The alleyway was narrow and filthy, the ground littered with crumpled trash and half-empty bottles. In the middle of this forgotten space, a boy stood alone, his face illuminated by the flickering glow of fire matches. Tyler Blaze—small, unkempt, and wide-eyed—held the matches close, his lips curled into a twisted smile. His hands trembled, but it wasn't fear. It was excitement.

Fwoosh. A spark. A flame danced on the tip of the matchstick, and Tyler stared, entranced. He blew it out and lit it again. Over and over.

"Beautiful…" he whispered, his voice barely audible over the crackling fire.

The dumpster stood nearby, piled with forgotten junk, its edges rusted and sharp. Tyler's wide grin stretched further as he sauntered toward it. With one flick of his hand, he tossed the match inside. Flames exploded to life, licking up the sides of the metal bin, swallowing old cardboard and splintered wood. The smell of burning metal filled the air as it began to buckle and glow under the heat.

Tyler clapped his hands and laughed. "Beautiful! The fire is beautiful!" His laughter echoed off the brick walls, high-pitched and manic, his red eyes glowing as the flames reflected in them. He felt it again—a sense of completeness, of something bigger than himself.

Then came the sirens.

The wail of police cruisers filled the alley, and Tyler's laughter barely wavered. Blue and red lights flashed against the walls, but he didn't turn around.

"Hey, kid!" A voice boomed from a microphone. "Stop what you're doing and step away!"

Tyler ignored them. "Fire… beautiful fire…" he muttered, still staring into the blazing dumpster.

Two officers emerged from the car, hands on their belts. "Kid, I'm not gonna say it again—"

One officer reached for his shoulder. Tyler's reaction was instantaneous.

Thud! Tyler whipped his head back, headbutting the cop hard enough to send him stumbling. The second officer lunged to assist, but Tyler twisted, kicking him square in the gut. Both cops staggered, unprepared for the violent outburst from a boy so small.

"Fire is so beautiful!" Tyler sang. "So beautiful, so beautiful…" He started humming, spinning in place as if he were dancing in celebration of the inferno.

The officers recovered quickly. Anger flashed across one cop's face as he lunged again. This time, he wasn't holding back.

Smack! A fist collided with Tyler's face, sending him flying backward—straight into the dumpster.

Whoosh!

The flames latched onto Tyler's arm instantly. He screamed, but there was no pain in his voice—only exhilaration.

"I'm on fire! I'm on fire!" he shrieked, staring at the flames devouring his skin. The cops panicked.

"Kid, stop, drop, and roll! Do it now!" one officer shouted desperately.

But Tyler just grinned, his eyes wild. "No! I will be covered in Mother Nature's beautiful crimson flame!"

The fire consumed him. He collapsed to the ground, his laughter echoing one last time before it stopped altogether. The officers stared in shock as the boy's body lay motionless, flames still smoldering around him.

Darkness.

The void seemed endless, but then came the pain—sharp, crushing pain in his stomach. A boot connected again and again, forcing him to curl into a ball. A man's voice snarled above him.

"Learn your lesson, you little punk!"

The boy coughed and whimpered. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry, sir…"

The man just laughed cruelly and struck again. "Pathetic."

Something shifted in the boy's mind. His vision blurred, and suddenly, words appeared in front of him. A glowing screen hovered in the dark, clear and sharp:

Welcome to a New World.

Memory Return: 5…4…3…2…1…0.

The flood of memories hit like a tidal wave. The flames. The laughter. The fire matches. The burning dumpster. Tyler Blaze.

His eyes widened as realization struck. He wasn't himself anymore—or at least not entirely. His laughter began, soft and low at first, until it grew into a manic cackle. The man stopped kicking him and scowled.

"What's so funny, punk?"

The boy looked up, his smile wide and wicked. "You."

The man grabbed him by the collar and lifted him. "Say that again, Dylan. I dare you."

"No," the boy hissed, his red eyes glowing faintly. "I'm not Dylan anymore."

He leaned forward, his grin dripping with malice. "Call me Blaze."

Fwoosh.

Flames erupted around the boy's body. The man screamed and dropped him, clutching his burned hands. "My hands! What did you do, you little freak?!"

Blaze rose to his feet, steam curling off his skin. Another glowing screen appeared before him, bright and alive:

Name: Blaze

Age: 12

Species: Human (Reborn)

Gender: Male

Nickname: Flame Reaper

Occupation: Pyromancer

Level: 1

Health Points (HP): 100/100

Magic Points (MP): 150/150

Strength: 10

Agility: 15

Attack: 20

Intelligence: 30

Skills:

Flame Manipulation (Lv. 1): Control and shape small flames with precision.

Heat Resistance (Lv. 1): Reduces fire damage taken by 10%.

Ember Touch (Lv. 1): Infuse hands with heat to deal minor fire damage on contact.

Pyro Boost (Lv. 1): Temporarily increases fire magic potency by 20% for 30 seconds.

Ash Step (Lv. 1): Move quickly through smoke and ash, gaining evasion for a short time.

Abilities:

Ignite: Set flammable objects ablaze instantly.

Fire Wave: Unleash a short-range wave of fire that damages all enemies in front.

Infernal Burst: Create a small explosion of fire centered on the user.

Cauterize Wound: Heal minor injuries by sealing them with heat.

Magic:

Ember Spark: Launch a small flame that ignites targets.

Flame Whip: Form a whip of fire to strike enemies from mid-range.

Burning Wall: Erect a wall of fire that blocks enemies and deals damage.

Unique Skills:

Crimson Flame Awakening: Temporarily unleash the full destructive potential of fire magic, doubling all fire-related stats and abilities for 60 seconds. Cooldown: 24 hours.

Crimson Flame Demon Form: Transform into a demonic form cloaked in infernal flames, drastically increasing strength, agility, and fire magic potency by 50%. Grants temporary immunity to fire damage and access to enhanced abilities. Duration: 5 minutes. Cooldown: 48 hours.

Blaze's laughter grew louder as the screen filled with new skills and abilities, each one related to fire. His body pulsed with raw, uncontainable power.

The man stumbled backward, terrified. "What are you?!"

Blaze raised his hand, a ball of fire blooming in his palm. His grin stretched wide. "I burned you with Mother Nature's fire and love."

With a flick of his wrist, the flames surged forward, engulfing the man in an inferno. His screams echoed through the house, but Blaze didn't flinch. He stood still, watching the fire with a serene, wicked smile.

"Beautiful…" he whispered.

The house creaked as the flames spread, devouring everything. Blaze turned, his body vanishing into the rising crimson smoke.

"Let this world witness my beautiful flames," he said, his voice carrying into the distance. "This is only the beginning."