The night sky burned crimson.
The once-quiet village was now a wasteland of collapsing homes and endless screams. The fountain at the central junction—once a symbol of peace—was now overflowing with molten stone and blood. The air shimmered with heat as flames licked through the wind like wild serpents. In the middle of that chaos stood Nova, his black robe torn, mask cracked, and his breath ragged. His hair, darker than the void, swayed in the updraft of the inferno.
He stood surrounded.
From all six roads that led into the central square, the beasts were closing in—a swarm of red-eyed monsters, crawling, snarling, flying. Some leaped across roofs like shadows of death, others dragged their claws across the ground, creating sparks in the dirt. Their roars blended into one monstrous chorus that shook the air itself. And in the middle of it all, from the main southern path, came the Magma Entity—once the summoner, now a monstrous titan of stone and fire.
Nova clenched his fists. His eyes glowed a furious crimson beneath the broken mask. He could barely feel his legs. Every muscle screamed for rest. His mana was fading fast, but retreat was no longer an option.
"You're surrounded, little ember,"The Magma Entity's voice thundered like molten rock grinding against stone."You fought well, but you'll burn out like the rest."
Nova didn't reply. He could taste iron on his tongue. He looked down at his trembling hands and whispered,
"I'm not… done yet."
He slammed his foot against the cobblestone and channeled what little mana remained into his seals. Papers burst out from his belt pouch, circling him in a blazing spiral. He muttered the incantation through gritted teeth.
"Level 3 Sealing Technique—Flame Wave!"
The ground split beneath his feet. A tide of burning sigils erupted outward, consuming the first wave of beasts. Screams echoed as the monsters were engulfed, turning into ash and smoke. The explosion hurled Nova backward, slamming him into a wall—but he used the recoil to roll onto one knee, panting, his seals already fading.
He glanced up. Dozens more replaced the fallen.
A wolf-like creature lunged from the right; Nova sidestepped, driving his scorched sword upward into its throat. Another beast, a mantis-shaped demon, crashed from above, and he countered with a Level 2 Weapon Magic—Ignite Slash. The blade blazed red, carving the creature in half. But every swing drained more of his mana, every motion slower than before.
Still, he fought.
Because he remembered his grandfather's words—"Even if the world burns, stand taller than the flame."
Minutes bled into hours, or so it felt. His body moved on instinct alone. A claw sliced across his shoulder. Another beast struck from behind, its fangs grazing his arm. He screamed, spun, and unleashed a Fireball Seal, blasting it apart. Smoke, blood, and mana energy choked the air.
Somewhere in the chaos, he caught sight of Walter—collapsed near a shattered house, unconscious, his broken leg twisted unnaturally. Nova's breath caught in his throat.
He was truly alone.
The beasts closed in again, snarling. Nova forced himself to his feet, staggering. His eyes darted to the Magma Entity, who stood watching from a distance with a wicked grin.
"You see now?"The Entity's molten voice echoed through the streets."You fight shadows while I command the storm."
That's when realization hit him like lightning.
It wasn't about killing the beasts. They would never stop coming. The summoner—the Magma Entity—was the core of this army. As long as it existed, this nightmare would never end.
"So that's it…" Nova muttered."Cut the head… and the fire dies."
He looked down at his blood-soaked hands, then up at the towering creature of magma. His crimson eyes hardened.
"Then I'll burn through you."
He roared, charging through the beasts with reckless fury. His sword ignited once more as he struck, slashing, ducking, rolling, bleeding. His aura pulsed wildly, unstable but fierce. He fought not with power, but with purpose—every blow driving him closer to the towering inferno that had devoured his home.
A 3-star lizard beast lunged; Nova grabbed its jaw mid-air, slammed a seal into its mouth, and detonated it with Sealing Fireball. The explosion hurled his body forward like a meteor, straight toward the Magma Entity.
Their eyes met.
The entity raised its molten fist and brought it down like a falling mountain. Nova barely rolled aside, feeling the heat sear his side. The ground cracked open, lava bubbling through the fissure. Nova struck back with Ignite Slash, but the blade shattered against the creature's arm.
"You're strong," Nova gasped,"But not invincible!"
He flung another seal—Fireball, Sniper, Seal Burn—each explosion lighting up the night, each one pushing him further into exhaustion. The air reeked of smoke and despair.
The Entity stepped forward, molten cracks glowing across its chest.
"Still standing?" it mocked. "Your fire is dying."
Nova fell to one knee, his vision fading. The world spun. His heartbeat echoed louder than the battle itself. For a moment, he thought it was over.
But then he saw Walter's unconscious body—saw the villagers crying, their faces hidden behind flames—and something inside him refused to give up.
He bit his lip until it bled.
"Not… yet."
He tore open his pouch and pulled out the last of his sealing papers. His trembling hands pressed them across his body—arms, chest, legs—until his entire form was wrapped in glowing runes.
He whispered hoarsely,
"Level 2… Basic Sealing Magic… Seal Healing."
Light surged through him. The seals burned, stitching wounds, flooding his body with heat and a faint trace of life. It wasn't much—just enough to stand again, to hold his weapon.
He rose slowly, flames dancing in his eyes.
The Magma Entity tilted its head, amused.
"Still breathing, ember?"
Nova grinned weakly behind his broken mask, blood dripping from his lip.
"Yeah… but now it's your turn to burn."
And as the winds roared and the earth trembled, Nova took one step forward into the fire.