Prologue: Before Fire
"Long ago… humans were not the hunters.
They were being hunted."
The words echoed through the bright sky, It was heavy like the weight of truth.
The world was not kind. It was raw, more brutal and merciless.
Mountains were very large and tall , rivers sounded like wild violence, the forests teemed with the predators that grew and become stronger in shadows. But even those dangers were nothing compared to the beasts—that ruled the land for centuries.
The beast were so powerful that their claws cloud tear through wood and stone as if they were like paper . Their roars sound like thunder, shaking the sky itself Every step they took made the ground beneath them shook and created cracks in the ground, the ground bent by how powerful the beast were.
In those days, humanity lived in fear because of these huge beast.
Huts of straw and clay could not withstand the beasts that were so angry and strong their claws could ripped up walls.
The humans' spears broke when they hit the beasts' skin, which was as hard and thick as metal.
Fire—which humans thought was their best weapon—didn't work. It was like a tiny candle next to these creatures, who could breathe fire themselves.
Villages disappeared very quickly, becoming only broken stones and bones.
The sound of people screaming became a normal sound every night. Mothers covered their children's mouths to keep them quiet while huge, scary shadows walked around outside their hiding places. Fathers held weak spears with shaking hands, knowing that they would die before the sun rose but would still fight for their family.
A hunter tried to fight the monster that had killed his family but his shaking shadow was completely Overwhelmed by the huge shape of the creature, whose teeth were shiny with new blood.
That night, he died without hurting the monster at all.
But people did not die out.
It wasn't because they were strong.
It wasn't because they were smart or tricky.
It was because they simply would not give up.
Every day, they kept going. They built things again. They made new fires even when the smoke from the old fires was still in the air.
Every day started with fear in mind. Every night ended with sadness and death.
But even so—they kept living.
This wasn't a good life; it was just survival.
And out of that constant survival came resistance.
Quiet talks started to spread in the ruined villages. They spoke of fire that could be used not just to keep warm, but to fight.
small sparks that could become big flames strong enough to hurt even the monsters.
The sound of fire was the only thing you could hear after the voice finished speaking.
"This was the world before people had hope.
Before fire became a weapon.
This... was the start.
The start of the story 'Flameborn: The Last Ember.'"
---
Orvale: The Quiet Before
At the bottom of the Greyfang Mountains, there was a quiet village surrounded by trees and a river.
Its name was Orvale.
The sun shined golden light on fields of tall wheat. The river looked like shiny silver glass, and you could hear children laughing as they played in the water. Birds flew between the trees, and their songs mixed with the sound of insects.
Orvale was not important or rich. But life here was easy and simple.people were happy to live here.
Men worked in the fields, their foreheads sweaty, their hands strong and rough from many years of hard work. Women carried water from the river, their voices full of chatter and song. Children ran without shoes through the grass, and their loud, happy shouts echoed everywhere.
When the sun went down, families gathered around a large fire in the center of the village.
The fire light was warm on their happy faces as they shared food and old stories.
Everyone had a place.
Everyone belonged.
For a while, Orvale was safe and left alone.
---
The Children of Orvale
Among all the noise and life were four best friends who were always together.
Kaen was the first—he was like wild energy. His dark hair was always messy, and his yellow-brown eyes always looked into the distance as if he wanted to leave Orvale.
Trouble followed him everywhere. His smile was too big and daring, and it often got him scolded... or led to risky adventures.
Riku walked next to him—she was his balance and kept him steady. She was calm and thoughtful, and her sharp eyes noticed everything. She listened more than she talked, and when she speak, her words were important and thoughtful for someone her age.
Where Kaen was like a fire, Riku was steady like a stone.
Then there was Lira—she had a kind heart and usually wore her brown hair in neat braids. Animals liked her as if she had magic. Birds would sit close when she sang; stray dogs would sleep at her feet. Her laughter was gentle and light, carrying a warmth that made even the hardest days of life easier.
Last was Darren—the loudest and most confident. He was taller than the others, and his booming voice carried far as he stood up tall with pride. If Kaen was brave enough to jump one fence, Daren swore he'd jump two.
If Kaen went into the river, Daren went deeper. He always boasted, but his loyalty was as strong as his pride.
The four of them were tightly connected, like threads in one piece of cloth.
