Monday, August 18, 3:15 PM, 3074 AEForest around Aurora City
After returning from the mission, Blaze retreated into the forest where he had trained just before departing with the group. He spent several hours honing his skills, trying to adapt to the newfound aura that had recently unlocked within him.
The training was brutal and unforgiving. From what Blaze had learned, the aura amplified his abilities tenfold, but its power came at a steep price. Each time he summoned its strength, he felt the wear and tear on his body, as if the very essence of the aura was breaking him down from within. He could only wield it in short, explosive bursts—moments of sheer power quickly followed by debilitating exhaustion.
As he finished his grueling session, Blaze wiped the sweat from his brow and dragged himself back home. Behind him, the forest bore the scars of his training: uprooted trees, scorched earth, and deep craters where his energy had collided with the ground. Yet, he knew that by morning, this place would be restored to its pristine state, a mystery that baffled the locals since the forest’s creation thousands of years ago.
Yes, this forest, a legend unto itself, was said to harbor a colossal tree at its heart, a giant whose roots wove through the earth like veins. However, no matter how close he got, the tree always seemed to evade him, as if an invisible barrier protected it from outside interference.
Blaze paid this legend little mind, using the forest as his training ground. What he failed to notice, however, was the soft golden light that pulsed through the trees each time he left. In the shadows, a mysterious figure watched him with keen interest.
“Hmm, this human... he is quite interesting. I wonder if he is the ‘savior’ that those old guardians spoke of,” the figure mused before vanishing without a trace.
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Monday, August 18, 6:45 PM, 3074 AEBlaze’s Home
Once he returned, Blaze headed straight to his room, giving a quick nod to his sister to let her know he was back. As soon as he hit the bed, exhaustion overwhelmed him, and he slipped into a deep sleep, the weight of his training pressing down like an anchor.
In his dreams, he found himself in a nightmarish landscape, one that resembled the aftermath of a volcanic eruption. The ground was scorched and barren, cracked open in jagged fissures from which rivers of molten lava flowed, glowing ominously under a sky that perpetually lingered in twilight.
Amidst the destruction, he could see the charred remnants of what had once been his home, standing defiantly in the distance, engulfed in flames that never seemed to die out. The air was thick with the acrid scent of smoke, and every breath felt like swallowing fire. Sparks of energy crackled around him, hinting at the volatile nature of his Infernal Ascendancy.
Hovering ominously nearby was his scythe, Inferno Reaver. Its blade glowed like molten lava, casting eerie shadows that danced across the remnants of his childhood. This realm was unsettling, yet hauntingly familiar—a twisted echo of his past, now reduced to ruins, reminding him of the tragedy that had fueled his rage.
“Just what kind of sick dream is this?” Blaze whispered into the oppressive silence, his voice barely carrying over the distant roars of flame.
“This ‘sick’ dream is merely a reflection of your mind. This area is a manifestation of your anger and hatred,” a sultry voice replied, laced with an arrogance that sent shivers down his spine.
Blaze turned, his heart racing as he faced none other than Ēteru no Eikō, the Kōsō residing within him. She was a stunningly beautiful woman, her presence both alluring and intimidating. Her long silver hair shimmered with hues of blue and violet, cascading down her back like a waterfall of starlight. Her deep violet eyes gleamed with ancient wisdom and cosmic power, sending a thrill through Blaze despite the heaviness of his despair.
Her figure was both graceful and curvaceous, a perfect blend of elegance and strength that captured Blaze’s attention. She wore a belly dancer-style outfit crafted from shimmering, semi-transparent fabrics in deep blues and purples, adorned with intricate silver embroidery that glowed faintly like constellations. The fitted halter top accentuated her toned midriff, while the flowing skirt swayed with her movements, revealing long, shapely legs. Delicate silver chains draped around her hips, further accentuating her alluring silhouette.
A diadem adorned her head, a single large gemstone pulsating gently at its center with a soft, white light. Despite the chaos of the dream, Ēteru no Eikō radiated a calming aura, a soothing presence amidst the turmoil. Blaze couldn’t help but be taken aback by her ethereal beauty, his brooding demeanor faltering for just a moment.
“Why do you invade my mind?” Blaze demanded, struggling to maintain his composure. He couldn’t let her see the fear that stirred within him. “What do you mean ‘manifestation’ of my anger and hatred?”
“This realm, let us say, is your ‘mental plane’. It is a representation of your mental state, and from the looks of it, your mental state is quite... messed up,” Ēteru no Eikō explained, her tone dripping with a mix of mockery and seduction.
“That still does not explain why it looks like this!” Blaze pressed, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
“I beg to differ. It explains a great deal. You see, from the moment your home and family were destroyed, the only thing consuming your mind has been anger and vengeance. Your mind has been consumed by it, breeding forth this realm of fiery despair,” she elaborated, her voice almost musical as she spoke.
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“So this world looks like this because…” Blaze began, but his words were cut off.
“Because you still cling to the past. Because you refuse to look toward the future. In the present, all your eyes see is vengeance,” Ēteru no Eikō stated, tilting her head slightly, easily dodging a fireball that erupted from the ground beside them. The flames hissed and splashed against the ground, creating a brief moment of chaos in the already tumultuous landscape.
“Who are you to tell me what I am doing or not doing? You know nothing of what I have endured,” Blaze snapped, his voice thick with anger.
