In the wake of the unexpected eruption of flames, the campsite was plunged into a brighter gleam. The members of the group who had betrayed me were now thrown off balance, their eyes fixed on me with a shock.

Isaac, nursing his scorched hands, backed away, his face contorted with pain. Mia, Lila, and Lucas exchanged serious glances, unsure of how to react to this sudden shift.

The cold that had immobilized me was now replaced by warmth, coursing through my veins. Dancing around me, crackling and hissing.

The light emitted by the flames was intense. It cut through the darkness of the night, casting the forest around us into vibrant glow. The trees and the foliage were illuminated by the light, creating long, flickering shadows across the ground.

What was truly surprising, however, was the realization that the flames surrounding me weren't as painful as they used to be. This development sent a wave of confusion through my mind until a system prompt appeared, offering a much-needed explanation.

Due to the clash between extreme cold and extreme heat, the negative effects of 'Self-Immolation' have been temporarily mitigated.

Current consumption: 1% of Maximum Life per second, reduced from the usual 2%.

Now aware of the altered state of my Self-Immolation ability, I noticed a significant change in my physical sensations.

Instead of the intense, scorching pain that usually accompanied the activation of my flames, the experience was blatantly different.

The discomfort that I did feel was mild at best. It was reminiscent of the feeling one might have while taking a warm bath.

The heat, rather than peeling at my skin with unbearable intensity, now felt soothing and almost nurturing.

It was a comforting, deep-seated heat one might feel after a vigorous session of physical exercise.

My muscles, previously tensed and frozen, now relaxed, basking in the warmth that flowed through them.

And due to the decreased life consumption rate – now at only 1% per second – my passive skill 'Enduring Vitality' came into play more effectively.

For the first time, the cursed skill that had been more of a burden than a boon seemed genuinely usable.

The flames that once drained my life force with their unrelenting heat now burned in a state of equilibrium, balanced by the regenerative power of 'Enduring Vitality'.

It was a remarkable turn of events; the skill I had once dreaded invoking was now aiding me in an unexpected way.

Despite the newfound usability of my 'Self-Immolation' skill, I was painfully aware of its uselessness. Essentially, I was still just a human torch, flames engulfing me without extending beyond my immediate vicinity.

I couldn’t project these flames like a fireball from my palms, nor could I set a wider area ablaze; the fire was confined to my body, serving more as a personal shield than an offensive weapon.

The most I could do with this ability in its current form was to cause searing pain to anyone who made direct contact with me, akin to touching a scalding hot surface.

However, I couldn't afford to dwell on the limitations of my ability at this moment. The fact remained that 'Self-Immolation', in its current state, was providing me with a critical advantage – a means to fend off the cold.

"F-Flames!?" Isaac exclaimed, struggling to comprehend the sudden transformation.

Mia, equally taken aback, turned to me, her eyes wide with shock and curiosity. "I-It can't be, are you a pyromancer?" she questioned.

I stood there, silent, unable to confirm or deny their suspicions.

Lucas, sensing the escalating tension and confusion among the group, quickly stepped in with a voice of reason. "Everyone, calm down!" he said, maintaining a level of composure amidst the chaos.

"Remember, numerous classes have the capability to manipulate flames. It's not exclusive to pyromancers. Besides, what are the odds that a member of the Arashi clan would be out here, in such a remote location? It's probably just a coincidence," he explained, his tone steady and persuasive.

He aimed to diffuse the situation, guiding the group away from hasty and potentially erroneous assumptions.

Lila, her expression fraught with worry, joined the conversation, adding to the growing sense of unease. "But what if he is from the Arashi clan?" she said, her voice laced with concern. "If he ends up dead, and they investigate, they might trace it back to us. I can't even begin to think of the consequences."

Her words hung in the air, amplifying the gravity of the situation. The fear of retribution from a powerful and influential family like the Arashi was not something to be taken lightly. The mere possibility sent a ripple of anxiety through the group.

