Chapter 46: The Inner Flame
On the third night, Lyrus chose a secluded hillside where fireflies danced and distant waterfalls murmured softly. Here, he would attempt something new—merging the system's energy with his Hellfire Essence in a deeper way than before.
He began by walking in a circle, each careful step multiplying his strength until he felt a steady hum in his veins. Then, he gathered Hellfire at his core, envisioning a tiny ember glowing in the center of his chest. With each controlled breath, he nudged more of the system's power toward that ember, feeding it without letting it explode into wild flame.
Initially, it resisted. Sparks flared unexpectedly in his palms, and a few errant flames licked at nearby ferns, singeing leaves. He stamped a foot and exhaled slowly, reigning the energy back under his command. This would not be rushed.
He tried again, this time dividing his focus: half his mind on maintaining steady, silent steps, half on fusing the multiplied strength with Hellfire's essence. Gradually, the ember brightened inside him, not bursting outward, but glowing steadily, a sun confined in flesh and bone. He felt warmth radiate through his limbs, but no pain, no savage hunger for destruction.
Daring more, he reached out to a stout oak. Instead of punching, he pressed his palm gently against the bark. Hellfire-infused power flowed forth in a controlled wave. The oak's bark charred slightly in a perfect circle, and the trunk shuddered. A moment later, the massive tree toppled noiselessly, as if cut by an invisible blade.
Lyrus stepped back, breathing hard, not from exertion, but from astonishment. The control was there. He could harness devastating strength with a delicate touch. More steps brought yet more power, which he siphoned into that internal ember. He imagined using this technique in battle—where once he had smashed aside foes, he could now dismantle them with minimal effort, leaving no collateral damage. He would be more effective and less destructive.
As dawn approached, he knelt, gazing at the fallen oak. The forest's hush acknowledged his quiet triumph. He understood now that the Million Steps System was more than brute multiplication—it was a tool he could refine endlessly. He rose with renewed purpose, ready to return to his fellowship and lead them with a tempered flame, shining brighter and steadier than ever.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone