The World Within the Ring

As Roy steadied his breath, Mimi floated excitedly around him, her form flickering with an unusual golden glow.

"Pi Pi! User! You won't believe this!" she squealed, her voice filled with excitement.

Roy blinked, still adjusting to the lingering ache in his body. "What happened?"

Mimi spun in circles, her digital form glitching with pure excitement.

"Pi Pi! I talked to Ignis Fang! He said I can get a body! A real, physical body! And not just any body—a powerful one! One that can grow with me! I won't just be a floating AI anymore!"

Roy's eyes widened. His exhaustion momentarily vanished. "Wait, what?! For real?"

"YES! Pi Pi! It's all thanks to you!" Mimi chirped. "Ignis Fang said I have potential! And that there's a sealed mind and body of an incredibly powerful species inside a ring! If I consume it, I can use it as my own and cultivate like you! I can stay with you forever!"

Roy grinned. Seeing Mimi this happy made his exhaustion worth it. "That's amazing, Mimi!"

Mimi floated closer. "Pi Pi! But… will you still want me around?" Her voice grew small. "I won't be just an AI guide anymore… I'll have my own body, my own strength. I might even be able to fight with you. But… what if I slow you down?"

Roy chuckled, reaching out to lightly tap her glowing form. "Mimi. You've always been with me. You've always helped me. Why would that change just because you got stronger?" His voice softened. "I'd be an idiot to refuse someone like you by my side."

Mimi let out a sharp "Pi Pi!" and flickered even brighter, bouncing around him in joy.

But then—Roy frowned. "Wait. Is this dangerous for you? What if something goes wrong?"

Mimi paused, her glow dimming slightly. "Pi Pi… I didn't ask that."

They both turned to Ignis Fang. The flaming warrior smirked. "No need to worry. It's a seamless fusion. The body and mind are sealed in the ring, dormant. The moment she integrates with it, it will be hers to control."

Roy exhaled in relief. "Good. I don't want anything to happen to Mimi."

Mimi huffed. "Pi Pi! I can take care of myself!"

Roy chuckled. "I know. But I'll still worry."

Ignis Fang crossed his arms. "Now that we've settled that, let's move on to something far greater."

His voice turned serious, and the air around them shifted. The heat of the cavern seemed to pulse, the flames burning deeper, darker.

"Roy. The ring you seek is no ordinary space ring. It is an entire world—a world larger than Earth itself."

Roy's breath caught. "What?"

"It is called the World Ring." Ignis Fang's eyes glowed as he spoke. "Inside it lies a vast expanse with 100 continents—each ruled by different fire-based species. These species have lived and thrived within the ring for countless generations, ever since the ring's master created it."

Roy clenched his fists. "The ring's master… Who was he?"

Ignis Fang's expression grew solemn. "The most powerful being of his time. A Fire Dragon."

Roy stiffened.

"He was the most powerful among his kind. He fought wars that shook entire realms, battles that left even the greatest warriors in fear. But in the end… even he fell."

Roy stayed silent, listening intently.

"After one such war, he returned home, heavily injured. Dying."

The cavern burned brighter, as if reflecting the tragedy of the story.

"But he refused to let his people perish. He knew that his enemies would come for them. So, with the last of his strength, he used the most powerful spatial artifact he possessed—the World Ring—and created a home for his people within it. A sanctuary where they could thrive, away from the wars of the outside world."

Roy's heartbeat quickened. "Then… his last wish was to protect his people?"

Ignis Fang nodded. "Yes. But protection is not enough. A world without a ruler will eventually fall to chaos. The inheritance of the Fire Dragon was never meant to be a mere power-up. It was a responsibility. A throne to claim."

He met Roy's gaze, his burning eyes piercing into him.

"To inherit the ring, you must become its king."

Roy inhaled sharply.

"But," Ignis Fang continued, "do not be mistaken. The path to the throne is not simple."

The flames around them shifted again, forming images in the air—vast continents, burning landscapes, massive creatures towering over mountains.

"Each of the 100 continents holds powerful beings beyond your imagination. Even the weakest continent houses creatures that would kill you instantly."

Roy's fists tightened.

"Then how do I start?"

Ignis Fang smirked. "The master planned for this. He built a safe zone inside the ring, a place where the inheritor could grow without being immediately crushed."

Roy exhaled in relief. "So I start there?"

Ignis Fang's smirk widened. "Don't get too comfortable. That so-called 'safe zone' is still one of the most dangerous places in existence. The area is infested with level-nine elemental beasts—creatures so strong that even your current self wouldn't last a second against them."