Lucas, however, seemed to take a more pragmatic, yet darker, approach. "If he really is an Arashi, then we have even more reason to get rid of him." he argued, his tone resolute.

"Think about it – if we let him live and he turns out to be one of them, he could always come back for revenge, family in tow. We can't risk that."

The atmosphere among the group shifted palpably as they reached a silent consensus.

The expressions on their faces transformed from uncertainty to grim very quickly, each one now exuding a unmistakable intent to kill.

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I watched as the group of four began to approach me. In this moment of imminent danger, my mind raced to assess the situation.

Lila and Mia, with their respective abilities of enhancing consumables and creating unpredictable potions, were certainly known but they weren't a immediate threat other then the daggers they held in hand.

My primary concern was Isaac and Lucas, whose classes and skills remained unknown to me.

Their unpredictability made them the most immediate and dangerous variables in this confrontation.

The odds were not in my favor – facing four adversaries at once was a daunting challenge.

The fight erupted into a frenzied melee, with all four members of the group launching a relentless assault on me. I found myself in a desperate struggle, surrounded by adversaries on all sides.

Isaac, his eyes cold and calculating, was the first to launch an attack. He lunged at me with his dagger, each strike dangerously precise. I narrowly dodged his blade, feeling the rush of adrenaline fueling my movements.

Mia and Lila weren't far behind, each adopting their own style. Mia's movements were quick and agile, her dagger a silver flash in the dim light.

Lila, more cautious, waited for openings to exploit, her attacks more measured but just as deadly.

Lucas joined in, coordinating his strikes with Isaac's, creating a deadly dance that was hard to predict. “You’re outnumbered and outmatched!” he shouted, swinging his weapon with force.

Despite my best efforts, their blades found their mark, leaving shallow cuts that accumulated over time.

Despite the relentless pace of the battle, the constant movement, and the accumulating cuts, a surprising realization dawned on me - I did not feel the expected fatigue.

Normally, such a prolonged and intense skirmish would leave anyone panting and drained, in particular from the amount of blood one would lose from the cuts, but my body felt like it was being fueled by a constant source of energy.

Confused by this unexpected resilience, I glanced at a recent cut on my arm.

While the wound was still there, the bleeding had stopped almost instantly, and the gash was rapidly closing itself.

This wasn't the work of my 'Enduring Vitality' skill, which primarily focused on healing the life consumed by my self-immolation. Instead, something else was at play.

Then it hit me – cauterization. A well-known medical technique I had seen employed several times within the Arashi family during combat practice.

The Arashi seniors would often spar with such intensity and ferocity, resulting in severe injuries. Unable to always rely on potions or healers due to exorbitant costs, they had their own method of quick, yet limited, healing: cauterization.

Cauterization involves using heat to burn tissue, which can seal wounds or stop bleeding. In the case of the Arashi, a family of pyromancers, they could easily produce flames to mend their injuries.

The intense heat from their pyromancy would cauterize the wounds sustained in combat, stemming blood loss and sealing cuts rapidly.

Now, amidst this fight for survival, I was inadvertently benefiting from the same process. The intense heat from my 'Self-Immolation' was acting to cauterize my wounds as they occurred.

Each slash or cut was quickly sealed by the heat, preventing significant blood loss and allowing me to continue fighting without the usual hindrance of such injuries.

A smile crept across my face, almost involuntarily. Excitement bubbled within me as I began to understand the true potential of my power. Until now, the skill information hadn't explicitly listed these advantages, but in the heat of battle, I had discovered not one but two distinct uses for my Self-Immolation ability.

But at this very moment, i noticed two other crucial advantage.

"Ha...Hahaha! What's this, my ability isn't as bad as i had thought!" I couldn't stop laughting even at this moment of potential death.

“Damn it, what’s happening to my weapon?!” Isaac exclaimed in frustration, inspecting his deformed dagger.

