WARRIOR OF LIBERATION

"The surface taught you pain. The chains taught you fear. But the forge will teach you fire."

— Unknown Voice, Whisper of the Deep Flame

Sei awoke in darkness.

Not just unconsciousness—underground.

Stone walls. Dripping pipes. The stale air of the old world.

And one thought pulsing in his mind:

Time Remaining: 47:19:34

Ignition of the First Forge: Pending

Failure to reach core: Class Collapse, Soul Fragmentation, Memory Loss

He stood slowly.

His body ached, but the fire within pulsed stronger than ever.

The system buzzed.

Location Reached: Sublevel Zeta — Forbidden Tunnels

Path to First Forge: 6 zones remaining

WARNING: This territory is unaligned. Unknown entities may exist.

Footsteps echoed behind him.

He turned—just in time to see Mina dropping from a maintenance hatch above.

"You're not doing this alone," she said, brushing dust off her sleeves.

Sei blinked. "…You followed me?"

She smirked. "You passed out in the middle of a sentence and started glowing red. Yeah, I followed."

Soul-Link Detected

Flame Bond: +5% synergy in combat per shared liberation

Unlocked Trait: Ember Trail – Allies in range recover 1 Soul Energy per minute in battle

Sei chuckled faintly.

"I'm glad you're here."

"Yeah," she replied. "You'd get lost and probably punch a god by accident."

As they walked deeper, the tunnel changed.

The walls began to glow faint orange. Ancient carvings lined the stone—images of flame-branded warriors, towers made of soulsteel, and chained gods kneeling before a crown of embers.

Sei stopped.

"I've seen this symbol before."

A cracked mural showed a flame wrapped in a spiral chain, crowned with six points.

Suddenly—

System Pulse Detected

Ancestral Flame Resonance: Partial

Do you wish to Commune? [Y/N]

"Yes."

The world around him shifted.

The walls vanished.

The stone became obsidian.

And in the center stood a throne made of molten chains.

On it sat a figure—

Cloaked in fire. Face hidden. Body made of flickering soullight.

WARNING: Viewing Echo of Flamebearer I

This is not a memory. This is a test.

The figure spoke.

"Who are you to wield my fire?"

Sei straightened.

"I'm no king. No god. Just someone who broke their chains and refused to stop."

The figure rose.

"Then earn it."

🔥 TRIAL OF THE FORGE: INITIATED 🔥

Solo Battle Trial — No assistance allowed

Restrictions: Level capped at 10, Skill Lockout engaged

Victory condition: Survive 60 seconds against the Echo of the First Flamebearer

Chains burst from the ground—on fire, moving like serpents.

The Flamebearer raised one burning arm.

"Let the forging begin."

Sei dropped into stance.

His fire dimmed—the system blocked his skills. No Ash Step, no Chain Breaker.

Only his fists.

Only instinct.

Only belief.

The first strike came fast.

WHIP!!

A burning chain snapped toward him—he ducked, barely, rolling under.

Another came from the side—he blocked with both arms—

BANG!!

His skin seared.

-20 HP

He gritted his teeth.

"Is this all you've got?!"

He charged in.

No system. No bursts. Just fire.

He landed a punch to the echo's chest—

It didn't flinch.

But it looked down.

Almost… proud?

Time slowed.

45 seconds remaining…

Sei panted. Bruised. Bleeding.

The Flamebearer extended both hands—two chains glowing white-hot formed in the air.

But Sei smiled.

"Good."

He remembered every lesson pain taught him.

He stepped forward again.

🔥 BOOM! 🔥

He took a direct hit—and tackled the Echo through a wall of flame.

Time Remaining: 00:00

Trial Passed.

Soul Integrity: 48%

System Rebooting…

The world faded.

Sei fell to his knees, gasping.

The Flamebearer's voice echoed:

"You did not win because you had fire. You won because you refused to go out."

Award: Legacy Core – Ember Heart (1/3)

First Forge Path: UNLOCKED

New Class Evolution Option: Crown of Flame – Pending

Back in reality, Mina caught him as he collapsed.

"You okay?!"

He nodded slowly.

Eyes glowing brighter than ever.

"We're not just breaking chains anymore."

"We're going to melt the forge that made them."

TO BE CONTINUED…