“I know enough. I have been inside you since you were a child—before the destruction of your family, before you awakened your powers. I have seen and felt everything you have,” she retorted, her voice turning serious, a hint of challenge glimmering in her eyes.
“How can that be possible? How come I did not know about you or feel your presence?” Blaze asked, confusion etched on his face.
“That is very simple, darling. Your mind and soul have been clouded. You see only one thing—revenge—and you ignore or push everyone else aside. There were many signs of my existence from the beginning,” Ēteru no Eikō replied, her tone dripping with condescension.
“Then you should know that I will never stop seeking vengeance!” Blaze shouted, feeling the heat of his emotions boiling over. He felt the fury coursing through him, ready to unleash upon her, to prove he was more than just a puppet of his past.
“Ah, but what you seek is a double-edged sword,” Ēteru no Eikō countered, her tone shifting back to a teasing cadence, a smirk playing on her lips. “Vengeance may fuel your strength, but it will also consume you. You need to decide, Blaze: will you become the master of your fury, or will it become your master?”
Blaze clenched his fists, torn between his desire for retribution and the deep-seated fear of losing himself to the flames of hatred. The shadows around him seemed to pulse, reflecting the chaos within.
“Your choice defines the path ahead,” she added, her voice a whisper that echoed in the oppressive silence of the fiery wasteland.
With those words hanging in the air, Blaze felt the ground tremble beneath him, the fury of his internal struggle mirroring the chaos of the dreamscape. He knew that this confrontation with Ēteru no Eikō was only the beginning of a much larger battle—one that could determine the fate of not just his soul, but perhaps the world itself.
Blaze fell silent, trying to think back to every moment of his life. This all felt too surreal. What exactly was this place, and what role did Ēteru no Eikō play in it?
“Ah yes, I suppose I will answer that for you. I am a Kōsō, as you may have already guessed. As for why I exist here, it is because we are linked—our souls, to be exact,” she explained, a sly smile playing on her lips.
“Our souls are linked? What does that mean? How did it happen?” Blaze pressed, his curiosity piqued.
“The short answer is that I was defeated by my kind. In a last-ditch effort to survive, I retreated to your world at the exact moment when that Ogre Kōsō attacked you. Its blood seeped into your wound, making it easy for me to enter and merge with your soul,” Ēteru no Eikō elaborated, her voice silky and alluring.
Blaze blinked, struggling to wrap his mind around this new revelation. The more he learned, the more questions piled up inside him. But the one that piqued his interest most was about this realm.
“You said this realm was my mental plane. What exactly is that? Tell me about this place since you’ve been here,” Blaze asked, sitting down on the nearest boulder.
“Hmm, how should I start? This realm can be referred to as Kyōmu no Ryōiki (Domain of the Hollow Dream). It is the manifestation of your mental state, as well as the place Kōsō reside when bonded with a human host. But you will learn about that some other time,” she said, her gaze drifting momentarily, as if lost in thought.
“As for yours… everything here looks in bad shape because of your fragile and warped mental state. Every step feels unstable, like walking on the crumbling remains of a world devastated by fury—your fury.” She pointed to the distant home engulfed in flames. “These eternal flames feed on the remnants of your shattered memories and forgotten dreams.”
Blaze followed her gesture, the weight of her words sinking in.
“The scorched ruins around you are a manifestation of the life and peace you once lost,” she continued. “The air itself carries your hatred—the hatred you bear toward Kōsō.” She gestured toward the flames again. “These flames are not just physical; they are manifestations of your deep-seated rage that consumed your home and everything you loved. Now, they burn eternally in this hellish realm. And your scythe—oh, darling—it mirrors the violent heartbeat of your anger. All in all, you are just one angry person, and this world reflects that.”
Blaze shot her an annoyed glare but chose to remain silent, letting the information seep into his consciousness.
“Is the reason my hair and eyes change color, as well as this new aura I’ve unlocked, connected to you? And our souls?” he finally asked, seeking clarity.
“That is correct. There are still more abilities for you to unlock, but it seems our time is almost up. Is there anything else you wish to ask?” Ēteru no Eikō replied, her interest piqued.
“What is your goal? Why tell me all of this? And if you are a Kōsō, what do you gain from helping me instead of killing me?” Blaze questioned, the thoughts weighing heavily on his mind since their encounter began.
“Ufufufu, oh dear. I mean you no harm. My goal in all this? Let’s just say it is to get revenge on those who have wronged me. As for why I tell you this information, I believe you will be able to help me willingly. And as for what I gain? A powerful ally,” she said, her voice smooth as silk, though she left out critical details about her true intentions.
As Blaze absorbed her words, the world around him began to fade, his consciousness slipping back into the waking realm. Ēteru no Eikō left him with parting words that echoed like a haunting melody: “Make sure not to get yourself killed, for I will die as well. The next time we meet, I will teach you how to master that aura of yours.”
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Tuesday, August 19, 5:50 AM, 3074 AE – Blaze’s Room
Blaze woke slowly, sunlight flooding his room. “Well, now that was a weird dream,” he murmured, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “I guess I should start getting ready for school. I can think about all of this later.”
As he rose from his bed, the weight of his encounter with Ēteru no Eikō lingered in his mind, a mix of intrigue and foreboding, foreshadowing the chaos yet to come.