Ifrit (2)

"Grrrrr..."

Ifrit received Asami's command and made his stance. He clawed the ground with his huge and fierce claws while panting ferociously like a hungry beast.

His panting produced a black smoke as if the inside of his body was fire itself.

"...Nee-san is the one who summoned Ifrit? How?" Haruto glanced at the mad beast ready to strike at anytime.

"It was her 'power' Sugimura-kun, Asami-san awakened her power through a 'dream', just like me."

"What did you say?"

Awakened her power? And what did she mean by like her?

He remembered the time he fought with Rikka back at the mansion. He just now realized his childhood friend was the one who killed all the guards and swung her sword with incredible skills and strength at him.

Of course it's not like he hold a grudge since it was a misunderstanding but thanks to that, he knew Rikka was not an ordinary person because she possessed superhuman strength.

But to think she could kill all the guards so casually.... well it doesn't matter much now.

The more important thing was the 'power' she just said from a 'dream'.

If his speculation was right then perhaps it was what Eisha had said, the awakened otherworlders' power.

In that case their dream must be about their previous life. He didn't know who Rikka was in her previous life but as for Asami....

Haruto once again observed Ifrit. He was one of the Eidolons or also called as 'Aèon' in Final Fantasy X. There's other incarnations of Ifrit too from the other parts of the series but the one in front of him was definitely from the tenth installments.

And there's one 'Summoner' from the playable character who was capable to summon such Eidolon.

"Could it be in her previous life she was...." Haruto voiced his suspicion.

"ROAAAARRRR!!!"

As if responding to Haruto's thought, Ifrit roared loudly. His roar produced a terrifying heatwave through the surroundings.

"Kuh, There's no time to dilly-dallying...! Kisaragi, Selianna!"

The trio guarded their body from the heatwave with their arms. The two girls looked at Haruto when he called them.

"I'll take care of Ifrit, you two please do something about that asshole and Nee-san!"

"Wha!? But Sugimura-kun, you're..."

Rikka was hesitating because she thought there's no way for Haruto to fight against Ifrit but then she recalled Haruto managed to block her all-out slash before.

"Don't worry about it, I too have my own power! There's much for us to talk about but let's leave it for later!!"

"Understood, Haruto." Selianna nodded and turned her body towards Bryan and Asami.

"....Alright. I'll make sure to save Asami-san." Rikka too complied and decided to believe in Haruto, she knew from a long time ago that he's not someone who did things he's not confident or had a chance on.

Haruto grinned from their trust in him. If that's the case then he too would put on his faith on them. Those two would definitely able to free Asami.

"He's coming!"

"GROAARR!!"

Ifrit charged forward towards Haruto. He didn't know the reason but ever since the beginning Ifrit had always have his eyes on him alone.

The two girls jumped to the side avoiding the clash while Haruto raised his arms, crossed against the clawing attack from Ifrit.

*BAM*

'! W-What strength! And..hot!'

His arms received a powerful shock and trembling heavily. Ifrit's claw were fully clad in hellish flame and it burn Haruto's arms.

"Graaah!!"

Ifrit pushed his hands and blown Haruto away deeper to the yard, entering a small forest with his body crashing against the trees.

And then he leaped forward ferociously, chasing after the figure of Haruto.

"Sugimura-kun!!"

"Haruto!!"

Selianna and Rikka screamed when Haruto was blown away by the infernal hands. They wanted to aid him but they already put their faith on him so they shouldn't doubt that.

Gritting their teeth they faced their own opponents.

"Granger-dono, do you know what you have done?" Selianna glared at Bryan.

"Oh? What do you mean?" He asked, amused.

"Do you think causing such commotions would not alert His Majesty? By now they should already alerted from the explosion and pillar of flame."

"Hmm and here I thought what are you trying to say. To think it was about such trivial thing."

"What...?"

"I have already received permission from His Majesty."

"-!? How!?"

"Did you forget a few days ago I came to the castle? Don't tell me you've turned senile Selianna-kun."

Selianna recalled his visit to the castle when the Emperor summoned her regarding the report on the dungeon. So it was at that time?

"Even if that's the case but how could His Majesty give you his permission for such vile things?"

"Why not? I explained my plans and once I mentioned to him about Asami's power he gave his consent right away while laughing with face full of interest."

"....!!" Selianna was shocked, she couldn't believe the Emperor did such things.

"...Why did you do all of this?" Rikka asked him doubtfully.

"That's a funny question. I'm a noble tasked to manage the security of the capital, isn't it natural that I seek powerful individuals for that very purpose?

If Asami lend her hands for this country it will definitely become a great help and His Majesty will recognize my wonderful work!!"

"...So it was all for the sake of winning against my father." Selianna grimaced her face, she already realized his true aim.

"...That's right. It was always my ultimate ambition to crush him and taught him who's the boss!!"

He shouted emotionally while putting on a face full of glee, right now his slit eyes were completely opened from his intense emotions.

"Sadly, that won't happen" Selianna raised her gaze and stared strongly at him.

"That's right. Sugimura-kun will defeat Ifrit and we will free Asami-san." Rikka drew her katana and stood next to Selianna.

"Hmph, I wonder about that. Do you know why I waited till this day to execute my plan?"

"...." They looked at him suspiciously.

"It was all for the sake of strengthening Asami's power with the mana gathered for this ten years ever since I found that summoning artifact!"

"!"

"She cannot contain the entire reserve of mana but up to this day her power should already increase tens of fold than the first time I summoned her!"

Selianna squinted her eyes and notice Asami's body was radiating with tremendous amount of mana. After noticing that she glared furiously at Bryan.

"You... If you force such thing to her, her body will break!!"

"Don't worry, there's no way I'll let her break when she's that precious. I'll make sure to use the correct amount that her body could handle hahaha!"

"That doesn't change the fact you're treating someone else like a toy...." Rikka gnashed her teeth.

But even so they couldn't help but worry about Haruto now. Rikka knew that even during the first time Ifrit was summoned a few days ago, his power was already absurd and now it was increased by tens of fold.

They could only believe that he would still win and came back to them.

At that time no one noticed Asami's body trembled a bit when Haruto was launched away by Ifrit.