Prologue – His Fiery
The night was cold and quiet, with a thin mist curling over the village streets like a sleeping beast. Children lay snug in their beds, unaware of the tension that crackled in the air. Outside, the villagers of the Apollo Clan stood gathered, breath fogging in the chill, their eyes turned toward the infirmary, where the future of their people was about to be born.
Inside, Ayame screamed. Sweat drenched her brow as she clutched the sheets beneath her.
"Ngh—!""Push, Lady Ayame! Please, the baby won't come out!" the midwife, Fumiko, cried, her voice edged with desperation. "If this keeps up, we may need to perform a C-section!"
Ayame gritted her teeth, her face pale. "I'm trying… as hard as I can…!"
Just then, the infirmary doors burst open.
"Ayame! What's going on?!"Rin Suske, leader of the Apollo Clan and Ayame's husband, stormed into the room, his eyes filled with panic.
"Lord Rin!" Fumiko gasped. "The delivery is... complicated. The baby—he won't come out."
"A C-section…? What are you saying?"
Before anyone could answer, a bone-chilling scream echoed from downstairs.
Rin's expression darkened. "That sound…!"
Without hesitation, he turned and dashed from the room.
Downstairs, chaos awaited him.
Bodies. Blood. His warriors—his people—slaughtered.
Rin froze, grief and fury warring in his heart. And then… the flames within him stirred. With a flash, he summoned his blade—the legendary Sword of Apollo. Fire danced along its edge, fierce and alive.
"Who's there?!" Rin roared. "Show yourself!"
A figure stepped from the shadows. Black clothing, spiky hair, a jagged scar running across one eye. Lightning crackled around him like a living aura.
"I see you're still carrying that troublesome sword, Rin," the man said, a smirk tugging at his lips.
Rin's eyes narrowed. "Illumi... What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to retrieve the child. Your child."
"You're after my son?"
"Indeed. He's essential to our plan—to free Hades."
Long ago, before humans walked the earth, the god Hades waged war upon his siblings, seeking to become the sole god of the multiverse. Though ultimately defeated, his wrath left scars upon the divine realm. The gods, fearing his return, sealed him beneath even hell itself. To ensure the seal could never be broken, they created six keys—each guarded by a village blessed with divine power.
Among them was the Apollo Clan, charged with protecting one such key. But Hades has followers—the Forsaken Clan. And now, they move to collect the keys.
"Your child is more than just a child," Illumi continued. "He's a key. A tool. And since you refuse to cooperate… I'm here to eliminate you."
"So your plan is to raise my son as your own pawn?" Rin said coldly. "I see… Oblivion still fears me, even now."
Illumi shrugged. "Not fear. Caution. You're still dangerous, but age is catching up with you. Even the mighty Sun User can't burn forever."
"You talk too much, Illumi. Let's finish this."
In the Apollo Clan, three flame states exist:Orange Flames – the standard, wielded by all clan members.Red Flames – ten times hotter, accessible only by a select few.Black Flames – the ultimate form, burning through anything, even divine power. Only two ever mastered them: Apollo… and Rin Suske.
Lightning arced across the sky as Illumi powered up, his aura crackling with dark energy and stolen souls. Rin raised his sword high. The night sky shimmered, and in an instant—turned to day.
"I call upon Apollo, the Sun God—grant me your power!"Red Flames: Apollo's Fiery.
A massive beam of sunfire shot from Rin's blade, incinerating the air as it hurtled toward Illumi.
"Tch—again with this attack…!" Illumi braced himself, summoning the power of countless stolen souls. His strength surged as he forced the beam upward—into the stars.
Rin stared. "He… deflected it?"
Illumi reappeared behind him in a flash. Bolts of red lightning slammed into Rin, driving him from the sky. Before he could recover, Illumi seized his head and smashed it into the ground, again and again.
"See now, Rin? Our power is no longer equal. I stand above you."
Rin, bloodied, looked up—and remembered the day he once stood over Illumi, victorious.
"You said I was weak," Illumi sneered. "Told me to run or die. You let me live. So now I return the favor. Either way—your son comes with me."
Rin chuckled, despite the pain. "You really think I'd run?"
"Of course not. You're too stubborn. But it doesn't matter."
Rin closed his eyes. Apollo… if you're still watching… grant me one final favor.
"Send my son far from here. Let him live, grow strong… Be safe."
"You're finished," Illumi said, summoning a lightning blade.He plunged it through Rin's chest.
Blood spilled. Rin gasped.
"...I love you all... make me proud, my son..."
His body went limp.
Illumi stood over him, silent. "...You were holding back, old man."
He turned and vanished into the upper floor—only to find the baby gone.
"What…? Where's the child?!"
No answer—only tears and silence.
Soldiers lunged at him. In seconds, they too fell.
Far away, an old man opened his door, drawn by a strange sound.
At his feet, a capsule. Inside—an infant with red, fiery eyes.
"My, my… What a little spark you are," the old man smiled. "Let's see… your name is Dai, huh? What a fine name."
The baby cried. The old man laughed.
"Let's get you inside. You'll need a warm place to grow up."
End of Prologue – Written by Fainted