Embersteel: Legend of the Warrior BlackSmith

Chapter 18: Burning Flames End of Battle

Raging blue flames enveloped Jiang Feng, casting an eerie glow across the battlefield. The temperature around him surged, the intense heat warping the air as the flames danced along his body. His breaths came in ragged gasps, and he could feel his heart pounding in his chest like a war drum. His blood surged so violently that it felt like his veins might burst. His muscles tensed to their breaking point, and his vision blurred as the strain of the battle and the uncontrollable flame seed weighed down on him.

"Focus your mind," the voice of the Eternal Flame Codex echoed calmly in his head, cutting through the haze of battle. "You must control the output of your flame seed. The more spiritual energy you burn, the heavier the burden on your body. And right now, your body isn't strong enough to withstand that kind of strain."

The codex's words were like a lifeline in the chaos, but before Feng could fully process them, a shout rang out, pulling him back into the present.

"Watch out, kid!"

Lin Rou's voice sliced through the air, and before Feng could react, a hulking rat-like beast with razor-sharp teeth lunged at him from behind, its eyes wild with bloodlust.

Too late, Feng thought, his heart pounding in his chest.

But just as the rat beast was about to strike, a sharp wave of spiritual energy surged past Feng, slicing cleanly through the air and cleaving the creature in two. Blood sprayed, and the beast's lifeless halves crumpled to the ground with a sickening thud.

Lin Rou stood just outside the reach of Feng's flames, his cleaver gleaming in the blue light. His body was covered in deep gashes, his blood staining the ground beneath him, but his eyes burned with fierce determination. He glanced at the wild flames surrounding Feng, a spark of an idea flashing across his face.

"You've got power, kid, but you're burning through your energy too fast," Lin Rou said, swinging his cleaver at another beast. "Listen, direct those flames outside the village. These beasts aren't smart—they won't dodge. We can finish this quick if we herd them into the fire."

Feng's face tightened with frustration. "I don't know how to control the flames!" he shouted back, his voice laced with desperation. The flame seed had only recently awakened, and he hadn't had time to learn its intricacies. His meridians, newly opened, were still untested, and he had no idea how much spiritual energy he could draw on before collapsing from exhaustion.

Lin Rou's voice came again, more urgent this time. "Figure it out, kid! We don't have time for this!" He chopped through another beast with a grunt, his men fighting desperately beside him. All around them, the beasts raged on, and the village was quickly being torn apart.

Feng's mind raced. His eyes flickered to the blazing sword in his hand. The blue flames had clung to the monkey beast's body earlier when he struck it, spreading with every blow. Maybe... he thought. Maybe I can use that to guide the flames.

"I hope this works," he muttered under his breath, his grip tightening on the sword.

Without wasting another moment, Feng sprinted toward the north gate, dragging the flaming sword behind him. The blue fire sparked and roared to life, leaving a burning trail in its wake. The flames spread across the battlefield, licking at the ground and any beast that crossed their path.

Lin Rou, ever the tactician, was already thinking ahead. He raised his cleaver into the air and shouted, "Men, break the water containers around the village! We need to control the fire before it spreads too far!"

His voice carried over the battlefield, and the soldiers sprang into action. They rushed to the large wooden containers placed strategically around the village, smashing them open with their weapons. Water gushed out, soaking the ground and creating a barrier to prevent the flames from spreading further.

The wild beasts, frenzied and bloodthirsty, charged recklessly into the spreading blue flames. The fire caught on their fur and skin, consuming them in waves of searing heat. Their roars of pain echoed through the village, but they didn't retreat. Instead, they pressed forward blindly, only to be swallowed by the inferno.

Minutes passed, the flames devouring everything in their path. Lin Rou's men fought valiantly, hacking through the remaining beasts, their swords and spears glinting in the fiery light. Blood and sweat mingled on their faces as they struggled to hold the line.

"Keep it up! Don't let them break through!" one of the men shouted, his voice raw from exertion.

"We're almost there, push harder!" another called out, cutting down a beast that lunged at him.

Amidst the chaos, Feng's body finally began to falter. His spiritual energy was being drained at an alarming rate, his meridians burning with the effort of sustaining the flame seed. His vision blurred again, and his legs felt like they were made of lead. The sword in his hand felt impossibly heavy, and his grip weakened.

I'm running out of time, he thought, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.

With one final burst of energy, Feng slashed at the last beast in his path, watching as the flames spread from his sword and engulfed it. But the effort was too much. He felt his knees buckle, and his body pitched forward. The ground rushed up to meet him, and he collapsed face-first into the dirt, unconscious.

As his body hit the ground, the blue flames that had been burning so wildly flickered and then slowly died out. The village fell eerily quiet, the last of the beasts defeated. Lin Rou, bloodied and battered, surveyed the scene. Only a handful of beasts remained, and his men quickly dispatched them.

"Check the kid," Lin Rou ordered, his voice hoarse.

One of his men rushed to Feng's side, kneeling beside him. "He's alive, just passed out," the soldier reported, his voice relieved.

Lin Rou exhaled, wiping the sweat and blood from his brow. "Good. We'll handle the rest. The kid did his part."

Around them, the villagers began to emerge from their homes, their faces a mixture of shock and gratitude. The battle had been brutal, but thanks to Feng's flames and Lin Rou's quick thinking, they had managed to survive.

For now.