Chapter 3: Awakening the Flames

The warmth in Emma's chest grew stronger, shifting from a flickering ember to something more potent. It pulsed, sending faint waves of energy through her veins, like an untamed beast waiting to be released. Standing atop the rooftop, staring out over the illuminated city, she knew instinctively—this was her power awakening.

Her hands trembled slightly, not from fear, but from the sheer anticipation of what was to come. She had been given a second chance at life, and unlike before, this time she wasn't powerless. She had something extraordinary within her. The Seven Flames—a power she didn't fully understand yet, but one she could feel stirring within every fiber of her being.

Emma took a steadying breath. Okay, she thought. Let's test this out.

She raised her right hand and focused on the heat swelling inside her. The moment she willed it forward, something ignited. A brilliant flame burst to life, hovering just above her palm. It wasn't a normal fire—it didn't burn with reds or oranges. Instead, it shimmered and pulsed, shifting through seven distinct colors, each representing one of the flames she now wielded.

She stared in awe. "Holy shit."

The flames danced along her fingertips, flickering between hues—deep violet, luminous gold, a shade of blue darker than midnight. They responded to her thoughts, shifting between their states as if eager to be understood. She could feel each flame's unique essence, as if they were more than just fire; they were concepts given form.

Her mind raced. What do these flames actually do? She could feel their power, but using them effectively was another matter entirely.

Experimenting further, she turned her focus to one particular shade—the dark blue flame, cold and whispering like the edge of the void. As soon as she willed it forward, the fire twisted into something more shadowy, consuming the light around it. The rooftop dimmed slightly, as if the flame was devouring the surrounding illumination.

Emma's eyes widened. "That's insane."

Switching gears, she tried channeling a different flame—one that glowed golden, warm, and steady. Unlike the void-like flame, this one radiated an intense healing energy. She could feel its soothing nature, like a calming presence wrapping around her. Her fatigue from reincarnation, any lingering stiffness in her muscles, all of it vanished in an instant.

She clenched her fist, extinguishing the flames for a moment. Her heart was pounding—not from fear, but from exhilaration. This is real. This is really happening. She had power now, something that set her apart from the average citizen in this world.

The question was—what now?

She wasn't foolish. She knew that even though she was stronger than a normal human, she wasn't invincible. This was the Marvel Universe, a place where gods walked among men, where cosmic entities could erase civilizations with a thought. If she wanted to survive—and thrive—she needed to be smart about how she approached things.

But before she could get too lost in her thoughts, a noise from below snapped her attention away from her internal revelations.

A scream.

Emma's head jerked toward the street below, where she saw a scene unfolding. A group of armed men—thugs, by the looks of them—were harassing a small convenience store. The shop owner, an elderly man, had his hands raised, while a younger employee cowered behind the counter.

Her muscles tensed. She could walk away. She owed this world nothing, had no obligation to step in. And yet, something inside her demanded action.

A chance to use her power for something meaningful.

Without hesitation, she moved. She stepped off the rooftop—and landed perfectly on the pavement below. No pain, no broken bones. It was as if her body absorbed the impact, adjusting effortlessly to the fall. She barely had time to process that before she focused on the situation in front of her.

The leader of the group—a man wearing a cheap leather jacket and holding a pistol—snarled at the shopkeeper.

"Give us the cash, old man, or things get messy."

Emma took a slow breath, stepping forward. "You really don't want to do that."

The thug turned, eyes narrowing. "And who the hell are—"

Before he could finish, Emma raised her hand, and a tendril of violet fire erupted from her fingertips, wrapping around the gun in his hand. The moment it touched the weapon, the metal corroded, breaking apart into dust. The thug stumbled back in horror. "W-What the hell?!"

His partners reacted instantly, raising their own weapons. Emma barely flinched. She channeled another flame—this time, a shimmering silver blaze that crackled like static electricity. The moment the bullets were fired, the flame warped reality itself, slowing them to a crawl before they harmlessly dropped to the ground.

Emma tilted her head. "That's new."

The thugs looked at her with a mix of fear and fury. One of them tried to charge her with a knife. She didn't even think—her body moved on instinct. The moment he got close, she twisted, her leg sweeping out in a precise, fluid motion. The thug hit the pavement hard, groaning in pain.

The leader, now visibly shaking, took a step back. "L-Look, we don't want trouble, alright?"

Emma smirked, holding up a single, flickering flame—one that pulsed with pure, unrestrained chaos. "Then you really picked the wrong night."

That was all it took. The men bolted, running as fast as their legs could carry them.

The shopkeeper and his employee stared at her, wide-eyed. "T-Thank you," the old man stammered, still clearly in shock.

Emma gave a small nod, suppressing the rush of adrenaline. "Stay safe." With that, she turned and walked into the shadows before anyone could ask too many questions.

Once she was sure she was out of sight, she exhaled deeply. Her first fight, and she had barely broken a sweat. That was both exciting and terrifying.

She needed to learn more about her abilities. Fast.

Her gaze flickered toward the city skyline, where the iconic Stark Tower stood tall in the distance. If the Avengers existed here, then there were ways to gather intel on this world. Ways to understand the true scope of what she was dealing with.

She wasn't sure what her next move would be, but one thing was certain:

She wasn't just an observer anymore.

This was her world now.

And she was ready for whatever came next.