WARRIOR OF LIBERATION

"A name is not earned by wearing it.

It is burned into the soul."

— Sei

The crowd was silent.

Two flames stood at opposite ends of the street.

One—Sei, the true Ashbound Vagrant, eyes glowing with soul-fire, scars lit by a forge-deep pulse.

The other—the Ember Pretender, cloaked in crimson, wearing a half-mask styled like Sei's flame crown, staff wrapped in glowing red chains.

Mina stood beside the real Sei, her flames quiet but focused.

"They're watching. The whole city's watching."

Sei nodded once.

"Then let's show them what real flame is."

Target: Ember Pretender

Threat Level: High

Origin Fire: Counterfeit Soulfire — External Source Detected

Warning: Belief from the crowd is powering the impostor's flame output.

That stopped Sei cold.

"…They're giving him power?"

Mina's eyes widened.

"They're afraid. And they think he's you."

The Pretender raised his staff.

"Citizens of Sector D—you kneel today, or you burn tomorrow!"

A wave of red fire spiraled from the staff.

Sei stepped in front of the crowd and punched the flame itself.

BOOM!!!

A shockwave of blue-white soulfire shattered the red stream mid-air.

Gasps.

Whispers.

Someone shouted:

"Which one's the real one?!"

Another:

"They both use flame—!"

Sei raised his voice.

No shouting. No threats.

Just truth.

"I don't rule fire."

"I walk with it."

"I don't demand kneeling."

"I break chains so no one has to kneel again."

A glow rose behind him—his soulfire responding not to fear, but to belief.

One of the villagers stepped forward.

Then another.

They stood behind Sei.

The Pretender hissed.

"Fools! I am the flame reborn! I took the Forge—he fled!"

He drove his staff into the ground.

Chains burst up, lashing toward the civilians.

Sei moved before they hit.

Skill Activated: Chainless Ignition!

+100% Damage vs Authority-Fake Systems

Soulshield: Formed at 180% Output

He slid between the chains and the people—

Flames exploded outward like a sunburst from his fists.

"NOT TODAY!!"

Chains vaporized.

The Pretender stumbled.

"What are you—? That's not system fire—!"

Sei's body lit up—Mythic flame in full release.

Ashbound Vagrant Trait: Soul-Sovereign — Active

All fake flame links severed. Pretender output falling.

Sei walked forward, slowly.

"You want my name?"

He raised his fist.

"Then carry my fire."

🔥 BATTLE BEGINS: SEI vs. EMBER PRETENDER 🔥

The Pretender launched a chain of mimic-flame—

Sei grabbed it mid-air, tore it apart with bare hands, and blinked forward with Ash Step.

His fist slammed into the mask.

CRACK!!

The mask broke.

The Pretender fell to his knees.

Face visible.

A young man—barely older than Sei. Eyes red—not with power, but from weeping.

He coughed.

"They said… if I wore your fire, I'd be safe. I just wanted to live…"

Sei looked down.

Then turned to the crowd.

"This is what the Empire does. They wrap chains in symbols."

"Don't follow fire. Follow your own will."

The crowd was silent.

Then—

Someone dropped their fake flame banner.

Another tore the mark from their shirt.

A ripple of true liberation began.

Liberation Surge — 103 Souls Freed (Mental Chains Severed)

+2 Levels Gained

Level 10 → Level 12

New Trait: Torchbearer — Your presence inspires truth. +20% resist to illusion, +Belief-to-Flame scaling unlocked.

Mina stepped beside him.

"You didn't beat him with fire."

Sei nodded. "No. I beat him with truth."

Far above…

In the Empire's Sky Mirror chamber…

Judge Halvane watched through flameglass.

He turned to his aide.

"He just broke a fear-engine."

"Time to send something he can't burn."

TO BE CONTINUED…