The Fire's Curse

. A detailed history of the fallen city – What truly caused its destruction? How does it connect to Nero?

. A terrifying vision of destruction – Nero experiences the city's final moments firsthand.

. Angel and Nagel's growing fear – They begin to truly fear that Nero is losing himself.

.The fire's curse – Nero learns a devastating truth: his power has destroyed before… and it may do so again.

---

The ruins stretched before them like the skeleton of a dead empire, towers crumbled to dust, streets cracked by time.

Nero didn't know why, but the deeper they went, the more the air changed.

It wasn't just the silence.

It was something older, something that made the ruins feel alive.

Not with life.

But with memory.

And the worst part?

His fire recognized it.

And keep acting weird the more they go deeper

---

(A City That Burned Itself)

The deeper they walked, the worse it became.

The walls weren't just broken.

They were scorched.

Entire buildings had melted from extreme heat. The streets weren't covered in vines or overgrowth, but in blackened stone, burned beyond recognition.

Angel ran her fingers along the surface of a ruined pillar, then pulled her hand back, rubbing her fingers together. "Soot. Even after all this time, it hasn't washed away."

Nagel crouched by a wall, scraping his nails over deep claw-like marks in the stone. "This wasn't war."

Nero swallowed. "No. It was something worse."

Nagel turned. "What?"

Nero's jaw tightened.

"The fire didn't come from outside. It came from within."

---

(The Fire's Memory)

At the center of the ruins, a massive stone wall stood, covered in ancient carvings.

Nero stepped forward, brushing away layers of dust.

The carvings told a story.

The first image showed a great civilization, its people standing proud.

The second—flames erupting from within the city, swallowing its people whole. Their faces were frozen in horror.

And in the final carving…

A single warrior, flames raging around him, standing in the heart of the destruction.

Nero's breath hitched.

His fire flared in response.

Because the flames in the carving…

Were the same as his own.

Then—

A sudden burst of golden fire erupted from Nero's hands, slamming into the carving.

Angel gasped, stepping back. "Nero—!"

Then—a whisper.

"He returns."

Nero staggered, his vision blurring.

And suddenly—

He was no longer in the ruins.

---

(Visions of the End)

The city was alive.

Towering spires gleamed under a crimson sky. The streets were bustling with life, laughter echoing through the stone alleys.

And then—

The screaming began.

Flames burst from the ground, swallowing streets, buildings, entire districts, burning everything and villagers.

People fell to their knees, clutching their chests as fire erupted from within them.

The city was burning itself alive.

Nero tried to move, to stop it, but—

His body wouldn't respond.

Then he saw him.

A lone warrior, standing at the heart of the inferno.

Golden flames coiled around him, untamed, unstoppable.

His eyes burned white-hot.

Then the warrior turned toward Nero.

And spoke.

"You carry my fire."

Nero's breath caught.

"Who are you?"

The warrior's gaze was unreadable.

"The first."

The fire rushed toward Nero—

And everything went black.

---

(Terror in Their Eyes)

Nero gasped as he collapsed to the ground, his vision snapping back to the present.

Angel was shaking him, her face pale with terror. "Nero! Wake up!"

Nagel stood over them, his axe drawn, sweat dripping down his forehead. "What the hell just happened to you?!"

Nero clutched his chest, his breathing ragged.

"I… I saw it."

Nagel scowled. "Saw what?"

"The city before it fell. The fire… it wasn't an attack."

Angel swallowed. "Then what was it?"

Nero exhaled.

"It was me."

Angel's face twisted in horror. "What are you saying?"

Nero's chest tightened.

"I think… I think I've been here before."

Nagel stiffened. "You're saying you—what? Lived here?"

Nero didn't answer.

But deep inside, he felt it.

This place, this fire…

It had all happened before.

And he was walking the same doomed path.

---

(The Warning Left Behind)

A whisper drifted through the ruins.

"It will consume you too."

Angel tensed. "Did you hear that?"

Nagel's grip tightened on his axe. "We are not alone."

Nero turned back to the carving.

The flames around the warrior's body seemed to move—almost as if reacting to him.

Then, another whisper.

"You cannot change fate."

A chill ran through Nero's spine.

Because deep down, he knew…

The fire inside him wasn't just a gift.

It was a curse.

And he was running out of time.

---

(Angel and Nagel's Fear)

Nagel exhaled sharply. "Okay. No. I don't like this."

Angel turned to Nero, her expression tight with fear. "Nero… are you sure you're okay?"

Angel asked again "Nero are you okay?

Nero didn't answer.

Because he didn't know.

Nagel clenched his jaw. "I hate to say this, but… this fire? This thing inside you? It nearly killed you back there. It nearly killed us."

Angel hesitated before nodding. "We need to figure out what's happening to you, before it's too late."

Nero's chest felt heavy.

He couldn't bear the vision he saw.

"What if it's already too late?"

He clenched his fists, pushing the thought away.

"I'm fine," he lied.

Nagel scoffed. "Yeah, sure. That's why you just collapsed, set yourself on fire, and almost took the whole ruin down with you."

Angel shot him a look. "Nagel—"

"No," Nagel snapped. "I'm serious. Nero, you're my best friend, but this? This is starting to scare the hell out of me."

"I care about you Nero.

Nero closed his eyes.

Because he was scared too.

He couldn't even understand what's happening.

---

End of Chapter 14

.Nero experiences the city's final moments—fire erupted from within.

.The first warrior carried the same flames Nero now wields.

.Angel and Nagel are terrified—Nero might be losing control.

.The fire is not just power—it is fate.

Next up: Chapter 15: The Burden of Flames—Nero must decide if his power is a gift… or if it is leading him to destruction.