Chapter 44- Assimilation of the Ancient Flames
Leo lost himself in his studies, oblivious to the windows that had long since gone dark. He was surrounded by towering stacks of scrolls and books, arranged like small pillars around him. Some scrolls lay in chaotic piles, others unrolled halfway across the floor, while a few hung open in full display. His fingers were stained black with ink.
As he sifted through the collection, an old scroll caught his eye. Its edges were torn and worn, brittle with age. He carefully unrolled it, only to find that the text was written in a language he could not understand.
Undeterred, Leo activated his Forge Sight. The ancient runes shimmered and translated themselves into clear English. The content proved worth the effort: a fragmented account of the legendary fires that had once burned across the Nine Realms, each possessing its own distinct nature and will.
Eldhrimnir’s Flame – a fire of renewal.
Logi’s Wildfire – a ravenous blaze that consumed everything in its path.
Surtr’s Ember – the primordial flame of Muspelheim.
Only three of the flames could be deciphered; the rest of the scroll was too damaged for further translation.
Leo continued searching, poring over dozens more scrolls in hopes of finding additional records. Hours slipped by. Eventually, his vision began to blur, and he drifted off to sleep atop a makeshift bed of ancient texts.
Sunlight stabbed through the arched windows, striking Leo directly in the face.
He jerked awake with a start. It was already the next day.
"Shit," he muttered, rubbing his eyes. "How long was I asleep?"
There was no one around to answer.
Determined to locate the flames mentioned in the scroll, Leo thought hard.
Where do I start?
One name immediately came to mind: Elder Thrain.
He hurried out of the archives and began searching for the old dwarf. After questioning several guards and maids along the way, he finally found Thrain in his personal forge.
The elderly dwarf stood at his anvil, hammering a piece of glowing steel with powerful, rhythmic strikes. Sparks flew in bright arcs around him. His upper body was bare, revealing a heavily muscled frame honed by years of craftsmanship.
Leo stepped inside. The dwarf paused mid-swing and turned to look at him.
"Lad, you look like shit," Thrain grunted. "You smell like it too."
He set his hammer down and wiped his hands. "So, what brings you looking for me?"
Leo, who had instinctively lifted his arm to sniff his shirt, quickly lowered it and got to the point. "Right. I came across this scroll." He pulled out the ancient document and handed it to the dwarf.
Thrain unrolled it carefully, his bushy brows furrowing as he read.
"I think it mentions three unique flames," Leo said.
The dwarf nodded silently, then looked up. "Eldhrimnir," he said slowly. "That one is special—it possesses regenerative properties. It used to burn in Valhalla’s kitchens. Every day, the great boar Saehrimnir was cooked in this flame. The warriors feasted on its meat, and by the next morning, the boar would be whole again."
Leo nodded. He was already familiar with the peculiar traits of these legendary fires.
"Next is Logi’s Fire," Thrain continued.
"Logi?" Leo asked.
Thrain’s lip twitched. "Logi is hunger itself. That fire has the power to consume all things."
"And the last one?" Leo pressed, excitement rising in his voice.
"Surtr." Thrain’s face paled as he spoke the name, his expression darkening. "Surtr is the flame of pure destruction. Many know of this fire, but the myths blur the line between if Surtr is the being?, the weapon?, or the flame itself. All of us in Asgard only know that it brought about Ragnarok, consumed the old world, and allowed this new one to be born."
"Some say the fire that remains is the leftover sword of Surtr, still burning to this day."
The dwarf’s face remained pale even after recounting the tale. He looked at Leo with clear suspicion. "Why are you asking about these flames?"
"I want to tame them," Leo replied. "All three. Where can I find them?"
Elder Thrain’s eyes widened, his jaw dropping.
This lad is insane. Did he not hear a single word I said?
He opened his mouth to speak but found himself speechless for a long moment. Finally, he sighed and shook his head, remembering Leo’s extraordinary performance in the recent competition.
"You can head to Valhalla for Eldhrimnir’s Flame," he said. "Logi’s Fire lies at the heart of the forest beyond Asgard’s walls. As for Surtr’s Flame... it resides on the border of Muspelheim."
Leo nodded gratefully. "Thank you."
He turned to leave when the dwarf called out, "Wait."
Thrain reached into his apron and pulled out a small piece of black iron shaped like an ancient rune. "This charm should help stabilize your flame near Muspelheim’s border. It won’t protect you from the fire itself, though—so be careful."
Leo accepted the charm with another word of thanks and finally departed.
Watching Leo’s retreating figure, Elder Thrain released a long, weary sigh.
Leo used the teleportation channel and arrived at the grand gates of Valhalla. He approached the great hall without hindrance, his pendant and title as Divine Rune Blacksmith granting him unhindered passage.
Inside, the sounds of feasting filled the air—boisterous laughter, clinking mugs, and the roaring cheers of warriors celebrating another day of training.
The gatekeeper approached him. "State your business. This is no place for a mere smith."
"I’ve come to see the eternally burning flame—Eldhrimnir’s Flame."
The gatekeeper studied him, his gaze lingering on the pendant. Recognizing the mark of the king’s favor, he nodded and led Leo to the kitchens.
There, atop a raised platform, sat a massive cauldron with a vibrant green fire burning steadily beneath it.
