The Element withing: chaos heir

Explosions of fire lit up the snowy battlefield, crackling as flames devoured the towering Emperor Ants. Their thick shells hissed under the heat, splitting apart with bursts of molten red. Jin turned toward the commotion and saw a group of warriors, their weapons blazing, pushing through the swarm like a wildfire.

The Flareborn Clan had arrived.

Kyle, the clan's leader, clad in crimson armor engraved with flame-like patterns, charged forward. His fiery red hair whipped behind him as he raised his blazing spear and roared, "What kind of treasure could draw this many Emperor Ants here?!"

Jin's heart skipped. Treasure?

Kyle struck down another ant and barked, "We must reach it first!"

A warrior shouted, "Agreed! Push forward!"

But Ronan, leader of the Snow Wolf Escort, called out, "Hold on! You can't just storm ahead! We need to clear the swarm first!"

The Snow Wolf Escort shifted slightly, surrounding the Flareborn Clan in what seemed like a subtle perimeter. Jin's instincts screamed. Something's wrong.

The battle raged on. Emperor Ants—third in rank among ants—were famed for their brute strength, nearly indestructible armor, and love for treasure.

Jin grinned. One of these beasts is worth four gold coins. How much will I make today?

He decided to wait until the warriors cleared the battlefield before collecting the bodies.

By dusk, Jin trudged back into the village with massive ant corpses strapped to his back. His blood-soaked clothes and strained steps drew stares and hushed whispers.

"Is that Jin?"

"He's dragging Emperor Ants?"

"No way. He must've stolen them!"

Jin ignored the voices, his focus set on the market.

The merchant's eyes bulged as he inspected the ant shells. "These… these are high-quality specimens!"

"Five gold each," Jin said without hesitation.

"Five?!" The merchant gaped.

"Take it or leave it."

Grudgingly, the merchant paid him. Jin bought several slabs of meat and hurried home, his siblings waiting for him.

Jin stepped through the creaky door, greeted by the scent of smoke and burning wood. Faith, his elder sister, stood in the center of the room, her golden hair glowing under the dim firelight. Her beauty could rival nobles, yet her piercing eyes locked onto him with worry.

"Jin! You're covered in blood!"

"I'm fine," he said, placing the meat on the table.

Storm, the older twin, grinned as he poked the slabs of meat. "Wow, this could last us a whole month!" His sharp jawline and confident smirk gave him a commanding presence, even at his young age.

Zephyr, his younger twin sister, leaned against the wall, her emerald-green eyes sharp and calculating. "Don't lie, Jin. What did you really do?"

Jin chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Nothing illegal, I promise."

Faith crossed her arms, her expression softening but still laced with concern. "This is more meat than we've had in months. Jin, you don't have to keep pushing yourself like this. You should rest and stay away from the mountains for a while."

Jin stiffened. "Faith, we need the money. I still have to buy more pellets, and I can't stop now."

Faith stepped closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You've already done enough. Look at what you brought home. This could last us for months. Please, don't risk your life."

Storm added, "She's right, Jin. The mountains aren't safe. We've been hearing rumors all day. Even the villagers think something big is happening up there."

Jin sat down, finally feeling the ache in his muscles. "I know. But if I stop, how do we survive? I'll just be careful."

Zephyr's voice cut through the air like a blade. "Careful? You nearly died today, didn't you?"

Jin met her gaze and smiled faintly. "Not even close."

Faith sighed, sitting down next to him. "Promise me you'll rest—just for a few days. You deserve it."

For a moment, Jin considered her words. The exhaustion pulled at his body, but he couldn't let up now. He clenched his fists beneath the table. No. I can't stop. Not yet.

But seeing the worry in her eyes, he finally nodded. "Alright. I'll rest. For a few days."

Faith smiled in relief, and Storm cheered, "Finally! Maybe now we won't wake up to you covered in blood."

The warmth in their voices filled the room, and for the first time in days, Jin felt a flicker of peace.

Night fell, and while his siblings slept, Jin sat by the window, staring at the distant mountains. The image of the Emperor Ant swarm replayed in his mind. The Flareborn Clan and Snow Wolf Escort weren't just here for the treasure—they were hiding something.

And he wanted to know what it was.

Jin reached into his pouch and pulled out a mana pellet. He rolled it between his fingers, feeling its faint energy pulse. He needed more strength.

Swallowing the pellet, he closed his eyes and began meditating. Energy surged through his veins, igniting his muscles and bones. The pain followed instantly—like molten fire burning under his skin.

He gritted his teeth and held on as the pressure mounted. Every part of him screamed to stop, but he refused to give in. When the energy finally settled, he collapsed, drenched in sweat, and fell into a deep sleep.

Jin woke up to sunlight streaming through the window. His body ached, but something felt… different. He flexed his fingers, testing his strength.

No mana?

Panic flared inside him. He focused harder, trying to sense any energy within—but it was gone.

Cold dread coiled in his stomach. Did I ruin myself? Did the pellet fail?

But his body felt stronger, faster. He stood and stretched, the soreness fading faster than it should.

"Stronger… but no mana?" he whispered.

Determined not to let doubt control him, Jin grabbed his tools and prepared to head back to the mountains.

Faith's voice stopped him. "Jin, where are you going?"

"I'll just gather some wood," he said quickly.

Faith frowned but didn't argue. "Be careful."

He nodded and left, his mind already racing. He had to find out what was happening in those mountains—and this time, he wouldn't hold back.