WARRIOR OF LIBERATION

"The deepest chain… is the one you put on yourself."

— Soulflame Codex, Broken Page 0

📍 Location: Sector D – Soul Recovery Chambers, Nightfall

The flamehold was quiet.

Eight revenants slept in containment stasis, their souls stabilized by belief-fire.

Mina stood watch with a flame-spear by her side, while Sei sat alone—eyes closed, flame hovering gently in his palm.

The Echoform—his soulflame—whispered.

"Something's coming. It smells like you. But wrong."

Sei didn't answer.

He already felt it.

Suddenly—alarms flared.

FLAMEFIELD BREACH: West Wall – Gate Point 09

Unregistered Signature Detected

Soul Match: 98.2% — NAME: SEI

Sei stood.

Eyes sharp.

Voice quiet.

"It's here."

📍 Location: Western Ruins, 09 Breach

The fog had returned.

But not the same way.

This fog felt intelligent. Heavy. Like it knew where it was going.

Sei walked through it calmly, blue-white flames circling his arms.

Mina followed at a distance — weapon ready, eyes scanning.

Suddenly—

A figure stepped from the smoke.

Wearing armor almost identical to Sei's early rebellion gear.

Except it was cracked, scorched black.

And the eyes under the hood… burned crimson.

"Hello, Me."

ENTITY IDENTIFIED: EMBER TWIN

Designation: Reconstructed Flamecopy | Source: Memory Echo of First Flame Trial

Class: Godflame Shadow (Experimental)

Status: Fully Sentient | Fully Armed | Bound to Kaios's Mirror Protocol

Warning: All combat data from your past is active in its system.

Sei stared at him.

"Another fake?"

The Twin smiled.

"No."

"I'm what you would've been… if you took the Crown."

Flashback — Chapter 15:

Sei once stood in front of the Crown of Flame in the Forge.

He chose to shatter it.

But that choice… was recorded.

And now, the Crown's power, stolen by Kaios, had formed a new version of him — one who ruled instead of burned freely.

The Ember Twin drew a weapon — a massive halberd wrapped in divine code and burning soul-forged crystal.

He spun it once.

"Your freedom weakens them. My fire makes them kneel. We're not enemies, Sei."

"We're just… opposites."

🔥 BATTLE BEGINS: SEI vs. THE EMBER TWIN (Shadow Class) 🔥

The Twin moved first—faster than expected.

The halberd crashed down — the weight of a hundred failed rebellions in a single swing.

Sei dodged — barely.

The street cracked in half.

He retaliated with Flameburst Chainkill — a flash of clean flame meant to snap bindings—

But the Twin caught it mid-air.

Twisted it.

Turned it into a chain.

Skill Mirror Detected: Flame Subversion Protocol – Your abilities can be inverted when used directly against the Ember Twin.

Mina shouted, "Sei—he's copying your flame in real-time!"

Sei exhaled.

"I know."

System Decision Required: Fight as You Were… or Burn What You've Become

New Flame Instinct Awakened: Soul Split – Forge a version of your fire the Twin cannot mimic.

Sei raised both arms.

His flame surged outward—not to attack—

But to divide.

"You're not me."

"Because I chose the pain of freedom over the comfort of command."

"Let me show you the cost of that choice."

🔥 NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: Soul Split (Lv. 1)

Forge a secondary soulflame, forged from choice alone.

Immune to copy, mirror, and echo-based counters for 60 seconds.

Effect: Flame becomes unpredictable. Mind-to-flame ratio altered. All damage increases by 20%.

The Ember Twin's smirk dropped.

His halberd flared—

Sei's flame split in two directions.

One burned toward him.

The other…

wrapped around Mina.

He gave her his fire.

Mina's Soulflame temporarily enhanced: "Ash Vanguard Form" activated.

Stats +30% | Immunity to corruption for 3 minutes.

Together, they struck.

Flame and memory.

Choice and echo.

And for the first time—

The Twin bled.

Black smoke hissed from his side.

He staggered.

Eyes flashing.

"You split your soul to protect her?"

"That's weakness."

Sei stood tall.

"No."

"That's why I'm still me."

Combat Unresolved – The Ember Twin retreats via Mirrorfold Exit.

Trace Residue Left: Soul Anchor Shard – "Fragment of Your Path Not Taken"

The smoke faded.

The ruins stood silent.

Sei picked up the shard — still glowing with his own flame.

He whispered:

"I'm not done with you yet."

Far above, Kaios grinned.

"You fought your reflection."

"Next… fight your regret."

TO BE CONTINUED…

🔥 Chapter 26 Tease: The Path Not Taken

The shard left behind by the Ember Twin shows Sei visions of the life he could've lived — fame, control, power, peace.

But to absorb it… he'll have to burn the last chain still hidden: doubt.