In a world where people possessed the extraordinary power of fire, our story begins with a young man named Joshua. He lived in the vibrant city of Butuan, where flames of different colors illuminated the streets. These flames were not just for show; they represented the unique abilities of each individual. Joshua's flame was a modest red, which placed him at the lowest rank of fire power.

Joshua's life was ordinary, marked by mundane daily routines and the occasional mishap caused by his uncontrollable red flame. But one thing kept his spirit burning bright—his unwavering friendship with Ace, who had a brilliant blue flame and was one of the city's most respected adventurers.

Despite the stark contrast in their flame rankings, Joshua and Ace were inseparable. They shared the same dreams of embarking on thrilling adventures and discovering the secrets of their fiery world. Together, they aspired to reach the coveted S-rank adventurer status.

One sunny morning, while strolling through Butuan's bustling market, a mishap occurred. Joshua's red flame accidentally ignited a fruit vendor's cart, causing chaos. As he frantically tried to douse the flames, the townsfolk laughed and teased him, earning him the nickname "Red-Blaze Bumbler."

Ace, always by Joshua's side, rushed to help. With a wave of his blue flame, Ace swiftly extinguished the fire. But instead of scolding Joshua, Ace burst into laughter. "You're the only person I know who can turn a fruit cart into a bonfire," he joked.

Their laughter was infectious, and soon the entire market joined in. In that moment, Joshua realized that friendship was worth more than any flame rank. With Ace's support, he knew he could overcome any obstacle, even his unruly red flame.

As they walked away from the market, Joshua and Ace made a pact. They would work together to improve Joshua's control over his flame and climb the ranks as adventurers. But no matter where their adventures led, they would always find humor in their fiery mishaps.

One sunny afternoon, Ace burst into Joshua's modest home with an excited gleam in his eyes. "Joshua, I've got a plan!" he exclaimed.

Perplexed, Joshua asked, "What's got you so fired up, Ace?"

"I've found a Rank E mission that could kickstart your adventurer career," Ace said with a mischievous grin. "But we'll need to form a party and tackle it together."

Joshua's eyes lit up with hope. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for. "Tell me more, Ace!"

Ace explained, "The mission is to escort a caravan of valuable goods to the neighboring town of Buenavista. It may seem simple, but it's known to have some unexpected challenges along the way. We'll need to protect the caravan from bandits and wild creatures."

Joshua nodded eagerly. "I'm in! Let's form a party and take on this mission together."

They set out to recruit more members for their party. They soon found Rina, a skilled archer with a bright yellow flame, and Grom, a burly warrior with an orange flame, both eager to prove themselves as adventurers. Together, they formed a diverse team with a range of fire powers.

As they prepared for their mission, Joshua couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. This was his first step toward becoming an adventurer, and he didn't want to disappoint his friends.

The day of the mission arrived, and the party set out with the caravan. Along the way, they encountered a group of bandits who sought to steal the goods. With their combined fire powers and teamwork, they successfully thwarted the bandits' attack.

Upon their return to Butuan, their celebration was tragically interrupted. A member of a notorious organization known as Riko emerged from the shadows, launching a swift and deadly attack. Grom valiantly sacrificed himself to protect his friends, and in the chaos, Joshua was separated from the rest of the party.

"To be continued..."

Previously, Joshua found himself separated from his party after a tragic encounter with Riko, a member of the Crimson Ember Syndicate, who wielded a mysterious violet flame.

**Flashback:**

Joshua, Ace, Rina, and Grom had just successfully completed their Rank E mission, escorting the caravan to Buenavista. As they celebrated their victory in a local tavern, an unexpected threat emerged.

A Syndicate member named Riko as he introduced himself stormed into the tavern, demanding the valuable cargo. Grom, the burly warrior with an orange flame, stood resolutely between them and the goods.

Grom: (fierce) "You won't lay a finger on these goods as long as I'm here!"

Riko: (smirking) "Such bravery from a mere E-rank adventurer. Your orange flame is no match for my violet power."

Without hesitation, Riko unleashed his violet flame, which swirled ominously around him. Grom fearlessly charged forward, his orange flame blazing brightly. They clashed, and for a moment, it appeared as if Grom might emerge victorious.

However, Riko's violet flame concealed a hidden strength. With a swift maneuver, he enveloped Grom in the swirling violet blaze. Grom's orange flame dimmed, and he collapsed to the ground, motionless.

Ace: (shouting) "Grom!"

Rina: (teary-eyed) "No, this can't be happening!"

Joshua: (angrily) "You'll pay for this!"

**Present Time:**

After the heart-wrenching loss of Grom, Joshua was transported to the Hidden Inferno Realm by Riko's violet flame. Meanwhile, Ace was left to confront Riko's malevolent power.

Ace: Joshuaaaaa! Where have you taken him?

Ace: (determined) "You may have taken Joshua, but you won't defeat me so easily, Riko."

Riko: (smirking) "Impressive, What's your name?"

Ace: (resolute) "Shut up”

The two clashed fiercely, their flames colliding and casting an eerie light in the dimly lit alley where they battled. Ace's blue flame blazed brilliantly, steadily pushing back Riko's violet power with every exchange.

As the combat continued, Riko couldn't help but acknowledge Ace's true prowess.

Riko: (acknowledging) "You possess considerable skill for one so young."

Ace: (defiant) "Never underestimate me."

Riko: (smirking sinisterly) "Very well, young flame-bearer. Let's see how long you can hold your own."

**Later that day**

Joshua: (muttering to himself) "Where am I? What happened to Grom and the others?"

As he navigated through the unfamiliar streets, a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness. It was Riko, the wanted criminal, with a flame that emitted an eerie, violet glow, unlike anything Joshua had ever seen.

Riko: (smirking) "Lost, are we, young flame-bearer?"

