Crythorn Valley - Where the forbidden burns bright.
The night air was cold, yet tinged with something far more dangerous.
Lucien stood at the edge of the Crythorn Valley, the silver moonlight casting long shadows over the scorched earth. His cloak fluttered slightly in the wind, and though he tried to appear composed, the truth was… his heart was pounding.
"Are you nervous?" Lyra's voice broke the silence as she stepped beside him. Her red hair shimmered under the moonlight, and her eyes, usually playful, now held a strange intensity.
"A little," Lucien admitted, forcing a half-smile. "First mission and all."
Behind them, the rest of the squad prepared silently. Arin checked the edge of her enchanted daggers, her calm demeanor betraying nothing. Elira adjusted the strap of her spellbook, her long silver hair dancing in the wind like threads of starlight. Kira and Nysa whispered among themselves, giggling—but there was a sharpness in Kira's voice tonight. Something hungry.
Only Selene stood slightly apart, gazing up at the moon like it was speaking secrets only she could hear.
This was it. Their first real test together.
And Lucien? He still didn't feel strong enough.
Crythorn Valley was known for one thing: Mana Serpents. Creatures born from corrupted magic and dark flame. They slithered beneath the earth, bursting out in storms of black fire. No beginner squad had ever dared step foot here.
But then again, Squad Flameborn was far from ordinary.
"Alright," Elira said, flipping open her spellbook. "I've set a tracking ward. The first Serpent is 800 meters northeast."
Lucien turned to the group, clearing his throat. "Stay close. No one takes unnecessary risks. We work together, we survive together."
They nodded. All eyes on him. For a moment, he truly felt like a leader. Even if only in title.
Thirty minutes later, they found it. A writhing, grotesque beast of smoke and molten scale.
Lyra didn't wait. She moved like a blur, twin daggers glowing red with fire runes.
"Lyra—!" Lucien called out, too late.
She clashed head-on with the Mana Serpent, dodging its fiery strikes and delivering her own. She fought like someone possessed. There was pain in her movements. Rage.
Lucien ran in without thinking. He wasn't fast enough. Not yet.
The Serpent roared, sending a shockwave of heat across the valley. Lucien raised his arm—his system sparked alive.
[Emergency Defense Mode: Active]
[Damage Received: 73% Reduced]
[Flame Barrier: 12 Seconds Active]
A crimson shield shimmered around him. It wouldn't last.
He dove between Lyra and the serpent just in time, the beast's fangs slamming into the barrier instead of her chest.
"Idiot!" she shouted, pulling him back. "Don't you dare play hero!"
"I'm not playing anything," Lucien gasped. "You're part of my squad. I'm not letting you get killed!"
Their eyes met. For a second, the fire faded.
Then it roared again.
The fight was brutal. Elira's spells, Arin's stealth, Selene's eerie moon magic—it all came together. Kira and Nysa's tandem illusion-trap combo sealed the serpent's speed.
And Lucien?
He took the final strike.
Not out of strength… but timing.
The system pulsed in his mind, lines of red code tracing across his vision.
> [Flame Core Strike: Unlocked Temporarily]
[Sharing System Node 1 Activated]
[Ability borrowed from: Lyra Crimsonfang]
His hand burst into flame—not just any flame. Her flame.
He leapt.
He struck.
And when the serpent fell with a cry that echoed through the valley… silence followed.
They sat by the fire that night, bloodied but alive.
"You surprised me," Lyra said quietly. They all looked tired, but somehow… lighter.
"I'm full of surprises," Lucien replied, trying to grin. She didn't laugh.
Instead, she reached out—and touched his hand.
Her fingers, usually so confident, now trembled slightly.
"You jumped in for me. Risked your life. Why?"
Lucien hesitated. Then spoke the truth.
"Because… I care. I don't want to lose anyone. Not again."
Lyra stared at him. Then smiled—just a little. "You're still an idiot. But… thanks."
As the fire crackled and the stars above blinked like ancient eyes, something shifted between them. A warmth. A bond.
But far away, unseen… something else watched them from the shadows.
[??? System Notification: Lucien Altear's Flame Resonance has reached Threshold 2]
[New Emotional Link Formed: Lyra Crimsonfang — Unstable Romantic Affection Detected]
[A storm is coming.]
To be continued...