Somewhere in the world called Earth, the city hummed with its usual static—cars, footsteps, shouts, and laughter. Amidst this urban chorus strolled a nineteen-year-old orphan, munching on a bag of spicy chips. His crimson hair caught the sun like embers, and his red-golden eyes flicked lazily across the crowd. Damien Cross. College student. Loner. Charming. Goofy. Romantic when it counts. Smart but unpredictable. A kind soul—until something pissed him off.
And today? He was pissed.
"What am I even doing with my life?" Damien muttered around a mouthful of chips, walking fast, his temper bubbling just below the surface. "Go home. Eat. Sleep. Homework. Repeat. Maybe yell at the wall. Great plan."
A few minutes into his inner monologue, the sharp giggles and shouts of children playing catch cut through his mood. He glanced over. A group of kids, maybe eight or nine years old, tossed a worn-out ball back and forth on the sidewalk. Their laughter echoed with unfiltered joy.
"I bet I can throw it over that tree!" one boy yelled.
"No way, last time you almost broke a window!" a girl replied.
"School was soooo boring today," another chimed in, catching the ball. "Miss Hunter gave us extra math for no reason."
"Yeah, and I think she's a robot. Like, seriously, no emotion. Just numbers."
"Dude, just throw it! I'm open!"
The ball flew. Too high.
One kid missed.
It bounced once. Twice. Rolled into the street.
"I got it!" the boy shouted, running off the curb.
Damien's eyes widened—truck. Speeding. No time.
The truck barreled through the streets, passing cars like they were standing still. Horn blaring, tires screeching.
Damien froze for a heartbeat. Then—
He didn't think. He just moved.
Gotta reach him. Come on. Faster! Damien's thoughts screamed as his legs pumped harder than they ever had. No way I'm letting some kid die today. Not on my watch. Not like my parents.
The truck honked like a banshee, lights flashing.
At the last second, Damien shoved the boy to safety.
Impact.
Everything went black.
A hum. A breath.
Then pain. Then silence.
Damien opened his eyes—or tried to. Everything was a blur of shadow and nothing. Cold. Weightless. He blinked and the blackness became... more blackness.
He sat up slowly. There was no ground, yet he wasn't falling. Just floating. A void.
His thoughts raced. Okay... definitely not the hospital. Not a dream. Too real. Too weird. This place... it's nothing. Like literal nothing.
He stood—somehow—and turned in every direction. Just black. No light. No sound.
"Where... am I?" he whispered.
He frowned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Great. First I get hit by a truck. Now I'm stuck in... the world's most depressing screensaver."
Then, memories.
The truck. The kid. The scream.
Realization slammed into him.
"I'm dead?" His voice cracked. Rage flared. His breath quickened.
Dead. Just like that? No warning? No second chance?
"HELLO!!!" he shouted into the endless dark. His voice echoed like thunder.
No reply.
He clenched his fists, pacing. "Is this some kind of joke?! If there's a god out there, you suck! You hear me?!"
Silence.
Then—a voice.
"Welcome, my little temper flame."
Damien spun around. Nothing there.
"Who said that?! Show yourself!" he yelled.
Still nothing.
Then, a light.
Far ahead. Small. Flickering. Like a candle in a tunnel. Then it grew.
Fast.
What the hell is that? Damien thought, his heartbeat echoing in the void. It's coming right at me...
He squinted. The light surged forward, stretching, unfurling like wings of flame. Reds and golds blazed out from it, like the sun rising in fast-forward. Heat touched his face.
"Okay... definitely not normal," he whispered, shielding his eyes. "Is that—fire?"
The light roared like a flamestorm. The air trembled.
He flinched, threw up his arms.
Silence.
He opened his eyes.
No more void.
Now: fire. Endless fields of shimmering lava rivers, glowing skies of ember clouds. The air buzzed with heat and beauty. The atmosphere felt ancient, sacred, alive.
"What... the hell?" Damien muttered, stunned.
Molten fountains pulsed from the ground. Ashes danced in the air like fireflies. The terrain curved upward into a vast hill, crowned with blackened stairs of volcanic glass. At the top, a throne of obsidian and flame.
And on it, she sat.
A woman. Not just any woman.
Eyes molten red with gold flecks, like the center of a star. Hair like a living inferno cascading down her back. Skin glowing like polished amber. A gown of burning flame and obsidian silk, runes dancing across it.
