The world was quiet.
But that quiet was destined to be broken.
An endless red earth stretched out.
A land without life.
It looked dead, but something was writhing within it.
A subtle tremor rose from deep beneath the surface, and dark-red smoke billowed up intermittently.
A hot wind swept across the earth.
Flames gathered.
They gathered in one place.
The flames burning between the cracks in the earth, the ashen heat scattered through the wind, slowly began to coalesce around a single point.
For now, it could not yet be seen.
But it existed.
It grew stronger and stronger.
The earth was swelling.
The lava beneath the ground writhed.
Cracks formed, and from the depths, a tremendous power burst forth.
And at last, the earth could no longer withstand it.
The fissures exploded.
A vast blaze surged upward.
Flames split the sky, and magma gushed forth.
Within that fire, a single form appeared.
At first, it was hazy.
As though the flames themselves were twisting to create a shape.
But it gradually became clear.
The fire drew a gigantic silhouette.
It had the form of a human.
But it was not human.
It was born together with fire.
It was fire.
His skin was as hard as rock bearing the traces of flame, and his eyes burned like the flames of the sun.
He drew in a breath.
A deep, scorching breath.
Flames entered his lungs.
And he exhaled.
Fire bloomed from that breath.
For the first time, he looked at his own hand.
It was a hand made of flame.
He clenched his fist.
The fire grew even denser.
For the first time, he took a step.
The earth burned beneath his feet.
For the first time, he looked upon the world.
This land where he had been born, the desolate earth that no one yet ruled.
His name was Vulcanus.
The lord of fire and the creator of flame.
That being born within the blaze raised himself for the first time.
For the first time, he repeated his own name.
“Vulcanus. Vulcanus……”
His name was not something he had created himself, but it already defined what he was.
He was, in truth, fire.
He was now the master of this land.
His eyes opened.
His eyes looked upon the world for the first time.
The earth was desolate.
Endless red land, blackened rocks.
Beyond the horizon, faint flames flickered in the distance, and all around, pillars of fire large and small shot upward.
Yet this was still an unruly land.
Fire rose in every direction, but it had no direction.
There was searing heat, but it had no purpose.
Now it was his destiny to rule this masterless land.
The one who would govern the power of fire was none other than Vulcanus.
His skin was hard, hot, and like rock formed from cooled lava.
No blood flowed through his veins.
Instead, pure flame drove his heart without rest.
He raised his hand.
Flames bloomed from his fingertips.
It was no ordinary fire.
It was fire with a will.
When he lowered his hand, the earth shook.
The surface split open, and magma welled up through the cracks.
A colossal pillar rose, and dark-red rocks took on a certain form.
It was no ordinary rock.
It was a throne.
Vulcanus strode forward.
Flames bloomed with every step he took.
But Vulcanus was not burned by that fire.
Rather, he could rule it.
Vulcanus ascended the throne.
A red light enveloped him.
At last, it was the moment a monarch was born upon this land.
As though blessing his birth, even the sky was dyed red.
Vulcanus spread his hand.
At his will, flames soared into the sky.
Heat covered the earth.
Fire swayed in accordance with his gesture.
Fire followed him.
Now fire had become his possession.
Vulcanus, now he was the emperor of the Empire of Fire.
Vulcanus raised his hand and cried out.
His majestic declaration began.
“All beings of this world, hear me! My name is Vulcanus.
This land is no longer chaos. For I have become the master of this land. This is my empire, Ignis. On this day, in this moment, I, Vulcanus, proclaim the birth of the Ignis Empire.
I am fire. I am the first flame to burn upon this earth. I am he who lights the path, and I am he who burns all things.
Fire is not merely a force of destruction. The weak vanish within fire, and the strong are made even harder by fire.
Darkness loses its way, and cold earth can bring forth nothing. But I, Vulcanus, have existed here from the beginning. Even when the earth had not yet cooled, and darkness covered the world. Now fire shall drive away the darkness, melt the frozen earth, and give birth to new life.
Therefore, fire is the power of growth. Fire creates paths, and upon the ashes of all it has burned, new things are born.
I, Vulcanus, am not a conqueror. I am a creator.
Our Ignis Empire shall spread. Higher, farther, never stopping, it shall continue to burn. No one shall be able to confine fire. Wherever fire reaches, change shall occur, and newness shall be born.
