My body felt different—tighter, sharper, alive in a way it hadn't been since... ever. Every muscle burned, but not in the way that meant failure. This was something else. Growth, maybe? I ran a hand down my arm, feeling the leaner curve of muscle, the strength that seemed to hum just beneath the surface. Even my heartbeat felt synchronized with the flicker of flames around me, a constant thrum of energy coursing through my veins.
The System buzzed in the back of my mind, a faint distraction amidst the eerie stillness of the forest.
"Flame Affinity III Unlocked: Flames flow freely within you."
"Great," I muttered, dragging myself to my feet. "Flames in my blood. Just what I needed."