Eldhrimnir’s Flame.
It was warm, serene, and utterly still. There was no smoke, no crackling, no flicker. It burned perfectly, undisturbed even by the drafts moving through the hall.
The warrior who had guided him left once the flame was in view. Leo approached slowly. The fire showed no reaction to his presence.
He knelt before it. "Let me borrow some of your energy," he whispered, summoning his own Eternal Flame.
The golden fire manifested in his palms. For the first time, the still green flame stirred, reacting to its presence.
Leo extended his hands and allowed the Eternal Flame to reach toward it. The golden fire surged forward eagerly, devouring the green energy. No matter how much it consumed, the supply seemed endless.
For nearly an hour, Leo’s Eternal Flame fed like a starving spirit.
Dark lines formed under Leo’s eyes as he watched.
Why are you acting like I’ve never fed you before?
Finally satisfied, the golden flame retreated back into him.
[Ding!]
[Eternal Flame has assimilated another flame: Eldhrimnir’s Flame.]
[Your class skill, Eternal Flame, is evolving...]
[Your Passive skill Eternal Flame is no longer a mere skill. It has been upgraded into an independent Unique Flame bound to you.]
[Ding!]
[Evolution Completed]
Eternal Flame
Original Rank: Mythic
Current Rank: Rare
Flame Mastery: Adept
Bound to: Leo
Base Attributes
STR +15 | AGI +10 | INT +20 | VIT +8
Passive Effects
• Eternal Burn: Basic attacks apply an 8-second burn (3% of max HP per second).
+15% Fire damage for each attack.
• Crafting Blessing: +20% forging proficiency
• Pure Material Refinement: Purify metals, remove impurities, upgrade material quality, reveal hidden properties.Active Abilities
• Devour (Active): Consume other flames to absorb their power. Rank increases with each absorption.
• Eldhrimnir’s Fire (Active): Regeneration. Burn external energy (mana, stamina, or life force) to rapidly restore HP/MP/STM. If no external source is available, it consumes your own mana as a substitute.
Leo was surprised by the lack of resistance. It had felt more like an adult willingly feeding a child. The green fire continued to burn steadily before him, unchanged.
He bowed deeply. "Thank you."
Leaving Valhalla, Leo headed straight for the forest beyond Asgard’s walls in search of Logi’s Fire.
His boots crunched over ash-covered ground as he moved deeper into the woods. The trees stood like skeletal remains—bark stripped bare, branches leafless, many scorched black or reduced to charcoal. This was clearly the work of Logi’s Fire.
Following the trail of destruction, Leo reached the heart of the forest.
A patch of ground burned without fuel. The fire was brilliant white—too bright to look at directly. It refused to stay still, darting energetically from place to place like a restless child, consuming ash as it moved.
Leo stopped twenty feet away. The fire sensed him immediately. It reared up like a serpent, white flames coiling into a vaguely humanoid shape that was not quite solid.
Logi’s Fire did not attack at first.
Leo summoned his Eternal Flame. The moment the golden fire appeared, the white blaze lunged forward with primal fury.
There was no strategy, no feint—only raw hunger. Leo barely managed to roll aside as the ground where he had stood melted into glass.
He could feel the fire’s consciousness: pure, insatiable hunger. Yet somehow it had restrained itself enough not to devour the entire forest. There were still traces of thought and attachment within it.
The battle began in earnest. Leo raised a shield of Eternal Flame. Logi’s Fire struck it, attempting to consume the energy. But the Eternal Flame, a primordial force itself, absorbed the attacking flames instead.
The exchange repeated. Leo’s mana and stamina dwindled rapidly. Just as panic began to set in, he remembered the new regenerative ability gained from Eldhrimnir’s Flame.
He activated it immediately.
Instead of simply absorbing, the Eternal Flame now burned Logi’s energy to restore him. Leo’s MP and stamina recovered at a visible rate. The longer they fought, the stronger he grew—until both his health and energy were completely replenished.
With a triumphant roar, the Eternal Flame surged forward and engulfed Logi’s Fire entirely.
[Ding!]
[Eternal Flame has assimilated another flame: Logi’s Flame.]
[New effects added to the Eternal Flame.]
Eternal Flame
Original Rank: Mythic
Current Rank: Rare
Flame Mastery: Adept
Bound to: Leo
Base Attributes
STR +20 | AGI +15 | INT +25 | VIT +30
Passive Effects
• Eternal Burn: Basic attacks apply an 8-second burn (3% of max HP per second).
+15% Fire damage for each attack.
• Energy Drain: +2% mana/stamina drain to enemies within contact or range of the flame.
• Crafting Blessing: +20% forging proficiency and pure material refinement.
Active Abilities
• Devour (Active): Consume any energy source within a 5-meter radius (fire, mana, stamina, life force, ambient energy). Absorbed energy is used to evolve and upgrade the Eternal Flame. Rank increases with each significant absorption.
• Eldhrimnir’s Fire (Active): Regeneration. Burn external energy to rapidly restore HP/MP/STM. Consumes own mana if necessary.
Leo reviewed the updated status with satisfaction. The Devour ability had evolved dramatically, and powerful new passive effects had been added.
Nodding to himself, he turned back toward the palace. Only one flame remained—the strongest of the three.
Surtr’s Fire.