Blaze returned to his family's house at dawn, feeling exhausted. He leaned against the door frame, groaning. He had challenged Lily about 8 times this week and every time, he was beaten shamefully. He felt that he was getting better, however, so he wasn’t too depressed. That didn’t mean he wasn’t depressed. Blaze sighed before opening the door. Tom shot towards him and slammed a poster on Blaze’s face.

“What the…” Blaze cried out as he stumbled back.

“I found the perfect way to get money!” Tom said, excited. Blaze tore the poster off his face and read it over. It talked about a tournament of team battles– with the reward being 500 Silver coins.

“500 silver…” Blaze muttered in awe. “That’s five gold coins, right?”

“Yeah! A single golden coin is worth an uncommon star gem!”

“Whoa.” Blaze murmured, then his face fell. “Team requirement is 4. We are only two, even if Jake joins it won’t be enough.” Tom raised his eyebrow.

“What about that girl you keep losing to?” Blaze got an offended look.

“Not always.” Blaze said quietly, unconvincingly.

“Uh huh. Sure.” Tom said, also unconvincingly. Blaze tried to change the topic. “And you think we can win? Lots of people would try to win this, good people too, I bet.” Tom grinned as if he had won the lottery.

“No one there is legendary.” Tom told Blaze.

“I’m an untrained legendary with no control.” Blaze corrected.

“Still legendary, the best guy there would be some Ultra rank brawler.” Blaze considered.

“What do we have to lose? I am great.” Blaze asked himself, then nodded.

“Let’s do this.”

“You aren’t great, by the way. Not at all.”

“Heyyyyy…”

****

Blaze had gone to find Jake while Tom had gone to apply for the tournament. Jake had told Blaze his address but had been unclear about how his house looked like. Now, Blaze was standing in front of a mansion, gaping.

“Jake lives in a mansion? I didn’t know he was a noble.” Blaze muttered to himself. “Why isn’t there a knocker?” Blaze peered through the gate, then shrugged. Blaze gave himself the giant’s might enhancement then jumped over the gate onto the path.

“Hey, what do you think you’re-” A guard was saying but Blaze hit him hard on the head, knocking him out.

“Not even common rank? Jake’s family needs to upgrade their security.” Blaze told himself and strode up the path. Blaze didn’t hurry, instead looking at Jake’s estate. It was a huge house with 4 stories surrounded by a field. Blaze sighed in content, then jumped. Common rank brought your strength around the same as the world’s strongest normal man. Uncommon rank was even greater. Then, rare rank strength. It was clear how powerful it was when Blaze flew two stories up and landed on a terrace. As the power left him and Blaze started feeling drowsy, he plopped down on to a plush chair.

“This is nice.” Blaze sighed. He turned his chair to point towards the horizon and stared out. He didn’t know how long he sat there but he felt it had been a long time. This time ended when Blaze heard a girl scream and a clatter accompanied with a glass shattering sound. Blaze turned his head, not standing, to see a maid staring at him in shock. A platter of food lay on the ground.

“I’m guessing that wasn’t for me?” Blaze asked, then stood up and stepped over to the platter and raised his hand.

“Magic is mine to wield. Mend what has been lost.” Blaze chanted in quick succession. The broken platter flew back together and the broken glass put itself back together. Even the food, rice with chicken, which looked and smelled absolutely delicious, and some kind of purple juice put itself back. Blaze kneeled and picked up the platter and set it on the table, which had been standing next to Blaze.

“Do you know where I could find Jake, please?” Blaze asked kindly, trying to act humble. He failed miserably. The maid shuddered, then spoke quietly. “J-Jake F-F-Fore-ster?” She asked. Blaze nodded with a grin.

“Forester, so that’s his name. Have been wondering about that.”

“T-The y-young-g m-aster is in his c-chamber.” The maid stammered.

“Thank you! I haven’t got your name? I’m Blaze Dr-Echo.” Blaze introduced.

“Elli, Mr. Drecho.”

“What? No, my name is Echo.” Blaze corrected, feeling stupid. The maid squeaked and ran off.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“I didn’t sound angry, did I?” Blaze asked himself. “Am I really that intimidating?” Blaze shrugged, stared at the rice and chicken, then grabbed a chicken leg and ran off.

“No one was at the terrace, who was the food for?” Blaze muttered. “Wait, where’s Jake’s chamber?”

****

Jake Forester had always been expected to become great. Starting as a child, he had been put under intensive training. His family believed that spark powers were the incarnation of the soul itself, so when his power was revealed, they all believed he was meant to be someone great. Jake had been a disappointment, however. No matter how much he tried, he always lost. This feeling had only been amplified when Blaze had shown up. Blaze had told him his story and when Jake heard he had no training at combat at all, he had been crushed. His parents had trained him for years, without success. While Blaze had been a natural, he had been a failure.

****

“No.” Jake said. Blaze blinked surprised.

“Is this because I barged into your home? Come on, that’s forgivable, right?” Jake sighed and ran his hand over his face in exasperation.

