Chapter 77: Reclaim the Flame
Blood met roots.
Emberfang struck the first bandit before he could even curse. Flame wreathed the cub's claws mid-air, and the strike tore through the man's chest like parchment. The scream didn't last long—his heart burst from the heat before pain could register.
But just before it began, Kael scanned them.
[Scanning Targets...]
Bandit 1 — Realm: Soulroot (Tier 2), HP: 4,200, Mana: 1,100, Weapon: Steel Fang Saber
Bandit 2 — Realm: Veinwoven (Tier 5), HP: 6,300, Mana: 2,000, Skill: Shadow Pounce
Bandit 3 — Realm: Veinwoven (Tier 4), HP: 5,950, Mana: 1,850, Weapon: Iron Cleaver
Bandit Leader — Realm: Starforged (Tier 1), HP: 9,000, Mana: 3,300, Skill: Crimson Pulse Burst
Average Combat Power Rating: Low-B
Kael's gaze narrowed. "Hardly a threat... but cruel enough to be remembered."
He turned to Emberfang and activated the pet scan.
[Pet Scan — Emberfang]
Species: Flame Tiger Cub (Divine Beast Classification: Celestial Lineage — Incomplete)
Tier: 3 (Flame-Touched)
HP: 6,800 / 6,800
Mana: 7,200 / 7,200
Skills: Flame Pounce (Tier 2), Ember Claws (Tier 2), Cub's Roar (Tier 1)
Passive: Kindled Heart — Boosts power when emotionally provoked
Trait: Unawakened Lineage — 11% Synchronicity
As Kael observed silently, the bandits had no idea who they were up against.
"Don't even flinch," one muttered, licking his lips. "We got numbers. Look at the way they hide their faces. Bet they're slaves—or maybe just expensive dolls."
"They walk like nobles," another laughed. "Let's see how they scream."
"Or maybe their master here bought them to warm his bed. Wouldn't be the first."
Selene's silver eyes, half-hidden behind her veil, glinted with silent fury.
Kael said nothing.
But Emberfang's fur bristled.
His aura flared—not like a pet—but like a heirloom of wrath.
The bandits barely had time to react.
"What the hell is that!?"
"Is it a divine beast!?"
Kael didn't move. Didn't raise a hand. This was not his battle.
This was justice.
Emberfang's roar was distorted—not in sound, but in memory. The burning aura around him took the shape of a spectral tigress for the briefest moment. Divine. Proud.
His mother.
A lance of flame burst from Emberfang's maw. It struck another fleeing bandit and engulfed him whole. The man screamed, stumbling into a tree—only to collapse into ash.
[Pet Ability Unlocked: Flameborn Roar — Tier 3]
Emits a burst of divine fire based on lineage. Burn chance increased by 40%. Fear chance: 25%.
Another bandit charged toward him from the side, blade drawn. "I'll gut you, you little freak—!"
The moment he came close, roots erupted from the jungle floor—Valeria's doing—and wrapped around his legs.
Before Kael could command it, Thalaria launched a crackling arc of lightning, lancing through the man's skull.
Selene's voice was ice. "We protect the flame."
"Let him finish it," Kael said, raising one hand to still the others.
The remaining five bandits tried to flee into the forest—but Emberfang was already moving.
He blurred. For the first time, his flames didn't just follow him—they preceded him. Trails of burning paw prints appeared before he landed.
[Trait Evolution Triggered: Lineage Awakening — Incomplete]
Bloodline detected: Divine-Class — Celestial Tiger (Maternal Line)
Growth Pathway: Unlocked — Pending Master Stabilization
Kael clenched his jaw.
"He's awakening faster than expected," Evelyne whispered.
"He's remembering who he is," Nysera added. "And why he was born."
With only three bandits and their leader left, Emberfang moved through them like vengeance incarnate. Their earlier arrogance was gone.
