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Chapter 5
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Ace was pacing around his room, his previous dream playing back in his head over and over again like a broken record player. He had smoked three more joints of Mark'ish since he awoke, his room filled with red smoke as he relit his current joint.
'What did he mean by I killed my grandma?' Ace questioned himself as he studied his newfound ability. Ace blew the black flame out and looked into the mirror on the left wall, the red tint on his iris was more pronounced than usual. Ace exhaled red smoke as he placed his now unsmokable joint into a bag filled with other joints that were too small to smoke by themselves. Ace tried to remember the events of that dreadful night, but nothing came back to him. His eyes snap to his amulet. The gem seemed to be glowing a darker red, he saw his reflection in the blood red gem, his eyes were a darker red than ever before.
Ace left his bedroom, standing in the dark hallway he walked towards Marcel's office. Ace knew Marcel would be up, after all undead don't sleep. Ace walked to the office door, his step measured and precise as not to wake the others. Ace knocked twice on the door, "Come in" Marcel's muffled undead voice answered through the door.
Ace slowly turned the doorknob, pushed the door, and stepped into the office before closing the door as quietly as possible. Marcel was sitting at his desk scribbling on some paperwork. Marcel, still wearing his Ahjin mask, looked slightly up at Ace "What brings you to my door at this time of the morning, Ace?" Marcel asked questioningly as Ace took a seat.
"I had an odd dream, if it even was a dream" Ace said slightly glancing at the paper workout Marcel was filling out. "What was it about?" Marcel asked, looking up from the paper, giving Ace his full attention.
Ace takes a deep breath before explaining his dream, after he is done he shows Marcel his black flames. "Well, that is… interesting" Marcel said as he studied the dancing black flames, "Did the being give you its name?"
"No, he burst into black flames before vanishing. It did, however, call me its son" Ace said, trying to read Marcel's reaction. "Hmmm, if this is what i think it is, you may have to talk to Hokima," Marcel pondered.
"And what do you think it is?" Ace asked, raising an eyebrow. "I think you were just contacted by a god, even worse it might be one of your parents" Marcel answered calmly, the thought of being the child to a god sent chills down Ace's spine.
"A god? If that's so, how would Hokima be able to help?" Ace asked, titling his head questioningly. "The Ahjin served gods in the old World, if you truly are the son of a god then Hokima would know which one" Marcel answered before looking down at his paper work again "Hokima is in the training room, I'll show you where it's at" Marcel said before standing up. Marcel headed towards the door and Ace followed after him, the duo walked and turned down several hallways before reaching a set of stairs.
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guildhouse, Underground training room,
6:00 AM
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There were loud noises coming from the end of the stairwell, once Marcel and Ace reached the end of the stairwell they were met with an absolutely gigantic seemingly outdoors area. There were mountains, rivers, lakes, and a beaten up flat area which was the source of the noise. Ace and Marcel were standing on top of a cliff edge "Who's down there?" Ace asks, staring in awe as one of two figures is sent flying into a gigantic boulder followed by what seemed to be hardened ash spikes.
"Hokima and by the looks of it Mnemeth" Marcel answered "they're sparring" He added. "I thought you said the guild mark prevents infighting?" Ace asked, tilting his head as he studied Marcel. "You should've paid more attention to the contract" Marcel stated, as he watched Mnemeth disappear into the shadows and reappear behind Hokima, only to be smacked hard across the face by Hokima's mace. "In the training room the effects of the mark Is nullified to an extent, allowing for sparing. However it still prevents death, this allows for sparing on a somewhat even playing field" Marcel stated, as he watched Hokima shoot a lightning fast beam of ash at Mnemeth. Mnemeth tried to block the beam with his spear but he was far too slow, the beam nailed him in the chest, in any other circumstance Mnemeth would've died, but the guild mark nullified most of the attack strength and Mnemeth was just knocked out, The sparring match was over.
Ace and Marcel made their way to the duo as Hokima helped Mnemeth up. "Did you enjoy the show?" Hokima said to Marcel as Mnemeth got onto his feet. "Yes, how long have you two been down here?" Marcel asked as he eyed the destruction around him. "I've been down here for around an hour," Hokima replied, "thirty minutes," Mnemeth answered dryly.
Marcel took a deep breath before letting Ace explain his situation to Hokima.
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Ten minutes later
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"So… what you're saying is that you're a demi-god?" Hokima asked, as he studied Ace. 'He's a demi-god?' Mnemeth thought to himself as he clenched his fist.
"Yes, but I do not know from which God" Ace replied. "Did you gain anything after the meeting?" Hokima asked as he dropped his mace, the mace slammed into the ground and cracked the dry dirt underneath it. Ace held up his hand, palm facing the sky and a black flame sparked to life in it. Mnementh's heart dropped as he saw the wicked flames in front of him "Ashkarion" he said aloud, shock and horror mixed into his voice.
