The air hung thick with the metallic scent of blood. Torya stood still, chest rising and falling, the glow on his arms slowly fading. The massive tiger lay motionless at his feet — its body steaming faintly as the last of its life force seeped into the ground.
He wiped the sweat and blood from his brow, his expression calm yet fierce. The tribe's hunters approached carefully, their awe plain in their faces.
"Leader… you killed it," one whispered.
Torya turned to them, his voice steady. "No. We did. Every spear, every hand that forged our weapons — all of it led to this."
The words struck deep. They had fought together, forged together, bled together. His victory was theirs too.
He looked back at the fallen beast, studying its fur — striped with crimson and black, almost like smoldering embers beneath the sun. The creature was magnificent even in death. Its hide was thick and tough, the kind that could resist claws and stone blades alike.
"We're bringing it home," Torya said at last.
It took all of them to carry the carcass. They moved slowly, taking turns bearing the weight. By the time they reached the clearing, dusk had fallen. The scent of smoke and roasted meat filled the air as the tribe gathered to welcome them.
When they saw the size of the slain beast, shouts of amazement filled the night.
"By the flame—!""It's bigger than a hut!""Our chief slew this alone!"
Children ran closer, their eyes wide with wonder, while the elders looked on with trembling smiles. For the first time, pride radiated from every face in the tribe.
Old Varin and Old Seran hurried forward. "By the spirits, Torya… what manner of beast is that?"
"One that guarded this part of the forest," Torya replied, wiping his weapon clean. "Not anymore."
A roar of approval followed. Fires were stoked, and before long, the tribe prepared a feast unlike any before. They skinned the beast carefully, taking the meat for food, the bones for tools, and the hide for something special.
As the night deepened, flames danced high into the sky. The hunters sang around the fire, their voices strong, carrying the story of the day — the slaying of the crimson tiger by their first Ascendant.
But Torya sat quietly by the forge, staring at the beast's hide stretched before him. It shimmered under the firelight, every stripe glowing faintly like veins of living ember.
Nova's voice resonated in his mind, calm and analytical.
"The hide of the creature contains traces of condensed Aether. With proper tempering, it may serve as a material for armament or enhancement. The host's Flame Hands are capable of refining it."
Torya's eyes narrowed with focus. "Then we'll make it worthy of the fight it came from."
He began the work that night. The tribe watched silently as their leader stood by the forge, the glow of his arms merging with the forge's fire. He laid the hide upon the stone, channeling Aether through his hands. The patterns on his skin burned bright red, matching the pulsing veins on the hide.
Slowly, the coarse beast skin softened, its colors deepening — black fading into a radiant crimson hue that seemed to ripple like fire in the wind.
When dawn came, he stepped out from the forge holding his creation.
It was a cape, long and heavy, trimmed with the faint gleam of bronze along its edges. When light struck it, faint threads of red flame coursed through its surface — alive, shifting, breathing.
The tribe fell silent as Torya approached the center of the clearing, the cape draped across his shoulders. It flowed behind him like liquid fire.
Old Seran was the first to speak, voice trembling with emotion. "The Embercloak…" he murmured. "Forged from flame and strength."
Torya gave a faint smile. "It's a reminder," he said. "That we can shape the world, just as we shaped our fate."
The name stuck. From that day onward, the crimson mantle was known as the Embercloak — a symbol of the Emberkin's rebirth and the dawn of their new strength.
Later that evening, as the tribe feasted on roasted tiger meat and sweet roots, Torya sat near the fire, watching his people laugh and sing. It had been a long time since he'd seen them so full of life.
But amidst the celebration, his mind drifted inward. He could feel the faint hum of Aether still flowing within him — stronger than before, more controlled.
(System notification,) Nova's voice whispered. (The host's physical and spiritual parameters have stabilized after continuous Aether refinement. Host is now fully synchronized with the Initiate Stage of Ascendance.)
Torya nodded slightly, letting the words sink in. "So this is the strength of one who walks beyond mortality."
(Affirmative,) Nova replied. (Each stage refines body and soul. The process remains identical among races, though reactions differ. The Emberkin display flame resonance as a racial trait — the manifestation of fire through Aether flow. This is likely your people's racial manifestation.)
"Flame resonance…" Torya muttered. "Then these patterns, the heat, the craft — they're all part of what we are."
(Correct. The system suggests cataloging this ability as a racial skill.)
Torya blinked, remembering something. Racial skill? Do it then
(Affirmative. Would you like to review?)
A flicker of curiosity ran through him. "Show me."
Before him, the faint red interface shimmered into existence. The familiar panel unfolded — and for the first time in days, he saw the long list of abilities he had accumulated since awakening.
He always feels good whenever he is looking at his skills, though he wished he get another knowledge like the basic botany and basic forging method he got from the system. but he cant do anything since the quest are randomly generated.
SKILLS RACIAL SKILLS(All at Initial Stage unless stated otherwise)
Spear Throwing Flame Hands
Aether Sensitivity Flame Resonance
Hunting
Tracking
Herb Collecting
Forging
Bronze Craftsmanship
Leadership
Basic Tactics
Beast Skinning
Stone Shaping
Weapon Maintenance
Cooking (Tribal)
Herbal Application
Observation
Meditation
Endurance Training
Flame Resonance (Initiate Level) — The innate ability of the Emberkin to channel and manifest Aether as controlled flame through flesh or metal. The resonance strengthens forged items, increases heat output, and boosts combat effectiveness when invoked with focus.
He stared at the list in silence, a mix of pride and curiosity flickering in his eyes. These weren't just numbers or data — each represented growth, effort, survival.
He closed the panel and looked up at the sky. The stars were faint, veiled by the rising light of dawn. Somewhere above, the twin moons still lingered, pale and ghostly.
He spoke softly, almost to himself. "We've come far… but this is only the beginning."
Around him, his people continued to celebrate, the laughter of children mingling with the crackle of fire. The tribe that once struggled to live day by day now had something to believe in — something more than mere survival.
They had a future.
And at the center of it stood Torya, the first Ascendant of the Emberkin, cloaked in the skin of a fallen beast — the fire of his people burning bright upon his shoulders.
The Embercloak flowed behind him like a living flame as the dawn painted the clearing in gold.A symbol of power.A promise of change.And the spark of a new age for his kind.