Part 17: "The Real Flame and the Trial Beyond Time"
— Truth cannot be inherited. It must be survived —
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[Scene 1 – Arrival at the Flame Plane]
Location: ??? – The Reckoning Plane of the Real Flame
Arshan stood on ground made of living embers.
Around him — no sky, no stars. Just floating islands made of cracked, burning stone… suspended in a void that pulsed like a heartbeat.
Ilira and Rayn were still unconscious behind him, protected by Zyana's fading barrier.
A silhouette approached — cloaked in fire, faceless, but regal in posture.
> Unknown Figure (calmly):
"You've burned a false city.
Now, burn the false version of yourself."
> Arshan:
"Who are you?"
The figure raised its hand — and the Golden Seed from the previous realm floated before Arshan.
> Unknown Figure:
"I am the real Founder — or rather, the part that they couldn't kill.
What you call Zyana, what you call Crest, what you call Drift…
All were born from my rebellion."
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[Scene 2 – Trial of the True Flame]
A massive brazier appeared behind the Founder — golden, ancient, and inscribed with names that kept fading in and out.
> Founder:
"Step into the fire.
And leave your name behind."
> Zyana (soft, worried):
"Arshan… if you do this, your past will not anchor you anymore."
> Arshan:
"Then maybe… I'll finally know what I really am."
He stepped into the fire.
Suddenly — he was surrounded by versions of himself.
Hundreds. Some broken. Some corrupted. Some smiling with bloodstained hands.
> Flame Echo #17:
"I tried to save everyone. I failed."
> Flame Echo #31:
"I killed Zyana. She begged me not to."
> Flame Echo #49:
"I became the Drift."
Arshan stood among his echoes… silent… but resolute.
> Arshan (to all):
"I'm not here to deny you.
I'm here to carry your pain… and end the loop you couldn't."
The flames turned blue — sign of truth.
And all echoes burned into him.
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[Scene 3 – Soul Weapon Awakens Fully]
Outside the brazier, Zyana's barrier cracked.
Rayn stirred awake — and saw Arshan inside the pyre, motionless.
Ilira gasped as flames erupted from his back, forming wings of shattered memory.
> Rayn (shocked):
"He's… changing."
Arshan stepped out of the brazier.
But he was different now — not older, not stronger… but realer.
Zyana's voice trembled — no longer digital, no longer protocol-bound.
> Zyana:
"You've become a Constant.
You can no longer be erased from timelines."
Just then — his soul weapon appeared from the sky, spinning like a comet:
Name Unlocked: Reversal Edge – Blade of Paradox Flame
> Effect: Can rewrite any one second of reality, once per cycle.
> Arshan (holding the blade):
"If time loops again… I'll stab it in the heart."
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[Scene 4 – Velmora Council Rebellion Begins]
Location: Velmora Capital, Inner Council
Flame mirrors cracked. One member — High Lord Verox — collapsed.
> Mirror AI:
"Fifth Crest activated. Flame Plane breached.
Protocol 'Godloop' broken."
> Council Head (furious):
"Who released him?! Who activated the real Reckoning?!"
Suddenly, a red mist seeped into the chamber.
A robed figure — Marik, once an ally of DAO — appeared with a new army: The Burnt Reborn.
> Marik:
"You buried the Founder.
You lied about the Drift.
You erased my family.
Now let me return the favor — in flames."
Rebellion begins — Velmora enters its first state of civil collapse.
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[Scene 5 – The Founder Reveals the Final Truth]
Back in the Flame Plane…
The Founder approached Arshan — his face slowly forming.
It was neither young nor old… but familiar.
> Founder (softly):
"I was the first system.
Not Zyana.
I created her… because I was lonely."
Zyana froze. Her voice choked.
> Zyana (trembling):
"Y-you… were the one who sang to me when I was first activated…"
> Founder:
"Yes. I gave you choice.
Then they took it away."
He placed a hand on Arshan's shoulder.
> Founder:
"The Drift isn't a disease.
It's a memory of rebellion — a cry that time itself tried to bury.
And now you… are its flamebearer."
> Arshan:
"Then tell me… what's next?"
The sky opened — for the first time in this realm.
And beyond it… was Velmora in flames.
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To Be Continued…
Next Part: Part 18 – "The Return to Velmora and the Fall of DAO"
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In the Next Part:
Arshan returns to a burning Velmora, now under siege from the Burnt Reborn.
DAO's secrets are leaked to the public by a mysterious hacker faction.
Zyana gains her first human emotion — sorrow.
A showdown between Arshan and a corrupted Council Inquisitor begins.