Mia, swinging her now-blunted dagger, echoed his sentiment. “This heat... it’s ruining our blades!”

Each time their daggers struck at me, the constant exposure to the intense heat emanating from my body was taking its toll on their weapons. The metal of their blades was visibly deteriorating, slowly warping and melting under the sustained high temperature.

The realization that their primary tools of offense were becoming ineffective added a layer of desperation to their attacks. They were growing visibly exhausted, their movements becoming less coordinated and more erratic as they struggled to adapt to the changing dynamics.

Beyond deteriorating their weapons, the intense heat emanating from my body served another purpose – it added a layer of oppressive heat to anyone who came close to me, hastening their exhaustion.

“Fuck! This heat... it's unbearable!” gasped Lucas, wiping sweat from his brow as he tried to maintain his attack pattern. The relentless heat was visibly taking its toll, draining their energy at an accelerated pace.

Mia, attempting another strike, faltered slightly, her face flushed from the heat. “It’s like fighting in a furnace,” she complained, her movements losing their earlier precision.

Lila, while trying to stay focused, was clearly struggling with the sweltering temperature. “We need to finish this, or we’ll be cooked alive,” she said through gritted teeth, determination battling against the overwhelming heat.

As the fight wore on, the tide continued to turn in my favor. The group's exhaustion from the heat, coupled with their deteriorating weapons, was evident. However, just when it seemed like their resolve was waning, Isaac called out to Lucas with a tone of urgency.

"Lucas, we can't stall this any longer! Use your ability!" Isaac commanded, his voice cutting through the sweltering air.

Lucas, who had been on the back foot due to the oppressive heat, nodded in understanding. Reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small, inconspicuous needle. With a swift and precise movement, he threw it towards me.

Instinctively, I raised my hand to defend myself, but the needle was too fast, embedding itself into my arm. However, due to the intense heat radiating from my body, the needle quickly began to melt.

"Got him," Lucas exclaimed triumphantly. "The needle got into him. The paralyzing effect should start any moment now. Isaac, finish him off!"

Confusion coursed through me. Lucas had mentioned paralysis, but I felt no different, no signs of the creeping immobility.

Meanwhile, Isaac, trusting in Lucas's ability, advanced with his dagger, which began emitting a sharp, bright light, signaling an enhanced attack. Anticipating a strike, he swung the dagger towards my neck, but I managed to dodge swiftly, much to their astonishment.

Isaac, infuriated by the miss, turned to Lucas in a rage. "What happened?!" he screamed, his anger palpable.

Lucas looked just as puzzled, his brows furrowed in confusion. "I don't understand... I used my paralyzing ability. He shouldn't be able to move!"

It was then that the pieces fell into place for me.

Lucas's ability likely involved paralyzing his target, and the needle he threw must have been imbued with a substance to that effect.

Isaac's follow-up with an enhanced attack from his glowing dagger, which quickly lost its luminescence after missing its target, was part of their coordinated strategy.

But then, yet again, realization dawned on me: 'sterilization' i thought.

High temperatures are known to kill bacteria, viruses, and other ailments.

The paralyzing agent, once introduced into my body, must have been neutralized by the extreme heat generated by my Self-Immolation skill. Essentially, the heat was acting as a sterilizing agent, nullifying the effects of the paralyzing substance upon contact with my skin.

A surge of electrifying excitement coursed through me, igniting a fire in my spirit that matched the flames enveloping my body. I couldn't contain the gritty, exuberant energy that erupted from within.

"Every hit, every damn moment in this fight .. This is just... insanely awesome!"

My eyes blazed with fierce and a voracious hunger for knowledge. The fear and uncertainty that had clouded my thoughts were now completely overshadowed by an overpowering desire to understand what else my ability provided.

The flames around me responded to my heightened emotions, growing more intense and fierce. To the others, I must have appeared as a demon forged from the flames.

"Let’s see what more I can do with these flames!" I shouted, a wild and horrific grin spreading across my face.