Majestic. Dangerous. Divine.
She looked down at him with an amused smile.
"Hello, my little flame," she said.
Damien stared, stunned. "Wh-who are you?"
She laughed—a warm, dangerous sound.
"Me? I am Ignara, Goddess of the Eternal Flame. Welcome to my personal domain."
Damien's thoughts churned like a storm. Goddess? Eternal Flame? What even is this? Am I in some kind of divine afterlife?
He looked down at his hands, then back up at her.
Why me?
Ignara giggled, her voice a velvet flame that danced on the edge of Damien's nerves. "No, this is real, my little temper flame."
Damien blinked. Her words echoed louder than they should have, not just in his ears but in his mind. She knew what he was thinking.
He scowled, irritated. "Why am I here? And are you really a goddess, or is this just some crazy dream?"
She tilted her head, amusement glinting in her molten eyes. "Oh, it's quite real. I am a goddess. The Eternal Flame. Everything you see, everything you feel—it's all mine. And now, for a very specific reason... I'm offering you a second chance at life."
Damien's mouth dropped slightly. "A second chance...?"
The words struck deep. He looked down, then away. "Why me? I'm not important. I'm just some guy with bad grades, no family, and a worse temper."
Ignara giggled again, light but sharp, and Damien frowned.
"What's so funny?" he said, more annoyed.
She stood slowly, her gown shifting like lava made liquid silk. "You saved a child, knowing it would kill you. That moment... that flame of yours—it caught my attention."
Damien narrowed his eyes. "Even so, how am I supposed to live in this... whatever-this-is... without any skills or powers? I'm not a hero. I'm just me."
Ignara began descending the stairs, her steps measured, graceful—and terrifying. With each step, waves of heat rippled outward. The ground cracked beneath her power. Damien staggered slightly, her aura pressing into his chest like the weight of a collapsing star.
What is happening? What even is this place? This woman… goddess… she's unreal. I feel like I can't breathe. Like the air itself is watching me.
She stopped before him, her presence overwhelming. Her smile was fierce and oddly tender.
"I will give you power beyond anything you can imagine."
Damien tensed. "What kind of power?"
The world shifted.
The floating embers froze in midair. The flames stopped flickering. The very heat in the air held its breath. Before him stood Ignara, the embodiment of divine fire.
Without a word, she raised her hand to her chest.
Damien's eyes widened. "What are you doing?"
She plunged her fingers into her own heart.
"What the hell?!"
But there was no blood. No wound. Her golden-amber skin parted like molten metal. A brilliant light flared, almost too bright to see. Reality itself cracked like thin ice underfoot.
She reached deep into her divine core—and pulled it out.
A sliver of flame. Jagged, constantly shifting. It pulsed with power, its color shifting from crimson to gold, to white, to black smoke on its edges. Lava, lightning, and light made one.
It sang. Screamed. Whispered. A choir of a thousand burning souls.
Damien fell to his knees. Not from pain—just... presence. It was like facing the first fire. The one that lit creation.
What is this pressure? What is this feeling? It's like I'm staring into a god's heartbeat...
He trembled, struggling to rise. "W-What... are you doing to me? What is that thing?!"
Ignara's voice was like thunder and lullaby. "This is no blessing. This is my flame—raw and untamed. It has burned angels, devoured kings, and now... it chooses you."
She extended it. The sliver floated to Damien's chest.
"This," she said, "is the Sliver of my God Flame."
Damien wanted to move, to stop it—but he couldn't. It touched his chest.
And then it slammed into him like a meteor.
Fire erupted from his back, his eyes, his mouth. A corona of divine flame swallowed him. He screamed—but not in agony. In awe. It didn't kill him.
It remade him.
The world cracked around him. The ground split. Smoke blasted skyward. Flames climbed to the heavens.
Inside the inferno, Damien's body changed.
Ignara's voice echoed through the roaring flame. "From this moment on, Damien Cross... the world will never again know peace where you walk."
Then silence.
The fire vanished.
Smoke blanketed the land. The ground still glowed with heat. Cracks spidered out from where Damien had stood.
Through the smoke, a silhouette.
Then—him.
Damien Cross, reborn. Flames curled off his shoulders. His crimson hair burned brighter. His eyes glowed with molten gold and red.
