A Fire That Cannot be Extinguished
. More of Nero's internal struggle – The fire pushes harder, testing his will.
.Angel and Nagel's fear deepens – They no longer know if Nero is still their friend.
.A terrifying transformation – The fire begins altering Nero's body, warping him.
L.Aizen's expanded warning – Nero learns what the fire truly is—and what it wants from him.
---
The battlefield was silent.
The air was thick with smoke, the scent of burned earth clinging to the wind.
Nero stood in the center of the destruction, his hands trembling and couldn't able to say anything.
The fire still flickered along his fingertips, golden embers twisting and shifting—alive.
He could feel it watching.
Waiting.
Growing.
And he didn't know if he could stop it anymore.
" He's not sure if he will be able to fulfill his promises anymore.
---
(The Distance Between Them)
Angel and Nagel stood a few feet away.
But this time, Nero realized—
They weren't just catching their breath.
They were keeping their distance from him.
Angel's hand hovered near her sword.
Nagel's grip on his axe was too tight.
Neither of them spoke.
Neither of them moved.
Because for the first time, they weren't sure if they were still on the same side.
---
(Nero's Reflection)
Nero clenched his fists.
The fire inside him hadn't faded.
It was still there, pulsing beneath his skin like a second heartbeat.
It wasn't just power anymore.
It was something else.
Something that didn't just want to be used.
It wanted to take.
And for the first time, Nero wondered—
Was this still his fire?
Or had it become something entirely different?
---
(Angel and Nagel's Fear)
Angel was the first to break the silence.
"Nero," she said carefully. "You need to stop. Right now."
Nero frowned. "Stop what?"
Nagel's voice was sharper. "That."
He pointed at Nero's hands.
Nero followed his gaze.
The flames still flickered along his fingertips, moving without his command.
They weren't dying down.
They weren't listening to him anymore.
Why is this power so strong for me to control.
It doesn't listen to me anymore.
---
(A Fire That Wouldn't Die)
"I thought I was in control."
The fire laughed.
"Control? You were never in control."
Nero flinched as a burning heat spread through his chest.
His vision blurred.
His body felt heavier.
The fire's voice whispered, stronger than before.
"Why do you fight me?"
Nero gritted his teeth.
"Because I'm still me."
The fire coiled inside him, twisting tighter.
"Are you?"
---
(The Fire's True Nature)
A sudden pain ripped through Nero's body.
He stumbled, gripping his chest.
Angel moved toward him. "Nero are you okay?"
The fire flared violently.
A voice—not his own—escaped his lips.
"This body is not yours to command."
Angel froze.
Nagel's face paled.
Because for the first time—
It wasn't Nero speaking.
---
(The Transformation Begins)
Nero gasped, his breath coming in sharp, uneven bursts.
His skin felt like it was burning from the inside.
But there were no wounds. No burns.
Only power.
Too much power.
And it was really spreading fast.
The fire was no longer just inside him.
It was becoming him.
His veins glowed faintly. His fingertips shimmered with golden light.
And his eyes—
Angel's voice trembled. "Your eyes—"
Nero lifted a shaking hand.
In the reflection of his flames, he saw them.
No longer their usual dark color.
Now, they burned golden.
---
(A Terrifying Revelation)
Nero squeezed his eyes shut, trying to fight back.
But deep inside, a realization began to take root.
This power had never belonged to him.
It had always belonged to something else.
Something ancient.
Something that had been waiting for a host.
And now—
It had found one.
The power still trying to take control.
---
(Angel and Nagel's Choice)
Angel took a step forward, but there was hesitation in her movements.
"Nero… can you still hear me?"
Nero forced himself to nod. "I— I think so."
Nagel exhaled sharply. "That's not good enough."
His grip on his axe tightened.
Angel turned to him. "What are you doing?"
Nagel's expression was unreadable.
"I don't know if that's Nero anymore."
---
(The Breaking Point)
Nero felt something inside him snap.
The fire pulsed.
Nagel stepped forward. "If he loses himself completely, we stop him. No matter what."
Angel hesitated.
She didn't want to agree.
But she didn't disagree, either.
---
(Aizen's Warning)
Nero suddenly felt light-headed.
His body weakened.
His vision faded.
And then—
He was somewhere else.
A sea of golden flames stretched endlessly around him.
And standing in the center—
Was Lord Aizen.
The ancient warrior watched Nero with piercing golden eyes.
"You are at the edge, Nero."
Nero clenched his fists. "Then tell me how to fight it!"
Aizen's voice was calm, but heavy.
"You must decide who you are."
---
(The Final Warning)
"The fire isn't just power," Aizen continued. "It is will. And if your will is weak, it will consume you."
Nero's breathing was unsteady.
"Then how do I stop it?"
Aizen stared at him.
"You can't."
Nero's heart pounded. "What?"
Aizen's voice was quiet.
"You cannot stop a fire that has already started. You can only choose what it burns."
The flames rushed toward him.
Then—
Everything went dark.
---
(The Awakening)
Nero's eyes snapped open.
He was on the ground.
Angel and Nagel were standing over him, weapons drawn.
He blinked. "What—?"
Angel's voice was careful. "You blacked out again."
Nagel's expression was grim. "And this time, I don't think we can ignore it."
Nero sat up.
The fire inside him was quiet.
But he knew it was only waiting.
Because now, the real choice had to be made.
---
End of Chapter 18
. Nero's power is warping his body—he is no longer just human.
. Angel and Nagel's fear reaches its peak—they don't know if they can trust him.
. A terrifying revelation—the fire has its own will and has chosen Nero as its vessel.
. Aizen's warning—Nero cannot stop the fire, only choose what it will destroy.
Next up: Chapter 19: A Choice Written in Flames—Nero must make a final decision before it's too late.