Chapter 13: The Pavilion's Embers
The next morning, the Ignis Prime sun rose like a molten jewel — fiery and pulsing, bathing the world in shades of amber and gold.
Vaibhav felt the heat the instant he stepped outside the dorm. The air here wasn't just hot — it was alive, vibrating with Fire-type Genesis Particles that crackled against the skin like static.
He exhaled slowly, "...It's heavier than before."
Alicia nodded beside him, wiping a bead of sweat from her neck. "The Genesis flow is dense here. Even standing still feels like training."
Shin-Chan leaned lazily against the railing, chewing a stick of something that looked suspiciously like spicy jerky. "Heh. Welcome to Ignis Prime, where every breath is a sauna membership."
Vaibhav shot him a look. "You're not even sweating."
Shin smirked. "That's called adaptation, Vyuk. Step one of Ignis survival—don't fight the heat, dance with it."
"Dance with it?" Alicia raised an eyebrow.
"Yup." Shin snapped his fingers, sending a flicker of red aura around his body. "Think of it like fire flirting with your soul. You don't resist it; you let it tease you a little."
Vaibhav groaned. "...You're impossible."
"Correction: legendary." Shin winked. "Now come on, rookies. Time to see the heart of this fiery playground — the Evolver Bazaar!"
The Evolver Bazaar
They followed Shin down the winding obsidian streets to the bustling heart of Crimson Vale. The Evolver Bazaar was chaos in motion — glowing stalls and merchants yelling over each other, smoke rising from forges, and the scent of roasted beast meat mixing with molten dust.
Spirit-beast hunters displayed trophies — flaming horns, crystalized claws, and cores that shimmered like liquid fire. Blacksmiths hammered armor infused with lava runes, their hammers sending sparks into the air like fireflies.
Alicia looked around in wonder. "It's… overwhelming."
Shin grinned, arms spread wide. "Ah, my kingdom of chaos! Where scams, snacks, and soul crystals coexist in perfect harmony."
Vaibhav muttered, "You're seriously proud of that?"
"Hey, don't question the economy of opportunity, Vyuk. Look around — you see those vendors? They all know me. Watch."
As they passed, several traders waved and called out:
> "Yo, Shin-Chan! Got any new prank stones?"
"Don't sell me fake lava cores again, brat!"
"Haha! That fight you pulled off last week—still can't believe you knocked out that Ironback Drake with a frying pan!"
Vaibhav blinked. "You fought a drake… with a frying pan?"
"Not fought. Strategically humiliated." Shin corrected proudly.
Alicia sighed. "Sometimes I wonder how big brother tolerates you."
"Talent, obviously," Shin replied with mock arrogance. "Also, I bring humor to his dark, brooding existence."
They stopped by a small forge stall run by an old blacksmith named Ruko — a burly man with molten scars and a laugh like thunder.
"Yo, Shin-boy!" Ruko bellowed. "Broke another blade already?"
"Not this time, old man. I'm here on a noble mission!" Shin gestured dramatically toward Alicia. "To get my friends here a fire-attuned artifact."
Ruko chuckled, rummaging through a pile of trinkets before pulling out a slim metallic bracelet with a crimson core embedded in the center. "Genesis heat regulator. The gem glows with temperature — keeps your inner flow balanced."
Shin handed it to Alicia with a grin. "Here ya go — a mood ring for your soul!"
Alicia looked at it skeptically. "...Mood ring?"
"Yup. Blue means chill. Red means you're ticked off. Purple means you're about to fry someone. It's foolproof!"
Vaibhav deadpanned, "It's also glowing red right now."
Alicia glanced down — the bracelet pulsed crimson. She looked up at Shin, expression calm but eyes cold. "Interesting."
Shin blinked. "Heh… uh… see? Works perfectly!"
The Challenge
As they continued through the plaza, a group of Evolvers blocked their path — four young men in sleek black armor, each radiating fiery aura. The leader, a tall guy with crimson hair and sharp eyes, smirked.
> "Well, well. The new recruits, huh?"
Vaibhav felt the weight of their stares — but it wasn't his presence that caught them. Their gazes lingered on Alicia.
> "Didn't think the Nexus sent pretty faces for field work," one of them sneered. "Hey, sweetheart, ditch those amateurs. I'll show you real training."
The words hung in the air like smoke.
Alicia's expression didn't change — cold, composed, unreadable. But the faint flicker in her eyes warned of danger.
Vaibhav stepped forward, his tone even. "Back off."
The leader laughed. "Or what? You gonna throw some weak punches? I heard your test score was forty-three. That's cute."
"Cute?" Shin muttered, biting into a spicy roll. "Oh boy, this'll be fun."
Vaibhav sighed softly, then cracked his knuckles. "Alright. Don't say I didn't warn you."
They moved to an open ring, a small crowd forming around. Shin-Chan stood near the edge, holding a snack bag.
> "Alright! Five spirit snacks on Team Vyuk and Silver Queen!"
"Silver Queen?" Alicia muttered.
"Branding," Shin said. "Makes the victory sweeter."
The challengers charged first, their fists blazing with condensed Genesis Fire. Vaibhav sidestepped the first punch, his eyes glowing faintly with golden light.
Severed Unity — Mirror Phase.
The air rippled.
The next instant, Vaibhav mimicked his opponent's movement perfectly, his counterstrike landing at the same rhythm — same force — but cleaner. The crimson-haired Evolver flew backward, crashing into the wall with a shout.
Alicia faced two others, her movements fluid as silk. They swung simultaneously; she mirrored them with eerie precision — each motion delayed by a heartbeat, yet perfectly timed to break their flow. Her palm strike hit one square in the chest, knocking him off balance, while a spinning kick sent the other tumbling.
Spectators gasped. "They copied their techniques?! What the—?"
Shin whistled, clapping with one hand. "Ah, beautiful execution! Give it up for the art of embarrassment!"
The leader roared, flames flaring around his arms. "Don't get cocky!"
He unleashed a flaming shockwave, the ground trembling—
Vaibhav stepped forward, eyes gleaming, and mirrored the same technique instantly. The two waves collided midair, canceling each other out with a thunderous boom.
The leader staggered back, stunned. "Impossible…"
Vaibhav smirked. "You said something about cute punches?"
The man gritted his teeth and dropped to one knee, the heat fading from his fists.
The crowd erupted in cheers. Shin threw both hands up, shouting, "Victory! And that means free snacks for me!"
"Wait, who even bet against you?!" someone yelled.
Shin grinned. "No one. I just wanted an excuse to celebrate."
Later, the trio sat on a ledge overlooking the molten valley, eating skewers Shin bought with his "winnings."
Alicia chewed quietly. "You really enjoy causing chaos, don't you?"
Shin smirked. "Chaos is just creativity with style."
Vaibhav chuckled softly. "Still… thanks for the guidance today. We're learning more than just fighting."
Shin stretched, yawning. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't get all sentimental on me, Vyuk. You'll ruin my image."
The fiery wind blew past them, carrying the faint hum of the Nexus — alive, fierce, endless.
For now, they laughed.
But somewhere beyond the horizon, in the depths of Ignis Prime, a crimson roar echoed faintly — a sound that would soon shatter the calm.