The ground shook as the massive creature thundered into Ember Hollow.
Its enormous body crashed through the wooden fence at the edge of the village, splintering thick logs like dry twigs. Flames flickered between the cracks in its rocky armor, glowing like molten lava beneath black stone.
Smoke curled from its nostrils.
Its eyes burned like twin furnaces.
The beast roared again, a deep sound that rattled windows and sent terrified villagers scrambling for cover.
Kael stared at it, frozen for half a second.
"…That is definitely bigger than the chickens."
Mira grabbed his arm and dragged him backward.
"Focus!"
The beast slammed one massive claw into the ground.
BOOM.
The earth cracked as dirt and sparks flew into the air.
Valen Drax stepped forward calmly, his silver hair shifting in the wind created by the creature's movements.
"Stonefire Behemoth," he said quietly.
One of his warriors spoke quickly.
"Commander, the creature must have sensed the awakening surge."
Valen nodded.
"Yes."
His golden eyes flicked briefly toward Kael.
"The Fire Leaf's power attracts predators from deep within the wilds."
Kael swallowed.
"…Good to know."
The Stonefire Behemoth roared again and charged.
Each step shook the ground like a falling boulder.
Valen raised his sword.
"Crimson Ash Order—engage!"
His warriors moved instantly.
Four of them sprinted forward, their blades glowing faintly red as they activated some form of flame-based technique.
Another group spread out to surround the beast.
The coordination was flawless.
One warrior leapt high into the air and slashed at the creature's leg.
SCLANG!
The sword struck the stone armor—but sparks flew instead of blood.
The warrior landed and slid back across the dirt.
"Commander!" he shouted. "Its armor is too thick!"
Valen stepped forward slowly.
"Not everywhere."
The Stonefire Behemoth swung one massive arm.
WHOOOOOM.
The attack smashed through a nearby wooden cart, sending shattered pieces flying.
Two warriors barely avoided the strike by rolling across the ground.
Kael blinked rapidly.
"…This feels like a very bad situation."
Mira grabbed a nearby spear dropped by one of the villagers.
"Well unless you want it to eat the village, we need to help!"
Kael pointed at the monster.
"With what?!"
Mira pointed at his glowing hand.
"That!"
Kael looked down.
The Fire Leaf mark pulsed faintly again.
Warm.
Alive.
He remembered the fiery world.
Do not resist it.
Kael took a deep breath.
"Alright…"
He raised his hand slowly.
The fire responded immediately.
A spiral of orange flame formed above his palm.
Mira's eyes widened.
"Okay that's actually cool."
Kael aimed at the monster.
"…Let's see if this works."
He thrust his hand forward.
"GO!"
A streak of fire shot through the air like a blazing arrow.
It slammed into the Stonefire Behemoth's shoulder.
BOOOOM.
Flames exploded across the creature's rocky armor.
The beast staggered slightly.
Valen's warriors froze for a moment.
Then one of them shouted,
"He damaged it!"
Valen glanced toward Kael.
His expression sharpened.
"Interesting."
The Stonefire Behemoth roared in fury.
Its burning eyes turned fully toward Kael now.
"…Oh no," Kael whispered.
The monster charged straight at him.
Mira's eyes widened.
"RUN!"
They sprinted across the square as the creature barreled forward.
The ground cracked beneath its weight.
A massive claw slammed down where Kael had been standing seconds earlier.
CRASH.
The impact shattered a stone water trough.
Kael skidded behind the well.
"Okay! That got its attention!"
Valen's voice cut through the chaos.
"Warriors!"
His soldiers moved instantly.
Three of them attacked the creature's legs while two others struck at its back.
Their blades flashed with red energy.
SCLANG.
SCLANG.
Each strike chipped small fragments from the rocky armor.
But the monster barely slowed down.
Valen sighed quietly.
"Very well."
He stepped forward.
The air around him grew warmer.
A faint crimson glow spread along the blade of his sword.
Kael noticed immediately.
"…Oh."
Mira blinked.
"What?"
Kael pointed.
"I think the expensive guy is about to do something impressive."
Valen raised his sword.
The crimson glow suddenly erupted into blazing fire.
Flames wrapped around the weapon like a living serpent.
The commander moved.
Fast.
Faster than Kael expected.
In one fluid motion, Valen dashed beneath the monster's swinging arm.
His blade flashed.
SHHHK.
The flaming sword cut across the creature's exposed underside.
Molten cracks split open along its armor.
The beast roared in pain.
Valen landed lightly behind it.
"Now!" he commanded.
His warriors struck the glowing cracks instantly.
