Evening — Downtown Kurohama City
It started with sirens.
Then screams.
Then silence.
And then the fire came.
From beneath the earth, crimson runes blazed across the city center. The Cult of Ash surged upward like a flood—masked acolytes wielding living flame, chanting in the forgotten tongue. Their leader stood atop the fountain square, eyes burning behind a shattered mask.
"Let the city scream. Let the false peace be torn," he bellowed. "This is the flame of ascension!"
A skyward beam of fire shot into the clouds, creating a massive crimson eye above the skyline.
The ritual had begun.
At the Hollow Haven
Kazuki bolted upright.
"The city."
Caelir touched his shoulder, eyes grim. "They're forcing your soul to react. They're killing innocents to wake up what's buried in you."
"I'm not letting them," Kazuki said, rising to his feet. "Not for their throne. Not for Seraphiel's silence."
He turned to the chamber mirror, where Azrakar's shadow flickered behind the glass.
"You ready to burn again?" Kazuki whispered.
The flame behind his eyes pulsed.
Moments Later — Kurohama City Burns
Fire devoured buildings.
The Cult's high priestess stood atop a burning bus, arms wide. "Bring him to us!"
And then—he came.
Kazuki dropped from the sky like a falling comet, black fire in his veins and ash in his wake. The ground cracked under his boots. People stared in silence, then ran. Cultists turned, weapons raised.
Too slow.
He unleashed a wave of binding fire—not killing, but caging them in rings of molten iron.
Yuna appeared at his side, casting barriers to protect fleeing civilians. "They lit a goddamn beacon."
"They wanted Azrakar," Kazuki muttered. "They got me."
The Cult Leader stepped from the flame, laughing.
"This is it! This is what I saw in the flames! The True Flame!"
Kazuki raised a hand.
"No. You saw a man trying not to become a monster."
Above the Battle — Celestial Sanctum
Seraphiel stood at the balcony, eyes locked on the burning mortal world.
"He's embracing the flame," a subordinate whispered.
"No," Seraphiel said. "He's controlling it."
"Do we descend?"
Seraphiel's six wings extended.
"We finish it."
He stepped forward—and fell like a lance of light from Heaven.
Back in the City — Impact
A divine flare cracked the sky.
Kazuki turned just in time to see the street split open—Seraphiel landing in a flash of pure white fire, blade in hand.
The city fell silent. Cultists and civilians alike froze.
Seraphiel's voice echoed through the square.
"Azrakar. You've walked far from death. But your path ends now."
Kazuki stepped forward.
"I'm not your demon. I'm not their god. I'm done being used."
Seraphiel raised his blade. "Then fight me as you are. Or fall as you were."
Kazuki's fire surged.
Two legends. One sky. One city. One final warning.
To be continued...