They ran through the fields until they were tired.
They stole apples from the trees and laughed hard as the guard chased them.
They lay on the grass at night, looking at the stars, quietly dreaming about a future they promised to share.
In those moments, it felt like it would last forever.
---
The Oak Tree
That night, the moon made the world shine bright like silver. The big oak tree at the edge of the village stood tall, its branches seeming to share secrets with the sky.
Laughter was heard beneath it.
Kaen was swinging from a low branch, while Riku being worried about him.
"You're going to fall and break your neck," she complained.
Kaen smiled at her. "What if I land like a hero."
"Heroes don't hang around like monkeys," Riku said simply.
Daren laughed loudly and hit his chest. "I bet I can climb twice as high!" He started scrambling up the tree, breathing hard.
"You'll break the tree before you break yourself," Lira laughed.
The boys argued, the girls laughed, and for a short time, the world was peaceful.
---
The First Tremor
Then—
The wind quickly turned cold. Clouds covered the moon, stopping the silver light.
The forest suddenly moved. Birds screamed and flew into the night sky. Deer ran away blindly. Wolves howled—not because they were hungry, but because they were terrified.
And then, the ground started to shake.
At first, it was very small, like a whisper under the ground.
But then it was stronger, a deep, heavy voice that shook their bones.
The children stopped moving.
The oak's branches shook. The lantern hanging on the tree swung back and forth.
Then—
A loud, huge roar.
It was an endless, old sound that didn't belong to human life. It went through their bodies, froze their hearts, and destroyed their peace.
The children's laughter stopped.
Their eyes, wide with terror, looked toward the forest.
From the dark came a large, moving shapes.
Scales were shiny.
Claws dug deep holes in the dirt.
Teeth looked like sharp knives, wet with fresh blood.
Dinosaurs.
Old monsters with skin covered in scars from many hunts.
And leading them—something bigger and worse.
The ground split with every step it took. Its huge body was taller than the houses, with rough skin like cracked stone. Old wounds on its body glowed softly as if fire was still burning inside.
Its eyes glowed like hot ember. Flames leaked from its mouth with every breath.
It was The destroyer of the ruin
The nightmare had arrived.
---
Chaos: The Bringer of Ruin
Orvale suddenly exploded.
The village that was happy and warm only hours ago was now full of fire and screams.
Walls fell apart under claws that ripped wood and stone like paper. Straw roofs caught fire immediately, and the fire spread like lightning. Smoke went up into the sky, hiding the stars.
Screams filled the air. Mothers held children tightly, fathers yelled for everyone to run, and older people gave up in sadness as huge shadows stood over them.
"Run! Everyone, run!"
Kaen's heart beat very fast. He held Riku's hand tightly as he pulled her through the mess. Daren stumbled behind them, his usual confidence replaced by pure fear. Lira held her skirt, breathing fast and shaky.
The world was fire.
The world was destroyed.
---
The Chase
The ground split as a monster burst through the smoke—a huge killer with a wide-open mouth full of sharp teeth, its eyes glowing like hot charcoal. It roared, and the force blew lanterns off their posts.
It looked straight at the children.
It jumped.
Daren fell. His knees hit the dirt. His wide eyes saw death coming right for him.
"Go! Leave me!" he yelled, his voice cracking.
But Kaen couldn't move his legs. His body burned with panic. Every part of him wanted to run—but he turned back.
"No!"
His small hands grabbed Daren's arm, pulling with all his strength. His teeth were clenched as he tried to lift his friend.
The monster's shadow covered them completely. Its breath burned their skin.
Kaen's strength gave out. His mind went blank. This was the end.
And then—
---
The Phantom Warrior
A fast blur.
Something shot past them—quick, sharp and unstoppable.
A rider appeared, sitting on his own monster.
A fast, raptor-like creature darted through fire, its scales shining black.
On top sat a warrior in black armor that was covered in scars. His two swords flashed silver as they cut through the night.
One strike.
One flash.
The monster's head fell off.
Its body crashed to the ground, blood covering the dirt.
Kaen couldn't breathe. His eyes saw the warrior—a dark shape against the firelight, a ghost covered in metal.
The warrior didn't stop. He didn't look at them or speak.
He rode on—into the fire and chaos, his blades killing monsters with every move.
To Kaen, he wasn't a normal man.
