was familiar. His chest ached. His legs burned.
They're safe. They have to be safe.
Kaen turned the corner.
And stopped.
His house—
Gone.
Flattened. Shattered beams jutted from the ground like broken bones. Fire devoured what remained, flames crackling louder than the screams around him.
Kaen staggered forward, lips trembling.
"Mother…? Arlen…? Lyra…? Sera…?"
No answer.
Only fire.
Only silence.
The world dimmed. Sound dulled. Smoke blurred into a haze.
Kaen's body trembled. His knees weakened. A blade of silence pressed against his chest.
And then—
A cough.
A whisper.
A voice.
Kaen's eyes widened. His heart lurched.
They're alive…
The world snapped back into focus.
The scene faded—
Black.