Part 1:The Choice to Burn
The next morning, Max woke early. The air was cold, but the warmth in his chest kept him steady. He still remembered the glowing crack on his skin, the book Sera gave him, and the word that stayed in his mind:
Ashen Echo.
He didn't know what it meant, but he knew it was part of him now.
Max walked to the edge of the village, where the trees grew thick. He didn't tell anyone. Not even Sera. This was something he had to do alone.
He stood beneath an old tree, closed his eyes, and breathed.
"I don't know what you are," he whispered to the fire in his chest, "but if you're really there… show me."
At first, nothing happened.
Then the warmth pulsed once.
Max gasped. The air around him shimmered. His heartbeat slowed. The world felt still.
And then—something whispered in his head.
[ASHEN ECHO DETECTED]
[SYSTEM… LINKING]
Words. Floating in the air. Made of light.
Max stepped back. "What… is this?"
The words faded, and a single line replaced them:
"Survival is your power. Suffering is your strength."
The fire in his chest flared suddenly. Max fell to one knee, gritting his teeth. It burned—not like heat, but like memory. Like every wound, every scream, every moment from the ruins was being replayed inside him.
And when it faded, a small voice echoed again:
[Skill: Flame Recall – Locked]
[Requirement: Remember your first death.]
Max was breathing hard. "First… death?"
But he hadn't died. Had he?
Before he could ask more, a scream came from the village.
Max stood up fast. Smoke rose above the houses. Then—another scream, and a loud crash.
He ran.
When he reached the main square, he saw the thing that caused it.
It was massive—twice the size of a man. Covered in gray skin like dried mud, with arms too long and eyes too many. It had smashed a house wall open and was dragging something out.
A woman. She was bleeding and screaming.
Max didn't think.
He ran straight at the beast.
"Hey!" he yelled.
The creature turned. Its eyes blinked in different directions. Then it dropped the woman and let out a deep, wet growl.
Max picked up a broken wood beam and charged.
The villagers shouted behind him, but no one came forward.
He swung the beam with all his strength.
The beast caught it midair and tossed him like he weighed nothing.
Max slammed into the ground, gasping.
Pain rushed through his chest. But the fire inside him exploded.
He sat up—and saw the words again:
[Pain registered. Memory absorbed.]
[Unlocking: FLAME RECALL Lv. 1]
His body went still.
Then he stood.
The mark on his chest glowed red.
The fire flowed through his arms, and his right hand lit up—no match, no torch. Just fire, burning from his palm like it had always been there.
The villagers gasped.
Max looked at the creature. His legs shook. He was still scared.
But now… he had something to fight with.
Part 2: Burn to Stand
The flame in Max's hand burned like it was alive, but it didn't hurt him. It wrapped around his fingers, rising and flickering with his breath. The beast stared at it, growling low, unsure.
Max didn't wait.
He stepped forward and swung his flaming fist toward the creature's face. It moved too fast—ducking low, its long arm lashing out. The hit sent Max flying again, rolling through the dirt. His head rang.
But this time, he stood faster.
The fire was still there.
He charged again.
You're not strong enough, a voice whispered inside him.
But you can be. Give it more.
Max dodged the next swipe and slammed his fist into the beast's side. The flame burst on contact, hissing and flaring. The monster screamed—its skin blackened where the fire touched.
It hurt it.
Max pulled back. His body ached, and his breathing was sharp, but the fire answered his pain.
[Flame Recall Lv. 1: Emotion-Linked Attack – Activated]
[Stored pain converted: Minor burst effect]
He didn't fully understand it, but the more he hurt… the stronger the fire burned.
That terrified him.
But he didn't stop.
The beast swung again. This time, Max didn't try to block. He stepped into the blow. It slammed against his shoulder, knocking him sideways—but he didn't fall. He pushed forward and let his other hand ignite.
The second punch landed directly into the creature's chest.
BOOM.
A small explosion of fire sent both of them flying back. Max hit the ground and coughed hard. Blood was in his mouth. His arm was numb.
The beast lay on its side, shaking, one of its many eyes burned shut.
Max forced himself to his feet again.
The villagers watched from behind broken fences and doorways. Sera stood at the edge of the square, her eyes wide but calm. She didn't move to help. She knew this was Max's battle.
Max looked at the beast. "I'm not strong yet," he said, voice shaking, "but I'll still stand."
The mark on his chest flared brighter.
[System Sync: 12%]
[Next skill unlock — 25%]
Max gritted his teeth. "More pain, huh?"
He looked down at his burned hand, then back at the beast. It was standing now too, breathing hard, growling deep.
They ran at each other at the same time.
Claws scraped Max's side. His fire burned the creature's throat.
Another explosion. Max screamed. He couldn't feel one of his arms anymore. But his mind was clear.
He wasn't scared of pain now. He was pain.
The fire loved it.
The system fed on it.
[Pain threshold crossed — boost granted]
[Ashen Echo – Overdrive (3 seconds)]
Suddenly everything slowed.
The fire turned gold.
Max's eyes widened as he moved faster than he thought possible. He struck three times—one to the ribs, one to the jaw, one straight to the center of the beast's chest.
Each hit exploded with light and heat.
When the time ended, Max stood over the creature. It fell backwards, smoking, silent.
Dead.
The village was completely quiet.
Then—shouts. Footsteps. People running toward him.
Erwin grabbed his shoulders. "You're alive. You killed it!"
Max nodded weakly.
Sera walked up last. She looked at the body, then at Max. "That wasn't normal fire," she said. "That came from somewhere deeper."
Max nodded. "It came from remembering."
She tilted her head. "What did you remember?"
Max stared at the smoke rising from the dead monster. "That I don't want to die without fighting."
He turned to Erwin. "Where do creatures like this come from?"
Erwin looked down. "North of here. The land is broken there. Strange things walk it."
Max clenched his fist. "Then I'll go north."
"You're not ready," Sera said. "That was one monster. The next one won't wait for your system to warm up."
"I know," Max said. "That's why I need to burn hotter."
Sera stared at him for a long moment. "Then we'll help. But you need to understand something, Max."
"What?"
"That power in you," she said. "It's not just fire. It's echo. It will answer your pain. But one day, it might ask something back."
Max looked down at his burned arm. The pain was real.
But he was still standing.
He looked up, eyes steady. "Then I'll be ready to answer."
Behind him, the villagers started fixing the broken walls.
But some didn't cheer.
Some looked at him with fear.
Because sometimes, the one who saves you… burns too bright to trust.