Joshua: (nervously) "Who... who are you?"

Riko: (tauntingly) "Call me Riko, a member of the Crimson Ember Syndicate. I'm impressed you've survived this long."

Joshua: (defiantly) "What do you want from me?"

Riko: (stepping closer) "I want to show you something, Joshua. A power beyond your wildest dreams."

With a snap of his fingers, Riko's violet flame swirled around Joshua, engulfing him in a fiery vortex. The world around him blurred, and when the flames subsided, Joshua found himself in an entirely different place.

He was standing atop a cliff overlooking a breathtaking landscape. The sky was a vivid shade of crimson, and the land was covered in a mesmerizing blend of red and orange flora.

Joshua: (awe-struck) "Where... where am I now?"

Riko: (smirking) "This, my young flame-bearer, is the Hidden Inferno Realm. A place where fire power knows no bounds."

Joshua was both amazed and terrified by the surreal surroundings.

Joshua: (whispering to himself) "How did he teleport me here?"

Riko: (explaining) "My violet flame has the power of teleportation. With it, I can traverse dimensions and bring you to places like this. Places you could only dream of."

As Joshua stood on the precipice of this mysterious realm, he couldn't help but feel a newfound sense of intrigue and curiosity.

Joshua: (curious) "What do you want from me, Riko?"

Riko: (smiling) "I can sense a rare flame in you”

Joshua's mind raced with conflicting thoughts and emotions.

**To be continued...**

As Riko’s violet flame made contact with Joshua, an unusual sensation washed over him.

Riko: (thoughtfully) “Your flame… it’s unlike anything I’ve ever encountered.”

Joshua: (confused) “What are you talking about?”

Riko: (smirking) “You’re a rare one.,We’ll have to explore this further.”

With a snap of his fingers, Riko transported Joshua back to a location near the city of Butuan. Joshua found himself disoriented but relieved to be away from the enigmatic Hidden Inferno Realm.

---

In the dimly lit alley where their battle had unfolded, Ace lay unconscious, and Rina was grievously injured. The situation looked dire when suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps approached. A party of adventurers arrived on the scene, responding to a report of the skirmish.

Lead Adventurer (Rank A): "What's happened here?"

A concerned onlooker explained the fierce confrontation between Ace, Rina, and the mysterious figure with the violet flame.

Lead Adventurer: (assessing the situation) "These flames... it was a dangerous encounter."

The lead adventurer examined Ace and Rina, recognizing the severity of their injuries. They quickly administered first aid to Rina and revived Ace.

Ace: (groaning) "Ugh... What happened?"

Lead Adventurer: (calmly) "You've been through quite a battle, friend. Luckily, we arrived in time."

Ace: (regaining consciousness) "Where's Joshua?"

Rina: (weakly) "And what happened to Grom?"

Lead Adventurer: (sympathetic) "We don't have all the answers, but we'll do our best to find out. First, let's get you both to safety and provide medical attention."

Ace and Rina were rushed to the hospital, where their wounds were tended to by skilled doctors and nurses.

---

In the meantime, Joshua's frantic search for Ace led him through the winding streets of Butuan. He inquired with local adventurers and townsfolk, desperately trying to uncover any clues about Ace's whereabouts. His heart pounded with anxiety, and he couldn't help but replay Riko's words about his rare flame in his mind.

At last, a kind-hearted local adventurer took notice of Joshua's distress and offered his help.

Local Adventurer: (friendly) "You seem worried. Can I assist you?"

Joshua: (grateful) "I'm looking for my friend, Ace. He was hurt in a battle nearby."

Local Adventurer: (concerned) "I heard about that fight. Don't worry; I'll help you find him."

Together, they combed through the city, following the clues provided by witnesses and the reports of the recent skirmish. It wasn't long before they received word of Ace's location – he was at the hospital.

---

Joshua's heart soared with hope as he rushed to the hospital, where he was finally reunited with Ace and Rina. Their eyes met, and relief flooded their faces.

Ace: (weakly) "Joshua... you're safe."

Rina: (teary-eyed) "We thought... we thought you were..."

Joshua: (emotionally) "I'm here, guys. But... what about Grom?"

The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of their friend's loss pressing down on them. Tears flowed freely as they mourned the passing of Grom, their dear companion.

---

As they grieved together, an unexpected and somewhat comedic event unfolded in the hospital. A mischievous patient in the neighboring bed accidentally knocked over a tray of food, causing a comical chain reaction of events. Nurses and doctors rushed to clean up the mess, providing a moment of levity in their otherwise somber surroundings.

Ace: (smirking through tears) “hahahahah”

Rina: (giggling) "Yeah, it's like the city itself has a sense of humor."

---

Days turned into weeks, and the trio found solace in each other's company. As they supported one another through their physical and emotional healing, Joshua received news that brought a sense of accomplishment.

He had officially become an adventurer with a rank E. The joy that swelled within him was immeasurable. He had come a long way from the inexperienced flame-bearer he once was.

As they looked towards the horizon, their hearts were heavy with the memory of Grom and the weight of their uncertain future.

Rina: (softly) “I think it’s time for me to part ways with you both.”

Joshua and Ace exchanged glances, understanding that Rina needed to find her own path.

With a final group hug, they bid farewell to Rina, knowing that their paths might cross again one day. As she walked away, they watched her silhouette disappear into the twilight, her indomitable spirit a testament to the bonds forged in the flames of their adventures.

Joshua and Ace, now more determined than ever, gazed at the city lights that stretched before them.

Ace: (resolute) “We won’t let anyone else get hurt like Grom did.”

Joshua: (with conviction) “And we’ll never lose again. We’ll train, get stronger, and protect those who matter most.”

Their flames shone brightly in the night, showing their strong determination.

**To be continued...**