Ignara smiled and nodded. Yes. He feels it. He's beginning to understand. That wild, beautiful flame inside him... it's just the beginning. The Embercore Flameheart.
Damien looked down at his hands. He clenched them—flames burst forth. He grinned.
"I... I feel amazing. Light. Like I could burn the sky."
Ignara chuckled. "How do you feel, my little temper flame?"
Damien looked at her, smiling wider. "I feel like me. Like I finally found the part that was missing."
He opened his palm, flame swirling freely.
Ignara's eyes glinted. "Yes... That flame is yours now. It will answer only to you. But remember—power changes everything."
Damien's thoughts swirled. Is this what I was meant for? All this time? That anger, that fire... it wasn't weakness. It was the beginning.
Then, something shimmered in the air.
A flaming screen materialized, hovering before him, runes and text seared across its surface.
Damien flinched. "What the hell is that?"
Some kind of interface? Like a game screen? A system?
He leaned forward to read it.
The world was still trembling from Damien's transformation when the sky itself seemed to glitch.
A burst of red-hot static sliced through the air.
[SYSTEM WARNING: ERROR — BALANCE SYSTEM DETECTED UNCLASSIFIED CORE. FORCING STATS TO RE-CALIBRATE...]
[WARNING: DAMAGE OUTPUT EXCEEDS RECOMMENDED WORLD LIMITS.]
Damien blinked at the flaming screen hovering before him.
"Uh... what?" he muttered. "System warnings? Like... video game stuff?"
He frowned, more curious than worried. Is this what she meant by power beyond imagination? This feels like... one of those isekai setups. But way more intense.
Before he could process more, a second, larger flaming screen materialized before him. This one sizzled with golden runes and searing symbols.
It rearranged itself into a status window:
Name: Damien Cross
Age: 19
Race: Human (Reincarnated)
Level: 1
Class: Overpowered Fire Mage
Titles:
Flameborn of Ignara
Ashbringer
Reincarnated Anomaly
Godflame Vessel
Enemy of World Balance
He Who Burns Paths
Health Points (HP): 999 / 999
Magic Points (MP): 9,999 / 9,999
Strength: 75
Agility: 85
Endurance: 120
Mana Core: Embercore Flameheart
Luck: ???
Charm: 95
Normal Skills:
Appraisal: Instantly analyze the status, abilities, and weaknesses of targets. The higher the user's level, the deeper the insight. Can penetrate most concealment spells.
Danger Sense (EX): A hyper instinctual reaction to immediate threats. Triggers reflexive defense or movement without conscious thought. Cannot be disabled.
Enhanced Reflexes: Grants heightened physical response time. Allows dodging even high-speed attacks with trained reaction.
Flame Resistance MAX: Absolute immunity to all non-divine fire. Strong resistance to divine flame.
Pain Resistance MAX: Dulls all non-lethal pain to negligible levels. Supports mental stability during extreme trauma.
Night Vision: Can see clearly in complete darkness.
Enhanced Vision MAX: See farther, detect faster movement, and read heat signatures through walls or mist.
Ability Skills:
Flame Adaptation: Physical and spiritual form evolves to thrive in high-temperature environments. Allows Damien to breathe in smoke and resist heat-induced fatigue.
Flame Overdrive: Temporarily boosts all stats by drawing on internal fire reserves. Comes with intense strain after expiration.
Battle High: Grows stronger the longer a fight continues. Adrenaline-linked combat instinct boosts speed, power, and clarity under pressure.
Ember Dash: A burst-movement technique where the user turns into flame to dodge or sprint. Leaves behind fiery afterimages.
Magic — Fire Skills:
Fireball: Basic ranged attack of focused flame. Highly explosive when charged.
Flame Lance: Concentrated spear of high-pressure fire launched at extreme velocity. Pierces most armor.
Inferno Wave: Sweeping horizontal blast of burning energy. Clears wide groups of enemies.
Blazing Wings: Summons temporary wings of flame for aerial mobility and fiery dive attacks.
Hell's Roar: AoE spell that channels volcanic rage in a fiery roar, stunning and burning all within range.
Fire Clone: Creates a decoy of pure flame that mimics Damien's basic movements and explodes on death.
Unique Skills:
Phoenix Rebirth: Upon death, instantly resurrects once per day with full HP/MP. Triggers massive explosion at point of death.
