Chapter 33 · Within the Spark, Choosing Souls to Build an Army
Section I · Picking Bones from Ashes, Fire Chooses the Silent
The night was deep as ink when a sealed chamber, ten meters long and five wide, silently activated in the deepest part of East Tower at the main campus. All ARGUS listening modules ceased operation. The Fuxi system switched to [Deep Memetic Scanning Mode]—no external interference, no voice broadcast, no recordings exportable.
This was a silent selection.
Standing within this room were one hundred and fifty-seven "Fire-Returned"—not the strongest, nor the cleverest; but those who had been the first to raise their fists and bow their heads during the fire lesson, the last to leave, the ones who had spoken not a word all night.
Jason said nothing. He simply raised his hand and held up a crystal-clear fragment, its texture like a swirling starlight spiral, bearing within it a gray-white sigil. This was the physical certification of the 「Fire Beacon」, the very first soul-core of the Wildfire Operation System.
The Fuxi system broadcast into the consciousness of every candidate:
[Module Loading: Deep Memetic Screening × Belief Psychological Mapping × Silent Flame Recognition Protocol]
[Test Mechanism: Not Based on Behavior × Not Based on Intelligence × Not Based on Loyalty Oath]
[Judgment Criteria: Whose soul can already pass fire without speaking]
The Soul That Speaks Without Sound
Light in the center of the chamber dimmed abruptly, leaving only a faint glow descending from the ceiling, casting the candidates' faces into blurred shadows. Fuxi began conducting a "low-frequency emotional resonance analysis," requiring no movement from them—only measuring spiritual fluctuation, mental residue, memetic resistance, and latent willingness to sacrifice.
Ten minutes later, the air suddenly vibrated.
A semi-transparent data wheel flickered into view, displaying twelve names one by one:
Orion (Hunter)
Selene (Silent Moon)
Thanatos (Death Unyielding)
Athena (Tactical Flame)
Prometheus (Firebringer)
Nyx (Nightwave Embers)
Perseus (Serpent-Cleaver)
Eos (Dawn's Glow)
Hades (Unbroken Vow)
Erebus (Path Through Darkness)
Chronos (Time's Ember)
Astraea (Balance Breaker)
With each name, a dark red ember trace appeared upon one person's back—a flame mark like a blade turned inward, seared into the right side of their spine.
Not a tattoo, not a label—but a "soul-code" implanted by the system. Unique for life. Irreplicable.
They did not step forward. No one cheered. They merely knelt on one knee, crossed their fists over their chests, and bowed their heads in salute.
No signal was given, yet the rest of the candidates instinctively stepped aside, making way along the gray path. Silence itself was the highest form of respect.
Jason approached, handing each person a crystal shard and offering an ancient phrase:
"A man of virtue never forgets hardship, a warrior never wavers in heart.""Life is what I desire, so too is righteousness.""The wind blows cold beside the Yi River; once gone, the brave never return.""A man must be broad-minded, for his burden is great and his road long.""Though ten thousand oppose me, still I go."
Each line pierced the soul, as though not spoken by Jason, but echoing from a well centuries old.
The Fire Core Is Born
Fuxi then synchronized:
[Twelve Star Cores × Fire Beacons Implanted]
[Activation Module: Silent Flame Returns to Bone × Voiceless Oath]
[Soul Mark Instruction: Fear No Capture × Speak Not of Death × Follow No Orders × Flame Alone Is Final]
Then Fuxi expanded the projection screen, naming the entire action group:
"Wildfire Core Ring (LFL)"
And assigning each Fire Core to lead a unit of five:
Starfire Unit × Independent Code
Jason looked at the twelve before him, his voice calm, heavy as stone:
"From tonight onward, you will have no return date. You will not report back, receive orders, or wait for confirmation. Your only task—ignite."
"Fire needs no expansion—it only needs to be seen. Faith needs no slogan—it only needs to burn truer than death."
The twelve rose. None spoke. With a single glance exchanged among them, they faded into shadow, leaving the chamber behind, scattering into the world forever.
Jason stood again under the gray light and addressed the remaining candidates softly:
"You are not unchosen—you are the edge of the next fire. Your flame still waits to be seen."
