Black Flame Ashes Of War Novels & Stories

The ash burned my palm, but I didn't care. "You have to," he said, looking at me one last time with golden eyes that were slowly fading into gray. "For them. For us." The airships opened fire again. A rain of silver bullets chewed up the ground around us. Riven roared, his body exploding into a massive cloud of sentient ash. He flew into the sky, a dark storm hitting the first airship head-on. The metal groaned and snapped as the ash clogged its engines, sending the massive ship spiraling into the cliffs.

Flame licks the treeline on the far ridge, smoke pouring black into the white sky. I lift my head, blood dripping from my jaws, and turn toward the sound. Holt snarls beneath me, writhing to break free, but my weight holds him pinned down. The scent of ash and resin pollutes the air. Ashgrave seems to be openly declaring their allegiance to Redmaw. They’ve gotten their hands on explosives somehow and they’re doing what they can to turn the tide of this fight. Through the smoke, they pour, Derren at the front.

Pain flared, blood beading instantly, but Bianca did not falter. Steel clashed. Sparks flew. Shadows danced across walls, twisting into grotesque reflections of the two queens. And then, as the chamber shook violently a timed explosion of fire and steel Bianca vanished into the smoke, leaving Ash alone amidst the flames, her copper eyes blazing with fury and anticipation. Outside, the city could see the glow. Across the horizon, every screen broadcasting Ash’s empire lit with fire, every heart beating faster with the spectacle. Somewhere in the night, Matteo’s voice whispered through a comm:

Hot enough to set paper aflame. He left scorching, smoking footprints on the floor with every step. Lily and Kael both took a step back. 【WARNING: S-Rank Boss, ‘The Ashen Revenant,’ has appeared. He was burned alive in a fire. He hates all living things. His ‘Flames of Retribution’ can burn even the soul to ash.】 But I smelled nothing. Felt no heat. To me, he just looked like some poor chimney sweep after a very, very bad day.

He took another slow drag from his cigarette before exhaling, the smoke curling lazily in the dimly lit gym. “Not all flames die out quickly, son,” he mused, tapping the ash off his cigarette. “Some need a slow, controlled burn before they truly turn to ash.” I clenched my jaw. “I don’t have the patience for slow.” He hummed in amusement, his sharp eyes watching me like he already knew how this would end. “Then make her burn the way you want. But be careful not to get burned yourself.” I let out a dry chuckle, rolling my shoulders to shake off the irritation settling in my bones.

Before I can process this, the flames become bigger, swallowing the furniture in the room. I make a run for the door. Just as I was about a step away, a cupboard fell down, blocking the door. A scream leaves my lips as I instinctively jump back in fright. Hugging Ian close to my chest, I shout out the first name that was on the tip of my tongue. “DRAX !” I step back when the flames threaten to engulf me. I look around, hoping to find anything but almost everything is on fire. Just as I thought I had lost any hope, Zion's voice fills my ears.

The sunlight caught in the crimson liquid, and for a moment, I saw it as blood swirling in crystal. This was not just about a photo. It was about pressure. About creating cracks in their perfect façade until the whole structure came crashing down. I took a slow sip and stared out at the skyline. Somewhere across the city, Delilah was burning with humiliation, Jackson was calculating excuses, and Rosaline was scrambling to protect herself. Exactly as I wanted. They thought they had buried me. They thought they had erased me. I smiled into my glass. Let’s see how you survive the storm I have set loose.

Darkness takes over, and I let myself drown in it. I take down warrior after warrior, wolf’s bane burning me from the inside, but my body burning back just as fast. Ash is no longer with me as he works to heal himself from the wolf's bane. My vision is hazy, no faces register, and I don’t recognize a single person here. At last, the final threat is taken down, and I stand looking down upon them triumphantly.

Ashes of Trust The camp lay in uneasy silence. Smoke from the recent battle curled in lazy gray spirals above the treetops, carrying the scent of blood, ash, and charred wood. Wolves moved cautiously among the tents, their paws hesitant on the scorched earth, eyes darting as though expecting another ambush. The Moonborn were victorious, but victory tasted bitter, sour beneath the metallic tang of death. Elena stood at the center of it all, her hands tight at her sides, jaw clenched.