Firestorm Incarnate (Battle Mode): Temporarily transforms Damien into a fire elemental form with triple stat bonuses. Appearance becomes wreathed in living fire.
Flame Sovereign Domain: Damien creates a battlefield covered in his flame, boosting fire affinity allies and weakening foes. Grants total terrain control.
Crimson Judgment: A divine fire beam that judges the soul of a target. More damage to evil-aligned entities.
Blazing God Fist: A melee technique where divine flame condenses into Damien's fists, breaking through magical defenses and shields.
Weapons:
Blazefang (Legendary)
Ember Gauntlets (Epic)
Items:
Fire Goddess's Crystal
1 Billion Coins
Damien stared at the screen, jaw slack. "Okay... holy hell. This is insane. I have more powers than an entire army's worth of protagonists."
He turned to Ignara, eyes wide. "What did you do to me?"
Ignara looked absolutely pleased. "You carry my core, Damien. Did you think it would make you... ordinary? You're a force now. A flare that the world cannot ignore."
Damien ran a hand through his now-fiery crimson hair. Titles like 'Godflame Vessel' and 'Enemy of World Balance'... that doesn't sound like I'm gonna be making a lot of friends.
He took a breath, still reading over his skills.
Phoenix Rebirth? Firestorm Incarnate? Those don't sound subtle.
This power... it's more than just magic. It's a responsibility. It's a warning. The world's already reacting to me—and I haven't even left yet.
He clenched his fist and flame sparked across his knuckles.
I need to figure out who I'm gonna be with this power. Hero? Monster? Something in-between?
He looked to Ignara one more time.
"So... what exactly do I do when I land in this new world?"
She smiled, eyes glowing. "You walk your path, Damien Cross. And the world will burn new roads before your steps."
Ignara watched Damien closely. The firelight reflected in her molten eyes softened as she saw the look on his face. Confidence. Determination. A spark of thrill.
She smiled. "You look ready, my little temper flame."
Damien turned to her, the corner of his lips lifting into a grin. "Yes, my goddess."
Ignara's smile deepened, proud and powerful. "You're going to a world called Elyndor. A land of ancient magic, divine secrets, and buried flames. Show them the fury of your overpowered soul. Let your fire burn paths where none exist."
Damien's smile widened. "Elyndor... I like the sound of that. A world like that needs shaking up, and I'm the guy to do it. I'll show them what it means to carry godflame."
His heart beat fast, not with fear, but exhilaration. This is my chance. A new life. New world. No limits.
Ignara nodded, the heat around her pulsing with pride. "Good. Now, are you ready?"
Damien inhaled deeply. His eyes blazed with molten confidence. "Yes, goddess. I'm ready."
"Then go," she said, raising a single hand. "Good luck in the new world. Show them your power, my little temper flame."
"Yes, goddess. Thank you for everything."
With a snap of her fingers, the flame surrounding Damien swirled upward like a storm. In a flash of light, he vanished.
Ignara looked at the space he had left behind, a quiet smile on her lips. He's going to be magnificent. That fire in him... it's wild now. But one day, it will rival even the gods. I've seen many flames—but his might be the one that changes everything.
A breeze stirred.
Damien opened his eyes to a radiant new world.
He stood beneath a towering tree in a forest that looked like a painting come to life—massive leaves the color of emerald fire, birds glowing like sparks in the treetops, and streams of mana flowing like mist across the air. Everything shimmered with ancient magic.
A soft wind brushed against his face, cool and clean. He inhaled deeply.
"This place... it's incredible. I can feel the mana. It's alive here. Every tree, every rock—it's all humming."
His hands clenched with excitement. I'm really here. This is it. My second life. No regrets. No fear.
He took his first step forward, firelight trailing faintly in his shadow.
"Let's see what this world has to offer."
And with that, Damien began walking through the forest, his destiny smoldering behind every step.
Damien walked through the forest for hours, but he didn't feel tired—not even close. Every step felt lighter than the last. The energy of the world flowed through him. Trees whispered with magic, the air sang with mana. He lifted his hand, letting a small flame dance on his fingertip.
"Still can't believe this is real," he muttered, spinning the flame into loops and shapes—tiny dragons, blooming roses, a bird that flapped its fiery wings. He smiled. "Way better than my old life already."
Then—
A roar.
Deep. Guttural. Angry.
It came from somewhere deeper in the forest. Damien froze, flame vanishing with a snap.
