Only flame was allowed.

Weapons must be conjured by fire.

Energy blasts if used, must be composed of flame.

I'm assuming this was because they never heard of my battles dealing with anything but blood.

Reaching down inside myself, unlocking the system, I found it.

There it was, bright and burning.

Strong and free, as if I never left it.

{Equip, Breath of Fire?}

YES or NO?

Found in the Black Rock Saunas of the mountain dwarves themselves, this inner power had never left me, just waiting deep down for the day that I could call upon it once again.

Before me, the scenes of hell rose from the smallest cracks in the tournament center's ground. Like flowers, they grew and grew and grew until no one could argue their worth. A garden bloomed, one that no one wished to tend. The eyes of those previously cocky and full, became defeated and fallen.

Weapons dissipated.

Men ran.

Women cried.

Children could not comprehend.

Tonight, after my leaving, and never returning to the island, let alone the land of fire, would go down in their history.

As the night of the black flame.

It would spawn groups of resurgence, ones that aligned themselves with the ways of the outsiders, ones that found shelter in the dark and black.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

But, I wouldn't be around for any of that. I would only learn of this when in old age I would be met by a man scarred by a flame he couldn't tame.

He would tell his tale.

Of his land and of that night.

Only he didn't know that I was the man who sparked its flame.

But that is too far forward, we will go back to the night.

Black flames urged from the crevices, cries erupted as the stage was enveloped in a power unheard of.

At its center, I stood.

My competition fled.

Around me, the flames became my opponent.

With a breath and an understanding, I channeled myself inwards, motioning for the blackened flames to do the same.

Thoughts and images of horror entered my mind, attacking in ways that no man ever could. Everything precious would burn, everything that ever meant anything to anyone would cease to be. They would be consumed by the darkened flame.

Bubbles of caustic unfettered agony entered my,y soul. Invaders of the dark wished to destroy me from the inside. Oozing into my soul's warden, here they launched their most potent attack.

She came to my mind.

A memory severed was found and awakened.

Triggering, I was engulfed by the darkened flame. With a scream, I was being consumed.

Around me, hell rained from the sky.

The prophets of the sacred flame waved staffs of old stone summoning powers that would help, but never quench the powers around them.

Then, she returned, her face and her smile.

Don't you dare die, her words echoed through my soul.

Stinging they awoke my faltering heart.

Awakened, I began to battle the cosmic hell, the flame far beyond heat. With a final struggle, I summoned everything within myself, coming to terms with death or relief. No in between, nothing but completing or falling short.

Silence followed by a calm placid air.

Tentacles of black flame spooled all around me as if they would reach out and touch the world, only to be sucked back down into my soul's warden.

Within seconds, everything was nothing again.

A silent bird played its song.

Screams died out.

Men stopped their pointless chants.

The children only gaped as the world, nay the universe had opened up on itself right before their young eyes.

Gasping for air, a woman broke out of the collective paralysis and rushed over handing me a pitcher of water.

In one swallow I finished its contents and asked for more.

Above me, the system read.

Quest completed

Reward:

Soul of Fire

Bonus reward:

Initiate of the Darkened Flame.

Then, a moment later, unconsciousness swept over me like a breeze.