WARRIOR OF LIBERATION

"I burn weakness."

"Then burn this."

The clash had begun.

Karosh, Flame General of the Empire.

Level 35.

Wielder of Hellbind Chains, enforcer of the Sixth Ring.

Sei, the newly Awakened.

Level 4.

Bearer of the Heir of Embers class.

A spark made human.

And in the ruins of the forgotten temple,

they collided.

LIBERATION BURST – ACTIVE

Class Buff: Heir of Embers (EPIC)

Ember Will – 17s remaining

Soulfire Surge: 3x Strength, Flame Armor Engaged

CLASH!!

Sei's fist met Karosh's blade.

The shockwave shattered nearby statues.

The people watching were blown back—but they didn't run.

They believed.

Karosh grinned, but there was a twitch in his eye.

"Impossible… that power—you're still Level 4!"

Sei didn't answer.

He vanished again.

BOOM!

This time, he came down from above, spinning with a flaming heel-kick—

CRACK!

Karosh blocked—but slid back.

Dust swirled. Blood trickled from his nose.

The Flame General growled.

"Alright. No more games."

He roared, thrusting both hands forward—

Hellbind Overdrive: Crimson Spear!!

Chains ignited, twisted into a giant flaming spear—launched straight at Sei.

Sei reached deep. His soul flared.

New Skill Activated: Ember Spiral (Unlocked by Belief)

Form a vortex of liberated flame to shield and counter. Reflects soul energy equal to 2x belief power.

He spun.

"EMBER SPIRAL!!"

A whirling cyclone of golden-blue fire burst out of him—

The spear hit—

And shattered against the storm of belief-forged fire.

Karosh's eyes widened.

"That's not system power… that's—"

"Freedom."

Sei burst from the spiral.

Flame-coated fists glowed with burning sigils.

He struck.

One. Two. Ten hits—like lightning.

Every blow carried the weight of the chains he had broken.

Every strike screamed: YOU. WILL. FALL.

Critical Strike!

Karosh HP: 100% → 80% → 60%…

Suppression aura: DISRUPTED

Liberation Burst 2nd Tier… CHARGING…

Karosh dropped to one knee, panting.

His flames sputtered.

He stared at Sei—not with anger.

With something worse.

Fear.

"Who are you…" he whispered. "You… you're not just some street kid…"

Sei stepped forward.

"I was."

"I was a kid who watched you burn my neighbors alive. Who watched you chain my world."

His voice deepened.

"Now I'm the fire that breaks the chain."

System Override: Flame Alignment Core Resonating…

Sub-Path Unlocked: Soul Liberator

Passive Bonus: +20% damage to any soul-bound enemy

New Skill Slot Unlocked – Flamebrand (Sealed)

Karosh roared in frustration.

He punched the ground, fire erupting in a 20-meter shockwave.

Sei didn't move.

He walked straight through the fire.

Burning, but untouched.

Karosh raised his final chain:

"HEAVEN'S PYRE!"

A massive flame pillar surged skyward—

But Sei stepped forward and said quietly:

"Break."

He clenched his fist—

The pillar shattered.

He raised one fist glowing like a sun.

And finally said:

"This is for everyone you burned."

"Heir's Judgement!!"

FINAL STRIKE!

Karosh HP: 15% → 0%

Enemy Suppression Core Destroyed

Liberation Complete – High Authority Target

+6 Levels Gained

LEVEL UP: 4 → 10

Soul Flame Gained x3

Skill Evolution Available

Karosh collapsed, flame chains crumbling to ash.

His eyes flickered. He whispered…

"…So it wasn't the fire that made us strong… it was the fight."

He smiled… then vanished into burning embers.

Silence.

Then—

Cheers.

The slum roared.

A new legend had been born.

A Liberator had defeated a General.

New Title: Chainbreaker of the Sixth Ring

New Trait: Flame of the People – Gain power from nearby belief. +5% to all stats per 5 citizens in support radius.

Sei fell to one knee, exhausted.

Mina ran forward.

She smiled through her tears.

"You did it."

Sei looked up, grinning faintly.

"No."

"We did."

TO BE CONTINUED…

🔥 Chapter 8 Tease: Crowned in Cinders

The Empire will not forgive this humiliation.

Now that a Flame General has fallen…

They send a Sky Judge.

And in the ashes… someone from Sei's past returns.