Chapter 11: The Ignition of Fire
The battlefield was in chaos. Tension ran high between Aqua, Goldie, and Peter as they struggled to dodge the relentless attacks of the unknown entity.
The creature lashed out with massive tentacles, forcing the three warriors to move swiftly to avoid being caught.
Aqua (dodging): "We need to do something fast, or else..."
The unknown entity laughed, its voice dripping with amusement.
Unknown Entity: "This is getting interesting! I don't know what's happening elsewhere, but whatever it is… it's helping me!" (He laughed maniacally.)
Meanwhile, Ethan's team was facing a nightmare of their own. Zimbraya's army of 200 soldiers was marching toward them, leaving them with no chance of escape. The battlefield was filled with despair—Scarlet and Fiery were injured, Ethan and Alyssa were unable to fight, and the 20 soldiers who had escaped from the unknown entity were now facing another impossible challenge.
As the enemy forces charged, a menacing figure led the assault—a duplicate of Zimbraya, wielding a massive five-foot iron mace stolen from Shinobu's armory. With a single mighty leap, he crashed down between Ethan's team, the impact so powerful that it crushed several horses beneath him. The sight of his raw strength made the 20 soldiers hesitate. Even they weren't sure if they wanted to fight this monster.
The impact sent Ethan's team sprawling to the ground.
Scarlet (weakly): "Why… why are you doing this? Who even are you?"
The duplicate Zimbraya turned his gaze toward her and smirked.
Duplicate Zimbraya: "Don't bother, girl. It will all be over soon."
He started walking toward Scarlet, his massive weapon dragging across the ground.
Ethan: "Stop it!"
The clone turned to face him, intrigued.
Duplicate Zimbraya: "Huh?"
Ethan: "Fight me instead!"
It was a reckless challenge, but Ethan had a plan.
With terrifying speed, the clone lunged forward, grabbing Ethan by the collar and lifting him off the ground.
Duplicate Zimbraya: "What did you just say?"
Ethan: "I said… you should be more careful."
Before the clone could react, Ethan pulled a smoke bomb from his pocket and smashed it against the ground. A thick cloud of smoke erupted, blinding Zimbraya's duplicate.
Seizing the opportunity, Ethan drew a small knife and stabbed the clone.
For a moment, silence.
As the smoke cleared, everyone held their breath, hoping it was over. But when the dust settled, the clone remained standing. Ethan had miscalculated because of the smoke, he had missed a vital spot.
With a furious snarl, the duplicate grabbed Ethan and punched him so hard that he crashed to the ground, unconscious.
Duplicate Zimbraya (growling): "You bastard."
He turned back toward Scarlet, grabbing her by the throat as she struggled and screamed for help.
But then—
Something changed.
Fiery, who had been lying unconscious, suddenly started to stir. Flashes of his past memories flooded his mind.
(Fiery's Memory – A Moment with Scarlet)
A younger Fiery sat beside Scarlet, his voice uncertain.
Fiery (shyly): "Hey, Scarlet, can I ask you something?"
Scarlet: "Sure, what is it?"
Fiery: "What's your dream?"
Scarlet looked surprised.
Scarlet: "Huh? What do you mean?"
Fiery: "I mean… everyone has a dream, right? We can't live under Zimbraya-sensei's guidance forever."
Scarlet thought for a moment before smiling.
Scarlet: "What about you? Your dream is to become the strongest fire warrior, isn't it?"
Fiery chuckled.
Fiery: "Yeah… but more than that, I want to spend time with you."
Scarlet blinked.
Scarlet: "Huh?"
Fiery: "You, Peter, Aqua, Goldie… all of us."
Scarlet's expression softened.
Scarlet: "Yeah… I feel the same. I just want to be with my friends and Peter "
Fiery's heart sank.
The way Scarlet said Peter's name… he knew. He had always been just a friend to her, nothing more.
(Back to the Present Fiery's Awakening)
Fiery's unconscious mind was filled with self-doubt.
"I… I am nothing but a loser. I'm always in the background. No one trusts me. I get scared… I try to avoid fights… and someone else always becomes the hero. No one will ever believe in me."
Then—
He heard Peter's voice.
"I trust you, Fiery. You have to wake up."
Aqua's voice followed.
"We always believed in you."
Then Goldie's voice.
"We sent you with Ethan because we knew you could handle it."
Memories of meeting Peter for the first time flashed in Fiery's mind. He remembered Zimbraya introducing them, and how their friendship had grown over the years.
Finally, the last voice he heard was Zimbraya-sensei's.
"If you are ready to love, then you must also be ready to fight!"
Fiery's eyes snapped open.
At that exact moment, Scarlet was about to lose consciousness in the clone's grip.
Then
A massive fireball crashed into Zimbraya's duplicate, sending him stumbling backward.
Everyone turned in shock.
Alyssa (eyes wide): "He's back!"
Fiery stood tall, flames engulfing his entire body. His aura was completely different. He wasn't the same Fiery from before.
Fiery (furious): "HOW DARE YOU TOUCH MY FRIENDS?!"
His body burned with overwhelming heat, his stance firm like an unshakable wall between his friends and the enemy army.
Scarlet (shocked): "How… how is this possible?"
Alyssa (stunned): "His EPS has upgraded… from 2 to 3!"
Scarlet: "What?!"
Alyssa: "Look at him! His entire body is covered in flames! No one can touch him in this state. This is what happens when a warrior undergoes an EPS upgrade they gain more control and flexibility over their elemental powers."
Scarlet: "Incredible…"
Fiery turned to the 20 frightened soldiers.
Fiery (with fire in his eyes): "Are you scared of death?"
The soldiers looked at him, ashamed.
Fiery: "Do you know how many warriors gave their lives for Shinobu? Are you going to let their sacrifices be in vain?"
One soldier hesitated.
Soldier: "But… they have advanced weapons. We're heavily outnumbered"
Fiery: "Is that even coming from a warrior? Have warriors started fearing numbers now?"
The soldiers looked at him in shame.
Fiery: "I know what pride means. I know what it means to protect the people you love! That's why I'll fight ALL of them even if it costs me my life!"
The soldiers, now ignited with rage, roared in determination.
Scarlet and Alyssa watched in amazement.
Scarlet: "I've never seen this side of Fiery before…"
Peter and his team, listening through the radio, reacted.
Peter: "This is who you truly are, Fiery."
Aqua (grinning): "That's my boy."
Goldie (impressed): "Get that clone to the ground, Fiery!"
The 200 soldiers and the duplicate Zimbraya charged forward.
Fiery and the 20 soldiers charged back.
And just before they clashed
The chapter ends.