Chapter 6 : Flame

The sky above the Craven Valley was stained with a dusky red, as if the land itself was preparing to devour someone.

Jyn walked alone… slowly, eyes scanning the scorched terrain, his hand resting on the hilt of Elthan.

"Garod disappeared…

But he's here. I can feel it."

The surrounding rocks glowed a deep crimson, breathing out faint smoke. Every few steps, Jyn heard soft tapping—like someone was following—only to vanish.

"It's not just the wind. Not just the mountain…

It's the breath of someone waiting."

Then—complete stillness.

Not even the wind dared to breathe.

Jyn froze. His eyes widened, heartbeat racing.

Then the rock wall beside him exploded.

From the fire and shattered stone emerged a figure cloaked in darkness and flame… Garod.

His face now even more disfigured, twisted by fury and heat, eyes blazing like molten lava.

"I wanted to see how long you'd endure, Heir of the Sword,"

"But I've grown tired of waiting.

Now… let me devour you!"

Jyn stepped back once—but his eyes didn't flinch.

"What I was searching for…

has found me."

The air warped. A pulse surged.

Then—

The battle began.

Garod, the fire-obsessed warlord, grinned as he dragged his heavy blade across volcanic stone. His voice thundered like a raging volcano:

"Finally alone…

No friends… no shields…

Let's see what you're really worth, Heir of the Broken Sword!"

Jyn stood his ground, breathing heavy. His body was weary, cloak torn, fingers trembling slightly as he gripped Elthan.

"I don't need to prove anything to you, Garod…"

"I'm here… to ignite what's left of Valmyre's will."

Garod lunged like a torrent of flame, striking wildly. Jyn dodged, deflected, parried with minimal force. But with each passing second, Garod's strikes broke deeper into his defense.

A sudden blow sent Jyn flying.

He fell to his knees.

Elthan stuck in the ground beside him.

Garod laughed, approaching slowly.

"Where's your Ngroth now?

Where's your flame?

Or are you just a ghost of a fallen kingdom?"

Silence…

Then Jyn raised his head—blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

He smiled.

"Ngroth has nothing to do with what's coming…"

He placed his hand on his chest—then on his sword.

"The fire inside me… has no name.

It doesn't come from a blade…

It comes from my heart.

From my loss… my rage…

And the promise I made to my father…"

Elthan began to glow—white-gold at first—then flames slowly spiraled around it, as if responding not to mana…

…but to will.

The air froze.

Garod cursed, stepping back. But he wasn't ready for what followed.

Jyn screamed as he rose, and fire erupted from his body like a vertical inferno.

🔥 "Flame of Sword Will — Full Manifestation!" 🔥

A wave of pure flame—neither of Ngroth nor of Craven's breed.

A flame untainted, glowing with the white of Elthan… and the black chaos of Jyn's broken heart.

He moved faster than sight.

His sword sliced the air—flames coiling around it like a spirit fighting at his side.

Garod tried to block, but saw only Jyn's phantom pass by.

One second—

"Garod… is finished."

The head was severed.

The fire swallowed everything in solemn silence.

No sound. Only light—then sudden cold.

Jyn stood amid the ash. His sword still burned…

But for the first time—his eyes were calm.