[38]

Its roar shook their minds. However, this was the sixth time they had faced this foe—now, it was nothing more than a mindless blunter on its part.

Maria raised her weapon, her left hand striding against the blade as her right guarded before her.

The sharp jaws of the beast scrapped in a metallic ring against the blade as she stood her ground.

A figure came forth.

Ashe's accurately landed against its snout, the hardiness of bone creaking before her might.

The Hazard Flame Wolf staggered aback. Its reddish black tinted fur shaking with its body.

"<Flame Rope>."

The ground beneath the beast's four paws quaked into a blaze as a blazing inferno of a rope spurted alive and pounced onto its body. It whimpered as the rope latched onto its body and stung below its fur as its figure was truly bound.

A silver blade drew against the night air, gleaming with the moonlight as it flew towards its target.

A clean slice.

Ais sheathed her blade.

Blood flowed as the head of the beast detached and its body fell.

"Ugh," Arthur was the first to break the silence as he watched Ashe pull the core from the beast's core.

There had already been a silent agreement for her to take all the demonic beast's core they came across.

"I don't think we'll be able to find that temple anytime soon at this rate."

A blaze of blue flames. A low screech of the dying remnant soul of the beast within. The core turned dull in her hand before dropping down in a clink.

"Mhmm." She nodded.

Maria clapped her hands together as her Radiant set disappeared in a cove of light.

"It's time to split up into twos then, anyone against it?" She asked.

Seeing no raises of doubt, she continued.

"Good..."

"Then, Ashe and Arthur will travel together, this brother of mine is physically weak while you are magically weak. Overall, both of your styles are at opposite ends, however, this will make it easier to compliment each other well in battle." She pointed towards the two.

"I and Ais will move as one as....well...that's really the only choice left. She is my personal guard, after all, nothing could be more fitting." She shrug.

Ashe and Arthur looked towards each other.

They both grimaced.

"If you guys find it first, mix both of your flames into the sky. And if we find it first, look for a gigantic floating golden blade. After that, wait for each other and meet up before anything else is decided. Understandable?" Maria finished.

***

The two orbs, one a reddish tint and another a hazy white light, one from the Crimson Reaper and the other from Bultak, lightly played atop her palm to her whim as Ashe walked in deep thought.

'Hmm...'

[...]

"Why haven't you consumed them yet?" Arthur asked, his hands behind his head as he walked leisurely, a twinge of curiosity apparent within his voice.

They were currently deep within a valley raven, although it was a bit dark, with the magma continuously flowing through the cracks of the floor, they could still see their way quite easily. Though, the imposing mass of the mountainous walls at both sides were a bit nerve-wracking.

"I'm debating something." Ashe simply replied.

"What?" He raised a brow.

She stopped and turned towards him.

Her crimson eyes staring into his.

"To devour them now and increase my strength or wait until later."

He stopped as well and shrugged, "Why even wait?"

Ashe began back in a walk.

Arthur followed as silence trickled on.

"You see..." She finally began after some thought.

There was, after all, nothing wrong nor bad about him knowing a bit of info about the true depths of her power...right?

"Within the first 2 minutes of me consuming a demonic beast's core, I may use one of its abilities randomly. So I do sometimes keep a steady supply at the ready. I hadn't kept the core of the Crow we fought before because it seemed to only have the ability to shoot its feathers...which is useless if you do not have feathers." She trailed off for a moment.

'Oh?' The Boy was immediately intrigued.

"Unlike humans who's powers resides in their soul and allows them to have an infinite combination of possible skills. A demonic beast's abilities are usually severely tied with their physical body."

"Oh..." The eyes of the boy shined in understanding.

"Interesting."

"I suppose that's true." Ashe simply replied.

[...]

'Hmm?'

[...nothing.]

They continued on in an air of slight awkwardness while carefully avoiding any danger of magma beneath their feet.

And soon...

"Heck is that?" Arthur whistled as his eyes slightly widened.

Ashe squinted her eyes.

At the end of the raven was a flaming pile of boulders simply quietly and steadily there.

And when they reached 25 meters from its heat...

The area began in a quake as the ground beneath their feet rumbled.

Arthur and Ashe looked at one another before looking back at the blockage of the road before them with furrowed brows.

It was quite a mystifying scene...

The heated reddish boulders floated into the air, 6 in total, before forming the slight shape of a humanoid being lit ablaze. Finally...

A horrendous roar echoed as the rocks forcefully smashed into one, the air exploding forth with flames for a splitting moment.

A new figure came into being as it thundered onto the ground and fully raised itself from its crouched position.

The duo frowned as they had to look upward to glean at the figure...

A gigantic humanoid mass lit ablaze in flames, towering over the two and at the very least both their heights combined. An empty eye socket that held nothing but a dark hole. It was a crudely rocky figure, chunks of rocks protruding from its bipedal self. Its arms and legs seemed as big as tree trunks and its massive head to glare down at the two.

"My name is Ignius, Ignius the flame giant." Its voice thundered.

"This is my valley."

The duo looked at each other.

It made its presence known in a mostly empty area...

It talked...

All these signs pointed to only one thing...

It was a fing boss!!

...and behind it...the exit of the valley.

"All who cross my territory must meet death!"

Its gigantic right fist flew forwards as it took massive steps that thundered against the world.

Ashe instantly held a bad premonition, her beastly instincts screaming danger.

"3rd form!!"

Her core pumped and bet in drums as blood rushed crazily around her body.

Fur rose from her skin as her entire body underwent a new change. Ash gray fur crawling onto her body, her arms transforming into beastly claws, and her crimson eyes seemed to deepen and narrow into a glare.

She clenched her fist.

Bang

Blood spluttered from her lips as she felt the massive force crash into her.

Her feet skidded against the ground as she dug a trench within,

The soles of her footwear ripped to reveal a transformed beastly form as the claws within forcefully dug into the earth.

Her right arm creaked in pain and she felt as if it could break at any moment.

"Hurry up!" She screamed.

She felt the heat within the area rise in an exceptional degree and an orange hue overshadowing the land.

She looked ahead leftward to see the boy fling his hand.

"Fireball!"

A rising sun crashed into the gigantic arm.

Boom

An explosive force ripped apart the area as it brightened in engulfing flames.

Chunks of the rocky arm of the 'beast' exploded every which way as the limb blew apart.

However...Ashe's expression was anything but happiness of winning.

"A Flame Mage?" The voice of Igrius rang in curiosity.

Chunks of rock floated back into the air, from the surroundings, ripping straight from the ground and forming into a new arm for the flaming beast.

"A lowly creature dares to play with fire before me!!?!" Its hand waved once.

A sea of flames instantly burst forwards with that singular wave, consuming the depths of the valley as it thundered forth. Towering above the two figures in an intense heat.

"Get behind me!" Ashe commanded, and Arthur followed her word.

Her crimson eyes burned towards the flames.

She gapped her mouth open as a bluish orb like aura floated at the depths of her throat, burning in great intensity.

"<Roar of Flames>!"

Vroom

A blue pillar of flames boomed through the air as it shot forwards, tearing through the night sky in a mighty ring.

Boom

The night shined in an azure and orange hue as the two flaming mights collided.

The valley scorched in radiating heat as the air asundered.

Ashe's core ran into overdrive as it continuously pumped power onto her attack while her bloodlust fueled her rage.

Her crimson eyes seemed to deepen.

Finally...

The azure pillar of flames pieced through the sea of orange blaze.

"What!?!" Ignius screamed in disbelief.

Boom

"Ugghhh."

The giant's hands crossed before itself as he forcefully took the might of the blow.

Its body skidded backwards as a deep trench formed with the soles of its feet breaking through the earth.

"Ahhhhh!"

It flung its arms out, as if breaking through the flames as the rocky texture continued to break.

"<Almighty Flame Push>!"

A bang rang as an explosive force resounded from within the golem's body.

It was like a exploding star as a raging behemoth of fiery flames exploded outwards with it as the center.

Swallowing everything within its path, the flames devoured even the azure pillar and Ashe was forced to close her mouth and backtrack from fear of being consumed along with it.

It was not until moments passed before the flames dissipated and the rock giant stood in fury.

"To test me at my own game!?!" Its voice thundered, enraged. Ignius's body regenerating visibly as chunks of the earth seemed to crawl back onto its burning figure.

An existence which could regenerate?

Arthur held an answer to that!

"<Fireball>!"

His mana fanned out as he held his right arm forwards.

Ignius looked around his area and staring back at him was a barrage of fireballs surrounding his very existence in full.

Arthur clenched his hand.

Small explosions rippled through the air.

The boy looked back and couldn't help but lightly frown.

Ashe breathed in rush breaths as she crouched forwards.

A cough escaped her lips and the reddish ground before her dyed a new

[That took too much of a toll on the core.] Ain's voice resounded from her head.

[You should consume one of the cores...]

'Not yet.' She clenched her teeth.

Her body stood back up.

The fireballs did absolute nothing as the towering giant stood back up as if only a fly had bitten him.

"Hmm, it seems something is supply it with its regenerative power. Based on the traces of its mana covering the earth below its feet, it's safe to say its demonic core is pulling the earth and its element to heal it." Arthur quickly spoke, high enough for Ashe to hear.

"<Gaea's Fall>!" Ignius took a step forwards and stomped onto the earth below his mighty figure.

The ground broke and tore as it ripped into the air.

He stretched his hand forwards and crunched it, the mass of earth instantly rolling into pieces of gigantic boulders.

Arthur frowned, "Ashe, rest."

"?"

"Fall!" The blazing giant smacked its palm down.

The gigantic boulders flew down!

At the same time, the prince raised his hand above his head, "<Coat of Flames>!"

The mastered Tier 3 Flame Spell instantly made its presence known as a magic circular shield of flames boomed into the air.

Bang

The shield rumbled within the air as boulders fell upon it, burning into ash with entry yet leaving a bit of damage..

Every crack that appeared onto the shield was instantaneously fixed with Arthur continual supply of his mana.

However...

Ignius frowned and snapped his finger.

Arthur and Ashe looked upwards to see...

A massive rock the size of a meteorite overshadowing their presence.

"Fu*k." Arthur cursed, there was no way his shield could take that impact, and based on that speed and size, it didn't seem likely to be dodged so easily.

There was no surprise.

His flaming shield instantly shattered.

Sweat poured from Arthur's back, his body shuddered.

At that moment, Ashe jumped upwards.

"<Phantasm>!"

Her figure became three, two of which were illusionary hazy.

However, this was enough.

"Aaaaahhhhh!" Her blood filled battle cry filled the valley.

Bang

All three struck at the same time.

The same point.

Crack

Fine lines filled the gigantic stone behemoth of an attack.

Crack

It was forced to break into harmless pieces!

She fell down, her feet breaking the ground.

Momentarily, Ashe couldn't help but clutch her heart as her breathing intensity increased.

Arthur turned to face her, "Didn't I say rest?"

She stood upwards, her figure looking as if no pain was imminent. An obvious act.

She narrowed her eyes, "You and I, we work together. I can still handle my current strength. My body is fine."

[...]

*

At the edge of the left high wall of the raven, two figures sat upon in careful thought.

"Shouldn't we go help them?" A chuckle rang as the visibly shorter of the two spoke.

"No," The taller of the two shook her head.

"Even if he is my nephew, if he can't handle the dangers he got himself in, then does he really deserve the Springfield name?"

Then, turning behind, a chuckle rang from the figure's lips, "What do you think?"

Magis Imperis showed a visibly shocked expression, 'She can see me?'

This was the second person he had met that could easily see him, within the span of 24 hours no less.

However, he kept his composure and answered calmly, "Having met him before, I think he will be alright."

"Oh?" She tilted her head.

"Interesting." And turned back towards the battle.

*

Arthur sighed, "Those 'steps' of yours, what are they?"

At that moment, Ignius's voice reached over, "YOU DARE IGNORE ME!?!"

She frowned, "Let's finish the battle first."

Arthur nodded, "Mhmm."

They turned towards the raging giant.

"<Advancing Tempest>!" It took a step forwards.

Then...

...broke out into a full run as its steps thundered against the earth.

With ever sound of his heavy feet, the flaming inferno of his body rose in both heat and intensity and the ground burned away into red magma for every place it so much as passed. The walls of the valley, although far from the fight itself, scorched by its charge.

"Huhhhh-." Arthur was speechless.

Ashe wasted no time in picking the boy up.

"Huh?"

Carrying him in a princess carry, she instantly looked for a way to avoid that beast.

However,

"<Golem Army>!"

