The Price of Power

. Nero's final decision – Has he embraced the fire, or has he found another way?

. The consequences unfold – His body, mind, and soul face the cost of his choice.

. Angel and Nagel's reaction – Can they still stand by him? Or has he changed forever?

.Aizen's fate – The former Lord of Flames faces his own end… or rebirth.

.The fire's true test begins – Nero may have chosen, but the fire isn't done with him yet.

---

The moment stretched longer than time itself.

The fire surrounded him, whispering, pressing, waiting.

And then—

Nero chose.

---

(A Choice That Could Not Be Undone)

A roar of golden flames exploded from his entire body, tearing into the sky like a second shiny sun.

Angel stumbled back, shielding her eyes.

Nagel cursed. "Nero!"

But Nero couldn't hear them anymore.

The fire had finally accepted him.

Or maybe—

He had accepted it.

Nagel and Angel is scared from Nero and doesn't know If to trust Nero or not

---

(The Transformation Begins)

Heat pulsed through his veins, changing him

with fire

His body felt lighter, stronger, faster.

Nagel whispers "I'm not sure if this Nero".

His vision blurred, then sharpened.

For the first time, he could see the fire for what it was.

It wasn't just power.

It was alive.

And it had given him everything for now.

---

(Angel and Nagel's Fear)

Angel's voice was really shaking.

"Nero, what did you do"?

Nagel said ."Hell nah I'm not sure if we will be alive in the next 10 mins".

Nero turned to her.

His eyes were no longer human.

They burned—golden, endless, powerful and stinger.

Nagel took a step back. "Tell me you're still you."

Nero opened his mouth.

And then—

The fire spoke through him.

---

(The Fire's Awakening)

"He is more than he was."

The voice wasn't his.

Not fully.

Angel's breath caught. "Nero please tell me you are in control please!!".

Nero clenched his fists.

"I… I'm still me."

But even he wasn't sure if that was true.

---

(Aizen's Fate)

Aizen stood before him, watching.

There was no anger in him

No regret.

Only understanding.

"The fire chose you," Aizen said quietly.

"And now, you must decide how to use it."

You must decide if the flames will take over you or you will take over the it.

The flames around Aizen flickered, weakening.

His time was really over.

And Nero knew—

This was the moment Aizen had waited for.

The time he realized he have depend all on Nero

The moment he would pass the fire on completely to Nero.

---

(The Price of Power)

The heat rose again, swirling around Nero.

He could feel it now.

The truth.

The fire had given him a little strength.

But it would demand something in return.

Something he wasn't ready for.

Something he wasn't expecting.

---

(The Next Step)

Angel and Nagel watched Nero in silence, waiting.

Waiting for Nero to tell them what came next.

Nero took a slow breath.

The fire answered.

And he knew—

His journey was far from over.

It had only just begun.

---

The mountain was silent.

The fire had stopped raging.

The winds had died.

Everything,His friends… was waiting.

Waiting for Nero to speak.

Waiting for him to decide who he was now.

And Nero himself?

He wasn't sure.

---

(The Fire's First Whisper)

The power inside him felt different this time around.

Not uncontrollable.

Not violent.

But aware.

It pulsed inside his veins like a second heartbeat.

Like another human living in him.

It watched through his eyes.

It was part of him now.

And that terrified him.

---

(Angel and Nagel's Doubt)

Angel took a step closer, her face pale.

"Nero… are you okay?"

Nero turned toward her.

She moved a little from Nero

And that's when he saw it.

The fear in her eyes.

Nagel's hand hovered near his axe.

Not raised.

But not far.

He didn't trust him.

Neither of them did.

And maybe…

They were right.

Maybe Nero isn't the person we all know.

---

(Aizen's Final Moments)

Aizen's breath came shallow, unsteady.

The fire was leaving him slowly and slowly.

His body—once strong, once unshakable—was breaking also getting weak.

And he knew it.

"This power," Aizen said, his voice low, "was never meant to be held forever."

His golden eyes met Nero's.

"One day, the fire will move on. Just like it is leaving me now."

I'm happy it's moving to the right person

Nero's chest tightened.

"Then what happens to you?"

Aizen gave a small smile.

"I become what all flames do."

Nero shouted "There's must be another way Aizen".

There's no other way Aizen faced Nero.

But even when I'm gone i will always be with you,I will always be part of your flames.

He lifted a hand—his fingers crumbling into embers.

"Dust."

---

(The Fire's First Test)

The ground shook beneath them.

The flames around the mountain roared to life again.

But this time…

They didn't attack.

They formed a shape.

A massive gate of fire, standing before Nero.

And from the other side—

A voice.

Not Aizen's.

Not his own.

Something ancient. Powerful. Waiting.

"Step forward, Nero."

---

(The Price of Power Revealed)

The fire's voice wrapped around him, pulling him in.

It was no longer whispering.

It was demanding.

Nero knew what this was.

A test.

A moment of judgment.

He had accepted the fire.

Now he had to prove himself worthy of keeping it.

His hands clenched into fists.

"I won't be controlled."

The fire laughed.

"Then prove it."

Prove it "You will be able to control me"

And before Nero could react—

The flames pulled him in.

---

End of Chapter 22

. Nero feels different—more than human.

. Angel and Nagel don't fully trust him anymore.

. Aizen fades—the fire is passing to Nero completely.

. The fire's true demand—Nero must now face his first real test.

.The gate of fire—where will it take him?

Next up: Chapter 23: The Trial of Flames—Nero is thrown into a realm of fire, where he must prove his worth… or be consumed.