บท 5: Fire? There is only one type... right?

A young man woke up drowsily from the hospital bed... again, and as he looked around, he thought to himself, "Geez, this is the second time already."

Wondering about what happened, Aiden took the clinical hologram appointed to his bed.

"Soo... Patient Ouroboros Aiden, age.. blah blah blah, reason for hospitalization: Mana Exhaustion(Severe). Isn't severe mana exhaustion lethal?"

"Yes, however, we can avoid death by making the patient absorb an ingent quantity of magic energy or let the patient's regeneration abilities do the work for us."

Aiden heard a voice behind him, but something felt off. His [Divine Sense] didn't warn him of anyone's presence.

"Who are you?" Aiden questioned, turning to see a man with dark purple hair, white trails, and heterochromia eyes - one yellow and one grey.

"Woah woah, calm down, boy. I'm your doctor," the man responded, attempting to reassure Aiden.

"You expect me to believe that? You literally went behind me without me noticing your presence," Aiden retorted skeptically.

The "doctor's" eyes flashed for a moment, and he sighed, "Right, I screwed up there. Ok, I'm the Officer that looked into this matter."

Aiden's eyes widened as he processed the information. "So, whatever it was that you did to end the fight with Meltborne... don't do it again. Your mana and fleshly regeneration are a bit too high for someone of your rank, but I can't guarantee you'll survive next time."

Aiden frowned, remembering that he hadn't received any help during the fight. "Well, you guys didn't exactly rush to help either."

The officer looked at Aiden sorrowfully and said, "Well the hirer of the assassin had good connections and delayed the coming of help."

"From the way you say it, it seems like you already know who it was," Aiden replied, trying to piece together the puzzle.

Aiden's [Divine Sense] provided some clues, ruling out certain people. "I exclude Daniel; he's always been a coward, and I have enmity with nobody that I know of, so it's someone who hates me after I awakened my Gift, who is rich and has connections with the GEB."

"You got it right," the officer confirmed, "It's Ezra D'arcane."

Aiden knew of Ezra D'arcane, also known as "The Adonis." He was the local beauty of Atyen City, but ever since Aiden awakened his Gift, there were rumors of Ezra's obsessive and narcissistic behavior.

"Exactly, you see, some of my colleagues supported him because he could be a potential asset in the interrogation department of the GEB," the officer continued.

"Wow, I didn't expect the government to be corrupted too," Aiden said with a hint of disappointment.

"Well, what did you expect? This is a world where the strong eat the weak. Since you managed to kill two assassins, one of them above your grade, in the same week as you awakened your Gift, we can definitely say that you are strong," the officer remarked.

Aiden sighed, realizing that his previous complaints had not been taken seriously. {I will take my revenge sooner or later} he thought to himself.

The officer cautioned him, "I hope you don't do anything stupid, boy."

Aiden inquired, "Did you at least capture him?"

"Obviously yes, there is no way he can hide his misdeeds after what happened," the officer assured him.

"And what about the colleagues who supported him?" Aiden asked, curiosity piqued.

"They got... assigned elsewhere," the officer replied in a somewhat ominous tone.

Aiden felt a shiver down his spine hearing those words. {Well, they deserved it, treating lives as mere expendable pawns.}

"Now if you excuse me, I gotta go to work. Your parents will come in an hour or so," the officer said, readying to leave.

Aiden wanted to ask more questions, but the officer opened a portal and vanished before he could speak further.

{Thats how he did it; he was a law type. I also confirmed that my ability only helps if the attacker has malicious intent against me}

"Status," Aiden muttered.

RANK: D-

□Name: Aiden Ouroboros

□Age: 16 years old

□Race: Phoenix + Human

□Gift: Celestial Pyre Phoenix SSS+

◇HP: 2960/3100 ♤MANA: 4000/4000

☆Boons: [Divine Body]~Genius~[Phoenix Immortality]~Hardworker

¤Flaws: [Phoenix Arrogance]~Battle Maniac~Skeptical

Stats:

STR: 25

END: 31

AGI: 24

WILL: 40

CHA: S+

Skills:

Passive

Fire & Heat Immunity MAX

Cold Resistance (3/5)

Martial Arts (3/5)

[Super Regeneration (1/3)]

[Divine Sense (1/4)]

[Language Comprehension MAX]

[???]

Active

[Beastification (1,5/3)]

[Hellfire(0,5/3)]

==============================

Noticing his rank-up, Aiden was surprised but when he saw Hellfire listed among his skills, he almost had a heart attack.

{So this is the ability that helped me at the end of the fight with Meltborne! I didn't expect it to be [Hellfire]!" Aiden thought with excitement and curiosity.}

The reason for Aiden's bewilderment was understandable. There were five types of fire in this super-powered world:

Normal Fire: The most basic type of fire that everyone is familiar with. It can be created by harnessing the power of heat and combustion. Normal fire is useful for providing warmth, cooking food, creating light in the dark and blasting goblins with fireballs.

