An overwhelming sensation coursed through me, teetering on the brink of something dark and exhilarating. It was a feeling I had never known before, one that edged dangerously close to a delight in chaos and power.

For the first time, I found myself in the midst of a genuine battle, a stark confrontation between life and death.

I had always envisioned my first real test of strength to be within the Tower, against its monstrous inhabitants, not against my own kind.

But I was acutely aware that humans, with their complex motives and cunning, could pose threats far greater than any creature.

The rush of the fight was intoxicating in a way I had never anticipated.

Far from any hesitation or struggle, I found myself deeply immersed in the combat, more alive in this moment of conflict than I had ever felt before.

Observing the fear and worry that now marked their faces, provided with a dark thrill.

It was deeply satisfying to see the realization dawn on them — they had severely underestimated me, and now they were the ones ensnared in a desperate plight. The power dynamics had shifted dramatically, and I reveled in it far too much.

Their expressions, once marked by confidence and killing intent, were now etched with desperation and fear.

In their attempt to overpower me, they had unwittingly unleashed something within me.

In that moment, my vision was tinged with a controlled red — not borne of blind anger or unbridled rage, but a focused, almost a desired bloodlust.

I found myself consumed by a crave to overpower them, to extinguish their lives as they had tried to extinguish mine, and to discover what further secrets my abilities held.

Yet, there was no remorse in me for these dark thoughts. They had sought to end my life, and it seemed only natural, only fair, to return the sentiment in kind.

As the realization that they were now at a disadvantage sank in, the group fell eerily silent.

The only sounds were the crackling of my flames and the rapid beating of my heart, thundering in my chest like a relentless drum.

My muscles were in a state that was hard to describe — relaxed yet tensed, as if I had undergone a long session of intense workout, while simultaneously basking in the warmth and relaxation of a sauna. It was an unusual feeling, yet, one that I found surprisingly enjoyable.

The group finally spoke up, their voices laced with resignation. "We were wrong." one of them said, their tone suggesting a truce. "Let's just end things here. No need to take this any further."

"..." Their words fell on deaf ears. I looked at them with a stoic expression, my resolve unwavering.

Despite their attempt to deescalate, my desire to exact retribution was stronger than ever.

"It's to late for that!" In a swift, impulsive decision, I charged at them.

As I took a forceful step forward, another unexpected phenomenon occurred.

"Huh?"

The strength I exerted propelled me forward with such velocity that I struggled to maintain balance. Realizing that I wouldn't be able to land a precise punch at this speed, I made a split-second decision and aimed directly at Lucas.

With my elbow leading, I collided with him with a thunderous impact.

Bam!

The force of the collision sent Lucas flying backward, crashing into a nearby tree with a loud bang that reverberated through the area. The sheer power of the impact surprised even me.

The impact had been so forceful that it had carved the tree nearly in half, the wood splintered and fractured from the sheer force. Lucas himself was embedded into the crevice created by his body's impact.

His upper body clothing was scorched to ash and his exposed skin bore a significant burn mark.

The burn resembled the mark left by a branding iron on a horse, a distinct and painful emblem imprinted on his flesh.

He lay motionless in the hollowed tree, his breaths shallow and labored. The severity of the impact, combined with the burn from my flames, had rendered him incapacitated in a instant.

I found myself as bewildered as the others who stared in shock at their friend's incapacitated form. The surge in power and speed I had just exhibited was staggering and unexpected.

Such feats are typically associated with significant investment in dexterity and strength stats, not vitality, which is where all my points were allocated.

How then, could I display such remarkable physical capabilities?

My mind raced to find an explanation, and at that moment, a plausible theory began to form.

If we consider that physical exertion generates heat as a byproduct of the effort exerted by muscles, it stands to reason that the heat would enhance muscle flexibility and strength.

This, combined with another factor – adrenaline – could potentially explain this unexpected boost.

Adrenaline, often released in response to the fight-or-flight instinct, isn't just triggered by external threats or stressors.

Internal factors, such as the stress of being... self-immolated, could also prompt its release!

