Kurogane and the masked figure clashed in a whirlwind of flame, the air around them crackling from the sheer force of their powers. Kurogane's red flames flared, giving him an aura of blistering heat as his fists landed blow after blow. The masked figure, quick and precise, countered each strike with his own golden flames shaped into blades, their clash creating sparks that lit up the abandoned desert.
They had been at it for what felt like hours, neither willing to give an inch. Both combatants were battered and weary, their breath heavy as they circled each other, sizing up the next move. Kurogane wiped sweat from his brow and smirked. "You're not bad... but you're gonna have to do better than that," he taunted.
The masked man, breathing heavily, glared from behind his mask. His golden flames flickered, dimming for a moment before reigniting. "You're persistent," he muttered, his voice strained. "But I'm done playing with you."
Kurogane cocked an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
The masked man ignored him, taking a step back as he clasped his hands together. "I didn't think I'd need to use this yet... I haven't mastered it... but you leave me no choice."
A pulse of golden energy radiated from him, distorting the air as he uttered the words, his voice echoing through the ruins:
"Flame Sanctum: Golden Dominion."
The ground beneath them trembled. Kurogane instinctively braced himself, his red flames flaring brighter as the golden energy around the masked man began to condense. The sand at their feet was lifted by an unseen force, swirling in a vortex of heat as the sky above seemed to darken, turning a deep shade of amber.
Golden flames erupted from the masked man's body, but this time they weren't just weapons. The flames expanded, forming an enormous dome that encased the battlefield. Inside, countless weapons of pure flame materialized — spears, swords, axes, all gleaming with a golden hue. The dome shimmered, pulsating with deadly energy.
Kurogane narrowed his eyes, surveying the situation. "What is this...?"
"This is my Flame Sanctum," the masked man said with a grim satisfaction, his voice echoing through the dome. "Inside this domain, I am invincible. The air, the ground, the very flames you wield... they all belong to me now."
Kurogane gritted his teeth, his eyes darting around the flaming weapons that hovered in the air, waiting for the masked man's command. "Invincible, huh? Let's test that."
Without waiting for a response, Kurogane launched himself at the masked man, his red flames surging around him as he aimed a devastating punch. But before he could reach his target, a wall of golden spears shot down, forcing him to backflip away. Several more weapons darted toward him in rapid succession, slashing and stabbing with blinding speed.
Kurogane dodged as best he could, his body moving in a blur as he narrowly avoided the deadly barrage. But it was clear he was being pushed to his limits. "Damn it... he's controlling everything in here."
The masked man stood at the center of the dome, his hands raised as if orchestrating the chaos. "It's pointless," he said coldly. "No matter how skilled you are, no one escapes the Golden Dominion. It's over."
Kurogane felt his muscles burn from fatigue, his breaths shallow as he struggled to keep up with the relentless assault. But even as the situation grew more desperate, a fire burned in his eyes. "Over? Not yet."
His red flames roared to life, burning hotter than ever before. He slammed his fist into the ground, sending a shockwave of energy through the sand. The ground cracked and split beneath his power, and for a moment, the golden weapons faltered.
The masked man's eyes widened in surprise. "What...?"
Kurogane smirked, his body glowing with the intensity of his flames. "You think your fancy tricks can stop me? I don't care if you control the flames or the ground itself. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that you never stop fighting until the last ember burns out."
With a burst of speed, Kurogane charged through the barrage of weapons, his fists igniting with a concentrated, crimson glow. He dodged the flaming spears, deflected the swords with his forearms, and weaved through the barrage with inhuman agility. His target was clear — the masked man at the center of the sanctum.
But before he could close the distance, the masked man gritted his teeth and made a desperate move. "Enough!" he shouted, raising his hands high. All the golden weapons in the dome converged on Kurogane at once, their edges glowing with lethal energy.
Kurogane's eyes flared with determination. "Let's finish this!" he roared, and with a final burst of flame, he unleashed a devastating punch toward the oncoming weapons. His red flames collided with the golden arsenal in a massive explosion of heat and energy, the shockwave tearing through the desert, shaking the remnants of buildings around them.
When the dust settled, the golden dome shattered, The golden flames slowly dissipated, revealing the unconscious form of Kurogane, his body smoking and covered in burns. His once-bright red flames were extinguished, leaving him defenseless.
