Ignispirit

In the center of Birka lies a square, presided over by a villa of immaculate whiteness.

Although it stands out among the surrounding dwellings, its opulence is subtle.

This is the abode of the God of Birka, though the throne has changed hands.

Michael, the new lord, reclines on the roof tiles, his regal gaze encompassing his newly acquired domain.

Below, in the square, a sea of guards congregates.

Fram, the deposed god, now orchestrates this ceremony of submission. His surrender, born from the realization of Michael's overwhelming power.

For although Michael is a child, he is a child before whom Birka must bow.

As Fram guides the Guards of God in their oath of allegiance, Michael's attention wanders.

Before him floats a chest of familiar design but he couldn't remember from where, invisible to all but his eyes.

Next to the chest, his domain panel has evolved:

[Territories: Birka Island]

The Territory indicator on the panel experienced a significant jump, going from "none" to "Birka Island".

Simultaneously, his main mission advanced a level, materializing a reward chest in front of him.

Anticipation grew within him. It was time to test his fortune.

He knew well that, as one of the rare privileges of the game, the rewards obtained from main mission chests were exceptionally valuable.

After all, the developers had to keep their consumers satisfied.

With anticipation, he contemplated the floating chest.

Inhaling deeply, focusing his attention. With a movement, he extended his hand towards where the lock should be.

Instead, he found a symbol resembling a crown.

Upon touching the symbol, a flickering light emanated from inside the chest.

With a soft 'click', the lid flew open.

From the depths of the chest, a card emerged, rising into the air.

Michael's eyes lit up instantly. Cards were always a good omen.

Whether it was a character card, a talent card, or a skill card, they all promised significant benefits.

The card floated in front of him, slowly turning to reveal its contents.

Michael's gaze froze, a mixture of surprise and excitement coursing through his being.

On the cover of the card, the image of an imposing man was outlined.

His long black hair, accompanied by a thick mustache of the same tone, evoked a resemblance to Roger. However, it was not the King of Pirates.

"Your Majesty!", he exclaimed, the name escaping his lips with excitement.

The man on the card was none other than the main antagonist of Bleach, the progenitor of the Quincies.

A.

The Almighty.

Yhwach.

This was a talent card of Yhwach, bearing some of the extraordinary abilities of the powerful Quincy.

Michael's current talents were the result of careful selection and acquisition of talent cards.

So: What power of Yhwach would manifest in this new card?

Determined, he extended his hand and closed his fingers over the floating card.

The moment he crushed it, the card dissolved into a myriad of luminous points that fused with his skin, integrating into his being.

A warm, pulsating sensation coursed through his body, and new information flowed into his mind like a torrent of ancestral knowledge.

Without wasting a second, Michael invoked his status panel, eager to discover the nature of his new acquisition.

There, among his already formidable abilities, a new entry shone:

[Ignispirit]

The introduction to this talent is as follows.

[Ignispirit: Inheriting Yhwach's legacy, you grant others the Seed of Fire, a fusion of your soul. This seed bestows mastery over flames and engraves your wisdom and skills upon its bearer. By infusing it with a larger portion of your soul, the seed awakens the host's latent potential, evolving into a unique form adapted to their nature. At any time, you can reclaim the seed, along with the power and knowledge it has cultivated.]

Michael almost gasped.

He had hit the jackpot!

He had obtained the very essence of the power that elevated Yhwach to deity status. Although there were subtle differences.

Yhwach granted direct fragments of his soul, while Michael would grant a soul fire.

But the fundamental principle remained intact: both used others as cultivation fields for their own abilities, harvesting power and knowledge.

The corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise.

"My God, all members of the God's Guard are present"

Announced Fram's respectful voice from below.

Abstracted in his thoughts, Michael turned his attention to the square. His eyes scanned the orderly ranks of the Guards of God, formed in perfect rows.

"A total of 1,352 troops, ready to pay their respects", Fram reported, standing deferentially at the front of the formation.

With a soft beat of wings, he descended from the roof, his ethereal figure contrasting with the solidity of the armed guards.

At first glance, the faces of the Guardians of God revealed fear. The memory of the flames that had covered the sky moments before was still fresh in their minds.