"What the hell was that...?" he muttered, scanning the trees. Definitely not a squirrel.
The ground began to shake. A heavy, rhythmic thud-thud-thud grew louder. Closer.
"Okay, something big's coming," he said, fire building in his palm. Guess it's showtime.
Something huge exploded from the tree line ahead. It landed with earth-shaking force, sending up a storm of dust, smoke, and flying leaves.
Damien shielded his eyes, laughing. "Alright! Now we're talking."
Through the cloud, a massive figure roared to the sky, sending shockwaves through the air.
An ogre.
Ten feet tall, green-gray skin like cracked stone, jagged teeth, red eyes filled with primal rage. Its breath was steam. Its roar was thunder.
Damien's grin widened. "Curious and excited—that's me. Alright, let's see what I'm dealing with. Appraisal."
A flaming screen appeared before him:
Monster: Forest Ogre (Class D)
Level: 3
Strength: 150
Endurance: 180
Agility: 45
Skills: Bone Crusher Fist, Roar of Terror, Forest Skin, Regeneration (Low)
"You ugly ape," Damien smirked. "Show me what you've got."
The ogre roared again and charged.
Damien raised a hand. "Fire Clone!"
Five burning duplicates burst from thin air, identical in shape and stance.
"Go, my clones!"
The fire clones shot forward with explosive force. The ogre howled as it slammed into them, swinging massive fists and tearing through two of them in a fiery burst.
The battle raged—clones dodging, slashing, and exploding on contact. The ogre was pushed back, its body scorched and slashed.
Eventually, only smoke and two twitching clones remained. The ogre was hurt—badly. Skin charred. Blood dripping.
Damien stepped forward. "Guess it's my turn now."
The ogre bellowed in fury and charged again.
"BRING IT ON, UGLY!"
It raised its fist.
So did Damien.
"Fire Fist!"
Flames wrapped around his hand as he met the ogre's punch head-on. Their fists collided. A wave of fire exploded outward.
The ogre was launched backward—crashing through trees for eight miles—before landing in a distant lake.
Damien exhaled, looking at his steaming fist. Amber flames still flickered.
"I barely used half my strength... and I sent that thing flying. I love this body."
Back at the lake—
Bubbles rose. The water boiled. The ogre resurfaced, coughing and bleeding, stumbling to shore, barely alive.
Damien whispered, "Ember Dash."
He vanished, reappearing a few meters in front of the ogre.
"Still kicking, huh? You're tougher than you look. But this ends now."
The ogre growled, swaying, and took one last step forward.
Damien raised his hand. "Fireball."
A sphere of fire shot forward.
BOOM!
A massive explosion lit the forest, vaporizing the lake, torching trees, and leaving a flaming crater where the ogre once stood.
Damien stood at the edge of the smoldering pit, whistling. "One fireball. I'm level one. This isn't just power—it's insane."
Suddenly, a fiery screen appeared.
[LEVEL UP!]
+2 Levels Gained
New Skill Unlocked: Flame Edge Slash
Damien blinked. "I just leveled up by beating something two levels higher... by myself."
He laughed. "This world is gonna be fun."
With a grin, he turned and started walking deeper into the forest, flames dancing in his footsteps.
Chapter Six: Smoke, Stone, and Strangers
Chapter Six: Smoke, Stone, and Strangers
A few hours had passed since Damien's first taste of battle—and victory.
Still walking through the forest, he wore a grin from ear to ear, hands clasped behind his head, fire flickering on the tip of his finger like a candle flame doing tricks.
"So first thing this world throws at me is a giant, roaring ogre... I mean, seriously? Is that the standard welcome package here?" he laughed, spinning the fire in small circles. "What's next? A dragon? Maybe a dungeon boss just chilling under a tree?"
The forest around him buzzed with energy, alive and ancient. Every leaf whispered secrets. Every breeze carried whispers of power.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
A massive explosion echoed ahead, shaking the trees. A column of smoke rose above the canopy.
Damien stopped, blinking. "Okay... that's new. Explosion outta nowhere? This world really likes its drama."
He grinned. "Well, no way I'm missing that. Let's go find out what's blowing up the forest."
In a blur of red and orange, Damien vanished—only a trail of glowing embers remained where he had stood.
Minutes later, he reached the source.
