Vol 2 Ch 1 Recovery

Thursday, August 21, 1:15 AM, 3074 AE

The world around him was scarred and burning, yet Blaze was unrelenting.

A few weeks had passed since the attack—the cruel assault that had nearly shattered their city and their spirits. Most of the group had taken time to recover, nursing wounds, and stitching flesh and hope back together. All, except for Blaze.

He was out here again, beneath the dim glow of the fading stars, training in a field that seemed untouched by ruin. No matter how many times it was scorched or trampled, by the dawn, the grass would regrow—vibrant and alive, untouched by the past’s destruction. It was a mystery, but Blaze never asked why. None of that mattered. Only the burn in his muscles, the sting of sweat dripping down his brow, and the endless need to be stronger.

His black leather jacket, marked with red piping that traced along the seams like veins of fire, hugged his broad shoulders. The high collar framed his sharp jawline, his crimson eyes glowing faintly beneath his unruly spiky black hair, tousled from endless motion. His combat pants were reinforced at the knees, splattered with dirt and ash, and his black boots—laced with red—kicked at the dirt as he moved with fierce intensity.

Nearby, hidden behind a cluster of trees, Lyria and Scarlett whispered quietly to one another, their bodies bandaged but their spirits still fiery.

“How long has he been at it today?” Scarlett asked, her deep crimson hair falling in loose waves to her lower back, her amber eyes sharp with concern.

“About five hours. Without a break,” Lyria answered softly, her long dark purple hair brushing her shoulders, violet eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight.

Scarlett’s brow furrowed. “That attack... it still haunts him. With us injured, half the city gone... he must blame himself. Like he wasn’t strong enough.”

Lyria nodded, sadness deepening her gaze. “Ever since our parents died, he’s carried everything on his shoulders. Like it’s his job to protect us all, no matter the cost. He’s terrified of losing anyone else.”

Scarlett cracked a confident smirk. “And after nearly dying himself weeks ago, I don’t think he’ll be joining us on missions anytime soon.”

“Then that just means we have to get stronger, for him,” Lyria said quietly, resolve settling in her voice. “So he’ll know he can rely on us... before he breaks under the weight.”

With that, the two slipped away silently, heading off to find their Sensei, Aeloria, hoping to squeeze extra training in between missions. But none of them noticed the shifting shadows behind Blaze—an unseen force pulling him away from the world they all fought to protect.

Domain of the Hollow Dream

Blaze’s surroundings melted away into something altogether different. The scorching heat gave way to a surreal mental plane—the Kyōmu no Ryōiki.

The ground beneath his feet was scorched black, cracked and fractured like the broken soul of a world lost to fury. Jagged fissures bled molten lava, flowing like rivers of molten hatred. The remains of ancient, grand structures lay scattered—charred and broken—towering ruins of a past Blaze barely remembered. Flames clawed upward endlessly, devouring the ruins with an insatiable hunger. Above, the sky glowed a sickly twilight red, as if the heavens themselves burned in a never-ending firestorm.

Sparks of wild energy crackled in the thick, oppressive air, each breath searing his lungs with heat and hatred. The flames were more than fire—they were the very manifestation of Blaze’s wrath and grief, feeding on memories too painful to face.

And then came the voice. Soft, mocking, dripping with cold amusement.

“Welcome, welcome. I’m glad you could join me,” it purred.

Blaze’s crimson eyes snapped open, his muscles tensing. “What do you want, Ēteru no Eikō? I don’t have time for your games. And how the hell did I get here? Last I checked, I wasn’t asleep.”

She stepped out of the shadows, a vision of cosmic beauty. Her silvery hair cascaded down her back in waves that shimmered with blue and violet light. Her glowing violet eyes held ancient, cruel wisdom beneath their seductive gleam. Her belly dancer’s outfit glittered with silver embroidery that pulsed faintly like stars caught in fabric, the slit in her skirt revealing the graceful curve of her legs as she moved with feline elegance.

“My, my, so harsh,” she said, voice a blend of honey and poison. “I brought you here to help you grow—to awaken more of your power. But if you want to leave... I suppose I can allow it.” She snapped her fingers, and the burning wasteland vanished like smoke in the wind.

Blaze’s gaze narrowed. “Wait. You said you’d train me. Why? And what do you stand to gain from this?”

With a snap, the hellish landscape returned. Flames licked at Ēteru no Eikō’s form but never harmed her.

“You see,” she purred, stepping closer, “as my vessel, you have a duty to be the strongest. I won’t tolerate you sulking or half-assing your training.” She tapped her slender chin, eyes gleaming wickedly. “And I can’t have you getting killed by some Kōsō because you’re too busy drowning in your feelings.”

Blaze’s eye twitched in irritation. “And what exactly do you want from me?”

Her smirk deepened. “From time to time, I want to take control of your body. To participate in your fights firsthand. You know how stuffy it is, being trapped in that burning wasteland all alone.”

