The Primordial Flame

Kazuki's fist blazed through the air, aimed right at Prometheus's chest—only for Prometheus to vanish at the last possible second.

"Wait, what—?" Kazuki spun around, heart racing.

Prometheus appeared behind him, his expression calm, almost… proud. The overwhelming pressure of his aura made Kazuki freeze in place. He felt the heat at his back before he saw him.

"I… I'm done for," Kazuki muttered under his breath.

Prometheus raised his hand, and Kazuki braced himself for impact. Instead, Prometheus gently touched his shoulder with a single finger, barely a graze.

"You win."

Kazuki blinked in disbelief. "Huh?"

Prometheus smiled, folding his arms. His voice was warm but commanding, like that of a king addressing a worthy knight. "You've got potential, kid. Raw, wild, and untamed—but potential nonetheless. I could've crushed you, but what good would that do? Chaos didn't choose you just to watch you burn out at the first trial. You're a Trailblazer. You're meant to move forward."

Kazuki stood there, panting, flames still crackling faintly around him. "W-Wait, you let me win?"

"Of course," Prometheus laughed, his deep voice echoing through the arena. "What kind of king would I be if I snuffed out a flame like yours before it had a chance to grow? Besides…" His eyes glinted with a strange light. "You remind me of someone very dear to me. And I won't let you meet the same fate… not yet."

Up in the stands, Andreas pumped his fist. "He did it! He actually won!"

Sonnet grinned. "I gotta say, that was pretty cool… but also kinda unfair. Like, what kind of boss lets the player win in the first battle?"

Lumi smiled knowingly. "Prometheus isn't the kind of king who destroys potential. He builds it."

Kazuki turned back to Prometheus, still catching his breath. "So… what now?"

"Now," Prometheus said, flames flickering around him as he walked back to his throne, "you keep moving. The other beasts won't go easy on you like I did. They'll push you to the edge—and beyond. You'll need to be stronger, smarter, and braver than ever." He sat down, resting his chin on his hand. "But I'm sure you'll find a way to survive. After all, you're Chaos's vessel."

Prometheus leaned back on his throne, his flames flickering gently around him. His once menacing presence had softened into something far more… approachable, yet still grand. He looked at Kazuki with a strange fondness.

"Now, there's just one last thing, Kazuki. If you want to wield my true power, you'll need to absorb me."

Kazuki blinked. "Absorb… you?" He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing in confusion. "Like… literally? Dude, that sounds kinda… you know…"

Sonnet chuckled, leaning into Andreas. "He means it sounds a bit too intimate. You know, absorbing another man's essence and all."

Andreas nodded seriously, adding in a deadpan tone, "Yeah, bro. This is getting freaky."

Kazuki waved his hands frantically. "Wait! No! I didn't mean it like that!"

Prometheus burst into laughter, his booming voice shaking the entire domain. "Relax, kid. I get it. But trust me, this isn't some kind of weird ritual. It's simply the merging of power, nothing more."

"Still sounds weird," Sonnet whispered to Lumi, who was trying hard not to laugh.

Kazuki scratched the back of his head. "Alright, alright. Before we do this… Can I ask something? Who… who are you really?"

Prometheus's expression turned more serious. His flames dimmed slightly as he began to speak. "I wasn't always a Zodiac Beast. In the distant past, I was known as Ignis, the Primordial Flame God. I once ruled over the very essence of fire itself. After I fell in battle during the Great War, I had nothing left—no purpose, no path."

He paused, his eyes shimmering with distant memories. "But then the previous Vessel of Chaos appeared. He offered me something I couldn't resist: a chance to test the worthy, to separate the strong from the weak. It sounded like fun… and I hadn't had fun in a very long time. So I agreed. I became Leo's true form, a guardian of strength and pride, waiting for the right person to come along."

Kazuki looked at him, surprised. "So… you've been doing this for centuries just for fun?"

