Chapter 3: Flames Unleashed

The air was quiet. For once, the sun peeked through the high windows of the dorms, casting soft gold across the stone floor. Zero sat on the edge of his bed, lacing his boots slowly, the new armor hugging his arms just right. He smiled, just a little. “Looks like today might not be so bad…” BANG! The dorm door exploded open. “WRONG,” Malik called out, voice echoing through the hallway. “Let’s go, the king wants you bleeding before breakfast.” Zero sighed and stood. “So much for a peaceful morning.” The training grounds roared to life within the hour. Zero stood alone in the center of the arena, his boots sinking slightly into cracked stone and dry, bloodstained dirt. A wide circle surrounded him—lined not just by walls, but by silence, expectation, and dozens of cold, watching eyes. Eyes that didn’t see a child. They saw a threat. They saw Kaku’s experiment. At the far end, King Kaku sat high on his throne of scorched iron, eyes narrowed measuring. Unflinching. Like a lion judging whether his cub was strong enough to be called kin. Across from Zero stood five older trainees. Veterans in comparison. Their cloaks shifted with each breath, weapons held steady, eyes locked. They weren’t here to spar. They were there to break him. Zero’s pulse thudded in his ears. His fingers tightened on the wooden blade, already splintered from yesterday’s drills. Every part of him ached from the week of nonstop training, but this moment—this was the real test. Kaku’s voice rang out, sharp as steel. “You said you wanted to be stronger.” Zero swallowed hard but didn’t look away. “Then prove it,” Kaku said. “Prove you deserve that strength.” “Y-yes Sir! I do want to be stronger!” Zero yelled “Alright!” Kaku said. “Alright everyone! Train him now!” “Yes Sir!” All five of them charged towards Zero all at once, Dave goes in with a slash from the up above, Zero barely dodges it but manages to have his sword block him, and swings his blade towards Dave, He side steps to dodge, Val sneaks up behind Zero and goes in for a stab, “Zero watch out Val is behind you, she's going to stab you in the back!” Zen speaks out loud in his mind “Thanks Zen...but remember I don't think I can dodge I’m only eight you know?” “Yea I know, if need be, I take control for a moment” Zen states, “Go ahead take control for a moment!” Zero replies “Good...” Zero’s eyes turn into a deep bright yellow with the rest of the eye pitch black, Zen side steps out of the way and slams the back of the blade into the girl’s stomach sending her to the ground. knocking the wind out of her as she crumpled to the ground. Zero blinked back into control just as she hit the dirt, panting. John came from the right side of Zero going for a side slice but outsmarted Zero by tricking him into blocking, but side kick his leg tripping him into the ground making it where he's vulnerable to his blade, Before Zero could react, the blade was already coming down. He barely managed to raise his sword in time, the wood screeching as it caught the blow inches from his face. Before Zero could catch his breath, a fourth trainee, Ryn, leapt in from the left with a downward strike aimed straight at his ribs. He twisted hard, barely rolling out of the way as Ryn’s blade cracked the ground where his chest had been a heartbeat ago. Dust kicked up around him. Zero coughed, scrambling back to his feet, pain shooting up his leg from John’s kick. “Zen allow me to use my one percent of flames!” Zero demanded “You sure you want to?” Zen questioned “Yes now do it!” Zero snapped. Instantly, his body began to glow—an eerie, pulsing blue light bleeding through his skin like fire under glass. Heat exploded off him in waves as flames erupted from his back and shoulders, spiraling around him like a storm set loose. His eyes lit up deep, molten blue with black edges. Then he roared a guttural, raw scream that didn’t sound entirely human. The ground cracked beneath his feet. A shockwave of blue flame exploded outward from his body, blasting all five trainees backward. They crashed against the arena walls with a chorus of shocked grunts, coughing and stunned as the air was ripped from their lungs. Zen realizing he accidentally realized too much of the flames. “Shit...I forgot he’s only a kid...I need time to control his flames!” He communicates to Kaku “Oi Kaku spare me time to control this kids flames, i released too much he's out of control!” The heat grew wild, unbalanced. Zero’s breathing became erratic, the blue fire licking at the arena walls like a living creature with no leash. Kaku jumped from his seat and walked towards Zero. Zero started to growl at Kaku even sending a Fire ball at Kaku but he grabbed it and consumed it, “ENOUGH!” Kaku yelled, but Zero he didn’t respond. He rushed at Kaku and went to scratch him, but missed by an inch, Kaku made his hand flat and jammed his fingers into his stomach making Zero unconscious. The flames around him snuffed out instantly and he dropped into Kaku’s arms. “Thanks, Kaku...” Zen said. “Yea well don’t ever do that again! He could’ve killed everyone here!" Kaku yelled in his mind. “Enough training for today, you guys' rests!” Kaku commanding them. Kaku took Zero to the infirmary, “hey doc, fix this kid up!” King demanded. “Yes sir, He be better by Tomorow sir!” Doc said, “Thank you doc.” “Your welcome sir.”