Trees were scorched. The ground cracked. The air was thick with the scent of magic and battle.
As he moved carefully through the smoke, he spotted something beyond a clump of trees.
Two figures.
A man and a woman. Both breathing heavily. Cuts, burns, bruises all over their bodies.
Damien crouched, eyes narrowed. They look wrecked. What the hell were they fighting that did that to them?
He listened.
The man, holding twin short swords, was tall with tousled ash-brown hair and sharp sky-blue eyes. A faint scar above his left brow gave him a rugged edge. He wore lightweight leather armor beneath a deep forest green cloak, and a charm bracelet dangled from his wrist.
He glanced at the woman beside him, clearly his partner.
"Lira... we've tried everything. We can't make a scratch on this damn thing."
The woman—half-elf by the look of her pointed ears and ethereal grace—had long, silvery auburn hair in a loose braid and eyes that glowed amber-gold. She wore layered mage robes in deep reds and charcoal, embroidered with wind and flame sigils.
Her voice was calm but fierce. "Kael, we can't back down now. If we don't stop it, it'll destroy more adventurers, villages, and merchant caravans. We have to end this."
Kael nodded, gripping his blades tighter. "Yeah... I know. I just wish we had something that could actually hurt the damn thing."
Damien's eyes flicked toward the source of the fight.
THUD.
THUD.
The trees trembled as something massive approached.
It emerged through the smoke.
A hulking construct—an obsidian-black golem, nearly fifteen feet tall. Its body was jagged and shimmering with runes, glowing like veins of lava. Cracks along its limbs pulsed with red energy. With each step, it sent out subtle magical shockwaves that rippled the very air.
"Appraisal," Damien whispered.
A screen flared to life.
Monster: Obsidian Golem
Rank: B
Type: Construct
Level: 12
Strength: 230
Defense: 400
Magic Resistance: High
Skills:
Obsidian Armor: Immune to all physical damage below A-rank
Arcane Pulse: Emits magical shockwaves periodically to destabilize spells and defenses
Core Regeneration: Slowly repairs core if not destroyed within a short time window
Gravity Slam: High-impact melee attack with area-of-effect force damage
Damien raised a brow. "B-rank? Self-repairing? Immune to physical damage? That's one serious brick wall. No wonder those two look like they've been through hell."
He crossed his arms, watching as the battle continued.
Kael and Lira launched forward.
Kael spun, slashing with twin blades coated in a faint magical glow, striking in swift, crossing arcs. Lira whispered incantations mid-dash, her hands weaving circles of fire and wind around him. Together, they moved like a synchronized storm.
"Blazing Cyclone!" Lira shouted.
A spiral of wind and fire burst forth, pushing the golem back.
Kael followed up. "Twin Fang Rush!"
His swords became blurs, striking in a cross-shaped burst of energy. The golem staggered for a moment—then roared, unharmed.
It retaliated with a wave of Arcane Pulse—sending both Kael and Lira flying back several meters. They crashed into the dirt hard, groaning.
The golem marched forward, each step like a countdown.
Cornered and exhausted, Kael growled, blood dripping from his brow. "We're out of ideas..."
Lira coughed, her eyes searching the air. "There's got to be something we missed..."
Then—
A voice.
"Flame Lance."
A sharp burst of heat soared through the smoke. A bright, flaming spear whistled through the air and slammed between Kael, Lira, and the golem—exploding in a fiery shockwave.
The blast knocked the golem back, forcing it to stumble and lose its footing. It roared, trying to regain balance.
The couple's eyes widened.
"W-What was that?!" Kael gasped.
Lira turned. "Did someone help us...?"
The flames from the explosion flickered like curtains in a heavy wind. Through them, a shadow appeared.
Boots stepped over broken ground, slow and deliberate. A figure walked through the fire, unharmed, the emberlight glinting off his crimson hair and glowing gold-red eyes.
Each step echoed with heat, his body haloed in the soft shimmer of residual fire.
Damien.
He emerged fully from the wall of flame, casual, confident, with the smirk of someone who enjoyed the spotlight.
"Hey, ugly," he called out, voice calm but sharp as steel. "Leave the couple alone."
Kael and Lira blinked, stunned.
Kael staggered to his feet. "Who... who the hell is that guy?"
Lira whispered, still catching her breath, "I don't know... but I think help just arrived. And he's on fire. Literally."
To be continued...