Infernal Ascendancy
Chapter 43: Let me Burn with you

Chapter 43: Let me Burn with you

Selmora’s voice dripped with venom, her eyes burning.

"You’ll pay for that."

Aria dashed forward, her claws gleaming with light. Her speed blurred, closing in fast—but before she could strike, green flames erupted around Selmora like a living shield.

The fire licked at her skin, peeling away the old and revealing something new. Her hair transformed into blazing green flames, writhing like fire snakes. Her entire body shimmered, cloaked in that cursed fire. Her whip twisted and morphed—the tip now a serpent’s head wreathed in flames.

She cracked it once—whoosh!—and Aria was flung backward like a leaf in a storm.

Aria somersaulted mid-air, landing with a skid. Then she darted left, right, left again—each move faster than the last. But Selmora’s eyes followed her. Calm. Precise.

Like a hunter studying prey.

In a flash, both women charged, fists raised. Their hands collided mid-air—BANG!—a shockwave rippled, warping the air.

"AHHHH!" they screamed in unison.

Selmora’s green flames burst from her hand. Aria’s pink fire answered.

The flames clashed—green and pink swirling together—forming a burning orb of light between them. It grew, pulsated... then—BOOM!

The explosion shook the stage. Dust and heat swallowed everything. When it cleared, the arena floor was scorched and sunken.

The two were already on the move again—fists flying—but mid-air, Aria’s transformation suddenly faded. Her claws vanished, her aura dimmed.

She gasped.

Selmora saw it and smirked.

"Looks like you’ve reached your limit."

With one powerful swing, she slammed Aria into the ground—CRACK!—rocks flew from the impact. Then a kick—THUD!—sent her skidding across the dirt.

"You’re just like the rest of them," Selmora growled, her voice cracking.

"You’re nothing. All of you... the same."

Her flames surged higher, now wild, uncontrollable. Half her face was swallowed by the fire, flickering violently.

Aria coughed, blood on her lips. Still, she stood—shaky but smiling.

"I’ll free you... from your hatred."

Selmora snarled and dashed forward, a storm of green flames roaring around her. She swung her flaming whip—but Aria didn’t dodge.

She took the hit.

She wrapped her arms around Selmora.

Hissss. The flames scorched her skin.

"Are you crazy?!" Selmora yelled, laughing bitterly. "You’ll ruin that pretty face of yours!"

Aria winced but smiled.

"You still care about beauty... even now. But look at yourself. You’re not the beauty you once talked about."

Selmora’s eyes widened.

"Look into my eyes," Aria whispered.

Selmora did—and froze.

Reflected in Aria’s eyes was a monster. Her own burning face, twisted in pain and rage.

"No... no!" Selmora’s flames surged again. "That won’t work on me! You can’t talk me out of my hatred!"

"I know," Aria said softly. "I’m not trying to."

She hugged Selmora tighter.

"I just want to burn in your hatred with you."

Selmora’s breath caught. Her hands trembled.

"You... want to burn... with me?"

The world fell away. A memory rushed in like a tidal wave.

---

[Dark Space – Selmora’s Past]

She was tied to a burning cross. Her voice echoed.

"It all started the day we met, didn’t it?"

Twilight sky. Temple garden. Her laughter drifted like petals on the breeze.

That’s when he saw her—Caelen.

She was a priestess, sworn to purity. He, a proud warrior of the divine order. But that didn’t stop him. He came closer, day by day.

They met in secret—beneath an old willow tree by the river. Moonlight. Whispered dreams. Stolen touches.

"I had no dreams," he told her, "until I met you."

One night, under the stars, he pulled her close and said,

"Even if the gods strike you down, I’ll be your shield. I’ll face the skies with you. You won’t be alone."

She believed him.

But hope dies quietly.

Declared a heretic, she was sentenced to burn. Divine flames.

She searched for him in the crowd.

And he stood there—in the armor of the gods.

"I serve the divine. I cannot disobey," he whispered, eyes lowered.

He turned his back on her.

He never stood under the stars again.

---

Selmora trembled, voice breaking.

"I wasn’t angry because you said nothing. I was angry because... you did nothing."

