WARRIOR OF LIBERATION

"The deeper you go, the more truth burns.

Some souls break. Some souls change.

Some… never come back."

— Mural Inscription, Zone 2: The Hollow Chain

📍 Location: Sublevel Zeta — First Forge Depths: Zone II

Sei and Mina stood at the edge of a broken causeway.

Below them: a chasm of glowing magma, with fractured platforms floating in spirals.

Above: chains hung from the ceiling like spiderwebs.

And ahead—darkness that breathed.

Sei's flames lit the stone beneath his boots.

His arm still glowed faintly from the trial—lines of white-hot soulmetal now etched beneath his skin like tattoos.

System Reboot Complete

New Skill Unlocked: Flame Vein (Passive)

Your body now carries the Forge's pulse. +10% resistance to soul corruption. Your strikes burn oath-bound enemies.

Mina knelt at the edge of the bridge, brushing dust off a carved sigil.

"This whole place feels… alive."

Sei nodded. "It is."

She looked at him. "You're different."

His voice was calm. Sharper. Like a blade just cooled.

"So is the fire."

Suddenly—

ROOOOOOOAR!!!

A screech shook the chamber.

Chains rattled above.

Molten sparks shot from the magma below.

Then they saw it.

Crawling up from beneath the chasm—

A beast made of rusted armor, molten bones, and dozens of broken weapons fused to its back.

Eyes like dying embers. Chains wrapped around its jaws.

Enemy Detected: FORGEBEAST – Oath-Class Mutation

Level: 22 | Status: Soul-Bound | Class: Flame-Eater

Description: A creature forged from the souls of oathbreakers—those who vowed to fight for freedom, then surrendered to fear.

Sei's jaw tightened.

"This… used to be one of us."

Mina swallowed.

"Then we set it free."

🔥 BATTLE ENGAGED: Forgebound Beast (Lv. 22) 🔥

The beast charged—massive claws tearing up stone.

Mina activated Flame Pulse—shielding herself and Sei.

Sei dashed left, flames erupting from his fists.

"CHAIN BREAKER!"

He struck its leg—

BOOM!

The armor cracked—but regenerated instantly with a hiss of soulsteam.

Trait Detected: Flame Regeneration – Heals 5% HP per second while bound by soul-chains.

Liberation Condition: Sever all oath-chains during battle.

"Focus the chains!" Sei shouted.

Mina nodded and leapt forward—dodging a claw swipe.

She slammed her palm into the ground—

"SOUL LINK: FLARE STRIKE!"

Her flames wrapped around Sei's arm—supercharging his next blow.

Sei jumped—

FLAME VEIN IGNITED!

He spun mid-air, both fists glowing with golden flame.

"CROWN BREAK!"

He slammed his fists down on the beast's back—

CRACK–CLANG!!

Three of its soul-chains shattered instantly.

The beast roared in agony.

Its ember eyes flared—then flickered.

3/5 Chains Broken.

Liberation Imminent.

Suddenly—it spoke.

A voice, echoing from the beast's cracked soul:

"I… tried… to fight… like you…"

Sei froze.

Mina's eyes widened.

"You were one of the First Flamebearers."

The beast twitched.

"…but I gave in… and they forged me here."

Sei's fists trembled.

"I won't let that be your end."

He charged one final time.

Mina raised her hand—

"FLAME PULSE: RELEASE!"

Sei moved like lightning—his body bursting into full Soulflame.

He leapt.

He struck.

He shouted—

"BE FREE!!"

BOOOOM!!!

The last chain broke.

The beast stopped moving.

Its form crumbled—molten light pouring from its chest.

Then—it smiled.

A face, once hidden beneath plates of rusted metal, looked at Sei.

"You carry the Crown well…"

And then it was gone.

Liberation Complete.

+2 Soul Flames

+1 Legacy Fragment (Oathbearer's Ember)

Optional Trait Evolution: Flame Vein → Ember Blood (Pending)

Sei knelt in silence.

Mina placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You okay?"

He nodded slowly.

"No soul deserves to die in chains. Not even the ones that fell."

He stood, eyes glowing again.

"Let's keep going. The First Flame waits."

TO BE CONTINUED…

🔥 Chapter 13 Tease: The Ghost in the Fire

As Sei and Mina press deeper, they encounter a mysterious girl who controls fire without a system. But her flames seem familiar — almost identical to Sei's…