The assassin stood over him, breathing heavily, his golden flames flickering weakly. He watched Kurogane's still form for a moment, then sighed, muttering to himself, "He's strong... stronger than I expected."
Looking around the desolate battlefield, the assassin bent down, hoisting Kurogane's limp body over his shoulder. "Orders are orders," he whispered, his voice low. "But this wasn't personal."
As he began walking away, carrying Kurogane, he glanced up at the sky, where the sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the horizon. "I didn't think I'd have to use the Flame Sanctum today," he muttered under his breath. "But you pushed me to my limits... Captain."
The assassin's figure slowly disappeared into the shadows of the ruined city, Kurogane slung over his shoulderlike a fallen hero.
After the masked assassin carried Kurogane away, the battlefield remained eerily silent, the air still heavy with the remnants of golden and red flames. The city outskirts, now a wasteland, stood as a testament to the fierce battle that had just taken place.
As the assassin moved through the dark alleyways, carrying Kurogane's unconscious body, his mind raced. He hadn't expected the Radiant Order captain to be such a formidable opponent. Despite his victory, he felt uneasy. "I wasn't supposed to take it this far," he muttered to himself, adjusting Kurogane's weight on his shoulder.
The masked assassin trudged through the darkened streets, carrying Kurogane Akira's unconscious body over his shoulder. His breaths were heavy, the toll of the fight evident on his fatigued frame. He reached an old, abandoned building on the outskirts of the city. Without a word, he moved to the back of the structure, revealing a hidden hatch concealed beneath a pile of debris.Without hesitation, he opened a concealed hatch hidden among the debris and descended down a ladder into the underground tunnel.
The tunnel stretched out endlessly, dimly lit by flickering torches that barely pierced the darkness. The assassin's breathing grew heavier as he moved forward, the cold, damp air thick with silence. After what seemed like an eternity, he reached a large chamber—a secret prison, hidden from the eyes of the public. The flickering torchlight revealed rows of cells, their cold iron bars lined up like a forgotten relic of cruelty.
A hooded figure stood waiting at the end of the chamber, shrouded in shadow, their face obscured. The assassin, breathing heavily from his journey, unceremoniously dropped Kurogane onto the stone floor with a loud thud. "I brought him back, as you requested," the assassin said, his voice tinged with exhaustion.
The hooded figure stepped forward, observing the scene in silence before finally speaking. "Was it really that difficult to capture him?" they asked, their voice cold and distant.
The assassin straightened, catching his breath. "I wasn't trying to kill him," he replied with a hint of irritation. "If I'd wanted him dead, he would've been gone after my first two strikes."
The hooded figure nodded slowly, seemingly satisfied. "Lock him up," they commanded. "Chain him tightly."
The assassin obeyed, dragging Kurogane's body to a nearby cell. He secured the unconscious captain with thick, heavy chains, their metallic clank echoing ominously through the chamber. The shackles were no ordinary metal—they were enchanted to suppress flame abilities, rendering any prisoner helpless.
As the assassin finished his task and stepped back, he and the hooded figure began to speak in hushed tones, discussing matters out of Kurogane's earshot. But the silence was soon broken by a sound—a soft groan. Kurogane stirred, slowly regaining consciousness.
"He's awake," the assassin noted.
Kurogane let out a low, mocking laugh as his vision cleared and he realized where he was. Despite the chains binding him, his spirit remained defiant.
"What's so funny?" the assassin asked, turning to face him fully.
Kurogane smirked, his voice filled with amusement. "You've made a mistake," he said, his tone confident. "You've just kidnapped a captain of the Radiant Order. It's only a matter of time before they come looking for me."
The hooded figure stepped forward, their presence menacing. "What makes you think anyone will come to find you?" they asked, their voice laced with derision.
Kurogane's eyes gleamed with defiance. "The Pope doesn't take kindly to people touching his things," he replied with a smirk. "I'm one of the Radiant Order's captains, and I wield a rare flame. Losing me would be a serious blow to the Church. They'll come for me, and when they do, you'll regret this."
The hooded figure chuckled darkly. "You think the Pope cares about you?" They moved closer, their shadow looming over Kurogane. Slowly, they reached up and pulled back their hood, revealing their face.
Kurogane's eyes widened in shock as he recognized the man standing before him. "Why?" he gasped, disbelief flooding his voice. "Why are you here? I… I don't understand."
