The journey beyond the forest was far from peaceful.
Though the trees had begun to thin, the air still carried a strange heaviness—as if the forest itself was reluctant to let them go. The wind moved quietly, brushing against the leaves with a faint whisper that made the silence feel even deeper.
Kazan walked ahead, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword. His eyes were focused forward, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
Ever since the red lightning struck the mountains, something inside him had changed.
The fire within him no longer felt like just power.
It felt… alive.
Restless.
Calling.
"Are you going to keep pretending nothing is wrong?" Riki's voice broke the silence.
Kazan didn't stop walking. "I'm fine."
Riki frowned. "No, you're not."
Kazan finally slowed, exhaling quietly. "It's the fire," he admitted. "It's reacting to something. Ever since that roar… it hasn't calmed down."
Haku, who had been walking behind them, stepped closer.
"That is because it recognizes what lies ahead."
Both twins turned toward him.
"What does that mean?" Riki asked.
Haku's gaze shifted toward the distant mountains, their peaks still hidden beneath swirling dark clouds.
"Long ago," he began slowly, "there existed a warrior known as the Flame Bearer."
Kazan's grip tightened slightly.
"The Flame Bearer possessed a fire unlike any other. It was not just a weapon—it was a force tied to the balance of the world itself."
Riki crossed his arms. "You're saying Kazan has that same power?"
"I am saying," Haku replied calmly, "that his flames are not ordinary. And if they are what I believe them to be… then Demrak will stop at nothing to claim them."
A quiet tension filled the air.
Kazan looked down at his hand. For a brief moment, a faint flicker of flame appeared across his fingers before fading again.
"So I'm just a target now?" he said.
"Not just a target," Haku answered. "A key."
Before Kazan could respond, a sharp sound echoed from the trees.
Snap.
All three froze.
Riki's hand moved instantly to his sword.
"We're being watched."
The shadows shifted.
From between the trees, figures began to emerge—silent, coordinated, and deliberate.
One.
Three.
Six.
Each wore a dark cloak, their faces hidden behind pale, expressionless masks.
Kazan felt the fire inside him flare.
"They don't look friendly," he muttered.
One of the masked figures stepped forward, his movements slow and confident.
"So this is him," the man said, his voice cold and distorted beneath the mask. "The Flame Bearer."
Kazan frowned. "I'm getting tired of hearing that."
Riki stepped slightly in front of him. "Who are you?"
The man ignored the question.
"Orders are clear," he continued. "Capture the boy. Eliminate the others if necessary."
Kazan's eyes hardened.
"Try it."
In an instant, the forest exploded into motion.
The masked warriors rushed forward with unnatural speed.
"Move!" Riki shouted.
Steel clashed as Riki intercepted the first attacker. His blade moved with precision, deflecting a strike before countering with a sharp slash that forced the enemy back.
Kazan ignited his sword.
Flames roared to life.
"Flame Strike!"
He swung forward, releasing a wave of fire that forced two enemies to scatter.
But they recovered quickly.
Too quickly.
"They're trained," Riki said. "And fast."
One of the masked warriors suddenly appeared behind Kazan, blade raised.
Before it could strike—
Haku moved.
With a single, precise motion, he knocked the attacker aside as if it were nothing.
"Stay focused," Haku said.
Kazan nodded, tightening his grip.
The fire inside him surged again—but this time, it didn't feel chaotic.
It felt sharper.
Controlled.
He took a steady breath.
Focus.
Riki dashed forward, engaging two enemies at once. His movements were fluid and efficient, forcing them onto the defensive.
"Kazan! Now!" he called.
Kazan stepped in.
The flames around his sword burned brighter—but steadier than before.
"Twin Flame Strike!"
He slashed forward, fire spiraling outward in a controlled arc.
The explosion of heat forced the remaining attackers back.
One by one, they fell.
Until only one remained.
The leader.
He stood still, breathing heavily, yet his posture remained unshaken.
"So it's true…" he said quietly.
Kazan pointed his sword at him.
"What is?"
The man slowly raised his head.
"The flame you carry… it's exactly as he described."
Riki stepped forward. "Who?"
The man let out a faint laugh.
"Lord Demrak."
The name seemed to darken the air itself.
Kazan felt a chill despite the fire burning within him.
"What does he want with me?" Kazan demanded.
The man's masked gaze locked onto him.
"Everything."
Before they could react, the man pulled out a small blade and drove it into the ground.
Dark energy burst outward.
"Wait—!" Riki shouted.
But it was too late.
The man vanished.
Silence returned once more.
Kazan slowly lowered his sword.
"He escaped…"
Haku stepped forward, his expression grim.
"That confirms it."
Riki glanced at him. "Confirms what?"
Haku looked toward the distant mountains.
"Demrak knows about Kazan."
A cold wind swept through the clearing.
Kazan clenched his fist, feeling the fire pulse within him.
"Then let him come," he said quietly.
But even as he spoke, he could feel it.
Something far greater was watching.
Waiting.
High above the mountains, the dark clouds shifted.
And within them…
Something moved.