A massive fireball exploded suddenly near her feet, sending sparks flying. She leapt back gracefully as Blaze’s voice rang out sharp and threatening:

“Say that again, and I swear, I’ll burn you to ashes.”

“Alright, alright,” she chuckled, sweat glistening at her temple. “I’ll keep it to myself... for now.” She narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. Still clinging to his past—the home he lost, the family he can never have. This anger, this thirst for revenge... exactly what I need to regain my former power. All I need is his trust.

Blaze folded his arms, glaring. “Fine. Show me this training. If it’s worth my time, maybe... just maybe, I’ll consider your little deal.”

Inside the small flaming colosseum, jagged spikes and deadly objects conjured by Blaze’s mind surrounded them. Blaze and Ēteru no Eikō stood a few feet apart, the heat unbearable, the air thick with tension.

“So, are you going to tell me about the training or not?” Blaze demanded, fiery and sharp, eyes blazing like the ruins around him.

Before he could blink again, a brutal force slammed him against the colosseum wall—spikes piercing his back. Blood poured out as he hit the scorched ground.

Ēteru no Eikō’s voice dripped with cruel amusement, “Your reaction time is far too slow. How will you protect your little sister and best friend if you can’t even dodge something like that?”

Blaze gritted his teeth, tasting blood, but his body already began knitting itself back together. Am I healing faster than before? he wondered.

“Wondering why the pain’s fading, and you’re healing so quickly?” she purred, circling him like a predator. “Simple. You’ve grown stronger since your last visit. The stronger you get, the more perks you unlock in this realm. Perfect for brutal training.”

Without warning, she summoned thousands of translucent energy blades that rained down like deadly rain. Blaze summoned his Scythe, Inferno Reaver, and sliced through most—but some still pierced his flesh, stinging hot.

“Still too slow. Power means nothing if you can’t predict your enemy’s moves,” she taunted, launching another relentless barrage.

This time, Blaze didn’t strike the blades. Instead, he created a roaring cyclone of flame, slamming his own fiery swords into the storm. The collision exploded in a burst of incandescent fury.

“Good. You’re catching on. But what about this?” Ēteru vanished in a blink.

Blaze repeated the cyclone attack to block the unseen assault—but then felt a sharp pain at his back. Blood spattered the scorched ground.

“When did you—get behind me?” he gasped, staggering.

“I was behind you the whole time,” she whispered, licking the blood from her fingers with a wicked smile. “You’re so fixated on revenge, you don’t see what’s right behind you.”

“What do you mean?” he demanded, clutching his chest, burning with pain and something deeper.

“You fight alone, push everyone away—even when they want to help. But… you’ve changed a bit since that last attack,” she said slyly.

Her words cut deeper than any blade. Blaze swallowed hard, unable to face the truth that maybe his obsession with revenge was hurting those he loved.

“You’re just a brat who wants things your own way,” a voice snarled from behind them, twisted and distorted—like Blaze himself but pale, eyes glowing white.

Ēteru smiled, intrigued. “My, what an unexpected outcome.”

Blaze spun around, wide-eyed. A mirror image of himself grinned, holding Inferno Reaver over his shoulder.

“What are you?” Blaze asked, heart pounding.

“Stupid question. I’m you. Your worst fears. Your nightmares made real. And, of course, the better you.” The clone laughed, charging with a fiery arc of his scythe.

“You’re not me,” Blaze growled, blocking the blow. “You’re just a figment of my imagination, my doubts.”

“Exactly. I am you. And you’re me,” the clone hissed, raining down flaming arrows.

Blaze summoned his own volley, flames clashing with a shower of sparks.

Why am I so angry? Why is my blood boiling? he thought, as Ēteru’s voice echoed in his mind.

“You’re afraid of yourself, Blaze,” she whispered, seductive and cruel. “Afraid of what you are… and what you might become. You’ve been running all your life.”

“I’m not running!” Blaze snapped, eyes burning with defiance. “I’ve never run, and I never will. I’ll prove it. I’ll beat you—and I’ll beat you.” His malice flared, almost enough to incinerate her on the spot.

“Then back it up, phony,” the clone sneered, kicking Blaze hard in the side.

Blaze caught the leg, spun, and hurled the clone into the colosseum’s spikes.

Without pause, Blaze conjured a flame clone. Together, they charged, spinning in a fiery wheel of blades, landing with synchronized axe kicks that left a crater.

But the clone rose, tore the fire double apart, and landed a vicious kick to Blaze’s face, sending him skidding across the ground.

Blood dripping, Blaze wiped his lip and stared at his opponent. The clone’s hatred and power were surging.

Blaze’s spiky black hair shimmered silver with violet streaks, his crimson eyes glowing deep violet, skin radiating an ethereal glow.

Ēteru whistled, clasping her hands, eyes gleaming with delight. His power is skyrocketing. By the end of this, this form will be complete… then the real training begins.

The clone mirrored Blaze’s transformation, gripping his scythe tightly.