Thus, our Ignis Empire shall not stop. From this moment on, this land is mine, and wherever these flames reach shall become Ignis.
Fire does not disappear. Fire never goes out. Fire is the power that changes the world.
I emphasize this once more. Fire is a trial. Though the weak may be annihilated, the strong shall be made stronger.
Therefore, these flames shall temper us. Even in pain, we must not fear, but grow strong, and even amid trials, we must shine ever brighter.
All those of Ignis, hear me. This fire shall not burn us. It shall test us. Only those who endure the fire shall be granted the right to rule this fire at my side. You must be like fire. So that no one can stop us, you must govern fire and spread endlessly.
Our Ignis Empire begins here. It expands from me, Vulcanus. Our Ignis Empire shall illuminate every land. Our light shall dye the world.
But you who fear this fire, hear me. Those who reject fire shall be trapped in darkness and perish. Those who fear fire shall become ash and scatter in the wind.
We must advance like fire. We must transform all things like fire.
These flames shall test us, but at the same time, they shall guide us. Those who go against fire shall vanish, and those who accept fire shall be born anew.
The law of Ignis is like fire. Weakness and falsehood shall be burned away, and only strength and truth shall survive.
I shall lead all those who carry this fire within them. Move with me. Become light with me.
Now this land is no longer darkness. Ignis is light, a path, and the future.
Ignis does not stop. Ignis shall burn. Forever……!”
And thus, the Ignis Empire was founded by Vulcanus.
When Vulcanus finished speaking, the world began to respond.
The red earth trembled.
From the split fissures, flames soared upward.
It was as though a power that had long been asleep was awakening.
Vulcanus stood before the throne with his hand outstretched.
His will shook the land.
Heat swirled.
As the earth blazed, new things soon began to be born.
Dark-red rock surged upward.
It was no common stone.
It was a great pillar, and a single wall.
“Volcanium…… the heart of the Ignis Empire, the fortress of fire……!!”
Vulcanus shouted and once again raised his hand high.
Flames stretched far into the sky.
Those flames spread through the air, dyeing the heavens red.
From that moment, the city named Volcanium gradually began to take shape.
Upon the burning earth, flames swayed first.
Soon, red peaks arose, and before Vulcanus, a massive citadel soared upward.
At the center of the Ignis Empire, Volcanium was born from fire.
And here, the first flames of the Ignis Empire would burn.
Before Vulcanus’s throne lay countless Energy Cores.
Energy Cores that emitted the power of fire, the remnants left after giving birth to Vulcanus.
He looked down at those Energy Cores.
They were pure raw stones, as yet bearing no color.
But they contained countless possibilities.
Vulcanus stretched his hand over those Energy Cores.
Then flames extending from his palm enveloped them.
He spoke in a low voice.
“Energy Cores, beings that possess the power to bring prosperity to our empire. These too shall now move beneath my hand. Burn, Energy Cores……!”
As Vulcanus quietly chanted the spell, the pure Energy Cores began to burn.
They, which had possessed no power, accepted the fire.
And they were dyed red.
The many Energy Cores soon transformed into Flame Cores.
Vulcanus smiled solemnly, as though satisfied.
His heart began to beat through flame.
At the heart of the Ignis Empire, Volcanium too was pulsing.
Volcanium shone.
Flames surged upward and enveloped the entire city.
And Vulcanus sat upon the throne once more and said,
“Now, Ignis is complete. However, the true beginning starts now.”
His voice spread out along the flames.
The earth of Volcanium shimmered with heat, and fire swallowed the sky.
At that moment, the Ignis Empire exhaled its first breath.
The age of fire had begun.
Through Ignis, founded by Vulcanus, fire continued to burn.
Now it was the world’s turn to respond.
At the very moment the flames surging from the heart of Volcanium dyed the sky red, something began to move in a place far, far away.
When fire awakens, water awakens as well.
The deep and tranquil sea stirred for the first time.
Beneath the surface, ripples rose as though it were breathing.
Cold waves moved, and a power that had slept since ancient times was awakening.
In the dark and deep abyss, a cold current began to find its direction.
The water, once quiet, was gradually shaking.
Waves surged, and vast ocean currents rushed forth.
As if something were paving a road.
Now, water too was about to summon its own master.
And that power would soon begin to take form.
Since fire had been born, this time it was water’s turn to flow.
This world was no longer a simple existence.
This world was being born again and again.
Far away, another new era was about to begin.