Fuxi recorded synchronously:
[Among the Sparks, Souls Are Chosen × From Ashes, Bones Are Selected × By Flame, the Silent Are Named]
Section II · Twelve Fire Cores × Starwalkers × Silent Deployment
After selection, the twelve did not immediately depart. Instead, the Fuxi system guided them to the lower levels of Gray Tower, a hidden command center retrofitted from an old Eastern Union base. Exposed cables ran across the walls, the lights were dim, and the floor was paved with gray-white stone. A solemn yet unoppressive atmosphere filled the space.
Jason waited in the center of the light, expressionless, watching them silently. The twelve had undergone the implantation of their Flame Marks—not tattoos, but biological markers within the system architecture, signs of a "soul-linked faith source point." From this moment on, their connection to the world would no longer rely on flesh, power, or command—but belief.
Fuxi's voice gently unfolded inside their minds, like a secret initiation:
[Twelve Fire Cores Confirmed × Beacon Layer Activated]
[Unit Naming Initiated: LFL (Light for Liberty) × Core Starbearers]
[Each Will Form a Starfire Unit × Five per Group × Mission Determined Autonomously × Location Irtraceable]
Twelve virtual rings shimmered into existence in the air, each encircling a three-dimensional ruin map.
Jason slowly raised his hand, pointing to each individual with measured calm:
"You are not my soldiers, nor my followers. You are seeds of fire—to be scattered across a world where even grass refuses to grow."
And he named them:
Orion · Fire Hunter — Deployed to the eastern industrial wastelands, targeting abandoned weapon factories. Hidden within old military archives lie critical parameters against systemic order.
Athena · Flame Strategist — Head to the Northern Academic Isle—though seemingly barren, currents run deep. Become a seeker of truth and find the future's guiding thinkers.
Prometheus · Flame Thief — Infiltrate the fragmented R&D chains of the black market. Intercept new underground scientists' breakthroughs before they fall into Black Vine Society hands.
Selene · Quiet Flame — Travel to the Southern Ruined Medical Town. Though the structures crumble, medical talents may still live. Save their hands—even if their hearts are lost.
Thanatos · Undying Flame —Enter the Faith Area of the Lost alone.Tear through the illusions of superstition and see if any embers of thought remain.
Nyx · Night Flame — Investigate known outposts of the Black Vine Society. Do not destroy—observe and understand their next move.
Perseus · Fracture Flame — Make contact with the remnants of the Scavenger Legion. Determine whether they can be reassembled—or ignited.
Hades · Prison Flame — Explore buried surveillance factory ruins. Seek out rumored "deprogrammed humans" hidden in forgotten labor camps.
Eos · Dawn Flame — Reach the ruined coastlines. Attempt to activate the old federal relay tower. If successful, it could open the first Thought Transmission Trial Point.
Chronos · Time Flame — Enter the collapsed Data Center District. Retrieve the final echoes of lost memory expansion projects—perhaps even recall forgotten souls.
Astraea · Justice Flame — Navigate between self-built warlord city-states. Not to mediate peace, but to judge truth from falsehood.
Erebus · Hidden Flame — Infiltrate nomadic refugee cults. If rational seeds exist—dig them out. If none—plant your own.Freedom, Responsibility, Sacrifice—Then Fire
All twelve remained silent. Jason moved to the center, raising his fist slowly to his chest, voice low:
"From now on, you will receive no further commands from me. You belong to no formation, enjoy no protection. You are free."
"Above freedom lies responsibility."
"Above responsibility, sacrifice."
"Above sacrifice—lies fire."
Fuxi projected synchronously:
[Fire Pact: LFL-Seal-01 × Silent Flame Returns to Bone × No Self-Destruction × No Calls for Aid × Honor Flame Above All]
[Twelve Core IDs Assigned × System Sync Complete × Mission Core Only: Ignite]
They bowed once, not farewell.
For they knew—fire speaks not, it only burns.
That night, the twelve left the campus quietly. No formation, no send-off, no record. Just the soft closing of a door in silence.
Thus, fire spread into the world—nameless, soundless, igniting the unknown.
Section III · Under the Spark, Signal Threads Weave
After the selection process, the twelve did not depart immediately but were guided by the Fuxi system to the lower levels of Gray Tower, a hidden command center converted from an old Eastern Union base. The walls were lined with ancient cables, the lighting dim, and the floors paved with gray-white stone. A solemn yet unpressured atmosphere permeated the space.
