The Grand Kingdom of Fire and The Great Lord of Fire
They had finally arrived at the Grand Kingdom of Fire.
Towering walls forged from obsidian stone pulsed with a warm, subtle heat. Above, fiery vortexes danced across the sky like living embers.
As the massive gates creaked open, a figure stood at the entrance.
A towering man, his crimson hair blazing like molten lava, clad in armor that looked as though it had been forged from the sun itself.
"Welcome... to my kingdom,"
he spoke with a deep, thunderous voice—like a dragon's roar born of flame.
This was none other than the King of Fire: Lord Infernus.
From the very first moment, Infernus felt something strange in Ryo's presence. The young man appeared calm... too calm. But behind those eyes—he could feel it.
A fire, ancient and untamed, slumbered within him.
They sat together, shared stories, exchanged laughter.
And in time... respect blossomed into something more.
A true friendship.
---
One day, inside the kingdom's volcanic training arena…
Infernus (with a burning grin):
"I've heard you control fire… yet you rarely use it. Why is that?"
Ryo (quietly):
"I don't know. I just… imagine it, and it obeys."
Infernus burst into roaring laughter.
"Ha! Then how about a duel? Flame against flame. No other powers—just your fire… and that blazing sword of yours."
Ryo glanced at his sword—Kagutsuchi—its edge glinting with latent heat.
"...Alright."
The crowd gathered at the edge of a massive obsidian battlefield. Rivers of lava flowed nearby, steam rising like breath from a slumbering beast.
The heat was unbearable for most…
But not for them.
Infernus raised his hand high.
"Seventh Flame Spell: Red Dragon Pillar!"
A dragon of pure flame erupted into the sky, coiling with a roar that shook the heavens.
Ryo, silent as ever, closed his eyes.
And then... fire exploded around him—black flames mixed with deep crimson, rising like a sentient storm.
Ryo (softly):
"...Detonate."
A spear-shaped fireball launched from his palm, colliding with the flame dragon mid-air.
The sky burst open in a storm of red sparks.
Both warriors stepped forward.
Kagutsuchi ignited, its trail behind Ryo like the tail of a comet.
Every strike shattered the battlefield, melting stone and launching molten debris into the air.
Infernus unleashed spell after spell:
"Solar Burst!"
"Lava Rain!"
"Explosion Roar!"
But Ryo said nothing. He simply raised his hand and released fire so concentrated, it sliced the sky like a laser.
When the dust settled, both stood still—exhausted… and smiling.
Infernus (breathing heavily):
"What kind of fire is that...? You don't control it—it follows you."
Ryo looked at his palm.
"...It's part of me now."
They laughed.
And with a firm clash of fists, a bond was sealed.
Infernus (serious):
"If anything threatens you… call my name. I'll burn the world for you."
Ryo (calmly):
"I'll remember that."
---
That night, under a blazing moon, Ryo, Ren, Yui, and Infernus sat together.
They ate, talked, and laughed like old friends.
But deep inside, they all knew…
A storm was coming.
And this storm… would not be extinguished by fire alone.
---
The next evening, while sipping a mug of blazing hot fire-tea (yes, even their drinks were on fire), Infernus's expression darkened.
Infernus (softly):
"There's something… I haven't told you."
Yui (teasing):
"Ooh, a dark secret?"
Infernus smirked.
"Kind of… it's about a dragon."
The group fell silent.
Ren (flatly):
"Go on."
Infernus explained that deep within the Western Forgotten Forest, surrounded by the ruins of ancient tribes, a legendary fire dragon slumbered.
Its name was: Kravak.
An ancient beast of flame, older than kingdoms, whose fire was said to melt the sky.
Infernus:
"Long ago, we lost thousands of warriors trying to stop it. It rarely moves now… but it curses the land with its fire. Every beast nearby has gone mad."
Ryo stood without a word.
"Just tell me what you want."
Infernus (with solemn eyes):
"I want to end this. With you."
Yui:
"Wait, wait—A dragon? A cursed forest? Seriously? Are we in a manga!?"
Ren (shrugs):
"Kind of."
---
The next day, Ryo and Infernus departed.
Yui and Ren followed behind, watching silently.
The forest… was deathly still.
Ash hung in the air. The silence was louder than thunder.
And then—it came.
The ground trembled.
From the shadows emerged Kravak.
A beast of charred flesh and molten eyes, with wings that blocked the sun.
Its roar alone could tear trees from the earth.
Infernus (gritting his teeth):
"Let's ignite history."
The battle began.
Flames clashed between heaven and hell.
Ryo unleashed Kagutsuchi and opened his fire domain.
Infernus roared spells from the heart of the sun.
Together, they were an inferno.
Ryo launched a spear of flame so powerful, it split the mountains like paper.
Infernus rained burning suns upon the earth, turning soil to lava.
Kravak screeched—
And fell.
But they didn't stop.
Every cursed beast in that forest…
Every ember of darkness…
Was purged in fire.
When the smoke cleared, only ashes remained.
---
Back in the capital, the four sat around a table.
Laughing. Eating. Talking like the world wasn't ending.
Yui (arms crossed):
"Seriously? You two set an entire forest on fire. You're insane."
Ren (chewing calmly):
"The forest insulted peace."
Infernus (laughing):
"This boy thinks like a general."
Ryo:
"I don't care what burns… if it threatens my family."
Yui (raising an eyebrow):
"Wait... you mean me?"
Ryo:
"...Yes."
She froze. Her face turned bright red.
Ren (deadpan):
"Temperature's rising… is something wrong?"
Yui (exploding):
"Why do you talk like a robot, Ren!?"
Ren (flatly):
"...Better than being a screaming pixie."
They all burst out laughing.
---
End of Day
That day…
Wasn't just about a burning dragon.
It was about laughter born from fire.
About friendships forged in battle.
And for a moment… they forgot they were weapons.
They were just four friends…
Laughing under a sky warmed by the flames of peace.
---(If you enjoyed the chapter, don't forget to vote or leave a comment — it really helps and means a lot to me! 💬)
To Be Continued...