Faithless_reader

In a world where strength determines status, Katsu Blazewood dreams of climbing the ranks and proving himself as a powerful fighter. With his fire abilities, he steps into the dangerous world of rankers—warriors who battle for prestige, wealth, and survival. But just as his journey begins, he’s nearly robbed by bandits, only to be saved by Simon Shepard—a ridiculously strong fighter with no elemental powers but enough brute force to flatten mountains.

Simon sees potential in Katsu but quickly realizes the rookie is reckless, cocky, and in desperate need of guidance. As Katsu fights to rise through the ranks, Simon begrudgingly takes him under his wing, helping him navigate rival rankers, deadly creatures, and the ever-growing threats lurking in the wild forest.

With each battle, Katsu gathers allies, faces unexpected enemies, and discovers that power isn’t just about flames and brute strength—it’s about strategy, determination, and a bit of luck. But as stronger foes emerge and hidden forces begin to move, Katsu will need more than just fire to survive.

His journey has just begun, and the road to the top is anything but easy.

The Stone Mask

Katsu's breathing was ragged. His body screamed at him to stop, but he forced himself to stay on his feet. His flames burned brighter than ever, flickering wildly, uncontrolled. Every fiber of his being was on fire—not just his power, but his muscles, his lungs, his very core.

Reznor wiped a bit of blood from his chin, smirking. "Not bad, kid. But you're running out of gas."

Katsu clenched his fists. He knew it too. His body wasn't used to handling this much fire at once. He was pushing himself beyond his limit—and it was starting to tear him apart.

Katsu took a deep breath. The flames around him roared, rising even higher. His entire body burned like a living inferno. He charged forward, each step scorching the ground beneath him.

Reznor grinned. "Still got fight in you? Alright then—"

Katsu vanished in a burst of fire.

Katsu appeared in front of him, twisting his entire body into a devastating punch. His flames concentrated into his fist, a blazing mass of heat and power.

A massive explosion of fire erupted outward, shaking the entire forest. Trees bent from the shockwave, leaves disintegrated in the heat. The ground cracked beneath them.

Simon, standing at a distance, whistled. "Damn."

The flames slowly died down. Smoke and embers filled the air.

Katsu stood there, panting heavily. His vision blurred. His arms felt like lead.

Reznor staggered back, coughing. His clothes were scorched, burns marked his skin—but he was still standing.

Katsu's eyes widened in disbelief.

Reznor grinned through the pain. "That was your last shot, wasn't it?"

Katsu's flames flickered. His body refused to move.

The sonic blast struck Katsu point-blank.

His entire body shut down. The last embers of his fire sputtered out. His knees buckled.

Simon, watching from a distance, exhaled slowly. His expression was unreadable as he walked forward.

Reznor wiped his forehead, sighing. "Damn. Kid almost got me." He looked down at Katsu. "Guess that's that."

Reznor barely processed it before—

Reznor didn't even scream. He was dead before he hit the ground.

Simon stood over his body, expression neutral. He knelt, scooping Katsu up effortlessly, glancing at the unconscious fire-wielder.

"Not bad, kid," he muttered. "Not bad at all."

Then, without another word, he walked away, carrying Katsu with him.

Chapter 6: Burning Out