“Take your mask off, just for once.” Jake requested. Blaze raised an eyebrow and tilted his head.

“Are you okay? I’m not wearing a mask.” Jake groaned.

“I’m serious, Blaze. Stop acting like a casual guy.” Blaze stared at Jake for a moment, then his smile dropped from his face.

“Why?” Blaze asked. His entire posture had changed, from casual to alert and ready for combat. His face was unreadable and his eyes seemed to penetrate Jake. It unnerved him but he shrugged it off.

“How are you always better? How do you do it?” Blaze was silent for a moment, just staring at Jake. Then, he stood up, walked over to one of Jake’s fourteen desks and grabbed a map. He opened it and looked through it. Jake just watched silently. Blaze grabbed a red pencil and marked a location on the map. Blate closed the map and handed it to Jake.

“Meet me here at sundown.” Blaze ordered, then opened Jake’s window and climbed through.

“You can’t–” Jake cut off as Blaze chanted a spell, then jumped through the window. Jake peered outside to watch Blaze slowly float down.

“-jump out of a window.” Jake finished with a sigh. “Just give me an answer, you prick.”

****

Jake navigated his way through the city and reached the city walls. They were higher than most of the buildings in Angel Bane and could withhold the strength of an ultra rank. Jake passed through the gates and followed the map to the red X. Jake had to walk for half an hour before he reached his destination. Jake was standing on a hill, covered in light snow. A forest lay not too far away, only a few miles to the right. Blaze was standing on the top of the hill, staring at the setting sun. He didn’t react to Jake’s arrival.

“Why did you lead me here?” Jake demanded. Blaze didn’t say anything. Jake let out a tired groan.

“Summon your sword.” Blaze said, suddenly. Jake blinked and looked up at Blaze.

“What?”

“Summon your sword.” Blaze repeated.

Jake blinked in concern but summoned his sword. Blaze sighed, then balled his hands into fists. Blaze’s right arm started burning in an eerie scarlet flame.

“Blaze? I didn’t know– What the-” Jake swore when Blaze suddenly turned and lunged at Jake. Jake parried with his blade, then stepped back.

“What are you-” Jake cut off again when Blaze leaped at Jake again. Blaze punched at Jake but he dodged and swung his blade in an arc and missed Blaze by a hair. Blaze landed on the ground but didn’t stop the attack. Blaze dashed at Jake again but this time shadowboxed in front of Jake. A cone of flame sprayed out of Blaze’s hand but Jake dodged.

“Stop!” Jake roared but didn’t stop moving. Blaze didn’t reply but attacked again, this time swinging his leg in a circle, leaving a trail of flame behind. The ring of flame flew towards Jake after Blaze chanted an incantation. Jake ducked and the ring expanded over Jake, missing him by a hair.

“Release the dragon of rage.” Jake chanted.

Dragon Crash

Uncommon Elemental Combat

Dragon

This ability launches the user into the air to come crashing down again, dealing damage. By adding additional mana, deal low burn damage. This star power uses high mana.

Jake shot into the air, emitting a whistling sound. He came crashing down towards Blaze. Blaze sidestepped Jake’s attack and swung his fist at where Jake was supposed to land. But before Jake reached the ground, he canceled his ability. Instead, he came crashing down straight on top of Blaze and cut a gaping wound from Blaze’s left shoulder to his right hip. Jake jumped back and raised his sword at Blaze. Blaze, however, had become passive. He had stopped moving altogether, instead running his hand across the wound Jake had inflicted. When Blaze turned to stare at Jake, he was grinning.

“There you have it. Your answer.” Blaze told Jake.

“What?” Jake asked in surprise.

“You wanted to know why I am better than you. Here’s your answer. I’m not.” Jake shook his head in confusion but didn’t lower his stance. This could be a trick.

“What do you mean?” Jake asked wearily.

“You just needed the spark of a warrior. To know the danger.” Blaze explained. “Look at you. At your stance. Look at how it has improved in a moment.” Jake peered wearily at Blaze, then glanced down at himself. Blaze had been right, his position had changed. His feet were positioned exactly so that he could move in an instance but also had a steady stance. His arms were ready to block any surprise attack from his sides and his back was straight. Jake looked up at Blaze.

“Danger can change you. You need to adapt in a second or you’re dead. Your body and mind knows that. You just never been in actual danger before.” Blaze told Jake, with a cold lecturing voice. “You need to reach, no, pass your limits to become great. And the best way to start is with danger. This battle here…” Blaze waved his hand around to indicate the field. “...is the start of your great adventure. Join the tournament. There will be more danger, more challenges. Most people just get themselves the best star gems they can and think of themselves as powerful. These people are wrong. Power doesn’t come from rank, it comes from how you use your strength.” Jake was silent for a moment, staring.

“How dangerous?” Jake finally asked. Blaze smiled.

“More than you can handle.” Jake nodded.

“I’ll join.” He said. Blaze’s smile turned into a wide grin. His posture slumped and he went back to looking casual.

“Great! By the way, how did you like my monologue?”