Ares sat cross-legged in the cave, staring at his fingers. The ember had disappeared, but the sensation lingered—a faint hum beneath his skin, like static electricity waiting to be discharged.

  That small flame wasn’t a fluke. It was something the System had tapped into, something his body was generating.

  His mind reeled at the implications. If his brain was producing this energy, did that mean he could control it? Direct it? He had to try again.

  System: [Redirecting unidentified energy to index finger…]

  [Minor heat buildup detected]

  [OUTPUT STABILIZING…]

  Ares focused, feeling for that tingle of energy within him. This time, he tried to guide it intentionally, imagining it pooling at his fingertip.

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  A flicker.

  A tiny ember sparked, then vanished.

  Ares frowned. He tried again. Another ember, but it fizzled out instantly.

  It’s too weak… I need more power.

  He rubbed his hands together, thinking. Fire needed three things—heat, fuel, and oxygen. The spark was there, but maybe it wasn’t strong enough to sustain itself.

  System: [Detected inefficient energy output. Adjusting…]

  System: [ERROR—Adaptive control incomplete.]

  "Come on," Ares muttered. "Just a little more…"

  He inhaled deeply, focusing everything on that single point. He imagined the energy surging forward—not in a violent burst, but steady, controlled.

  This time, the ember held.

  A small flame danced at his fingertip, flickering in the dim cave.

  Ares grinned. Yes!

  The flame wavered, unstable, but it existed. He could make fire.

  His stomach growled. The thought of cooking the remaining meat sent a jolt of motivation through him. He glanced at a pile of dried moss and twigs he had gathered earlier.

  He pressed his burning fingertip to the dry material.

  At first, nothing happened. Then—

  Smoke.

  A thin wisp curled upward. The twigs darkened, then ignited with a soft glow. The fire spread, growing into a small but stable flame.

  Warmth flooded the cave.

  Ares sagged in relief, stretching his hands toward the fire. The cave felt less like a tomb and more like shelter now.