Blades slammed into the weakened stone.
CRACK.
Pieces of armor shattered away.
The Stonefire Behemoth staggered.
Kael stared in awe.
"…Okay yeah that was cool."
But the monster was far from defeated.
It slammed its massive tail into the ground.
BOOM.
The shockwave knocked several warriors off their feet.
Mira grabbed Kael again.
"We need to help!"
Kael looked at his hand.
The Fire Leaf mark pulsed again.
Stronger this time.
He remembered what the voice had said.
Feel the fire.
Kael closed his eyes briefly.
The warmth inside him surged.
When he opened his eyes again, flames flowed smoothly around his arm.
Controlled.
Focused.
"…Alright," he whispered.
He stepped forward.
Valen noticed immediately.
"Stay back," the commander warned.
"You're not trained yet."
Kael shrugged.
"Yeah, but that thing really hates me now."
The Stonefire Behemoth roared and charged again.
This time straight toward Kael.
Mira shouted,
"KAEL MOVE!"
But Kael didn't move.
Instead—
He raised his hand.
The flames around him surged outward.
They twisted together into a blazing sphere of fire.
The heat scorched the dirt beneath his feet.
Kael took one step forward.
"…Let's try something bigger."
He hurled the fireball.
The blazing sphere shot through the air like a miniature sun.
It slammed into the creature's cracked armor.
BOOOOOOM.
Fire erupted across the monster's chest.
The explosion forced the creature backward several steps.
Even Valen looked impressed.
"Raw power…"
The Stonefire Behemoth roared in rage.
Its molten cracks glowed brighter.
Then suddenly—
It opened its jaws wide.
Flames gathered in its throat.
Valen's eyes narrowed.
"Everyone move!"
A massive stream of fire blasted from the creature's mouth.
The fiery breath swept across the village square like a burning wave.
Kael barely had time to react.
He raised his hand instinctively.
The Fire Leaf mark flared.
Flames burst outward from his arm.
The two streams of fire collided.
For a moment, the village square became a battlefield of blazing energy.
Fire crashed against fire.
Kael gritted his teeth.
"WHY… IS… EVERYTHING… ON FIRE?!"
The pressure pushed him backward.
His boots slid across the dirt.
The beast's flames were stronger.
Hotter.
Kael's arms trembled.
"I CAN'T HOLD IT!"
Valen appeared beside him in a blur of motion.
The commander raised his flaming sword.
"Then don't hold it."
He swung the blade downward.
A crescent wave of crimson fire sliced through the monster's attack.
The fiery breath split apart.
Valen shouted,
"Now, Kael!"
Kael reacted instantly.
He gathered every bit of fire he could feel inside his body.
The Fire Leaf burned brighter than ever before.
A blazing spiral formed around his arm.
Kael stepped forward.
And released it.
The spiral of fire shot forward like a blazing dragon.
It smashed directly into the Stonefire Behemoth's chest.
BOOOOOOOOOOM.
The explosion shook the entire village.
Flames engulfed the monster.
For a moment, nothing could be seen through the smoke.
Then—
The giant creature collapsed.
Its massive body crashed into the ground with a thunderous impact.
The earth trembled.
Silence followed.
Smoke drifted slowly through the air.
Kael stood there breathing heavily.
"…Did we win?"
The smoke cleared.
The Stonefire Behemoth lay motionless in the square.
Its molten cracks had faded.
Valen lowered his sword.
"Yes."
His warriors relaxed slightly.
Villagers slowly emerged from hiding.
Mira walked up beside Kael and stared at the fallen monster.
"…You just helped kill that thing."
Kael blinked.
"I did?"
She looked at him.
"You threw a flaming dragon at it."
Kael scratched his head.
"…Fair point."
Valen approached them calmly.
His golden eyes studied Kael carefully.
"You controlled the Fire Leaf far faster than expected."
Kael shrugged weakly.
"I mostly guessed."
Valen sheathed his sword.
"Then your instincts are exceptional."
The commander looked around the damaged village.
Broken carts.
Burned ground.
Cracked stone.
Then he turned back to Kael.
"You see now why you cannot remain here."
Kael sighed.
"…Yeah."
He looked at his glowing hand again.
The Fire Leaf pulsed softly.
The power inside it felt stronger now.
Alive.
Waiting.
Kael glanced at Mira.
"Well…"
He smiled nervously.
"I guess I'm going on a trip."
Mira crossed her arms.
"…You're not leaving without me."
Kael blinked.
"Wait—what?"
Valen raised an eyebrow.
"This should be interesting."