Everyone wakes up to find themselves sleeping in a strange place. Each of them is lying on a bed, with two beds stacked on top of each other. They have been completely healed. A trainee, Inoue Himari, speaks up.
Himari: "What is this place? Where are we?"
Zianai: "How long have we been asleep?"
Rogan: "Calm down, I'm sure someone will come and explain everything to us…"
Suddenly, Sumiko enters from another room.
Sumiko: "Rogan! Where are you?"
Rogan (raising his hand): "I'm here!!"
Sumiko: "How are you feeling?"
Rogan: "I'm fine. What about you? How did things go for you?"
Sumiko: "I struggled a bit… but in the end, I succeeded."
Rogan: "Me too. But that moment when you discovered your technique… that was amazing!"
Sumiko: "Yeah, right?! My technique is Explosion! What about you?"
Rogan: "You're Explosion? I was hoping we'd have the same technique… Mine is Ignition."
Sumiko: "No, this is even better! Together, we'll make an incredible duo!"
Rogan: "Yeah… I guess so."
Sumiko: "What's wrong?"
Rogan: "Nothing, I'm just confused about a lot of things."
Sumiko: "Like what?"
Suddenly, the door swings open, and a massive man steps in. He has a muscular build, long white hair, and walks slowly, step by step, exuding confidence. He stands proudly before them.
Man: "Oi, oi… Trainees. I am Rodoj, the instructor for Ignition Techniques. By now, each of you should already know your technique. Now, line up! Ignition here. Explosion here. Dismantling here. Healing here. And those of you who didn't awaken a technique, stand over there."
Rogan and Sumiko glance over to see Kambian standing with those who didn't gain a technique.
Rogan: "What's going to happen to them?"
Sumiko: "I have no idea…"
Himari, standing in the ignition group, speaks up.
Himari: "I'm sure they'll still be trained in something…"
Rogan: "Yeah… probably."
Rodoj then leads the trainees outside to a vast training field.
Rodoj: "Form lines according to your technique!"
Once they are lined up, Rodoj stands before them, flanked by three more instructors—two men and a woman.
Rodoj: "Now then… we are the four instructors who will be training you in this phase. Our job is to turn you into fighters. First, you must understand that warriors of Pyarod's Army are ranked into four tiers: Cyan, Bairan, Kyolan, and Rodan. Each technique has its own dedicated instructor, and throughout this phase, you will learn many things."
Then, with a wide and sinister grin, he continues:
Rodoj: "Ignition Fighters… I am your instructor. Follow me."
Rogan and many of his fellow Ignition trainees follow Rodoj until they arrive in front of a mountain.
Rodoj points at the mountain.
Rodoj: "This is where we will train."
Brozu smirks.
Brozu: "Huh? What's inside the mountain?"
Rodoj glares at him.
Rodoj: "What? You don't like Pyarod Mountain, kid?!"
Suddenly, Rodoj lets out a loud yell and places his hand on a large rock. A golden flame-shaped mark appears on his forehead, and mysterious symbols and inscriptions begin to glow across the mountain, as if they were burning embers.
Everyone watches in shock.
Rodoj then pushes against two massive stone doors, opening the entrance to pure darkness.
As they step inside, Rodoj claps his hands three times and places his palm on the inner wall. Immediately, the entire space lights up, illuminated by countless fire torches along the walls. The room is massive, filled with wooden swords, and on the far wall, a large emblem resembling flames is carved—though it is not glowing.
Rodoj closes the stone doors behind them and steps further inside…