In the cold stillness of an endless void, there was only darkness.
A strange, consuming silence lingered, stretching in every direction as if the world itself had forgotten what it was like to breathe.
In the distance, a faint spark of light appeared, small at first, flickering like a candle's flame caught in the wind.
It grew slowly, steadily, until it expanded into a great inferno, consuming all that was around it. Yet, this fire did not burn.
It was something... different. A consciousness, newly awakened.
"Where am I?" The voice that whispered through the flames was not one of fire,
but of a human soul—a soul that had once belonged to Kaito Watanabe, an average office worker who had met a tragic end in his previous life.
He was now trapped inside the flames, reborn as something else entirely.
Kaito tried to move, but his form—if he could even call it that—was not solid. He felt weightless, drifting like a gust of wind.
And yet, within that weightlessness, there was power. The power of flame.
Kaito had always been a fan of fantasy novels, manga, and anime, with an unhealthy obsession for reincarnation stories.
He often imagined what it would be like to be reincarnated into another world.
But never in his wildest dreams had he imagined being reborn as a pure elemental being, much less the Element of Fire itself.
"What is this...?" Kaito's thoughts struggled to form as his mind adjusted to the reality of his new existence.
He could feel the immense heat, the crackling of energy beneath his essence, but there was no body—only pure flame.
"You are the Elemental Sovereign. The Flame that burns all, the fire that shapes the world," a voice echoed through the void, as if answering his confusion.
It was an ancient, almost reverential voice, but there was no source for it—no physical presence.
Kaito's thoughts swirled in panic. Was he stuck like this forever? The Element of Fire... Sovereign of Flames?
He couldn't deny the excitement stirring deep within him.
This wasn't the death he had imagined; this was an opportunity.
It was like being given the ability to mold the world itself, the power to forge his own destiny from the very elements that made up the land. But... what would he do with that power?
"You must grow, young flame," the voice continued. "You are reborn not only as the fire but as a force to shape the fate of the world. Harness your powers.
Grow your influence. Your reign as the Flame Sovereign begins now."
The words reverberated through Kaito's being, and his heart—if he still had one—pounded in response.
He wasn't sure where to start, but the voice was clear: He had to grow stronger. But how?
Just then, something shifted. A spark. From within the endless flames, a figure appeared.
It was like watching an ember take form, twisting and curling in mid-air before solidifying into the shape of a woman—a woman made entirely of fire, her figure illuminated in blazing orange and red.
Her eyes were like pools of molten lava, and she exuded an aura of immense power.
"I am Lina," she spoke, her voice a delicate mix of warmth and strength.
"I was chosen as the first of your subordinates. I am here to serve you, Flame Sovereign."
Kaito hesitated. "Subordinate?" he asked, unable to comprehend. "What do you mean? I'm... just a fire."
Lina's fiery form swirled, her smile enigmatic. "You are the flame, yes.
But even the flame needs fuel. The fire is not strong without those who feed it. I shall be that fuel, as will others."
The realization hit Kaito like a bolt of lightning. Subordinates. He didn't have to do everything himself.
He could build something—something bigger than himself. He could create a kingdom, a domain ruled by fire, with himself at its core.
And for that, he needed followers, subordinates who would grow strong under his power, and in turn, make him even stronger.
The thought excited him. The power to shape and control. The power to rule.
But his heart also swelled with uncertainty. Could he truly command others? Could he lead a kingdom built on flame?
"What should I do now?" Kaito asked, his voice tinged with both excitement and anxiety.
Lina tilted her head, her form dancing with the flickering light of the fire. "First, you must find your foundation, my Sovereign.
A place to call your own. You cannot rule without land, without subjects."
With that, the world around Kaito began to shift. The endless void dissolved, replaced by a sprawling land—a land bathed in the warm, golden light of the setting sun.
The earth beneath him pulsed with life, but it was a life he could not yet touch. His flame remained limited, confined to the edges of this new world.
He felt the need to expand, to reach further out and grow stronger.
But even as he considered how to extend his power, Kaito sensed something stirring in the distance—something dark and dangerous. A rival.
The thought of a challenge made Kaito's fire flare brighter.
He wasn't content to simply exist in this world. He would rule it. With fire as his ally, he would rise.
"I will build something here," Kaito said, his voice resonating with growing confidence. "I will create a kingdom—my kingdom—where flame burns eternal. And I'll make sure no one stands in my way."
Lina smiled, her flames growing hotter in approval. "Then we shall begin."