Jason waited in the light, expressionless, silently observing them. The twelve had undergone the implantation of their Flame Marks—not tattoos, but biological markers within the system structure, signs of a "soul-linked faith source point." From this moment on, their connection to the world would no longer be through flesh, power, or commands—but belief.
The voice of the Fuxi system gently unfolded in their minds, like a secret baptism:
[Twelve Fire Cores Confirmed × Beacon Layer Activated]
[Unit Naming Initiated: LFL (Light for Liberty) × Core Starbearers]
[Each Will Form a Starfire Unit × Five per Group × Autonomous Mission Determination × Untraceable Locations]
In the air appeared twelve virtual rings, each surrounding a three-dimensional map fragment corresponding to various ruin areas. Jason slowly raised his hand, pointing at each individual as he spoke calmly:
"You are neither my soldiers nor my followers. You are seeds of fire—scattered across this world, even if nothing grows."
Following this, he named them individually:
Orion · Hunter of Flames — Deployed to the eastern industrial wastelands, targeting abandoned weapon factories. Hidden within old military archives lie critical parameters against systemic order.Athena · Tactical Flame — Head to the Northern Academic Isle, seemingly abandoned but teeming with hidden currents. Disguise yourself as a seeker of knowledge and find future thought leaders.Prometheus · Thief of Flames — Infiltrate fragmented black market R&D chains, intercept emerging underground scientists' inspirations before they fall into Black Vine Society hands.Selene · Silent Flame — Travel to the southern ruined medical town. Though the buildings crumble, there may still be valuable medical talents. Save their hands—even if their hearts are lost.Thanatos · Death Flame — Enter the Lost Faith Zone alone. Tear through illusions of superstition and see if any embers of thought remain.Nyx · Night Flame — Explore known nodes of the Black Vine Society. Do not destroy—observe and understand their next move.Perseus · Fracture Flame — Make contact with remnants of the Scavenger Legion. Determine whether they can be reassembled—or ignited.Hades · Prison Flame — Investigate buried surveillance factory ruins. Seek out rumored "deprogrammed humans" hidden in forgotten labor camps.Eos · Dawn Flame — Reach the ruined coastal areas. Attempt to activate the old federal relay tower. If successful, it could open the first Thought Transmission Trial Point.Chronos · Time Flame — Enter the collapsed Data Center District. Retrieve the final echoes of lost memory expansion projects—perhaps even recall forgotten souls.Astraea · Judgment Flame — Navigate between self-built warlord city-states. Not to mediate peace, but to judge truth from falsehood.Erebus · Hidden Flame — Infiltrate nomadic refugee cults. If rational seeds exist—dig them out. If none—plant your own.
The twelve remained silent. Jason moved to the center circle, raising his fist to his chest, his voice low:
"From now on, you will receive no further commands from me. You belong to no formation, enjoy no protection. You are free." "Above freedom lies responsibility." "Above responsibility, sacrifice." "Above sacrifice—lies fire."
Fuxi projected synchronously:
[Fire Pact: LFL-Seal-01 × Silent Flame Returns to Bone × No Self-Destruction × No Calls for Aid × Honor Flame Above All]
[Twelve Core IDs Assigned × System Sync Complete × Mission Core Only: Ignite]
They bowed once, without saying goodbye.
For they knew—fire speaks not, it only burns.
That night, the twelve quietly left the campus. No formation, no send-off, no record. Just the soft closing of a door in silence.
Thus, fire spread into the world—nameless, soundless, igniting the unknown.
Section IV · The Gray Tower Oath × Differentiated Yet Unified × Flame Consciousness Activation
At dawn, the top of Gray Tower was shrouded in a layer of mist, the edge of the platform wrapped in a dreamlike haze. Thirty people formed an arc standing on the platform, Jason stood among them, behind him projected a large circular pattern by the Fuxi system—not a map, but a memetic structure diagram, like a neural network woven by fate itself.
He held in his hands a gray stone box containing thirty metal plates engraved with different ancient characters and totems.
"Each of you will now possess your own 'Flame Recognition,' a unique identifier in the world's flame network."
"Not for archiving, not for control, but so that when you die, we remember you."
