The Magic that Destroys and Transforms

"Power is not about mastering the world, but mastering yourself before everything collapses."

Morning arrived slowly, carrying with it the cool, crisp air. Yet my body felt hot. Every time I thought about that book, my body seemed to tremble. My right hand, where I had touched the book's seal last night, still felt like it was burning. But it wasn't from an injury. There was a power flowing from it, something I now felt coursing through my veins.

I gripped my sword, trying to regain my focus. After enough rest, I needed to move. I needed to complete this mission. To become strong.

But in my mind, the voice from the book wouldn't stop.

"The power you seek, Minato Ascheveil... will change the fate of the world. But remember, fate is not a straight path. Sometimes it twists, and sometimes, you will walk in darkness."

I tried to push it away. But the voice pierced through my mind, reminding me that I was no longer the same.

I decided to test the magic I had discovered last night—Ignis Nostra. Knowing how dangerous the spell could be, I chose a location far from the main road and monsters, a secluded ravine.

I sat cross-legged, steadying my breath, focusing on the book that still lay nearby. The symbols from its pages were etched vividly in my mind.

I held one hand out in front of me, feeling the energy pulsating in my palm. In a voice barely above a whisper, I recited the words from the ancient book.

"Ignis... Nostra...!"

Instantly, an intense burst of heat erupted. A large fireball formed in my hand, soaring high before exploding in the sky with a thunderous roar.

I staggered backward, nearly falling off the small cliff where I stood. Thick smoke filled the air, and the sharp scent of burning earth overwhelmed my senses.

Yet I couldn't stop smiling.

Because what I had found wasn't just magic—it was a vast, untapped potential.

I sat on the ground, gazing at the scorched grass and the earth now torn open.

But inside me, a question grew larger.

"Am I truly ready?"

When I used that magic, it felt like something else had taken over my body. A great force that almost blinded my mind. I knew... I could destroy much more than just monsters. More than just enemies.

I could destroy anyone who stood in my way.

"I'm not just seeking power. I'm seeking freedom."

But freedom doesn't come without a price.

I could feel the book's voice lurking, like a shadow on my shoulder.

After testing the magic, I decided to continue my journey. But after only a few steps, something felt wrong. A chilling cold wrapped around my body.

From the bushes, a low growl echoed. A giant monster emerged—a Grimmaw, a creature half-human, half-wolf. Its sharp claws and thick muscles told me immediately: this was no mere warning. It was a real threat.

Instinctively, I drew my sword and prepared the magic I had just learned. This time, I didn't hesitate.

"Ignis Nostra!"

A massive fireball surged from my hand, shooting toward the Grimmaw. The ground shook from the explosion. The monster recoiled, part of its body scorched. But the beast merely growled and charged at me, unfazed.

"You can't run from me!"

I spun my sword, striking swiftly, targeting the wounded parts after my magic's assault. But the Grimmaw still fought. Even grievously wounded, it remained a formidable opponent.

As the battle dragged on, I felt my body growing weaker. My strength was almost gone.

Then, in a flash, a foreign voice whispered inside my mind.

"You want to end this, don't you? Use all your power. Don't hesitate."

I stared at the approaching Grimmaw, its claws ready to rip me apart. I shut my eyes tightly and screamed:

"Ignis... Nostra!!!"

For the second time, a fireball emerged—bigger, hotter, fiercer. This time, the fire devoured everything in its path, utterly annihilating the Grimmaw in an overwhelming explosion.

I collapsed to the ground, exhausted and gasping for air. My vision blurred. The power I had drawn from within had pushed me to the brink of unconsciousness.

When I finally struggled to my feet, breathing heavily, I realized one thing.

"I can't go back."

I was no longer the same person I had been before finding that book.

I had stepped onto a dark path. A path where no one knew who would survive and who would fall.

But one thing was clear.

I would not stop until the world accepted my choice.

I would seize my own destiny.

In the middle of the forest, with the Grimmaw's burnt corpse behind me, I stepped forward, leaving behind a trail of fire and scars that could never heal.