The extreme situation I was in, compounded by the continual self-inflicted damage from my skill, likely prompted my brain to signal the adrenal glands to release adrenaline, thus enhancing my power and reaction speed.

Two factors of symbiotic relationship where being at play for this display to occur, The intense heat permeating my muscle which contributed in the augmentation of my musculoskeletal strength and the combination of adrenaline.

A rush of exhilaration surged through me, an almost euphoric feeling that was both bewildering and invigorating. "Ah~, this sensation... it's exhilarating," I found myself murmuring, unable to contain the rush of adrenaline and endorphins coursing through me.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The flames, once a source of sheer pain, were now intertwined with a bizarre yet undeniable sense of pleasure.

My body, continually burning, felt increasingly alive, not just in a physical sense, but in a cascade of euphoric sensation.

I gazed upwards into the sky, my face flushed red, fully embracing the dual sensations of pain and pleasure. It was perhaps a cocktail of endorphins released by my body in response to the self-inflicted damage – and the thrill of unlocking new facets of my ability.

Overwhelmed by the intense rush of euphoria, my voice rang out clear and fervent against the backdrop of the night. "I WANT MORE!" The desire for that exhilarating sensation was overpowering.

It was as if a floodgate had opened within me, unleashing a craving for the rush, the heat, the sheer exhilaration of battle.

With every passing second, this yearning intensified, propelling me further into the fray.

Emboldened by this hunger, I turned my attention back to the three others.

They stood hesitantly, their expressions a mix of fear and uncertainty, having witnessed the transformation in me.

Like a tempest, I threw myself into them. Each movement was fueled by my desire for more of the adrenaline-fueled euphoria that the battle brought.

My attacks were relentless, driven by a combination of my enhanced physical capabilities and the insatiable hunger for the exhilarating sensation that combat now provided.

The flames that wreathed my body seemed to feed off my emotions, growing more intense with every strike and counterstrike. My opponents struggled to keep up, their efforts hampered by their failing weapons and the oppressive heat that radiated from me.

The once-cohesive group found themselves overwhelmed by the ferocity of my assault. One after another, they succumbed to the relentless onslaught of my flames and fists. Their once-confident faces now twisted in fear and desperation.

"Please, stop! We surrender!" Isaac pleaded, his voice shaking as he held up his hands in a futile attempt to ward off my attacks.

Mia, a stark contrast to her previously confident and seductive demeanor, was now consumed by fear and desperation. Tears streamed down her face as she made a final, pleading appeal.

"You've won! Please, no more... I beg you!" she sobbed, her voice cracking under the weight of her terror.

"I-I know we tried to... to kill you, but I-I'll do anything you want. You can use my body... I-I can be useful, so please... please don't kill me." Her words were a mix of bargaining and sheer panic.

Her plea was heart-wrenching, a cry of absolute despair from someone who realized the gravity of their situation too late.

Mia's humanizing display of vulnerability might have given pause to another, but in me, it only ignited a darker desire.

Gazing upon her tear-streaked face, her body trembling with fear at the prospect of her imminent demise, I felt a surge of a different kind of excitement. A horrifying smile, one that spoke of an unquenchable thirst and a swelling lust, spread across my face.

In the eerie silence that followed her plea, I moved towards her.

My approach was deliberate, each step fueled by the intensity of the moment.

As I reached her, my scorching hands, radiating intense heat, clasped around her neck, pressing her down to the ground.

I reveled in the terror that flickered in her eyes, the pain etched on her face as she struggled beneath my grip.

Gradually, I tightened my hold, suffocating any attempts she made to draw breath.

Her skin began to emit smoke under the searing touch of my hands, the heat causing her eyes to redden and blisters to form on her face.

These blisters, filled with trapped oxygen and heated to the breaking point, burst open, releasing small spurts of blood.

The sight of her desperate fight for life, the transformation of her once confident facade into a tableau of agony and fear, was intoxicating. I was lost in that moment.

At this point, it was clear that the situation had transcended far beyond a mere struggle for survival. The initial need to defend myself had evolved, or perhaps devolved, into something far more... unrestrained.

