.The fire's will revealed – If it never needed Nero, what does it want now?
. Angel's moment of truth – With the fire moving toward her, will she fight or fall?.
.Nagel's impossible choice – Strike now, or risk losing everything.
.The stranger's final warning – This is not the end. This is only the beginning.
.Nero's last chance – If he is still in there, this is his moment to act.
---
Chapter 35: A Throne of Fire
The fire had made its choice.
It no longer swirled around Nero.
No longer waited for his command.
Instead—
It moved.
Straight toward Angel.
---
(The Fire's Will Revealed)
The flames shifted.
Not wild.
Not reckless.
But deliberate.
As if they had found something new.
A new vessel.
A new host.
Or perhaps—
A new ruler.
---
(Angel's Moment of Truth)
Angel felt it before she saw it.
The heat curling toward her.
The weight pressing against her chest.
Like a hand reaching out—
Testing.
Judging.
She took a shaky breath.
Her fingers clenched.
Would she run?
Would she fight?
Or would she burn?
---
(Nagel's Impossible Choice)
Nagel didn't hesitate.
He moved.
His axe swung toward the flames—
But the fire did not flinch.
It parted around the blade.
Avoiding it.
Ignoring it.
As if Nagel did not matter.
As if it had already chosen.
His blood ran cold.
"Angel, move!"
But she didn't.
---
(The Stranger's Final Warning)
The cloaked figure watched.
Unmoving.
Unbothered.
"You still do not understand."
Nagel's fists clenched.
"Then explain it!"
A pause.
Then—
A quiet, knowing smile.
"This is not an ending."
They turned toward Angel.
"This is a coronation."
---
(Nero's Last Chance)
Deep inside, Nero stirred.
The fire's grip was strong.
But something was stronger.
A voice.
Not the fire's.
Not the stranger's.
His own.
And it whispered—
No.
The flames curled.
Hesitated.
Nero clenched his fists.
And for the first time—
He fought back.
(Nero's Fight for Control)
Deep inside, Nero pushed back.
He didn't know how.
Didn't know if it was even possible.
But he tried.
The fire snarled, resisting him.
It had lived inside him for so long.
Shaped him.
Burned him.
And now—
It didn't want to let go.
But Nero wasn't asking anymore.
He was taking back what was his.
---
(Angel's Fateful Decision)
The fire reached for her.
Not consuming.
Not attacking.
Testing.
Angel felt the heat wrap around her, gentle yet suffocating.
Like an unseen hand, waiting.
Choose.
A single word burned in her mind.
Choose.
Her breath caught.
Was it offering her power?
Or was it something else?
Something worse?
Her hands trembled.
If she accepted it—
Would she ever be herself again?
---
(Nagel's Desperation)
Nagel swore.
His attack had done nothing.
The flames hadn't even noticed him.
And now Angel—
She was just standing there.
Letting the fire surround her.
"Angel, move!"
She didn't.
Nagel's heart pounded.
If he couldn't cut through the fire—
If he couldn't reach them—
Then what could he do?
---
(The Stranger's Final Move)
The cloaked figure stepped forward.
Not with urgency.
Not with fear.
But with understanding.
They tilted their head.
"You feel it, don't you?"
Their voice was soft.
Calm.
Directed at Angel.
"This is not an attack."
A pause.
"This is an invitation."
---
(The Fire's Reaction)
The flames tightened.
Not around Angel.
Not around Nagel.
But around Nero.
Like a creature sensing defiance.
Sensing betrayal.
For the first time—
The fire turned its attention back to him.
And it was not pleased.
---
Nero's Resistance Ignites a War Within
Inside the flames, Nero fought.
Not with his fists.
Not with his fire.
But with his will.
"You are mine," the fire whispered.
Nero gritted his teeth.
"No."
The flames coiled tighter.
Stronger.
"You were never meant to resist."
Heat surged through his veins.
His breath caught.
But he did not give in.
Because if he did—
He wouldn't be Nero anymore.
---
(Angel's Impossible Choice)
The fire wrapped around her like a question.
Soft.
Lingering.
It did not burn.
It waited.
Choose.
A single word, whispered in the back of her mind.
It would not force her.
It would let her decide.
But she knew—
Once the choice was made, there was no turning back.
---
(Nagel's Breaking Point)
Nagel swung again.
Again.
Again.
But the flames did not waver.
His axe might as well have been swinging at the wind.
For the first time, he felt powerless.
For the first time, he felt fear.
His hands clenched.
His heart pounded.
Because if his blade could not stop this—
Then what could?
---
(The Stranger's Final Revelation)
The cloaked figure sighed.
"Fascinating."
They watched as if this was all a play unfolding before them.
"You think this is the first time I've seen this?"
Nagel turned sharply.
"What are you talking about?"
The stranger smiled.
"I have seen many men rise in fire."
They tilted their head.
"And many men fall to it."
A pause.
A knowing smirk.
"The real question is—"
"Which one will Nero be?"
---
(The Fire's Vengeance)
The flames shuddered.
Like a living thing.
Like a beast denied its prey.
Then—
They lashed out.
Straight toward Nero.
Nagel's eyes widened.
Angel gasped.
Even the stranger stepped back.
Because this was no longer an invitation.
This was punishment.
---
(Nero's Desperate Battle)
The flames turned on him.
They snapped.
They lunged.
Nero had felt their heat before—
But never like this.
This was not power.
This was rage.
For the first time, the fire did not want to be controlled.
It wanted to consume.
---
(Angel's Final Answer)
The fire still hovered around her.
Waiting.
Offering.
One last chance.
Angel's chest rose and fell.
Her hands shook.
She had seen what the fire had done to Nero.
She had seen what it could do.
But what if—
What if she could use it?
Control it?
What if she could stop this?
Her fingers twitched.
Choose.
The whisper burned in her mind.
Choose.
She clenched her fists.
And then—
She made her decision.
---
(Nagel's Reckoning)
Nagel couldn't breathe.
His axe felt useless in his hands.
Every instinct screamed at him to fight.
To swing.
To strike.
But against what?
Against fire itself?
He had fought monsters.
He had fought men.
But this?
This was something else.
His jaw tightened.
"I won't stand here and watch him burn."
His grip shifted.
"If I can't kill the fire…"
His gaze flickered to Nero.
"Then I'll tear him free from it myself."
---
(The Stranger's Cruel Amusement)
The cloaked figure laughed softly.
"You still don't see it."
Nagel glared.
"See what?"
The stranger smiled.
"This was never about fire."
Their red eyes gleamed.
"This was about what it leaves behind."
Angel's breath hitched.
"What… what do you mean?"
The stranger gestured toward Nero.
"Watch."
---
(The Fire's Final Strike)
The flames exploded outward.
Not wild.
Not chaotic.
Targeted.
Nero's body convulsed.
His voice twisted into a scream.
The fire did not want him.
The fire did not want a king.
It wanted to erase him.
And now—
It would.
---
End of Chapter
.Nero fights back—but the fire has turned against him.
.Angel makes her choice—but what has she chosen?
.Nagel refuses to stand by—if he cannot stop the fire, he will tear Nero free from it.
.The stranger reveals the truth—this was never about fire, but what comes after.
.The fire strikes—it no longer wants a king. It wants Nero gone.
Next up: Chapter 36: The Fire's Rebellion—If Nero is erased, what rises in his place?