Chapter 28- Thorny Deal

The words that left the woman's mouth were soft, silky yet hid a bit of irritation. She sat up straight in the throne when Tru was just a few feet away from her. Her eyes inspected him up and down as if picking apart every piece of him.

She scoffed before standing up and walked towards him. Tru swallowed hard as she looked like a killing machine unable to hide her killing intent. She stood just a few inches away from him face their gazes wvwenly matched as she was his same height.

The woman still said nothing and paced around Tru slowly, even occasionally moving his arm or clothes to get a better view. Once she was finished she returned to the throne her eyes still watching but the smile was no longer there.

"I didn't expect you to be so….weak…so scrawny. So prey like." spoke the woman as she eyed him intensely. "Well never mind either way I did choose you, so come and drink."

She pointed to the goblet on the table and waited eagerly. Tru was weary as t othe contents of the goblet but he went forward and picked it up. The liquid almost looked like gelatin and seemingly wouldn't leave the cup no matter how much he tilted it.

"Well go on, DRINK!" growled the woman who was becoming more irate as Tru stood there motionlessly. He lifted the cup to his lips and a wide grin covered her face when he suddenly stopped. The grin slowly turned to a scowl as her eyes met his and anger filled her expression.

The pillars of fire roared and climbed in height while penetrating the darkness. The heat swelled and distorted the space while Tru stood there eyeing her defiantly. His face was calm while his heart beat hard and his grip became sweaty.

Though the woman's anger was growing she didn't move from the throne nor did she make any motion towards Tru. He looked her straight into her burning gaze and then back at the cup. He sat the cup on the ground and took a place next to it before staring at the woman.

"I'll drink, but who are you? And what is in the cup?" Tru spoke with a lazy expression while he watched the flame pillar die down and the woman's maniacal smile returned. She briefly closed her eyes and breathed deep before lounging back in her seat.

"I am Wrath, the Princess of the Flame. The Red Mad Woman. The Undying Berserker and She who thirsts." proclaimed the woman proudly as each word she spoke the fire flared up as if egging her on. Once she finished she said nothing but stared at Tru waiting for him to drink from the cup.

Tru sat in silence and picked up the cup while playing with it contents. "Now for my second question, what is this? I hope you didn't expect me to just show up and do as you asked me too, right?"

His question caused Wrath to burst out into a mad laughter, that became more unnerving as it went on. She suddenly stopped and looked at him while creeping to the edge of her throne.

"Oh but I did! I chose you as my vessel. I will do you one better, I'll tell you what it is after you drink from the goblet. Ifrit's Honor of course." said Wrath cheekily as Tru watched her every move. He looked back at the cup before glancing at her out the side of his eye.

"…and if I refuse?" Asked Tru as his heart's beat pounded even harder. Wrath said nothing besides a making a cut throat gesture. Silence followed as Tru took the goblet and drank till it was empty.

The liquid was cold and sweet despite being surrounded by fire. Moments went by and nothing happened when suddenly Tru felt his body become hot and his vision blurry.

'This again?' Thought Truc as he held his hands in front of him. He could see his hands become consumed with flame as they grew and covered his entire body. The pain he felt made him want to yell but no words came as he watched the fire burn away his body.

The last thing he witnessed was Wrath sitting there with a solemn expression, her grin nowhere to be found. She closed her eyes and began whispering in a language he couldn't understand. This continued up until the fire ate ate away at the rest of body leaving nothing but ash.

Wrath opened her eyes and stood up from the throne and walked towards the pile of ashes. She held out her right hand towards the ashes and her armor glowed a white light and vanished leaving only a red gauntlet.

The gauntlet glowed crimson red as wind swept around the ashes making them rise. Wrath closed her eyes and the pillars of fire dimmed down to small flames. They came and circled around her and the floating ashes.

"Esira-fi!" shouted Wrath as the ashes began to take the shape of a human. All six of the small flames entered the forms chest and circled around. The ashes caught flame and began remaking a human. The flame grew bright as the ashes burned and the form became complete.

The man's hair turned a light ash gray, and his physique was lean but muscular. His eyes were now a bright amber and his skin deep red. A crimson magical energy circulated around his body and was hot like a fire. Lastly a black snake tattoo appeared on his left hand.

Wrath's eyes grew wide with surprise as Tru's body was being reformed and she saw the tattoo appear. She brushed it from her mind as the gauntlet on her hand vanished k ma trace of light and appeared on Tru's hand.

Tru fell to the ground then stood up and opened his eyes as he saw Wrath standing over him, visibly exhausted. She went and took her previous seat as she struggled to keep her eyes open. She broke into a weak smile.

"You're welcome, no need to thank me…"

"What did you do to me?" asked Tru who was visibily distraught and confused. He could see his skin was now red and a red gauntlet was on his right hand. He could feel a strong fire and deep rage quelling inside him.

"I made you my champion. I took your weak pathetic flesh and rebuilt you with fire using Primal Speech. From this moment on you and I are one, so for this I have given you my power.

Do not me fooled this was not out of kindness but out of necessity." she spoke with labored breath. Though as she continued her breathing stabled and her vision regained focus. She took up a relax pose as she rested her head on her hand.

Tru became a little flustered as he noticed that Wrath's armor was replaced with a long black dress and sparkly heels. She looking stunning yet still retained her predatory aura like a lion in waiting. He regained his composure before examining his body.

He could see that it was much muscular than before and his strength had greatly increased. He jumped and arose several feet in the air and did it a few times and didn't become tired at all. Tru was happy about this feeling knowing he had gained new found strength.

Wrath chuckled lightly as she watched Tru bounce around like a puppy. She then raised her hand and it became cloaked in her crimson magical energy.

"hguonE, yob-fi! ezeerF-fi!" shouted Wrath and immediately Tru's body went stiff as a wood. He could move not a single muscle besides his eyes and mouth. Wrath could see the struggle and panic on his face.

"What…what did you do to me?" muttered Tru looking like a statue.

"ecenliS!-fi" said Wrath as she rubbed her temples. "I was amused earlier by you buddy of energy but it has now given me headache. On top of my energy being drained, surely you can understand my position.

Now as for what I just did, that was Primal speech. The language of the ancient races of dragons, angels and demons. You should be thrilled that I used it on such a lowly being as yourself." scoffed Wrath.

She could see the rage and fury seeping out of Tru's eyes and manifesting in his energy. This brought her a delight before she realized he was slowly gaining control over his body, subtle but her eyes caught his attempted motion.

'What an interesting Champion I have here, surely will prove to be more worthy than the last.' she chuckled to herself before sitting back and just staring Tru in his eyes. She sat there in silence as she pondered her thoughts.

She exhaled a deep sigh before flicking her fingers together as if a thought had just returned to her.

"Oh before I explain what a Champion is and so forth and so on. I want to be honest at least once and let you know that since you are now my champion. You will forever be stuck at E Rank and unable to learn new skills."