Small mini versions of Igrius arose from behind her. Fifty in total, and although looking lankier and rising to the same heights as herself, they burned a fiery strength just the same. They instantly delved forwards to chase from behind as their combined feets thundered against the ground like a small army.

There was no choice, she figured.

"Its core should be in its head right?" She looked down, asking the boy.

"Huh? Yes." Still a bit perplexed, he answered.

Ashe nodded.

Her legs kicked off from the ground as she charged towards Igrius.

"Huuuuuuuuhhhhh!?!"

She ignored Arthur's screaming voice that rang dull.

Her crimson eyes narrowed and locked with Igrius's hollow sockets for eyes.

"Come!" The beast roared, its speed increasing.

In a splitting moment, Ashe crouched.

The next, she jumped forwards.

The ground beneath her feet broke.

The air rushed.

Heat rose the closer she got.

Until...

"Wha-!?!" Igrius's voice proclaimed.

Bang

Her right leg flew out and accurately struck the side of the fiery giant. Although taking some scorched fur, the rewards was more worthwhile.

Bang

Igrius's body tumbled sideways as it pounded against the raven's wall. Shaking the mountainous area.

Ashe lightly landed against the ground and finally released Arthur from her carry.

The two were in a bid to finally finish the foe, however, at that moment...

"Dammit." Arthur cursed as he watched the small golem army advancing towards them from the side as if an avalanche.

"<Flame Spears>!" He stretched his hand forwards.

A barrage of flaming spears aligned the night sky.

"Pierce."

And they, as well, fell down from the sky in blinding speed.

Every hit found a target and pierced straight through their skulls.

However...

"The heck!?!" Arthur was dumbfounded to find them simply regenerating this damages as their bodies returned to glory and they continued forwards.

He was about to be truly pissed when a forceful strength grabbed his wrist.

Her breathing exasperated, Ashe managed to speak once.

"Fly me over it!"

He nodded, "Mhmm."

Yes, killing the summoner should kill the summoned no? This was simple logic by his definition. And, tracing the mana of Igius, he was almost certain he held a demonic core within that skull of his that kept it alive.

"<Flame Wings>." He grabbed her hand much the same.

"..."

[...]

And took to the sky with an immediate flap of his fiery wings that boomed into existence.

Igrius began to stand, the ground quaking as he pulled himself from the wall of the raven, and noticed the state of his body. Missing chunks beyond belief and now only regenerating slowly his mana wasn't unlimited.

He turned to glean at the sky and his eyes instinctively widened.

"<Flame Cove>!" He roared out.

A gleaming layer of a circular flaming shield surrounded him, extremely thin to the point where it seemed to glow on and off.

However...this was now a useless act...

Arthur released his hand,

Ashe began her descent as the wind hurled against her figure.

"Core Release - 4th Step!"

.

.

Ba-dum!

.

.

Her face became covered in fur...

..turning more beastly as her fangs grew.

.

Ba-dum!

.

.

Her crimson eyes held only a small dot of black irises.

.

.

Ba-dum!

.

.

Her bloodlust reached sky high as it rushed into her head.

.

.

Her lips opened into a beastly roar as her fur ignited with azure flames.

.

.

BANG!

Ignius thundered down with Ashe crashing upon his massive figure.

The world seemed to tremble as Arthur lunged downwards as well, instinctively sensing something wrong with Ashe's current situation.

"Dammit! The heck is these 'steps' of her's!?! Core release?! 4th step!?!"

As the wind hurled against his figure, he didn't think them as just simply transformations towards a higher power.

However, he didn't have time to think much as he noticed something.

The grounds of the raven breaking apart and showing visible cracks as an orangish-reddish glow seemed to shine through.

"Oh no..."

He sped downwards with greater haste.

A bad premonition overwhelming him.

His hand reached out to pull Ashe away.

However...

Crack

The ground broke to reveal a bubbling sea of magma.

His eyes widened...

A wave of that same lava overshadowed the group.

"Oh shit-."

All three figures were engulfed by the wave and forced within.

*

"Ah, looks like they fell into the 'lake' beneath the raven." The shorter of the two slightly shook her head.

However, the two figures lightly smiled at this.

"Abraham might hate me for this...but this should build up that boy of his." The other merely shrugged.

Magis Imperis shook his head.

Who were this two ladies before him?

And how could something go this bad when victory was within the duo's grasp?