Floating Fire Ball

Floating Fire Ball, whose real name is Lu Ming, is the wealthy guild master of Pride and an early leveling rival to Lone Desert Smoke. His fixation on rankings and revenge repeatedly turns Pride's resources toward Zhang Yang, with costly results. (Chapters 43–46, 118, 137–138, and 233–248)

Biography

Rebirth and White Jade City

Floating Fire Ball rises to the top of the early level rankings by combining constant grinding, personal skill, and money. Losing positions to Zhang Yang's circle becomes a lasting grievance: Pride targets higher-ranked players, while Lu Ming travels with hundreds of guild members and numerous healers to guard against retaliation. Sword and Fire Mercenary nevertheless assassinates him repeatedly and removes ten levels. He later buys replacement equipment, commits Pride to camping fallen Lone Desert Smoke members, and leads another pursuit of Zhang Yang. Near a Fire Chocobo mount he initially withdraws after recognizing the risk, but returns with twenty-plus allies; Zhang Yang and Whitey defeat the enlarged party as well. (Chapters 43–46, 67, 118, 137–138, 233–234, and 247–248)

Appearance and personality

No avatar or real-world physical description is given. Lu Ming comes from wealth but prefers online games to cars, parties, or dating, and spends freely to advance. He is dedicated and reasonably capable, yet ranking envy, fear of death, and vindictiveness govern many decisions. His guarded grinding arrangements show caution, while returning for the pet mount shows that greed and pride can override it. (Chapters 45, 118, 138, and 247–248)

Abilities and gameplay

Floating Fire Ball is a Spellcaster whose demonstrated defensive skill is Ice Barrier, granting ten seconds of protection. It delays Whitey's attacks but cannot overcome a Yellow-Gold mount's damage once the barrier expires, even with a knight healer supporting him. His main progression method is concentrated guild support: members gather monsters while more than ten healers sustain him. This accelerates levels but leaves Pride's dungeon progression and average equipment behind stronger guilds. (Chapters 118, 138, and 248)

Relationships

• Zhang Yang: Ranking loss, a kill steal, equipment loss, and repeated PvP defeats turn Zhang Yang into the focus of Lu Ming's hostility. Larger Pride forces still fail to reverse the gap. (Chapters 44–46, 137–138, and 233–248)
• Kindling Chest Hair: Kindling follows him in Pride and questions the decision to abandon the Fire Chocobo. That pressure precedes Floating Fire Ball's return with reinforcements. (Chapters 247–248)
• Fatty Han: Fatty Han overtakes him on the ranking board, contributing to the rivalry with Lone Desert Smoke's leading players. (Chapters 43–46 and 67)

Items

• Gray-Silver equipment set: Floating Fire Ball is the only Pride member described with a complete Gray-Silver set by Chapter 248, reflecting his ability to buy equipment despite weak guild dungeon progress. An earlier set costing 3,000 gold is damaged or lost during conflict with Zhang Yang. (Chapters 137–138 and 248)
• Fire Chocobo pet mount: Pride contests the mount, but Floating Fire Ball retreats and then loses after returning with more players; he never acquires it. (Chapters 247–248)