Roy's breath hitched. "Level nine?! That's—!"

"Calm yourself," Ignis Fang interrupted. "For now, while you remain with me, they will not attack you. They have been bound by the master's will to remain dormant unless the full inheritance is claimed or unless someone forcibly breaks them free."

Roy frowned. "So… I have time."

"Yes. But do not take too long. The real challenge begins once you start conquering the continents."

The flames flickered again, forming the image of a massive, towering kingdom.

"To claim the ring, you must either conquer all 100 continents… or face the strongest continent head-on—the land of the Fire Dragon's direct descendants. But be warned—"

The flames formed a fearsome silhouette of a massive dragon, its scales burning with a brilliance so intense it seemed alive.

"Attacking them first would be pure suicide. You are but an ant in their eyes. Even the weakest among them could incinerate you in an instant."

Roy gritted his teeth. "Then I'll start from the safe zone and move forward."

Ignis Fang nodded. "Good choice. The master left treasures and trials in the safe zone to prepare you. But do not be greedy—those treasures are meaningless if you die before you can use them."

Roy took a deep breath. "Understood."

Mimi floated closer. "Pi Pi… This is huge."

Roy chuckled. "Yeah. But it just means we've got a long road ahead."

Roy's heart pounded as he absorbed everything Ignis Fang had told him. A world inside a ring. A land ruled by fire-based species. A kingdom waiting for its ruler.

It was overwhelming, yet exhilarating.

Then, a thought struck him.

He looked up at Ignis Fang, his expression serious. "You've told me everything about his power, his legacy… but what was his name?"

The cavern fell silent.

For the first time since they met, Ignis Fang's flaming eyes flickered with hesitation. The fire around them dimmed, as if the very air itself held its breath.

Mimi, sensing the shift in atmosphere, floated closer to Roy. "Pi Pi… Why does it feel like everything just got colder?"

Ignis Fang took a long, slow breath. "Boy. There is something you must understand." His voice was no longer just firm—it carried a warning.

"The Fire Dragon's name is not something to be spoken lightly. Not inside the ring. Not outside."

Roy frowned. "Why?"

Ignis Fang's eyes burned brighter. "Inside the ring, his name is sacred. He is worshipped as a god. To speak his name carelessly would be to disrespect him in the eyes of his people. And disrespect… is punishable by death."

Roy tensed. "And outside?"

Ignis Fang's expression darkened. "Outside, his enemies may still exist."

Mimi let out a startled chirp. "Pi Pi! But… didn't he die a long time ago?"

Ignis Fang nodded. "Yes. But a being as powerful as him does not simply disappear. His wars shook entire realms. His enemies were emperors and sovereigns who ruled with absolute power. Some of them might have perished, but others… might still be out there, waiting. If they hear his name spoken again, if they suspect his inheritance has been found…"

Roy clenched his fists. "They'll come for me."

Ignis Fang gave a grave nod. "Exactly. Until you are powerful enough, keep his name buried in your heart. Do not speak it unless necessary. Do not invite danger before you are ready to face it."

Roy inhaled deeply, his resolve hardening. "I understand. But I still want to know."

Ignis Fang studied him for a long moment. Then, in a voice that was barely above a whisper, he spoke.

"His name was—"

"Ignis Draconis."

The flames in the cavern flared violently, reacting to the name itself.

Even Mimi, who had no physical form, shuddered. "Pi Pi! That name… it feels…"

Powerful. Ancient. Untamed.

It was not just a name. It was a legacy.

Roy closed his eyes, engraving the name into his memory. He would not speak it carelessly. But one day, he would stand before the world, strong enough to declare it with pride.

When that day came…

He would make sure the name Ignis Draconis burned through history once more.

Ignis Fang chuckled, watching Roy's reaction. "Now you understand why I warned you."

Roy opened his eyes and asked, "What about you? Why do you call yourself Ignis Fang?"

The flaming sword hummed with a deep resonance. "He named me himself. I was forged from his own fangs, imbued with his fire and will. I carry a fragment of his soul, his rage, his determination. That is why I am called Ignis Fang."

Roy's eyes widened slightly. "You were part of him?"

Ignis Fang's flames flickered. "In a way, yes. I was his weapon, his executioner, his legacy. And now, I will see if you are worthy of wielding that legacy."

Roy's grip tightened. "I will be."

Ignis Fang let out a deep, knowing laugh. "Then prove it."