The battlefield stretched endlessly, a desolate wasteland of cracked earth and molten fissures. The air shimmered with oppressive heat and the stench of decay, as crimson lightning forked through a darkened sky. Amid the chaos, Taiyou stood, his white flames flickering defiantly. His breaths came heavy, sweat mixing with blood as it trailed down his face. Across from him, Valanor towered, a living embodiment of chaos, his scorched armor faintly glowing with energy. Dark tendrils of chaos twisted and coiled around him, their presence suffocating.
Valanor's lips curled into a disdainful smirk. "Still standing, are you? I have to commend your persistence," he said mockingly, his voice a low, rumbling growl. "But persistence without power is nothing more than foolishness. Your end is inevitable. Surrender, and perhaps I'll grant your friends the mercy of a swift death."
Taiyou didn't respond. His hands trembled as his flames sputtered. He was fighting to stay upright, his body screaming in pain. The memory of his fallen comrades burned in his mind: Daichi's electrifying laughter silenced, Kaizen's unwavering strength crushed. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, reigniting his flames. "I can't fall here."
Valanor sighed. "So stubborn. Let me teach you what futility feels like."
With that, the chaos commander lunged.
Valanor's clawed hand collided with Taiyou's flaming fist in an explosive clash, sending shockwaves rippling through the wasteland. The ground cracked and crumbled beneath their feet as the raw energy of their powers fought for dominance.
But Valanor was faster, stronger, and far more experienced. His movements were a blur as he sidestepped Taiyou's counter, bringing his knee crashing into Taiyou's ribs. The sickening crack of bones breaking echoed across the battlefield, and Taiyou was sent flying backward, skidding across the jagged ground.
Before Taiyou could recover, Valanor was upon him again. He grabbed Taiyou by the ankle and swung him like a ragdoll, slamming him into the ground with enough force to create a crater. Taiyou coughed violently, blood spraying from his lips as his vision blurred.
"Is this all?" Valanor sneered, lifting Taiyou by the throat. "This is the fire that was supposed to challenge me?"
Taiyou's response was a desperate burst of flames, searing Valanor's hand and forcing him to release his grip. The young warrior stumbled to his feet, clutching his chest, but Valanor gave him no respite. Chaos energy erupted from Valanor's fist as he drove it into Taiyou's stomach, sending him crashing into a nearby rock formation. The impact shattered the stone, and Taiyou collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.
Every muscle in his body screamed in agony. His left arm hung limp, dislocated from the brutal onslaught. Blood oozed from a deep gash above his eyebrow, and his breathing was shallow, punctuated by sharp, stabbing pain in his ribs.
Still, he rose. His legs wobbled beneath him, but he refused to fall.
Valanor's expression darkened. "Why?" he asked, genuine irritation seeping into his tone. "Why do you keep getting up? You've lost. You're broken. Give up, and I'll make your end quick."
Taiyou spat blood, his glare unwavering despite his battered state. His voice was hoarse but filled with resolve. "For my friends. For the boy and his sister who risked their lives for me. For the Creed. For the people of Ashenfall. For humanity itself…" His flames flickered, brighter now, fueled by sheer will. "Even if it costs me my life, I will stop you."
**Scenes Flash**
The almost dead people ashenfall, Taiyou could hear them, they were crying out to him for help as chaos energy consumed their home and souls
The little boy who had followed Taiyou, his hands trembling behind the rock he was hiding, and for the first time he felt hope, his courage shining in the face of despair.
---
Taiyou's flames roared to life, consuming him entirely, he was losing control over them, his rage blinding him as his flames were burning and frying his skin. They burned hotter and brighter than ever before, the white light almost blinding. His silhouette flickering like a demonic god of fire. The ground beneath him cracked and melted from the heat, his flames distorting the air around him, burning everything. Taiyou was ready to sacrifice his body and let it burn if it meant he could take down this monster. "Calm down" taiyou thought to himself trying to control his flames, he managed to control his flames more and channeled them to his fists but the flames were still burning with such rage and ferocity that even valanor could feel the heat emanating from his fists.
Valanor took an involuntary step back. His chaos energy faltered, rippling erratically around him. For the first time, a flicker of uncertainty crossed his face.
"What is this? He's burning even himself up" he muttered, his voice low and uneasy. He clutched his chest as a strange sensation took hold. His chaos energy bubbled and writhed uncontrollably, his insides briefly visible as a horrifying silhouette: his ribs rattling, his organs pulsing unnaturally. His heart thumped erratically as if chaos itself was recoiling.
Fear. A feeling buried so deeply in Valanor's soul that he barely recognized it. "This… feeling… it's familiar," he whispered, his voice shaking. "What are you?"
Taiyou's burning gaze met his, unyielding.
Valanor's uncertainty gave way to rage. With a furious roar, he charged, chaos energy erupting around him. He swung his clawed hand, aiming to end Taiyou with a single blow.
But this time, Taiyou moved.
He sidestepped the attack with ease, his movements sharper, faster. Flames erupted from his feet as he spun, delivering a devastating kick to Valanor's side. The force sent the chaos commander stumbling back, his armor dented and scorched.
Valanor's eyes widened in shock. *How?*
Taiyou pressed the advantage. Flames coiled around his fist as he surged forward, his speed almost unnatural. He struck Valanor square in the chest, the impact reverberating like a thunderclap. The chaos commander staggered, his breath hitching as he struggled to comprehend what had just happened.
For the first time since the battle began, Valanor was silent.
Taiyou stood tall, his flames blazing around him. His body was broken, bloodied, and battered, but his resolve was unshakable. "I made a promise," he said, his voice steady despite the pain. "And I will keep it."
---
**Elsewhere**
Ryojin sprinted across the wasteland, his shadow-infused body gliding effortlessly over the jagged terrain. His thoughts were cold and pragmatic. *Taiyou is probably dead by now. If he isn't, he's close to it. No matter. The mission comes first. I'll eliminate Valanor if the opportunity presents itself.*
He glanced toward the distant horizon where flashes of white flame and chaos energy lit up the sky.
The war for Ashenfall raged on.