Eternal Fire and Eternal Darkness

"Burn! Burn!"

Within those scorching flames, there seemed to be some terrifying will.

The moment Mo Ling extended his vision into the flames, he felt that will pounce on him and begin burning his thoughts.

Vaguely, Mo Ling seemed to see the things these flames had once consumed.

Those burned to ashes had become condensed sparks, hidden beneath the searing radiance.

The sparks flickered, seeming to tell Mo Ling of their unwillingness. They did not wish to become slaves to the flames, nor did they wish to be warped into twisted forms. But as part of the fire, they could not escape the wavering blaze. They could only remain trapped within it, struggling without end.

Watching those swaying sparks, Mo Ling seemed to feel the agony of being scorched by fire.

"Run! Run!"

Some sparks passed their pain to Mo Ling, urging him to leave as soon as possible.

Only then did Mo Ling realize that these sparks all came from his "kin."

"They're those Dark Creatures..."

They sensed Mo Ling's presence and thought he was also a fellow creature swallowed by the flames. That was why they had kept stalling, hoping to give him a chance to escape.

Feeling the suffering of his kin, a trace of anger rose within Mo Ling.

It was anger carved into his body. His fur instantly stood on end, and his claws sprang out, but his rage seemed to make the will within the flames even more active, quickly drowning out the faint voices of the sparks.

"Burn!"

"Burn away that filth-concealing fur!"

"Burn away those claws drenched in fresh blood!"

"Burn away that tail that symbolizes savagery!"

"Burn away the wildness that hinders reason!"

"Burn away the obsession with being beasts!"

"Burn away that stubborn, unyielding pride!"

"Burn away the vile roots