"Ignite, Amaterasu."
As soon as he said it, the black flames curled around Indrah, moving like they had a mind of their own. They weren't loud or wild—just steady, heavy, and impossible to stop. Every time Adara's flames came close, Amaterasu just ate through them like they weren't even there. The fire that once looked like it could burn down the whole Floor now looked small.
Indrah kept walking through the air, unfazed. The flames didn't touch him—they moved with him, burned everything else. With each step, more of Adara's flames disappeared. He didn't say anything. Just walked, calm, eyes locked on her.
"Your dark fire ain't shit against my Yeon Family's Flames!" Adara snapped, eyes darting to her family behind her, some already getting burned by the black fire.
FWWOOOOOOSHHHH!
Flames exploded from her body again, pushing back the black fire for a second. It looked like she'd finally slowed it down.
"'Red Cichlid'… yeah, I can see why they call you that," He don't want to lie, but he's really impressed with the amount of heat she is generating in the flames. One can only guess how strong the Flames of Yeon Family Head.
Indrah moved his fingers a little. The black flames surged.
Swoosh!
Adara froze once again. The fire she just brought back got crushed again like it was nothing. Her strength didn't matter. Amaterasu just kept moving.
"I haven't used these flames before," Indrah said casually. "Even their lowest heat's enough to roast Rankers. But hey, you're from the Yeon Family, I bet this much heat shouldn't be a problem for you." He gave her a half-smile, then winked.
That's when it hit her. Really hit her. This wasn't a fight anymore. Nothing she did was going to stop it. But she didn't back off either. It wasn't pride. It was something else.
A Yeon doesn't just use flames. She is the flame. A flame doesn't give up. It burns itself out.
Indrah sighed. He wasn't impressed about this, more annoyed than anything.
RUMBLE
With a wave of his hand, Amaterasu spread across the field and pulled itself into a giant black sphere, swallowing everything in sight. It wasn't loud or flashy. It just was. Big enough to block out the light, thick enough to feel like it would never end. From outside, it looked like a black sun… but not the kind that gives warmth. Just weight. Heavy and endless.
"This crazy guy!" Yeon Ilarde jumped off her throne, Red flames already blazing around her. She had no choice but to interfere herself to save the other Rankers from what was coming. But the pressure coming from the sphere kept building. It didn't feel like a move anymore. It felt like an ending.
"[Otsutsuki Style: Eye of Amaterasu]"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The sound tore through the Floor. The shockwave was so strong it split the clouds open. Everyone saw through the Lighthouse saw it—one second it was cloudy, the next it was a bright Summer.
—
"An attack like that? Isn't he scared of the Yeon Family Head?" A FUG member muttered, watching the broadcast flicker and go out.
"Actually, it works in our favor," another said. "Jahad's dogs'll be sniffing around this mess instead of us."
"Do youThink he can kill Jah—"
"Don't run your mouth."
"We need to reach the 28th Floor in five years. The Workshop Battle's is important to our pla." A third voice cut in—quiet, calm, wearing a brown cloak.
"With you on board, that won't be a problem… Mr. Beniamino Cassano."
—
When the sky finally started to clear, the battlefield was drowned in smoke. It wasn't just haze—it was like winter fog, cold and still. In the middle of it all, Indrah was still standing, arms crossed, small smile on his face. His eyes were focused.
A soft pink light started to spread over the battlefield, covering every Yeon Family member. It looked weirdly peaceful—like cherry blossoms glowing in the dark. The flames wrapped around the injured like they were pulling them back from the edge. The smoke made it all look dreamlike… but not in a good way. The kind of dream that starts nice and turns wrong.
That pink glow felt alive. Not warm, not gentle—aware. Like something really Ancient just opened its eyes.
"Alright, that's enough," a voice said. Calm, even hazy, but the second it came through, all the smoke vanished, and the ground healed like nothing had happened.
"Ah, a pleasure to meet you," Indrah gave a light bow and said awkwardly. He figured out what just happened—those pink flames didn't just heal. They renewed everything. Only one person could do that.
Yeon Yirang. Head of the Yeon Family.
"I thought you didn't want to kill anyone from my Family?" A light voice echoed from the flames.
"I don't… but your girls are insane." He scratched the back of his head.
"So you blasted them to the brink of death?" A voice spoke from the corner, filled with sarcasm.
Indrah raised his brows, only now did he notice, This Women, Yeon Illarde, is still awake with Zero damage.
"It seems like I underestimated you…"
"You forgot who you're talking to boy," she replied with a laugh.
The Pink flames pulsed once more, and everyone from the Yeon Family disappeared, teleported away without a word.
Just a message left behind:
"The Tower is Deeper than you think boy."
Indrah floated in the air, not moving, trying to make sense of it.
…
At the 21st Floor's Jahad Altar;
"That bastard!"
"This Rebel needs to be punished! He brings chaos wherever he goes!" Vice Priest Yeon Nel slammed her fist down. She wanted him dead. But she knew better. Opposing him directly would mean another altar wiped off the Floor. Even as an Advanced Ranker, she felt like nothing in front of him.
The High Priest, Sena, stayed calm. She put a hand on Nel's shoulder.
"Don't worry. He won't make it past the Nest. Lo Po Bia said they'll take care of him there."
"…Good." Nel finally exhaled and dropped to her knees, praying to the red, three-eyed statue overhead.
Sena left the hall without another word.