Chapter 2 – The System Awakens
"System initializing…"
The words echoed in Kael's head, not loud, not soft—just… there. Spoken with the same tired, unimpressed tone as someone reading the back of a cereal box.
He floated in that black void, surrounded by nothing but faint violet embers drifting like lazy fireflies. Pyra, the small flame that had called itself the Time Flame, hovered just in front of him, flickering faintly like she was… bored?
"No fireworks? No stat screen? No booming godly voice?" Kael asked, blinking slowly. "This is my grand destiny?"
Pyra spun once in the air.
"I could arrange fireworks," she said dryly, "but I'm a flame. I think I've met my explosive quota."
Kael frowned. "So… where am I, exactly?"
"Inside your consciousness," she said. "Don't panic. You haven't passed out, died, or gone insane. Probably."
Kael opened his mouth.
"I said probably."
He shut it again.
"Listen," Pyra continued, "your awakening broke the temple's core. That shouldn't even be possible unless you were hosting divine essence, which—oh wait—you are. So, congrats again. You're now a living time bomb with a god's will stitched into your soul."
"Okay, back up," Kael said, holding up a hand. "Divine what?"
"Divine essence," Pyra repeated. "Specifically, the Flame God's final spark—his will, his knowledge, and his entire legacy—all shoved into that very mortal, very flammable body of yours."
Kael stared.
"I'm supposed to burn the world, aren't I?"
"Eventually," Pyra said. "But for now? You're just a barely-literate peasant with fancy potential."
Kael narrowed his eyes. "Do you insult everyone like this, or am I special?"
"You're special," she said flatly.
Then, without warning, a ripple of golden fire surged outward from her body.
A panel appeared in the air before Kael—burning letters etched themselves into reality, blazing like molten script across invisible parchment.
[Flame God Legacy System – Interface Loaded]
Name: Kael Draven
Age: 18
Affinity: God-Rank Fire, Legendary-Rank Space (Devoured)
Talent: Primordial Flame Vessel (Unique Constitution)
Current Flame: [Void Flame – Dormant]
Unlocked Tabs:
– Flame Codex
– Legacy Trials
– Inventory
– Evolution Tree
– System Core
Kael blinked. "Wait, that's real? Like—this is mine? A real system?"
"Yes," Pyra sighed. "A very real, very illegal divine-grade system."
He scrolled mentally through the tabs. His heart rate quickened.
"Primordial Flame Vessel? What does that even mean?"
"It means your body's a natural furnace," she explained. "You can absorb flames, refine energy faster, and remove impurities from pills and items. You'll have an easier time cultivating, forging, and surviving stupid decisions."
"...So, I'm fireproof?"
"To most things, yes."
"Can I eat fire?"
"If you're into that."
Kael grinned. "That's actually kind of awesome."
"I'm aware."
The Void Flame pulsed faintly in the interface—dormant, locked, waiting.
"So this is my starting flame?" he asked.
"Not exactly," Pyra said. "It's the only flame the system released at awakening because your space affinity was devoured the moment your fire affinity manifested."
"I had a space affinity?"
"For like four seconds. Then your fire said 'no thanks' and ate it."
Kael's grin faded a little. "That… sounds concerning."
"It should be. But that's how this legacy works. Your flames evolve based on your growth, not some level-up nonsense."
"No experience points?"
"No grinding for kills."
Kael let out a slow breath.
"Good. I always hated math."
The void began to ripple. The ember stars flickered and faded.
"You're waking up," Pyra said, her voice quieter now. "When you return, play it dumb. Don't tell anyone what happened. Just say your awakening glitched."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "You think they'll believe that?"
"They're terrified of what they don't understand. Use it. Stay small."
Kael opened his mouth to respond—
—and the world snapped back into place.
He collapsed to his knees inside the temple chamber.
Dozens of people surrounded him. Officials. Guards. Elders. Even two high-ranking cultivators in ceremonial robes stood near the back, whispering urgently to one another.
The Awakening Orb was gone—its pedestal cracked, the mana lines across the floor still flickering.
"Boy!" one of the officiants shouted. "What did you do?"
Kael blinked, groaned, and slowly stood up. He forced a confused look onto his face.
"I don't… I don't remember," he mumbled. "There was a bright light, and then—nothing."
The two cultivators exchanged glances.
"No affinity appeared," one said.
"No chart entry," the other replied.
"Another broken."
Kael swayed slightly on his feet. "Did I… fail?"
They hesitated.
Then one nodded. "Yes. You're a failed awakening."
Murmurs broke out behind him. Words like unranked, cripple, waste of time floated around him like flies.
He didn't respond.
Because somewhere deep in his chest… something burned.
Not weak. Not faint.
But quiet. Powerful. Patient.
The first flame.