The first clash of steel and flame turned the ritual platform into a battlefield.
Ethan did not wait for the enemy to reach him. As the first three soldiers charged in with their weapons glowing with elemental powers, he surged forward.
His grip on the Flame Dragon Sword was firm now.
Each step he took was steady and filled with growing confidence. He twisted his body, brought the sword around in a wide horizontal sweep, and unleashed a wave of fire that split the air.
"Don't come and haunt me later," he muttered as he killed. "I'm left with no choice, too."
The flame didn't just burn. It roared.
A crimson arc shot from the blade and swept across the floor, catching all three soldiers mid-stride. One screamed as the fire tore through his armor.
Another was lifted off the ground and slammed into a pillar, his body already aflame.
The last managed to raise a barrier, but it shattered on impact. His scream was short. Then he collapsed in a heap of burning metal.