Standing before him was none other than the Pope himself, the man Kurogane had sworn to serve. His face was twisted in a cold, malicious smile. "Do you really think anyone is coming to save you now?" the Pope asked, his voice dripping with disdain.
Kurogane's heart raced. "This… this must be some kind of sick joke!" he shouted, his mind struggling to comprehend the betrayal.
"Oh, this is no joke," the Pope replied, his voice deadly calm. He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "I've been watching you for a long time, Kurogane. You've always been useful… until you started digging into things you shouldn't have."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Kurogane shot back, trying to keep his voice steady.
The Pope's eyes glinted with fury. "Don't play dumb. You were investigating the Ashwalkers. You found out things that were meant to stay buried."
Kurogane blinked in confusion. "The Ashwalkers? What does that have to do with—?"
The Pope cut him off, his voice growing colder. "Did you ever wonder how I rose to this position with a flame as 'common' as transparent?" His eyes briefly glowed with a translucent light, sending a chill down Kurogane's spine.
Realization dawned on Kurogane's face. "You're a special grade," he whispered in shock.
The Pope smiled wickedly. "Yes. My enhanced ability allows me to see into the future—a gift more valuable than you can imagine. And you, Kurogane… you've disrupted what I've foreseen. That's why you're here."
Kurogane struggled against his chains, his mind racing. "But special grades always manifest their auras unconsciously. How have you hidden it all this time?"
The Pope smirked, lifting his hand to reveal a ring he wore—its metal glinting in the low light. "Why don't you try breaking out of those chains?" he suggested, his voice mocking.
Kurogane gritted his teeth and attempted to summon his flame, but nothing happened. He pulled against the chains with all his might, but they held fast. His powers were completely suppressed.
The Pope's smile widened. "You can't, can you?" He held up the ring. "This material… it suppresses flame abilities. I didn't know it existed either—until a certain archaeologist discovered it for me, he was someone who was obsessed with the era of embers. Thanks to his research, I now have everything I need to control even the most powerful flames."
Kurogane's eyes narrowed. "An archaeologist?" he repeated, his mind flashing back to old stories of the Era of Embers—a time long ago when the world was at its peak. Most knowledge of that era had been lost, scattered across the outskirts of modern civilization. Some whispered that those memories had been erased from the collective consciousness, but no one truly knew what happened during that time.
Kurogane's mind raced. "But, You didn't have to go this far," he said, his voice hard. "Employing an assassin will ruin the Church's image."
At that, the Pope chuckled. "An assassin? No, no. You misunderstand." He gestured to the masked man standing beside him. "This is no mere assassin. He is Yoshikami Kira, one of the Inquisitors."
Kurogane's heart skipped a beat. "Inquisitors? You mean… Squad Zero?" He had heard rumors about them—elite assassins within the Church, tasked with handling the darkest, most secret affairs. But he had dismissed those rumors as mere fiction. After all, the Radiant Order was supposed to be the Church's force of justice.
The Pope's expression turned sly. "Oh yes, they exist. Inquisitors handle what the Radiant Order cannot… or will not."
Kurogane stared at Yoshikami, now fully realizing the depth of the Church's hidden machinations. "So, that's how it is…"
The Pope stepped even closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I've allowed you to play your little games because you were useful. But now? You've crossed a line. You came here searching for Kuragami Soma, didn't you? But you went too far."
Kurogane in shock replied, "how did you know?"
But the pope ignored him.
The Pope's eyes gleamed with malice. "Normally, I'd use the Communion to erase memories like yours, but I don't like unexpected variables. So I'm just going to put you away before you cause any more problems."
The Pope turned to leave, his final words echoing ominously through the chamber. "I'll tell the world that you died heroically, battling one of the Crimson Collective's apostles. It's a fitting story, don't you think?"
Kurogane's spirit faltered as the full weight of his fate settled in. The Pope was going to erase him, erase his existence as if he had never been. There was no way out.
As the Pope walked away, he paused briefly at the door and looked back with a chilling smile. "And Kurogane… you think your flame is rare? Just wait. You'll soon understand how insignificant it really is."
With that, the Pope and Yoshikami Kira disappeared into the shadows, leaving Kurogane alone in his cell, his mind racing with questions—and despair.