He was something greater.
Something impossible.
For the first time that night, awe (wonder) was stronger than fear.
---
The Defender's Cry
"Children! To the safe place! Go—don't look back!"
The voice was loud even over the chaos.
Ragna. One of the village protectors. His sword was bloody as he stood between the beasts and the running people. His eyes were angry, and his voice was firm.
He swung his sword with a roar that was as loud as the monsters', cutting into a beast's leg. It screamed, fell down, and thrashed wildly.
Kaen held Riku tighter. His lungs breathless as he ran, dragging her along. Daren stumbled to his feet, following them. Lira followed, crying with ash on her face.
Smoke choked their lungs. Fire chased their feets. Every step felt like running on broken glass.
But still—they ran.
---
The Fall of Orvale
The children ran through the streets, but Orvale was now a battlefield.
Dead bodies covered the dirt paths, their faces frozen in terror. Flames destroyed their homes, destroying cherished memories. The air smelled strongly of burning bodies and blood.
Monsters walked through the chaos, their roars mixing with the screams of people dying.
Kaen's chest hurt from running. Smoke made his vision blurry. But he only thought of one thing:
Home.
If they could reach their houses—if his family was alive—they could escape.
He pushed harder, dragging Riku, even though she coughed, even though Lira stumbled, even though Daren swore out of fear.
His mind held onto hope like a drowning person holding wood.
They had to be alive.
---
The Bringer of Ruin
The ground shook even harder now.
And then—he saw it.
It came out of the fire and smoke.
The destroyer of the Ruin has arrived.
It was much bigger than the other monsters, towering like a mountain of flesh. Its cracked skin glowed faintly. Flames leaked from its teeth with every breath.
Its eyes looked right at the village—hot, burning, without pity.
The roar it made shattered the sky. Windows broke, ears rang, hearts stopped.
Kaen's body froze. He almost fell down. His soul screamed at him to give up.
But Riku's shaking hand held kaen hand.
Lira's crying was beside him. Daren's had a hard time breathing.
And Kaen forced himself to move.
"Run!" he yelled, his voice cracking.
Behind them, Orvale burned.
----
Ashes and the Phantom Warrior
The village of Orvale was now a place of fire and death.
The destroyer of Ruin's roar still shook Kaen's bones as he ran, pulling Riku. Smoke made the world look like moving shadows and orange fire. The air was heavy with the smell of burning.
A sudden roar ripped through the smoke.
A monster jumped out, its claws digging into the dirt as it charged.
The monster's shadow fell over them—
And then a flash of steel.
The beast collapsed, its neck cut open.
The Phantom Warrior stood over it. He didn't look at them. He spurred his mount and rode on, cutting down monsters one after another.
Kaen's eyes widened. "He's...
unstoppable..."
Hope appeared briefly in his chest, but when the destroyer of Ruin roared again, hope died.
---
The Defender's Last Stand
"Children!"
Ragna staggered toward them, his armor broken, but his eyes still full of refusal to surrender.
"To the caverns! Go! Now!"
Another beast lunged. Ragna met it, and both fell to the dirt.
Ragna shouted: "Run!"
Kaen clenched his jaw and dragged Riku. Daren and Lira followed, crying and stumbling.
---
The Search for Home
Kaen's mind screamed only one thing: Home.
They rounded the corner—
And Kaen froze.
His house was gone.
Flattened.
Flames ate what was left. The doorway where his mother stood was now ash.
Kaen's breath stopped. He called out his family's names into the fire.
No answer. Only silence.
Kaen's heart broke. He fell down.
A Faint Whisper
And then—A sound.
A cough. Weak and small. Human.
Kaen's eyes widened. "They're alive..."
He scrambled forward, digging through the burnt wreckage with his bare hands.
"Hold on!" Kaen screamed. "I'm here!"
Riku yelled, "Kaen, wait! It's not safe!" But Kaen didn't hear.
Kaen dug hard at the wreckage. Riku and Daren helped. Lira prayed softly.
The cough came again. Weak, but real.
Kaen pulled again.
---
The Cliffhanger
Kaen's body hit the dirt. As tears blurred his eyes, one thought was burning into his mind:
This is not the end.
He swore he would find that spark of life he heard.
This was only the beginning.
The beginning of the Flameborn.