Undeterred Thorne moved.
He planted his foot, turned sharply, and dashed forward, slipping between Aaron and the mayor in a quick, practiced move. His arm shot out, trying to block Aaron before he could get any closer.
But he never got the chance.
A cold, gloved hand grabbed his shoulder mid-step and yanked him back hard.
"Where do you think you're going like that?" a voice said behind him.
A tall figure stepped out of the crowd, wearing a cloak of dark violet with silver trim—clearly one of the Eye of the Void. His eyes locked onto Thorne, sharp and focused.
"I'll be your opponent."
Focused on his target, Aaron noticed nothing, his fists clenched tightly as he stormed toward his father, every step fueled by rage.
Then, flash of light shot out from the Phoenix Ring on his finger. A faint, glowing screen appeared in front of Aaron, its strange message catching his eye:
ERROR: Level Anomaly Detected.
Warning: Energy Surge. Levels: 1, 2, 6, 11, 19, 34…
System Override: Activating Flames of Purgatory.
But Aaron didn't care. He was too angry to stop and kept moving forward. The numbers on the screen sped up, blurring into a mess of digits, like the ring was feeding off his rage.
The light grew brighter, hotter. Suddenly, flames burst out of his body, spreading fast and wild. The heat was overwhelming, and the fire roared like it had a mind of its own, wrapping around him in a fiery storm.
Vibrant banners hanging from the fair burst into flames, the heat twisting the air and choking every breath.
Panic followed—people scattered in every direction like a flock of startled birds.
All of it happened right in front of the mayor. His confident look vanished the moment he saw Aaron covered in fire. His eyes went wide, and he stumbled back, yelling, "Stop him! He's dangerous! Someone, do something!"
His voice shook. He dropped down and raised his arms to protect himself, his whole body trembling.
Aaron's anger burned even hotter when he saw his father like that—scared and hiding. He shouted over the roar of the flames, voice rough and loud, "Come fight me, coward!" He threw his hand forward.
Fire exploded from his palm. A blast of flames shot across the fairgrounds, ripping through tents and stands. People screamed and ran as everything around them caught fire.
The flames moved like they were alive—twisting, jumping, eating up everything. Stalls went up in smoke, wooden pieces flying through the air and falling onto the panicked crowd.
The fair, once full of color and music, had become a firestorm. Smoke rose high above, and the heat made it hard to breathe. People ran in every direction, pushing past each other, tripping over broken stands and falling to the ground as they tried to get away.
Era struggled against the waves of fleeing bodies, shouting Aaron's name. "Aaron, stop this! You're losing control!"
But Aaron didn't hear her. His mind was consumed by rage, his vision red and hazy. All he could see was his father, cowering and pleading.
"Fight me!"Aaron bellowed again, his flames surging higher, brighter. The translucent screen reappeared in his line of sight, its message shifting:
ERROR: Power Output Critical
Flames of Purgatory Unlocked
Stabilization Protocols Failed
The intensity of the fire around him increased, turning from vibrant orange to a deep, menacing red. The very ground beneath his feet cracked, glowing with molten embers.
Era, desperate, pushed her way closer to him, shielding herself from the blistering heat with her own abilities. "Aaron, you'll destroy everything!" she yelled, her voice cracking under the strain.
But Aaron's hatred burned brighter than the flames and era had no choice but to back down.
Within moments, the area was completely deserted. In the middle of the chaos, intense heat surged around Aaron, concentrating in his clenched fist. With a roar of anger, he launched himself forward, moving at blinding speed.
"And now, disappear!" Aaron shouted, his voice echoing with fury. His fist released its fiery power, triggering an explosion so massive it engulfed the area in an inferno, reducing everything in its path to ashes.
The heat lingered for minutes, smothering the air, until it finally began to fade, leaving behind thick, suffocating smoke. Aaron, breathless and trembling, felt his fist still clenched—except it wasn't free. A powerful grip held it firmly in place.
As the smoke thinned, a figure emerged. Corvus stood unharmed, a sly smirk on his face, but it was the man beside him that drew Aaron's attention. Tall and beastlike, the stranger exuded a terrifying confidence. His hand clamped tightly around Aaron's fist, as if the flames had been nothing more than a fleeting annoyance.
"That was magnificent, bearer of the Phoenix Ring," the man said, a smirk in his voice.
Before Aaron could process how his father had survived or who this stranger was, the man moved. With a single, swift strike to Aaron's abdomen, he sent him flying backward, crashing through the remnants of the battlefield.
Straightening his jacket with an air of casual confidence, the man stepped forward, cracking his knuckles as an arrogant smile spread across his face. "Consider that a decent warm-up," he said, his tone dripping with mock approval.
Aaron clenched his teeth and struggled to his feet, wobbling from the blow he had just taken. The tall man glanced back, his expression shifting. "Master," he said in a respectful tone. "Let me deal with him."
The Mayor waved a hand casually, sounding pleased. "Do whatever you want," he said, smirking at Aaron. "Just bring me the ring."
The man gave a small nod before turning to face Aaron again, moving with an unsettling calm.
Aaron's rage only grew as he saw the mocking expression on his father's face. "I'll burn everything to ash," he roared, the air around him warping with heat. The ground cracked beneath his feet, molten rock oozing through as his flames surged.
His opponent didn't flinch. If anything, his smirk widened, confidence radiating from him like an impenetrable shield. "Go ahead," the man said calmly. "Show me what you've got."
Aaron's fists ignited more intensely, the flames intensifying until they burned white-hot. With a growl, he swung his arms forward, sending fireballs streaking through the air like meteors. They hurtled toward the man with terrifying speed, leaving trails of blazing light.
The man stood his ground, allowing the first fireball to crash into him. The explosion was deafening, flames engulfing the area in a fiery blast. Aaron didn't stop. He launched another, then another, each hit shaking the battlefield. The heat was unbearable, even for him, but his anger drove him to push harder.
Aaron took a deep breath and threw his head back. Heat built up in his chest like fire. Then he let out a loud roar, blasting a burning cloud of ash from his lungs. It rushed out fast, tearing through everything—burning the ground and tossing debris everywhere.
From behind a broken wall, Era shielded herself, her arms crossed over her face as the heat and ash whipped past. The sheer force made her stumble, and she watched in awe—and fear—as Aaron's power consumed the battlefield.
When the ash began to settle, Aaron stood in the center of the chaos, his chest heaving with exhaustion. He glared through the haze, his voice a low growl. "I told you... I'll destroy everything in my way."
But then, cutting through the silence, came the sound of slow, deliberate footsteps. Aaron's heart sank as the figure emerged from the smoke, unharmed. The man's suit was singed at the edges, but he brushed off the soot like it was nothing. His mocking laugh echoed across the battlefield.
"Is that it?" he asked, his voice full of disdain. "I thought the Phoenix's heir would be stronger." He cracked his knuckles, the sound sharp. "My turn."