Chapter 5

As Sage returned to the world he knew, he expected to find the familiar faces of his company members, all standing and waiting for him. Instead, he was met with a gruesome sight that made his blood run cold. All around him, he saw the bodies of his comrades, their limbs twisted and broken, their faces frozen in expressions of terror and pain. Their blood stained the ground, pooling in a grotesque display of violence. Sage felt his heart sink as he realized that he was the only survivor. He fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face as he mourned the loss of those he had fought alongside for so long. As he wept, his flames began to surround him, flickering and dancing in the air. They grew brighter and brighter, until they were almost blinding in their intensity. And then, something strange happened. His flames began to change, shifting from their usual orange-red hue to a brilliant, pure white. Sage felt a surge of energy flow through him, as if his entire body was being charged with electricity. He stood up, his eyes blazing with a newfound power, and he knew that he had broken through his limits. He looked around at the carnage that surrounded him, and he knew that he could not let his comrades' deaths be in vain. He would avenge them, and he would make those who had taken their lives pay dearly. With a roar of anger, Sage unleashed his white flames, letting them engulf his body and consume everything around him. He knew that his power had grown stronger than ever before, and he was ready to take on any enemy that dared to stand in his way. And so, with a heavy heart and a newfound strength, Sage set out to seek revenge for his fallen comrades, his flames burning brighter than ever before

As Sage journeyed forth, his mind was consumed with thoughts of his fallen comrades. Every step he took felt like a burden, his heart heavy with grief and anger. But he knew that he had to push forward, for their sake and for the sake of the world. He walked for what felt like hours, his white flames illuminating his path and casting eerie shadows against the ruins of the city. He had never seen it in such a state of disrepair - it was as if the very earth had been rent asunder by some great cataclysm. As he moved deeper into the city, Sage began to hear strange noises coming from the darkness. They were like whispers, barely audible at first, but they grew louder and more insistent as he drew closer. He tightened his grip on his sword, ready to face whatever might be waiting for him. And then, all at once, the whispers stopped. The world around him grew silent, so quiet that he could hear his own heartbeat pounding in his ears. He looked around, searching for any sign of movement, but there was nothing. And then he heard it - a faint, rhythmic thumping, like the beating of a great heart. It grew louder and louder, until it was almost deafening. Sage felt his body begin to vibrate with the force of the sound, and he realized with a sudden shock that it was coming from within him. His white flames pulsed and flickered in time with the beating, and he knew that he had tapped into something powerful. With a sudden burst of energy, Sage unleashed his white flames, letting them consume him completely. He felt himself soaring through the air, faster and faster, until he was moving faster than the eye could follow. He passed through the ruins of the city, his flames leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. He felt invincible, unstoppable - like he could take on anything that the world could throw at him. And then, all at once, the world froze around him. The buildings disappeared, the sky turned black, and he was left standing alone in a void of emptiness. Sage felt a wave of fear wash over him - he had never felt so alone, so isolated. He tried to call out, but his voice was swallowed up by the nothingness around him. And then, just as suddenly as it had started, it was over. The world returned to normal, and Sage was left gasping for breath, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew that he had gained something powerful - an Adolla Grace, one of the rarest and most powerful abilities in the world. But he also knew that he had only scratched the surface of what he was truly capable of. With a newfound determination burning within him, Sage set out to continue his journey, his flames burning brighter than ever before.

Sage continued his journey through the ruins of the city, his white flames illuminating the path before him. He moved with a sense of purpose, his mind focused on the task at hand.

As he walked, he came across a group of survivors huddled together in an alleyway. They looked up at him with a mixture of fear and hope, their eyes filled with tears.

Sage approached them slowly, his sword held loosely at his side. He could see that they were injured, their clothes torn and bloodied. He knelt down beside them, his white flames casting a warm glow over their faces.

"Are you all right?" he asked, his voice soft.

One of the survivors, a young girl with curly hair, looked up at him with wide eyes. "We... we thought we were the only ones left," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sage reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're not alone," he said, his voice firm. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect you."

With those words, Sage rose to his feet and drew his sword. He could feel the power of his Adolla Grace surging through him, filling him with a sense of invincibility.

He led the survivors through the ruined streets of the city, his white flames blazing a path through the darkness. They encountered several groups of infernals along the way, but Sage dispatched them with ease, his sword cutting through their bodies like butter.

As they approached the edge of the city, Sage could feel the weight of his grief and anger lifting from his shoulders. He had found a new purpose - to protect the innocent and fight against the darkness that threatened to consume the world.

And so, with a renewed sense of determination, Sage set out into the unknown, his white flames burning brighter than ever before. He knew that the road ahead would be long and difficult, but he was ready for whatever lay ahead.For he was Sage Shinmon, Third Generation Pyrokinetic, and he was destined for greatness.