NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 3: THE FIRST Flame
The training grounds were a wide, open courtyard surrounded by towering walls. A group of Fire Nation cadets stood in formation, their movements sharp and precise as they practiced basic firebending forms. At the front of the group stood Master Jiro, a tall, imposing man with a scar running down his left cheek.
"Kael!" he barked as I approached. "You're late. Again."
"Sorry, Master Jiro," I said, bowing my head. "It won't happen again."
He narrowed his eyes but said nothing, gesturing for me to join the group. I took my place among the cadets, mimicking their movements as best as I could. My body seemed to move on its own, as if it remembered the training even if my mind didn't.
As I practiced, I noticed a faint glow around my hands. It was subtle, but it was there—a sign that my firebending was activating. The system's interface flickered in the corner of my vision, showing a small progress bar labeled **Firebending Proficiency**.
**[Firebending Proficiency: 12%]**
**[Skill: Basic Firebending Form – Level 1]**
I focused on the movements, trying to sync my breathing with the rhythm of the cadets around me. With each motion, the progress bar inched forward. It was slow, but it was progress.
---
### **The System's Guidance**
After what felt like hours, Master Jiro called for a break. The cadets scattered, some heading for the water barrels while others sat in the shade. I stayed behind, determined to make the most of my time.
I opened the system interface, scrolling through the options. There was a skill tree for firebending, with abilities like **Fire Stream**, **Fire Jet**, and **Lightning Generation** locked behind higher levels. There was also a stat menu, where I could allocate points to attributes like **Strength**, **Agility**, and **Intelligence**.
I had earned **100 XP** from completing the quest to attend training, and I decided to invest it in **Firebending Proficiency**. The progress bar jumped to **22%**, and I felt a surge of energy course through me. My movements became sharper, more controlled, and the flames I produced grew slightly brighter.
**[New Quest: Master the Basics]**
**[Objective: Reach 50% Firebending Proficiency.]**
**[Reward: 200 XP, +2 Firebending Skill Points]**
I grinned. This was exactly what I needed—a clear goal and a way to measure my progress. I returned to practicing the basic forms, pushing myself harder than before.
---
### **A Rival's Challenge**
As I trained, I noticed one of the cadets watching me. He was taller than me, with a confident smirk and a firebending stance that screamed arrogance. His name, I learned, was Ren, and he was the top cadet in our group.
"Hey, newbie," he called out, walking toward me. "You're wasting your time with those basics. Why don't you try something real?"
Before I could respond, he launched a fireball in my direction. I barely had time to dodge, the heat grazing my arm as I stumbled back.
"What the—" I started, but he cut me off.
"Come on, show me what you've got," he taunted, launching another fireball.
I clenched my fists, feeling a spark of anger. But instead of lashing out, I focused on the system. My **Firebending Proficiency** was still low, but I had to try.
I mimicked the basic form I'd been practicing, channeling my energy into my hands. A small flame erupted from my palm, weak but steady. Ren laughed, easily deflecting it with a wave of his hand.
"Pathetic," he sneered. "You'll never be a real firebender."
I ignored him, focusing on the system's interface. My **Firebending Proficiency** had increased to **28%**. It wasn't much, but it was progress.
---
### **A New Resolve**
That night, I lay in my bed, staring at the ceiling. The encounter with Ren had left me frustrated, but it had also lit a fire within me. I couldn't afford to be weak. Not in this world.
I opened the system interface, scrolling through the skill tree. There were so many abilities I wanted to unlock—**Fire Stream**, **Fire Jet**, **Combustion Bending**—but I knew I had to start small. I allocated my **+1 Firebending Skill Point** to **Basic Firebending Form**, increasing its level to 2.
**[Basic Firebending Form – Level 2]**
**[Effect: Increases firebending control and power by 10%.]**
I felt a surge of energy as the skill took effect. My body felt lighter, more in tune with the flames. I clenched my fists, a small flame flickering to life in my palm. It was stronger than before, more controlled.
"I'll show you, Ren," I muttered. "I'll show all of them."