Witnessing the brutal treatment of her friend, Lila's face contorted with horror and fear. She couldn't stand the sight any longer. In a sudden, desperate move, she turned and fled, her screams for help piercing the night as she attempted to escape.

I grabbed Mia lifeless body, and hurled her with full force towards Lila. The action was instinctual, almost reflexive.

Mia's body became an unwilling projectile, flying through the air and colliding with Lila. The impact of Mia's body against Lila's was heavy and forceful, bringing Lila's desperate escape to an abrupt halt. Both of them tumbled to the ground in a tangled heap, the force of the collision evident in the way their bodies crumpled upon impact.

As I approached where Lila lay, I was prepared to inflict further pain, expecting to see her struggle as Mia had.

However, upon closer inspection, I found that the brutal impact had already sealed her fate. Lila's neck was contorted in a way that left no doubt of her demise; the collision had been fatal.

"Tch."

A sharp click of my tongue escaped in frustration. Despite myself, there was a hint of disappointment in my reaction.

Isaac, the last of the group, was on his knees, his forehead pressed to the ground in a posture of complete submission.

His body shook with fear, and his voice, once commanding and confident, was now reduced to a desperate, quivering plea.

"Please... please, spare me." he begged, his words muffled against the earth. "I'll do anything you ask, just... just let me live."

His plea was filled with the raw fear of someone who had seen his companions fall and knew he was the last one left.

"I made a mistake... I know that now. I'll leave, disappear, you'll never see me again. Please, I'm begging you." he continued, the tremor in his voice betraying his terror.

Standing over Isaac, weighing his fate in the balance of my judgment.

"It wouldn't be fair, would it?" I said, my gaze fixed on him. "To let you go while your companions have already faced their judgment. I consider myself a fair judge, after all."

I walked over to where the other travelers, victims of the group's earlier violence, lay.

Next to one of the lifeless bodies, a sword caught my eye. Picking it up, I felt its weight and balance, a tool of death now in my hands.

Turning back to Isaac, who remained prostrate on the ground, I approached with deliberate steps.

As I examined the sword, I ran my fingers along its edge, feeling the cool steel. But it didn't stay cool for long.

The heat emanating from my body began to interact with the metal, transforming it. The blade's color shifted from its original silver to a glowing, molten red.

The edges of the sword started to shimmer with the intense heat it absorbed, becoming a weapon not just of sharpness, but of searing heat.

With the sword now radiating an intense heat, I brought its edge slowly towards Isaac's neck.

The proximity of the red-hot blade caused him to react instinctively. He began to crawl away in a desperate struggle, trying to put any distance he could between himself and the searing edge now threatening his life.

With a deep sense of finality, I raised the sword, now glowing with intense heat. The air around us seemed to still in anticipation, a moment suspended in time. Then, in one swift, decisive motion, I brought the sword down.

The heated blade made contact with Isaac's neck, cutting through with a lethal finality.

Isaac's head was severed in a single, clean stroke, his body going limp as the life was swiftly extinguished from it.

My mind, still riding the high of adrenaline and euphoria, gradually began to recognize the reality of what I had done.

Then, as if on cue, the effect of the Hyperthermia potion wore off, bringing an abrupt end to the mitigated negative effects of my Self-Immolation.

Effect of Hyperthermia has passed. The negative effects of 'Self-Immolation' have been restored.

Current consumption: 2% of Maximum Life per second, increased from the mitigated 1%.

Even after the intensity of the battle had subsided, I remained motionless, my Self-Immolation ability still active, consuming my health points at a steady pace.

Perhaps there was a part of me that clung to the rush, the overwhelming sensations I had experienced, unwilling to let them dissipate so quickly.

I stood there, waiting for the automatic deactivation of my ability, which was programmed to kick in when my health points dwindled to one health of point.

As the seconds ticked by, my health continued to decrease, slowly but steadily. I could almost feel each point as it ebbed away. Then, amidst this quiet moment of reflection, a system notification materialized before me, unexpected and startling in its sudden appearance.

You have gone past your body's limit! You have gained 1 Vitality Stat!