. A scene where Nero speaks directly to the fire – The fire tempts him, trying to make him surrender.
. A much stronger Shadow Hunter battle – The enemy fights Nero with wider, more dangerous powers.
. Angel and Nagel's fear grows – They begin to feel like Nero is becoming something inhuman.
. A critical moment where Nero faints – He awakens in a vision where Lord Aizen speaks to him about the fire.
---
The valley was too quiet.
The silence stretched unnaturally, heavy and suffocating. There was no wind, no distant animal cries—just the slow crunch of footsteps on dry earth.
And yet, Nero could feel something lurking in the darkness.
It wasn't just in the shadows.
It was inside him.
His fire pulsed beneath his skin, burning hotter than ever, whispering softly in the depths of his mind.
Then, in a voice only he could hear—
"Let me free."
"And all your pain will be gone"
Your friend's won't need to fear you anymore if you let me go.
---
(The Distance Between Them)
Angel and Nagel walked ahead, but the space between them felt wider than ever.
They weren't just leading the way.
They were putting distance between themselves and Nero.
They were afraid because Nero is becoming the person they don't recognized.
Nagel's grip on his axe was too tight.
Angel's posture was rigid, her fingers brushing against her sword.
They weren't walking beside him anymore.
They were walking away.
---
(The Fire That Wouldn't Die)
"You are resisting the inevitable."
Nero stopped in his tracks.
The voice came from within him.
From the fire.
"Who are you?" Nero whispered in his mind.
A deep chuckle.
"I am you. Or at least… what you will become."
Nero's heartbeat pounded.
"I control you."
"And you obey my commands"
The fire laughed.
"Do you?"
A sudden surge of heat flared through his body. The flames ignited along his arms, crawling up his skin like living serpents.
"Nero!" Angel shouted.
Nero gasped, stumbling.
The fire wasn't listening.
And for the first time, he wasn't sure if it ever had.
---
(The Hunter in the Shadows)
Then—
The wind stopped a bit.
The air grew thick with an unseen pressure.
A whisper slithered through the valley, low and inhuman.
"You are not worthy of that power."
Angel froze. "Something's here."
Nagel raised his axe. "Good. Let's kill it."
Then—
The shadows moved.
A figure emerged from the darkness—tall, inhuman, its body shifting like smoke, its eyes burning red.
It wasn't alone.
More figures formed behind it, their silhouettes flickering, twisting—like creatures born from nightmares.
And before Nero could react—
The fire moved first.
---
(The Fire's Wrath)
A blast of white-hot flames erupted from Nero's hands, engulfing the nearest shadow.
It screeched, writhing, burning.
But the others were unaffected.
One of the creatures raised its hands, summoning a wave of black energy that crashed against Nero's flames—snuffing them out instantly.
Nero's eyes widened.
"It absorbed my fire?"
The lead Shadow Hunter stepped forward. Its voice rumbled like stone grinding against stone.
"You are weak. You do not deserve that power."
Then it attacked.
---
(A Battle for Control)
Angel met the enemy mid-strike, her sword clashing against shadowy claws.
Nagel roared, swinging his axe, but the creatures were fast, weaving through the darkness like smoke.
Nero barely had time to react before one of them appeared behind him.
Claws lashed toward his chest.
Instinctively, he raised his hand—
And fire erupted outward in a violent shockwave.
The creature vanished in an instant, burned to nothing.
Nero's breathing was ragged.
But something inside him felt… right.
The fire whispered:
"Yes. This is what you are meant for."
---
(Angel and Nagel's Fear)
Angel and Nagel had seen what happened.
And for the first time—
They looked at Nero not with trust.
But with fear.
Nagel's voice was cold. "You didn't even hesitate."
Angel swallowed. "Nero… what's happening to you?"
Nero clenched his fists.
The fire pulsed inside him, whispering:
"They will never understand you."
---
(The Breaking Point)
The Shadow Hunter wasn't done.
It raised both hands, and the entire valley shifted.
A wave of black fire erupted from the ground, crashing toward them.
Angel and Nagel barely leaped out of the way.
Nero's vision blurred.
The power was too great.
The heat inside him boiled over.
Then—
Everything went dark.
---
(A Vision of Fire)
Nero opened his eyes.
But he was somewhere else.
A vast, endless ocean of flames stretched before him.
And standing in the center of it—
Was Lord Aizen.
The ancient warrior, the Lord of Flames himself, watched Nero with piercing golden eyes.
"You are close to the edge."
Nero took a shaky breath. "What's happening to me?"
Aizen stepped forward. "The fire is testing you."
"Testing me?" Nero frowned. "It feels like it's trying to take over."
Aizen nodded. "Because it is. That power was not meant for an ordinary man. It will consume you—unless you learn to master it."
Nero clenched his fists. "And how do I do that?"
Aizen's gaze darkened. "By deciding who you are. The fire will reflect your choice. But choose carefully, Nero… because once you surrender to it, there is no turning back."
The flames around them roared higher.
Then—
Darkness.
---
(The Awakening)
A voice called out.
"Nero. Wake up!"
Nero gasped, jolting awake.
Angel was shaking him, her eyes frantic.
"You collapsed!" she said. "We thought—"
She stopped herself.
Nagel stood behind her, staring at Nero like he didn't recognize him anymore.
Nero exhaled.
The fire inside him was silent now.
But he knew that wouldn't last.
Because the choice still had to be made.
And this time, there would be no more warnings.
---
End of Chapter 16
.Nero speaks to the fire—it tempts him to surrender.
.The Shadow Hunter fights back with powerful magic.
. Angel and Nagel's fear grows—they no longer see Nero as their friend.
.Nero faints and meets Lord Aizen, who warns him of the fire's true danger.
Next up: Chapter 17: The Breaking Point—Nero must decide his fate.