The Breaking Point

.Nero's struggle reaches its peak – The fire fights for complete control.

.Angel and Nagel's fear turns into action – They must decide if they can still stand with Nero.

.A powerful enemy appears – One that forces Nero to unleash more of his power than ever before.

. The final choice – Nero must decide if he will suppress the fire or surrender to it completely.

---

Nero opened his eyes to the sound of the wind howling through the valley.

He was still on the ground, his body in a serious pain ,aching, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The last thing he remembered was fire—his fire—losing control, burning everything in sight.

And now, Angel and Nagel stood a few feet away, watching him.

But not like allies.

Not like friends.

Like they weren't sure if he was even human anymore.

Like they weren't sure if he was still himself

His flames can take control again at anytime

---

(The Distance Between Them)

Nagel was the first to speak. "You blacked out." His voice was steady, but his grip on his axe was tight.

Angel's eyes were filled with hesitation. "You were… talking in your sleep. Muttering something about the fire."

Nero pushed himself to sit up, rubbing his forehead. "I saw Aizen."

Angel's expression sharpened. "What?"

"In a vision." Nero took a deep breath. "He said the fire is testing me. That I have to decide what I am before it decides for me."

Silence.

Then Nagel scoffed. "And? Have you made your choice?"

Nero hesitated.

Because he wasn't sure if he even had one anymore.

---

(A Fire That Wouldn't Rest)

The fire inside him wasn't quiet.

It pulsed in his chest, curling through his veins, pressing against the edges of his control.

It wasn't just a power anymore.

It was a voice.

A presence.

A hunger.

And it whispered:

"They will never understand you."

"They are afraid of you."

"They will leave you anyways."

"Why do you fight it?"

Nero closed his eyes, inhaling sharply.

"Because I'm still me."

The fire laughed.

"Are you?"

"Are you sure you are in control?"

---

(Fear in Their Eyes)

Angel stepped forward. "Nero… I need you to be honest. Are you still in control?"

Nero opened his mouth to say yes.

But the words wouldn't come.

Because he wasn't sure.

And from the way Angel's fingers tightened around her sword, she knew that too.

Nagel sighed. "We need to figure this out now. Before it's too late."

Too late for what?

Too late before they had to stop him?

Nero clenched his fists. The fire flickered at his fingertips.

And for the first time—he wasn't sure if it was responding to his emotions.

Or if it was acting on its own.

---

(The Enemy Returns)

Then—

The wind died.

A deep, rumbling presence filled the air, thick with a pressure that pressed down on their lungs.

A voice, ancient and cold, cut through the silence:

"You should not exist."

The shadows ahead stretched and twisted, forming into a towering shape—the Shadow Hunter, but different.

It was larger. Stronger.

Its red eyes burned with something new.

Hatred.

Recognition.

"You carry a fire that was meant to die a long time ago," the creature growled.

Then it attacked.

---

(A Battle for Survival)

Angel was the first to react. She rushed forward, blade flashing, meeting the creature's clawed strike with steel.

Nagel roared, swinging his axe toward the enemy's side.

But this time—the Shadow Hunter was ready.

It swiped a hand through the air, and a shockwave of black energy sent both Angel and Nagel flying backward.

Then it turned to Nero.

"That power does not belong to you," it snarled.

Nero gritted his teeth. "Then come and take it."

The creature lunged.

---

(The Fire's Fury)

Instinct took over.

Nero raised his hands—and the fire erupted.

Golden flames crashed against the creature, but this time—it did not burn.

The Shadow Hunter absorbed it.

Then it lashed out, slamming Nero backward with a wave of dark fire.

Nero hit the ground hard, gasping as pain shot through his body.

His vision blurred.

The fire inside him howled in rage.

"Stop holding back!"

"Let me out!"

"Burn him!"

"No i won't let you out"

---

(The Breaking Point)

Nero forced himself up, his breath ragged.

The Shadow Hunter was coming for him again.

Angel and Nagel were struggling to get up.

The fire inside him roared.

"Let me end this!"

Nero gritted his teeth.

This was it.

The choice Aizen had warned him about.

Did he control the fire…

Or did he let it control him?

For the first time, he considered the possibility…

That maybe he didn't have a choice at all.

---

(The Final Stand)

The Shadow Hunter struck again.

This time, Nero didn't hold back.

The fire exploded outward in a massive inferno, engulfing everything in its path.

The creature screamed, its body writhing, burning, twisting—

But it was still alive.

Still fighting.

Nero pushed harder, the flames rising higher, brighter and wide—

And then—

Everything went white.

---

(The Aftermath)

When Nero's vision returned, the battlefield was so silent.

The Shadow Hunter was already gone.

The ground around him was scorched, blackened.

And Angel and Nagel?

They stood frozen, staring at him.

Not in relief.

Not in victory.

In fear.

Nagel's voice was quiet. "That wasn't you, was it?"

"I know that wasn't you".

Nero could not say anything".

Angel swallowed. "Nero… what have you become?"

Nero looked at his hands.

The fire still burned.

And for the first time…

It felt like it no longer belonged to him at all.

Now he understands that the flames weren't his own.

---

End of Chapter 17

. Nero reaches his breaking point—the fire is no longer fully his.

. Angel and Nagel fear that Nero is becoming something else.

. The Shadow Hunter returns, stronger, absorbing Nero's flames.

. Nero unleashes everything—but at what cost?

Next up: Chapter 18: A Fire That Cannot Be Extinguished—Nero must face the truth: is he still himself, or has the fire already won?