"Please!" one screamed. "We didn't know! We didn't—"
"Mercy, gods, I'll never touch another beast again!" another sobbed, crawling away.
The leader raised his hands. "We were just following orders—let us live!"
But Emberfang didn't hesitate.
In less than a minute, it was done.
The clearing smelled of cinders and iron.
Of the twelve bandits, none remained.
Emberfang stood atop the smoldering corpse of their leader—shoulders rising and falling with ragged breath. The ghostly tigress behind him faded at last.
[Sub-Quest Complete: Reclaim the Flame]
Reward: 4,000,000 EXP (Shared with Pet), +1 Sin Core Shard
Emberfang has leveled up! Tier: 3 → 4
Evolution Progress: 27%
Kael approached slowly.
The cub turned.
But he wasn't just a cub anymore.
His eyes—once round and curious—now held a flicker of ancient understanding. A scar was born that day. Not upon skin, but within spirit.
Kael knelt beside him. "You did well."
Emberfang pressed his forehead against Kael's chest, and this time, Kael felt not flame—but warmth.
A heart fractured... slowly healing.
That night, they camped near a waterfall, the forest unusually still.
Kael sat beside the fire, sharpening his blade, while Emberfang slept nearby, tail twitching gently.
Valeria placed a hand on his shoulder. "You were right to let him choose."
"I didn't choose anything," Kael murmured. "That was his memory. His pain. His right."
Selene joined them, her veil removed now in private. "He burned for her. Just like you've burned for all of us."
Kael said nothing.
But inside, something stirred.
Not rage.
Not grief.
Conviction.
Divine Beast Tier vs Human Realm Chart
Tier 1–2: Mortal Beast (Comparable to Essence Drawn to Veinwoven)
Tier 3–4: Lesser Divine (Comparable to Soulroot to Starforged)
Tier 5–6: Divine Beast (Comparable to Sunbound to Moonglade)
Tier 7–8: High Divine (Comparable to Skyshatter to Worldpiercer)
Tier 9+: Primordial Divine / Ancient Mythic (Comparable to Heaven's Echo and beyond)
Emberfang is now Tier 4 — on the brink of becoming a true Divine Beast.
STATUS WINDOW: KAEL VIREN
System Level: 46
EXP: 49,802,000,000 / 58,982,400,000
Realm: Skyshatter Realm — Tier 9/9
HP: 75,800 / 75,800
Mana: 86,200 / 86,200
Stats (with buffs):
Strength: 870 × 2.4 × 2 = 4,176
Endurance: 820 × 2.4 = 1,968
Willpower: 845 × 2.4 = 2,028
Charm: 912 × 2.4 = 2,188
Intellect: 750 × 2.4 = 1,800
Dexterity: 850 × 2.4 × 2 = 4,080
Sin Points: 263,160,000 / 100,000,000,000
Sin Tier: Warlord Rank
Trait: Nullfire Core — Passive
➤ Grants 10% resistance to nullification effects
➤ Adds Null-element to all flame-based Sin skills
Bonded Wives:
Selene — Skyshatter 9/9 (Moon/Shadow)
Evelyne — Moonglade 8/9 (Ice/Lunar Flame)
Thalaria — Sunbound 3/9 (Lightning)
Nysera — Skyshatter 1/9 (Blood/Curse)
Valeria — Skyshatter 3/9 (Nature/Wind)
Pet Panel:
Emberfang — Flame Tiger Cub (Tier 4) — Lineage Awakened: Celestial Tiger (Progress: 27%)
Vira — Sky Serpent Hatchling (Tier 2)
Cultivation Realms:
Initiate → Essence Drawn → Veinwoven → Soulroot → Starforged → Sunbound → Moonglade → Skyshatter ← Current (9/9)
Next: Worldpiercer (Unlocks at System Level 47)
Heaven's Echo → Celestiaflame → Worldbreaker → Eternal Crown → Primordial Ascendant
Origin Flame (Locked)
Next: Chapter 78 — Cursed Roots