When Tsubaki returned to the great treehouse, she went straight to the dining hall.
Many adventurers were already there, preparing breakfast. None of them were novices—their movements were practiced and efficient. Seeing that breakfast wouldn't take long, Tsubaki found a seat in a quiet corner.
"Hss~"
As soon as she sat down, a sharp ache pulsed through her waist again. She rubbed her side and couldn't help recalling last night's pleasure. The memory left her with the vivid impression of an older sister tying up her mischievous little brother and devouring him whole. A faint smirk tugged at the corners of her lips—though she quickly hid it. Best not to let too many people know about that.
After all, it was her own private matter.
She lifted her hand and gazed at the ring on her left middle finger. With a single thought, golden flames bloomed from the band. The warmth flowed into her body, soothing and rejuvenating her. The soreness in her side faded rapidly as the fire's energy coursed through her.
In less than three minutes, the pain was half gone.
"This power really is amazing."
Only through firsthand experience could she understand just how remarkable this near-magical strength was. Haru—a flame of enhancement and restoration—was proving to be incredibly useful. As a half-dwarf, she already possessed great physical strength, and this power amplified that advantage even further.
"But I'm not a pure adventurer. I need to find a way to apply this power to forging."
Ever the blacksmith, Tsubaki's thoughts instinctively drifted toward her craft. Fire and forging were born for each other. The first person she thought of was Lady Hephaestus—the goddess who embodied both fire and craftsmanship. For a smith, mastering fire's power was invaluable.
As Tsubaki pondered, she began to notice more and more eyes on her. To be precise, they were staring at the ring on her hand—and the golden flame dancing above it. Curious glimmers shone in the adventurers' eyes, and a few bold women even approached her directly.
"Captain Tsubaki, is your ring—and that flame—like the ones Captain Alise and Vice-Captain Kaguya have?"
"You're all curious about this power, huh?"
Her question made the surrounding adventurers nod eagerly. They had expected Captain Finn to explain everything during last night's dinner, but he hadn't mentioned it at all. It wasn't until they saw Tsubaki's flame that morning that they remembered the strange rings and the promise of a "surprise."
"Didn't Finn say he had a surprise for you all?"
"But he never told us what it was!" someone complained.
Tsubaki chuckled. "You really think he'd tell you right after a full day of Dungeon exploration? If he did, none of you would've slept a wink! I'd bet he plans to reveal it this morning—as motivation. So, I'm not spoiling the surprise."
"Eh!?"
Groans and sighs echoed across the hall. Still, knowing it was meant as a form of encouragement from their Captain made everyone's anticipation burn even brighter.
As more adventurers filled the dining hall and the rumors spread, excitement grew. All eyes soon turned toward Tsubaki's corner, though everyone waited eagerly for Finn's arrival. They wanted to hear directly about this "surprise" and "motivation."
The wait felt long—until Finn finally entered the hall with Gareth and the others.
"Hmm?"
The moment they stepped inside, Finn and Gareth both noticed the countless stares fixed on them.
What's going on? Finn frowned, puzzled—until he spotted Tsubaki across the room, her left hand raised, the golden flame on her ring gleaming brightly.
So that's it.
"Tsubaki, you were supposed to wait," Finn said with a wry smile. "I planned to surprise everyone this morning. But since you're all so curious, I'll explain it now—before breakfast."
The dining hall erupted in excitement. Every adventurer straightened up, eyes shining with focus. None of them dared miss a single word.
Finn raised his right hand. Three rings—one blue, one crimson, one gold—gleamed on his fingers. Flames of matching colors flickered to life above each one.
"Different rings ignite different colors of flame. Each color represents a distinct type of power. This ability isn't magic, but it's similar to it—and far simpler to use. You've already seen what it can do in battle, during Alise and Kaguya's fight with the Goliath yesterday."
Every word from Finn hit the adventurers like a hammer striking steel.
Not magic, but similar to magic. That phrase alone made their hearts race. A power like magic—but without the complex chanting? Could it really be wordless magic?
Gasps rippled through the crowd as realization spread. This was no ordinary revelation—it was revolutionary.
"As for where this power comes from," Finn continued, "I think most of you can already guess."
Everyone inhaled sharply. He didn't need to say it—they all knew.
Tsuna.
"This power, once fully mastered, will be engraved onto your Falna as a Skill—becoming a part of your own strength. You understand what that means, don't you?"
Another explosion of shock. The hall buzzed like it had been struck by lightning.
If the power could be engraved onto the Falna itself… then it wasn't merely borrowed—it became one's own. A personal Skill.
A flame-like magic that required no chant, no incantation—a true wordless spell. The air in the room thickened with excitement as every adventurer's breath grew shallow.
"Captain, is there any restriction on who can receive this power?" someone finally asked.
"Of course," Finn said with a nod. "The only restriction is that it won't be given to lower-level adventurers. The minimum requirement is Level 4. Tsuna designed it as a gift—a way to support those with the drive to improve. Just like Tiona, Tione, and Bete."
Gasps echoed once more.
A power beyond magic itself—available only to those strong enough to wield it.
The hall blazed with awe and determination. The dawn of something new had begun.