According to Fram's explanations, they now knew that that inferno had been the work of the angelic child floating before them.

How to maintain composure in the face of a being capable of unleashing such destruction at will?

However, Michael remained impassive to their evident unease.

His gaze swept over the rows of guards before speaking in a calm but authoritative voice: "From today, I am the new God of Birka. I ask you to fight with courage and loyalty in my name".

"Yes, my God!", Fram exclaimed without hesitation, setting an example for the others.

Standing tall, he said in a voice that resonated with fervor: "We swear eternal loyalty to our god!"

After a brief moment of doubt, the rest of the God's Guard joined the clamor: "We swear loyalty to our God!"

A slight smile played on Michael's lips as he observed Fram with appreciation.

This man, at least, understood well where his interests lay.

'Perfect' he thought. 'It's time to test my new abilities with him.'

"Gods are merciful", Michael declared. "You have sworn loyalty to me and, naturally, I will be generous in reward".

With an enigmatic smile, he fixed his gaze on Fram. "As my first loyal servant, I name you the new captain of the God's Guard".

"Yes, my God", Fram responded with a solemn face, while his mind buzzed with cautious thoughts.

This young god is a true monster.

A small disobedience can lead to the destruction of everything.

No matter what he says, just obey him.

"And now" Michael continued. "Your second reward".

He raised his right hand, and a faint golden flame danced between his fingers.

Fram's pupils instantly contracted at what he saw.

'Can he manipulate fire even outside his dragon form?', he marveled. 'And that halo behind him... It's made of flames! Could it be...? A descendant of the legendary Lunaria tribe?!'

However, something didn't fit. Michael's hair color, his wings, his skin... everything defied the known characteristics of the Lunaria.

Oblivious to Fram's thoughts, Michael spoke calmly: "Don't resist, Fram. This is a gift for your loyalty".

With a thought, the small flame leapt from his fingers towards Fram.

Seeing the fire approaching, Fram remained motionless, resisting the urge to dodge it.

'If he wanted to kill me, he wouldn't need this effort', he reasoned. 'As incomprehensible as it may seem, this must truly be a reward'.

The golden flame touched his forehead and, like a drop of water penetrating the earth, sank into his skin in an instant.

"Gasp!", he exhaled, his body shuddering and staggering backward.

Tension seized the Guards of God present.

Fram was a ruler respected for his benevolence and openness. No one wished to see their beloved leader suffer.

However, their concerns proved unfounded.

In the next instant, Fram's eyes flew open.

His pupils, previously black in tone, now shone with an intense gold, reflecting the sunlight like liquid gold.

"Very good" Michael murmured, nodding slightly.

He knew that the Seeds of Fire could not be implanted by force; the recipient had to willingly accept them for the integration to be successful.

From what he could observe, Fram and the seed had merged without complications.

With expectant eyes, he addressed Fram: "Show the power you have obtained".

He has three types of flames at his disposal: the common golden, the healing yellow, and the destructive red-yellow.

The latter, too dangerous, was not meant to be shared with anyone. Between the two remaining, he had chosen to grant Fram the common golden flame.

'How will it manifest in him?', he wondered with curiosity.

Fram, still dazed, felt a strange sensation arise within him. Instinctively, he raised his hand.

Fwoosh!

A bright flame sprouted from his palm, blooming like a golden flower before withering, leaving his face illuminated for an instant.

"This is...", Fram stammered with his eyes wide open.

Michael smiled, "It's just a seed, Fram. Try to make it take root, germinate it, it will bloom and bear fruit".

I can only harvest it when it's ripe.

"My... my God!", Fram exclaimed, looking at Michael with reverence and awe.

He had truly granted him the power of flames!

Could it be that he was truly... a god?

Michael turned his gaze towards the members of the God's Guard, whose faces reflected amazement.

With a powerful voice full of promise, he declared: "Fight for me, warriors! In exchange, I will grant you the power to transcend mortality".

A brief silence followed his words, as if the world held its breath.

Then...

"Yes!!", the crowd roared in unison.

Who could resist the offer of power beyond mortality?