Morning came with the smell of smoke and wet grass. A light mist rolled over the small town surrounding Crescent Moon Inn. Ethan stood outside, apron tucked into his belt, backpack slung over one shoulder. The inn's sign creaked softly in the breeze.
He rarely left the inn since arriving in this world, but the System's newest quest left him no choice.
Find the Essence of Heat.
He'd checked the System Shop first thing that morning. The item didn't exist there. That meant it wasn't something that could be bought. It had to be found—or earned.
He tightened the straps of his pack. Inside were some travel rations, a small pot, a few utensils, and his new Iron Chef's Pan. A chef was never without his tools.
Luna came running out the door, holding two canteens. "You're really going alone? The forest outside town isn't safe."
Ethan smiled. "It'll be fine. I'm not planning to fight monsters—I'm looking for an ingredient."
"That's what everyone says before they get chased by wolves," she muttered, handing him the canteens anyway. "At least take these. And if you don't come back by sunset, I'm locking the doors."
He laughed lightly. "Fair deal."
She watched him go, worry in her eyes, as Ethan headed down the dirt path leading toward the trees.
---
The forest was alive with sound—birds calling, branches swaying, and somewhere far off, the faint rush of water. The sunlight broke through the canopy in golden patches, glimmering across the mossy ground.
The System map floated faintly in his vision, marking a single pulsing dot deep within the woods.
[Essence Signature Detected: 1.2 km East.]
[Warning: Mana Disturbance Detected in Vicinity.]
"Great," Ethan muttered. "So it's guarded."
He pressed on, stepping carefully over roots and rocks. The deeper he went, the warmer the air became. Eventually, the forest's usual scent of damp leaves changed—there was a faint tang of ash.
Then he saw it: a clearing ahead where the trees were blackened, their bark scorched. The ground shimmered faintly with residual heat, though no flames burned.
At the center of the clearing lay something glowing—a cracked orb of orange and blue light, half-buried in the ash.
The Essence of Heat.
He stepped closer slowly, wary of traps. The moment his boot touched the scorched ground, the System flashed a warning.
[Hostile Entity Detected.]
[Spirit of Ember – Tier 2 Elemental – Awakening.]
The ashes swirled violently, forming a shape—a humanoid figure made entirely of flame. Its eyes burned white-hot as it rose from the ground.
"So much for easy," Ethan muttered.
The Spirit let out a crackling hiss and flung a wave of heat toward him. He dove aside just in time, the blast scorching a tree trunk behind him.
He crouched, heart pounding. "Okay. I can't fight you with a sword… but maybe I can cook you."
The System chimed faintly in his mind.
[Emergency Protocol: Combat Cooking Mode available.]
[Convert ingredients and utensils into mana-based tools.]
Ethan blinked. "Combat Cooking? Are you serious?"
But the Iron Chef's Pan in his hand began to glow, the metal turning deep red. His instincts kicked in. He didn't understand how it worked—but his body moved anyway.
He scooped some dry leaves into the pan and channeled heat through it. The air around him shimmered, forming a small vortex of warmth. The Spirit lunged, and Ethan twisted, slamming the pan's rim into the ground.
The leaves burst into a brief explosion of smoke. The Spirit staggered back.
Ethan grinned. "Guess I still remember how to handle heat."
He tossed herbs from his pouch into the pan—flamegrass, mana petals, dried root. The mixture sizzled, releasing a sharp scent that even the Spirit seemed to react to. The fire-creature hesitated, its form flickering.
[Flame Spirit Reaction Detected: Instinctive Resonance.]
[Progress: 12%.]
"Resonance… so you're not an enemy. You're the key."
He continued cooking, carefully balancing the flame, adding just enough mana to keep the temperature steady. The Iron Pan's glow matched the Spirit's core light. The air between them began to pulse like a heartbeat.
The Spirit took a cautious step closer. Its fire dimmed, softening from blazing orange to calm blue.
[Resonance Progress: 45%.]
Ethan could feel his pulse syncing with the rhythm of the stove at the inn. The same heartbeat. The same fire.
He lifted the pan slightly, letting the cooked herbs swirl in a spiral of steam. "Come on… you're not here to destroy. You're here to be tamed."
The Spirit trembled once more, then knelt. Its flames drew inward, compressing into a single ember that floated toward the pan. It landed softly inside, merging with the remaining herbs.
[Resonance Complete.]
[Essence of Heat Acquired.]
[New Feature Unlocked: Spirit Link – Infernal Flame (Dormant).]
Ethan exhaled, his shoulders dropping. "That… actually worked."
The clearing's temperature dropped back to normal. He stared into the pan. The ember now rested there, flickering faintly like a sleeping heart.
He placed it gently into a small crystal jar, sealing it tight. The moment he did, the forest seemed to sigh in relief—the birds returned, and the wind stirred again.
He checked the System.
[Quest Complete: Reignite the Heart of the Infernal Stove.]
[Reward Pending – Return to Inn to Activate.]
Ethan grinned tiredly. "Alright. Let's head home."
---
By the time he returned, the sun was already setting. Luna was pacing outside the inn, arms crossed. When she saw him, she froze, then ran forward.
"You're alive!" she shouted, then stopped short when she saw the scorch marks on his sleeves. "What happened to you?!"
"Got into a cooking contest," he said with a small smirk. "The opponent was a bit fiery."
"Very funny," she said, glaring, but there was relief in her voice.
He stepped inside and went straight to the kitchen. The stove waited silently, its runes dim. Ethan placed the crystal jar on the counter, then opened it.
The ember floated up, pulsing brightly.
The runes beneath the stove began to glow again, matching the light of the ember. The flames inside the stove reignited with a roar—not ordinary orange fire this time, but brilliant blue, steady and beautiful.
The entire kitchen shimmered. The air smelled faintly of spice and smoke. The System's voice returned.
[Infernal Stove Reactivated.]
[Bound Spirit: Emberheart – Tier 2 Fire Entity.]
[Ability Unlocked: Perfect Heat Control (Localized).]
[New Quest: Create Your First Spirit-Infused Dish.]
Ethan stared into the blue flame, feeling its warmth—not painful, but comforting. The same fire that once destroyed him now served him.
He smiled quietly. "Welcome back, old friend."
The flame flickered once, almost like a nod.
---
That night, as Luna closed the inn and customers began to settle, Ethan stayed in the kitchen, experimenting with the new flame. He noticed that when he cooked, the blue fire responded to his emotions—burning stronger when he focused, softening when he relaxed.
It wasn't just fuel anymore. It was alive.
And somewhere, far beyond the city, in a mountain fortress lit by red lanterns, a group of chefs in ornate robes gathered around a table. At their head sat a man with cold eyes and silver hair, reading from a parchment.
"A new chef has awakened a Flame Spirit within the western district," he murmured. "The System bearer called Ethan."
He looked up slowly, a faint smile curling his lips.
"Interesting. The Legendary Path awakens again."
To be continued...