"You are the child of The Cinder Lord, Ashkarion" Hokima said, his mace flying back into his hand as his eyes studied the black flames. Marcel took a few steps away from Ace "The bringer of the last flame, but you look almost completely human". "Looks can be deceiving" Hokima said calmly, Mnementh stood silently, watching Ace like a hawk. Ace watched the black flame dance in his hand "Why are you guys acting like this? Is he that bad?".
"Ashkarion started the new world, and he was the one who ended the old World. He is a god of death and rebirth through everlasting flames." Hokima answered, his words seemed to instill a sense of dread. "How did he end the old world?" Ace asked unsure how to feel. "By killing most of the old gods.." Mnemeth answered, anger and pain laced his voice.
"What can you do with those flames, Ace?" Hokima asked, his voice calm and steady. "I-I don't know" Ace answered, his voice shaking. "You two should spar, you'd be the best person to gauge his power" Marcel said, looking at Ace and Hokima.
Mnemeth stood back and watched as Ace and Hokima stood thirty feet away from each, facing each other. "Start!" Marcel said, watching from a mountain top. Hokima charged at Ace, Hokima's mace flew past Ace's face as Ace barely slipped by. Ace slams his dagger into Hokima's side. CRACK! Ace's dagger shatters on contact. Hokima's knee flew into Ace's shocked face, CRASH! Ace was sent flying across the sky like a ragdoll,the wind whistled past his ears after he crashed into a river—BOOM! The water is sent flying out of the river where Ace's twitching body lies. Ace stood up slowly, his shaking body sparking with black flames, the river water boiling around him as he slowly made his way towards Hokima. Hokima sped toward ace, Ace fires a sun hot beam of black flames toward Hokima, the ground melting under the heat of the fire beam. Hokima leaps above the fire beam being burnt slightly, he slams his mace onto Ace's figure. Ace burst into black flames, sending Hokima flying, his clothes burning as Hokima crashes hard into the ground, his head ringing as he stands. Ace rockets forward, shattering the sound barrier—BOOM! His fingers barely brush Hokima's face before—CRACK!
Hokima's mace smashes into Ace's skull. Everything spins. The next thing he knows, he's hurtling through the forest like a broken doll before slamming into the mountain's base.
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guildhouse, Underground training room,7:00 AM
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"Is he still out?"
The words drifted through the void, muffled and distant. Ace could feel the wind against his skin, cold and sharp, but the world remained cloaked in darkness. His body felt weightless, disconnected, yet every nerve in him screamed with exhaustion.
"I've never seen anything like him," a voice murmured, laced with concern.
"He's strong," another voice responded, calm and measured. "But reckless. He needs more experience."
The words barely registered before another voice—colder, more cautious—cut through the haze.
"Are you actually suggesting we train the offspring of Ashkarion?"
Ace's pulse pounded in his ears.
"Yes," the calm voice replied. "Because he will be the one to kill Ashkarion—"
A brief silence, heavier than steel.
"If he wants to become a god."
Ace's mind swirled. Kill Ashkarion? Become a god? His thoughts slipped in and out like water through his fingers. Everything was moving too fast—
"They whisper of you like a weapon to be used."
The voice wasn't his.
It slithered through his mind, ancient and dripping with something dark—a whisper made of fire and ash.
"They think they can shape you, control you. But you are not their pawn."
Ace tried to focus, but the world tilted beneath him—
Then pain.
A sharp, burning pain erupted in his stomach like fire spreading through his veins.
His eyes shot open, and instinct took over. He curled inward, arms clutching his stomach as a strangled gasp escaped his lips. His vision swam—shadows and figures moving around him.
Then—BOOM.
A loud pop cracked through the air as a beam of hardened ash blasted across the room, slamming into Mnemeth with brutal force.
"I told you not to kick him."
Hokima's voice. Closer now. Controlled, yet sharp with disapproval.
Ace's breath came in ragged gasps as he struggled to focus. His fingers dug into the dirt beneath him. His stomach ached, but something else clawed at him from the inside—something more than just pain.
The voice returned, stronger now, curling around his mind like smoke.
"You are more than flesh. More than them."
Ace clenched his jaw, his fingers twitching as faint black flames flickered across his knuckles. The pain in his stomach remained, but another sensation rose with it—hunger.
"Stop resisting. Take what is yours."
Ace swallowed hard, forcing himself to breathe. He wasn't sure if the voice was real or just some fevered hallucination.
But deep down, a part of him already knew.
Something was waking up. "Fine you are not ready yet"
And just like that the pain was gone, his mind empty and clear, the black flames died around him and Ace slowly stood up. His eyes heavy, he spotted Marcel talking to Hokima, Mnemeth was walking slowly towards the two dusting himself off as he shot a spiteful look towards Ace. Ace slowly walked towards the three of them, his head spinning and body still slightly shaking. "What.. What happened?" Ace said aloud his memories of the fight were foggy.
"You lost" Marcel said in his usual calm dead voice, Mnemeth let out a slight chuckle. Hokima eyed Ace before speaking "You are strong, you just need to learn how to control it" Hokima paused "I think it's about time we did a job".