Chapter 12: Welcome to Ignis Prime
The crimson portal flared open like the mouth of a volcano, spilling molten light across a jagged obsidian plain. The air was hot, almost alive—breathing waves of Genesis energy that made Vaibhav's skin prickle and his spiritual core hum.
"...So this is Ignis Prime," Vaibhav murmured, shielding his eyes from the brightness.
Alicia stepped forward, her silver hair reflecting the fiery sky, her gaze calm yet curious. "It's… beautiful," she whispered.
Beautiful wasn't quite the word. The world around them pulsed with a savage kind of majesty — rivers of magma winding through dark rock valleys, volcanoes glowing like lanterns, and strange crystal-leaf trees that shimmered orange and gold in the heat. In the distance, massive beasts with ember scales roamed the ridges, their roars echoing faintly.
And right in the middle of it all—standing with one hand on his hip, the other waving lazily—was a familiar nuisance.
> "Yo, my fellow fire noodles! Welcome to Lava Lake of Hot Farts!"
Vaibhav froze mid-step. "...What did you just say?"
Shin-Chan grinned, his brown eyes glinting like mischief made flesh. "Vyuk, This is where legends are born and butts are roasted. A sacred land. I call it… Mount Butt-eruptus."
Alicia closed her eyes and sighed softly. "He's been here too long."
"Hey!" Shin protested, pointing dramatically at her. "Don't diss the tour guide! I've been studying this realm for two months. I know every corner, every beast, and every bathroom location within a fifty-mile radius. That's experience!"
Vaibhav's expression was deadpan. "That's not experience, that's insanity."
Shin shrugged. "Same thing."
As they walked down the slope into Crimson Vale, the main outpost for Ignis Prime Evolvers, they drew curious looks. The city was carved from volcanic glass and pulsating magma veins, with floating platforms and training rings that shimmered under the sun.
Recruits in armored vests sparred near the lava canals, their energy flaring in bursts of red and orange. In the distance, large banners bore the symbol of the Ignis Division — a flaming sigil shaped like a phoenix rising from ash.
Shin-Chan raised his arms dramatically. "Behold! Civilization, buttcracks, and bureaucracy! Welcome to Crimson Vale!"
Alicia muttered, "You have a gift for ruining grandeur."
"Why, thank you," Shin said with mock modesty.
They reached the plaza, where stalls sold everything from gene crystals to beast meat skewers. Shin-Chan stopped at a vendor, eyeing a basket of glittering stones.
"Spirit stones, eh?" he said with a grin that was way too wide.
Vaibhav felt the ominous prickle of incoming chaos. "Shin… don't."
"Oh, I'm just buying some, Vyuk. Just some spiritual investments."
Ten minutes later…
A small crowd of fresh recruits surrounded Shin-Chan's makeshift stand, eyes gleaming at the "spirit stones" he displayed — bright, glitter-dusted pebbles that shimmered like candy.
> "For just 10 UC each, you too can harness the Flame of Prosperity! Guaranteed to boost your energy resonance tenfold!"
Alicia covered her face. "Oh my god…"
One recruit, a burly man with goggles, looked doubtful. "You sure this isn't a scam?"
Shin-Chan puffed up his chest. "My friend, would this face lie to you?"
Vaibhav muttered, "Every day."
The recruit shrugged and infused his pebble with spiritual energy.
Pfft!
The stone burst in a pink cloud of glitter and confetti, followed by a loud "meow!" sound echoing from nowhere.
Shin spread his arms grandly. "Behold! The cat spirit of purification!"
The crowd went silent. Then laughter erupted. Some recruits cheered; others groaned.
"Bro, what the hell was that?!"
"My hair! It's pink!"
"Hey, I look fabulous though!"
But just as the laughter peaked—
> "You there!"
A tall patrol officer, his armor glowing crimson, stomped toward them. His badge marked him as Captain Raze, commander of the outpost's regulation team. His face looked like it had been carved from a volcano—stern, unimpressed, and ready to explode.
> "Who authorized sales of unauthorized items on Division grounds?"
Vaibhav immediately stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Sir, it was a misunderstanding. My friend here was just… demonstrating a harmless training trick."
Raze's eyes narrowed. "Trick?"
Vaibhav quickly continued. "Yes, sir. It's a focus test for recruits! The fake stones detect unstable energy flow — if your core's not steady, it bursts. Great for beginners, really."
Shin blinked, impressed. "Damn, Vyuk, you're good."
Raze glared at Shin. "Name and rank?"
Shin-Chan grinned. "Shinosuke Nohara, Ignis Ascension—Mythic Stage, You may know him as Shin-Chan the laughing flame. the guy who kicked your division head's ass during the last combat symposium."
The plaza went dead silent.
Raze's expression froze, then twitched. "...You're that bastard?"
Shin gave a smug salute. "In the flesh, sir."
After a moment of tense silence, Raze groaned, rubbed his temples, and muttered, "I don't get paid enough for this crap," before walking away.
As soon as he was gone, Shin turned to Vaibhav with a grin. "See? Told ya I got this."
Vaibhav glared. "No, I got this. You almost got us arrested!"
That night, they reached the dormitory sector — a sleek building overlooking molten fields. The dorms were carved from obsidian, with rune-lit corridors and heat-regulated rooms.
Shin kicked open the door to a suite, immediately throwing his bag on the largest bed. "Dibs!"
Vaibhav sighed. "We literally have the same room size."
"Yeah, but this bed's closer to the window," Shin replied smugly, sprawling across it like a king. "And according to the sacred law of seniority — oldest goes first. I'm older by two months, little kid!"
Alicia crossed her arms. "Then your maturity level should be higher too. But clearly, that law doesn't apply."
Shin gasped in mock offense. "You wound me, princess!"
Vaibhav chuckled. "She's not wrong though."
"Et tu, Vyuk?" Shin clutched his chest dramatically. "Betrayed by my own disciple of chaos!"
"...You're not my master."
"Spiritually, I am."
"Spiritually, you're an idiot."
"Same thing!"
Later that night, after the laughter faded, the trio sat near the open window, watching rivers of magma flow under the red moon.
For the first time since their arrival, silence settled between them — comfortable, steady.
Vaibhav broke it quietly. "Hard to believe we're actually here. Ignis Prime… one of the six major worlds."
Alicia nodded, her eyes reflecting the glowing sky. "We made it this far."
Shin leaned back on the bed, arms behind his head. "And we'll go even further. Because I'm not letting you two kids die before we hit Jovaryn Apotheosis."
Vaibhav smirked faintly. "Confident much?"
Shin turned his head, smiling softly — the mischief momentarily gone. "I've seen too many fall without laughing once. If we're gonna fight in this crazy universe… might as well laugh while doing it."
Alicia glanced at him, then smiled — just a hint. "That's… surprisingly wise for you."
"Hey! Don't ruin my cool moment!" Shin pouted, and both Vaibhav and Alicia laughed quietly.
Outside, the sky burned brighter — the world of fire humming with energy and promise.
For the first time, they weren't just ordinary kids.
They were adventurers — standing at the edge of a new flame.
And somewhere deep within Ignis Prime, a shadow stirred — a creature with eyes like burning coals, roaring faintly in the night.