"More or less," Prometheus said with a smirk. "But not all of us stayed the same. Over time, many of the other Beasts became corrupted. Twisted by the chaos and darkness left behind after the war. They're not like me. They won't hold back. They'll do everything they can to kill you."

Lumi stepped forward, her expression unusually serious. "Corruption has made the other Beasts dangerous, unpredictable. They've lost their true selves."

"So you're saying… the next one won't be as friendly as you?" Kazuki asked, his voice uneasy.

Prometheus nodded. "Exactly. Each domain will test you in ways you can't imagine. Some will break your body. Others… your mind. You'll need to be ready for anything."

The group fell silent for a moment, the weight of his words sinking in.

"Alright," Kazuki finally said, his determination returning. "Let's do this."

Prometheus smiled one last time. "Remember this, Kazuki. I'm giving you my power because I believe in you. But don't waste it. Keep moving forward… and show the others what a true Trailblazer can do."

Prometheus placed his hand on Kazuki's chest, flames coiling around his arm and surging into Kazuki's body. The heat was overwhelming, but not painful—it felt like an ancient force settling into his soul. The ground beneath them trembled as golden light erupted around Kazuki, mixing with crimson and blue flames, creating a swirling vortex of power.

His body lifted off the ground, glowing brighter and brighter until the flames faded, leaving him standing in silence. His eyes flickered with golden embers, and a lion's roar echoed faintly in the distance. He could feel it—the True Leo coursing through him.

Kazuki blinked, patting his chest. "Okay, not gonna lie. That felt… awesome!"

Sonnet leaned forward with a grin. "So? What's it like? Do you feel all-powerful now?"

Kazuki smirked, flexing dramatically. "I feel like a god! No… like a super god!"

Andreas rolled his eyes. "Don't get ahead of yourself. Remember, you just barely laid a finger on him."

"Hey, laying a finger was the objective!" Kazuki pointed at Andreas, then paused. "Wait… That still sounds weird."

Prometheus laughed heartily. "You'll figure out what your new abilities are in time. For now, it's best to move on. You've got a long journey ahead."

Kazuki glanced at Lumi. "So… what's next on the list?"

Lumi unfolded a scroll and tapped a specific mark. "Next stop: Aries' Domain."

Prometheus's expression darkened slightly. "Be careful there. Aries isn't like me. He was once a great warrior—strong, stubborn, and driven by pure battle instinct. If his domain has fallen to corruption… you're in for a rough time."

Kazuki cracked his knuckles. "Rough? Sounds fun. Let's go!"

Later, as they left Leo's Domain…

The air was lighter, the oppressive heat of the flaming landscape behind them. They walked along a winding stone path leading toward Aries' Domain, their spirits high.

"So," Andreas said, glancing at Kazuki, "now that you're a walking furnace, what's your game plan for the next fight?"

Kazuki grinned. "Easy. I'm gonna avoid saying cringy lines this time, for starters."

Sonnet gave him a playful nudge. "Aww, but those lines gave you power! What if that's the secret to your strength?"

Kazuki sighed dramatically. "If I say something cringe again, it'll be because of you."

_________________________________________

IN A DISTANCE....

The air was still, heavy with tension as the Savior stood at the edge of his throne room, gazing into a swirling pool of shimmering time energy. His crimson eyes reflected the fragments of memories playing within it—moments long past, fractured and hazy, yet painfully vivid.

A soft, almost wistful smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Just a little longer, Aria…" His voice was barely a whisper, laced with both sorrow and anticipation. "Everything is falling into place. Soon, you'll be with me again."

The pool flickered, showing brief flashes of Kazuki's fight with Prometheus, the blue-red flames illuminating the dreamscape. The Savior's eyes narrowed slightly. "Ah… the Vessel of Chaos… amusing as always."

He chuckled softly, stepping back as the vision faded into nothingness. "Let them enjoy their fleeting victories. Their light will burn out soon enough."

Turning toward the vast, empty hall, he raised a hand, and shadows coiled at his fingertips like waiting serpents. "The next act is about to begin."