Bio-Fire: This unique fire is fueled by the user's stamina and life force, rather than mana or external sources. It has limited healing properties that can only be utilized by the user. When the user concentrates, the Bio-Fire can soothe minor injuries, accelerate natural healing processes, and reduce pain.

Dark Fire: A mysterious and eerie flame that emanates an aura of darkness. It is known for its malevolent nature and destructive potential. Dark Fire can cause havoc and chaos, leaving a trail of darkness and scorched earth in its wake.

Hellfire: A dangerously scorching and highly destructive blaze, Hellfire is not for the faint of heart. This fire can incinerate almost anything it touches, leaving behind nothing but ashes. Users of Hellfire must exercise extreme caution as it can easily get out of control and cause untold damage.

Holy Fire: The opposite of Hell Fire, Holy Fire is a divine and pure flame that exudes an aura of purity and sanctity. It is known for its healing and cleansing properties, capable of purifying and restoring life.

{But Hellfire is a direct upgrade; it has all the perks of Dark Fire plus the possibility to burn the target's soul,} Aiden thought, realizing the immense power of his new ability.

There were also some rumors that the Gifteds correlated with this ability were hiding other perks.

While considering how to raise his Hellfire mastery, Aiden's thoughts were interrupted by the entrance of his younger brother, Dawn, who stormed into the room and ran toward him, hugging him tightly while shedding tears of relief.

At that moment, Aiden felt a rush of warmth and love, grateful for the family that stood by him during both his darkest and brightest moments. The officer had left him with more questions than answers, but Aiden knew he would find the truth behind Ezra D'arcane and his connections with the GEB in due time. For now, he cherished the wholesome moment with his brother and drew strength from the love of his family.

As Aiden continued to recover in the hospital, two days had passed since his confrontation with the assassin. The wounds on his body were gradually healing, and his strength was returning. He had spent the time in contemplation, reflecting on the events that had transpired and the newfound powers he possessed.

Sitting by the window, Aiden gazed outside, watching the sun rise over the horizon. The soft rays of morning light bathed the hospital room, casting a warm glow. A gentle knock on the door drew his attention, and his father, Lenn Ouroboros, stepped into the room.

Lenn was a tall, sturdy man with a kind and caring demeanor. He had jet-black hair and his eyes were a mesmerizing shade of fiery orange, and right now they held a mixture of concern and pride as he looked at his son. "Aiden, how are you feeling?" he asked, approaching the bed.

"I'm getting better, Dad," Aiden replied with a faint smile. "It's just taking a bit longer than I expected."

Lenn nodded, taking a seat beside his son. "I'm glad to hear that. You had us all worried, you know? But I also heard from the doctor that you showed remarkable resilience during the battle."

Aiden chuckled softly. "I guess having a Gift like mine has its perks. But I'm not sure if I want to go through something like that again."

"I understand, son," Lenn said, placing a reassuring hand on Aiden's shoulder. "But with great power comes great responsibility. You have a rare and powerful Gift, and it's essential to learn to control it."

"I know, Dad," Aiden replied. "I'll do my best to train and become stronger. I don't want to be a burden to anyone."

Lenn smiled proudly at his son's determination. "That's the spirit, Aiden. I have faith in you. By the way, once you're fully recovered, I was wondering if you'd like to complete a gate with me?"

Aiden's eyes widened in surprise. "Really, Dad? You'd take me on a gate mission?"

"Of course," Lenn said with a smile. "You've shown that you can handle yourself in tough situations. I think it's time for you to experience a real gate mission. It'll be a great opportunity for you to put your new powers to the test and learn from firsthand experience. Also, I still have to convince you not to choose Noxus Academy."

Aiden's heart swelled with gratitude and excitement. He had always admired his father, who was a renowned Hunter with years of experience. The thought of accompanying him on a gate mission filled him with anticipation.

"I'd love to, Dad," Aiden replied enthusiastically. "I can't wait to learn from the best. But I must admit, I've set my sights on Noxus Academy. They have some of the most skilled instructors and resources. I believe it's the best place for me to become strong efficiently."

Lenn chuckled warmly. "Well, we'll have to wait until you're fully recovered, but I promise it'll be worth the wait."

As father and son shared a heartfelt moment, the hospital room seemed to fill with a sense of warmth and love. Despite the challenges that lay ahead, Aiden knew he had the support of his family.

With his father by his side, guiding him on the path of a Hunter, and the unwavering loyalty of his companions, Aiden was ready to face whatever challenges the super-powered world had in store for him. His journey was just beginning, and he was determined to make the most of it.

And so, as the sun continued to rise on a new day, Aiden Ouroboros, the Future Phoenix, looked towards the future with hope and determination, knowing that he had the strength and courage to overcome any obstacle that stood in his way.