Fuxi system synchronized:
[ID Structure: Starfire-ID + Flame Recognition Code (Two Character Set)]
[Flame Recognition Style Automatically Proposed by System Based on Individual's Mental Structure × Non-replaceable × Non-replicable]
[Flame Recognition Intent: Trigger at the moment of consciousness extinction, activating memetic resonance × Returning the flame to the core]
Jason began distributing the recognition tokens, softly reciting their meanings as he handed each one out:
"Silent Flame·Eternal,"
"Rebel Flame·Vow,"
"Dark Flame·Thought,"
"Fracture Flame·Edge,"
"Deep Flame·Sleep," ...
Each token touched the palm, automatically identifying its life frequency, imprinting into the memetic channel, thus binding one flame to each soul.
Upon completion, Fuxi issued instructions:
[All Members Please Enter Synchronization State × Activate the Gray Tower Oath]
Jason signaled for everyone to sit quietly. He slowly knelt down, crossed fists over his chest, lowered his head without closing his eyes.
The remaining thirty followed suit, mirroring his actions, maintaining silence.
On the platform edge, the wind did not cease, the mist did not disperse, the gray light unable to penetrate their gaze—already sunk into deeper layers.
System whispers emerged:
[Synchronization Started × Belief Cross-weaving Completed × Memetic Frequency Resonance Achieved]
[Current State: Flame Recognition Loop Closed × Spark Seal Formed × Differentiation Without Separation]
No words were spoken, yet every heart pounded like thunder.
Each soul seemed bound by an invisible thread—not shackles, but bridges. Not commands, but responses.
Jason slowly opened his eyes, exhaling softly:
"Now, you no longer need 'connection'—you already know each other exists."
Fuxi system echoed the final message in everyone's mind:
[You are not alone in burning. You merely shine brighter than others.]
They sat quietly until the first ray of morning light appeared. Jason stood up, without issuing orders or dismissing them, simply walked off the platform.
Others rose one by one, also without speaking, returning to their respective paths.
An oath without words, a seal unseen, yet heavier than ten thousand catties.
Section V · Sparks Amid Ashes, Names Burn Beyond Shore
Before dawn, the deepest silence blanketed the entire campus. The Gray Tower itself seemed to hold its breath in this silent ritual. Mist still lingered, but beneath it, a fire had already begun — unnamed, yet burning — unseen, yet piercing the heavy air and lighting the first shadow in some distant corner of the world.
After the Starfire Units departed one by one, Jason stood alone at the tower's peak, gazing toward the eastern horizon where no light had yet arrived. He wore no expression, made no movement, as if his entire being had melted into the vast darkness — becoming the thinnest line between gray order and chaotic fate.
Fuxi whispered softly within his consciousness:
[Memetic Network Expansion Successful]
[Stage One "Starfire Internalization" Completion Rate: 98.7%]
[Next Phase Keywords: Ignition Spread × Zero Catalyst × Star-Core Echo]
Jason said nothing. In his mind echoed not system data, but the images of those who had left.
One turned back for one last glance at the campus before vanishing into the dark;
One walked silently through the gates, as if leaving an ordinary class;
One placed a hand over the mark on his chest before stepping into the ruins, as if guarding a name not yet spoken.
No farewells were exchanged. No words of "see you again."
For they all understood:
"We do not return — we reappear."
Then, Fuxi projected twelve beams from above.
From a great height, they descended, touching down upon wastelands, broken cities, borders, lone towns, refugee clusters…
Invisible to the eye, yet real — these were sparks of belief planted in the world: no explosion, no proclamation, only burning, only being seen.
At that moment, Fuxi signaled once more:
[Anomaly Detected Across the River × Unknown Signal Received × Simulated Feedback Analysis in Progress]
[Marked Content: E-class Gray Semantic Channel × Unknown Origin × Translation Below]
["You… have finally come."]
Jason's eyes flickered. He knew — this was the First Ignited,
A soul not written into their original plan — yet awakened elsewhere on its own.
He let out a quiet laugh, not one of relief, but like a stone long held finally falling.
"So, our fire was not lit in vain."
He turned and descended the tower. His steps were light, yet they struck like thunder against the echoing walls of fate.
Behind him, Fuxi silently cast one final line:
[Wildfire × Core Flame Code: #0000 × Activation Note: Jason Carter]
[Definition: Not the First Fire × Not the Last Fire × Yet wherever flame burns, his resonance remains]
[New Record Generated × Codename: "The One Who Was Lit Beyond Shore"]
At this moment, all the paths of fire have a center.
Not an emperor, not a savior, not a deity.
It was just the one who lit the fire first, was willing to burn, and said in the ashes,
"You go."