Red Mist Rebirth: The Rise of Victor Lionheart

Chapter 7: Echoes of Power

Victor Lionheart put away his staff, his gaze distant yet burning with excitement. "I really didn't expect my strength would reach this level," he murmured. "No wonder those with SSS-level talents in the previous timeline were so arrogant. It's like being handed godhood."

The power coursing through him was intoxicating. With every step, he could feel the weight of his strength pressing outward like a mantle of fire and fury.

Without wasting a moment, Victor dashed toward the outskirts of the city. The suburbs were teeming with monsters. If he wanted to level up quickly, that was the place.

But Victor was unaware that his explosive fireball spell, unleashed in People's Square, had been caught on surveillance footage. Through an automatic upload protocol designed for threat analysis, the clip had made its way online.

The internet exploded.

"Bro, what kind of skill is that?! That's no ordinary fireball—he nuked the entire square!"

"You could solo a dungeon with that kind of power!"

"He's not a mage, he's a god of fire!"

A user claiming to have an A-rank Flamewalker talent uploaded a comparison video. In it, his fireball—barely the size of a grapefruit—struck a Greyhound, engulfing it in flame. But the beast withstood the flames for over ten seconds before collapsing.

Compared to Victor's one-shot obliteration, it was laughable.

Even so, A-rank talents were precious. The video attracted a flood of comments:

"A-rank is already impressive! I only got an F-rank gourmet talent... it makes food 50% tastier. How's that supposed to help me survive?!"

"Mine is D-rank calligrapher. Beautiful handwriting—useless in combat."

"Someone please take me in. My second talent is B-rank Steel Bones. I could be a tank!"

Across the Red Mist-ridden world, people were scrambling to find allies, form parties, and protect themselves. The fall of civilization had begun, but from the ashes, new factions were rising.

Governments weren't far behind.

Within the walls of a fortified command center, officials of the newly established Heaven's Eye Bureau examined the fireball footage.

The explosion was rewound again and again.

The bureau chief, a stern-faced man with silver hair, spoke slowly. "That level of firepower… Only an SS-level fire talent could achieve this."

A man stepped forward, frost clinging to his eyebrows and beard—Leon Graves, holder of the SS-rank talent Ice Emperor. He had also acquired the only known piece of ice-type equipment from a diamond-tier treasure chest.

He nodded grimly. "He's at my level. Maybe not raw talent alone—he must have powerful equipment enhancing his fire spells."

The director's voice hardened. "We're in the early days of the Red Mist. Chaos is blooming. Careerists are appearing like weeds. We must bring powerful individuals under control. If not, society itself may fall apart."

Everyone straightened. "Yes, Director!"

Loyalty to the country still ran deep in these people. The idea that someone might use this crisis to build their own kingdom filled them with disgust.

The director turned to a young woman.

Dressed in a sleek black suit, with an icy expression that couldn't hide her natural charm, she stood at attention. Her name was Selena Tang, the holder of an S-rank charisma talent—Alluring the Nation. The power made her hundreds of times more captivating than any celebrity.

"Selena," the director said, "you will make contact with this individual and recruit him. Use any means necessary."

A flicker of hesitation passed across her face, but she quickly nodded. "Understood, sir."

The director softened for a moment. "Selena, don't blame your uncle for this. If your parents were alive, I know they'd agree with me. In this chaotic world, you'll need someone powerful to protect you. This may be your best chance."

"I understand, Uncle Raymond," she said.

He nodded, satisfied. "Good. Go find him—and bring him into the fold. Before someone else does."