"You could’ve at least said, ’Let me burn with you.’ Even if it was selfish... Even if you couldn’t save me... Why didn’t you burn with me...?"

Suddenly—light.

A voice.

"Maybe faith is a gamble. Maybe the gods are silent more often than they should be.

But I won’t let their silence define me—

and I won’t let your pain become my cage.

You were betrayed by men who knelt. I will stand.

You burned for beauty. I’ll fight for grace.

Selmora, I don’t worship blindly.

I believe... because I choose to.

And I choose to believe in you too—

not the goddess you became,

but the woman who once dared to shatter the mirror."

" Let me burn with you."

Selmora’s eyes widened.

There, walking into the dark, was Aria, glowing with light, smiling gently.

"You... want to burn with me?" Selmora asked, stunned.

Aria nodded. She reached out and touched her burnt face with a smile.

"Don’t carry all that fire alone. Come on, don’t be stingy. Share some of it with me."

She held Selmora’s hands.

"Let’s burn in it together."

Tears rolled down Selmora’s cheeks. Her scorched skin healed, the flames around her calming. Their auras—pink and green—swirled together, burning brighter.

As they touched foreheads, the flames exploded around them in one final burst of blinding light.

"Let’s burn in it together."

---

[Back to Reality]

The flames flared—then calmed.

Selmora’s body returned to normal. Her whip disappeared. She looked down.

Aria was smiling.

But then—thud—Aria dropped.

Selmora gasped.

"Aria!"

Aria’s hands were badly burned. Her breathing was weak. Nyssara rushed in, scooping her up.

"Get her to the room, now!" Selmora shouted.

---

[Outside – Aria’s Final Thoughts]

Aria’s vision blurred.

"That was hot," she whispered, smiling weakly. "Who knew her hatred burned so much..."

Her breath slowed.

"Lady Selmora... is actually kinda cool."

She chuckled.

"Azreal... I think I underestimated her flames... just like you did mine. I guess I finally understand a little of the pain you felt... when I burned you. But you... you were still smiling, even then."

Her voice trailed off.

"Everyone... is really amazing."

She stared up at the sky.

"Is this it? Is this... my limit?"

She laughed softly.

"Where do souls go when they die? I’ve always wondered... Will I finally see Heaven’s gate?"

Her eyelids dropped.

"...Guess this is goodbye, Azreal."

---

[Chamber of Scarlet Flames]

Laisa panted, sweat pouring down her face. Her body shook.

"Aria’s training hard... I can’t lose to her."

She looked up at the ceiling, firelight dancing on her skin.

"Let’s see who Lord Azreal says is the strongest."

She jumped—soared high—then let gravity take her.

As she fell, her body burst into glowing petals.

---

[From Afar]

Cassy watched from the shadows.

"Lady Laisa’s going all out... I wonder what’s pushing her so hard this time."

She smiled.

"Good luck, Lady Laisa."

---

[Royal Palace – Azreal’s Room]

Azreal stood by the window, arms folded, gaze distant.

A knock echoed.

"Come in," he said.

Hulk entered, bowing.

"My Lord. I delivered the message."

"Good," Azreal replied. But Hulk lingered.

"Something else?" Azreal asked.

"Yes... The dragons are holding a memorial for Aria. At the fifth gate."

Azreal’s eyes softened.

"I see. So she left her mark on Dragos too. That’s... nice."

"If you’ll excuse me," Hulk said.

Azreal nodded.

As the door shut behind him, he turned back to the window.

"...Aria should be finishing her training by now."

---

[Palace Kitchen]

Nena scrubbed dishes as the other maids bustled around.

"I wonder how my girl Aria’s doing," she said, smiling. "She’s probably training hard."

"When she comes back," she added, "I’ll spoil her with all her favorites."

The maids laughed.

"Hey, not fair! You knew us first, but you never spoiled us!"

Nena grinned.

"Less talk. Get to work. If that stew turns out bland, I’ll deal with all of you!"

"Yes, ma’am!" they all chimed in, giggling.

And somewhere, in the heart of the palace, the fire of one girl’s soul still burned—bright and beautiful.