Chapter 12

The Power of a Dragonborn

Blazorus and Siaris arrived at the Temple of Zellare. Blazorus had gained new abilities with Ssikari's Blessing, abilities that were concealed within a new weapon he wielded: The Fire Dragon's Hunger. It is said that it concealed Ssikari's most powerful abilities. However, Blazorus had yet to learn how to wield his new blade.

- "Oh, you're back." – Ssikari's spirit said. She had stayed at the Temple with Hs'Sakar.

Blazorus and Siaris were gasping for air.

- "Is something the matter?" – Hs'Sakar asked.

- "Desoloth… is here." – Siaris said.

- "Desoloth, you say?" – Ssikari's spirit asked, a bit worried.

- "Yes. We've seen a giant dragon fly above us on our way back. He was unlike anything I had ever seen before." – Blazorus said.

- "Hmm…" – Hs'Sakar is pondering something. – "I don't know what brought him here, but I suggest that you prepare for battle. I see that you are wielding a new weapon with new abilities. It would be most wise for you to learn what new abilities you've gained and how to use them properly in battle. I believe some training is in order."

- "Leave that to me." – Ssikari's spirit said. – "Since he's wielding a power that was once mine, I would be the most appropriate instructor of all of us."

- "Right." – Hs'Sakar said.

- "So, when does my training start?" – Blazorus asked.

- "It starts right now." – Ssikari's spirit said. – "Follow me to the entrance of the Temple. I will give you the training you need there."

Blazorus and Ssikari walked out of the temple, to the bottom of the entrance stairway, and then faced each other as if they were going to battle each other. Siaris and Hs'Sakar stayed on top of the stairway, witnessing the young one's training.

- "Blazorus, can you feel the power coursing through you?" – Ssikari's spirit said.

Blazorus closed his eyes to concentrate on said power. – "Yes… I can feel it."

- "That power is not under your full control. However, you do not know how to use it yet. That's why we are here."

- "Right." – Blazorus said.

- "The most basic principle of my power is to call upon the strength of the ancient Dragons of this land in order to strengthen your attacks. Follow my lead." – Ssikari said. Immediately after, she began to perform a number of gestures with her hands. Blazorus tried to follow as best as he could, but it was much harder than it looked.

Some time passed until he finally got it right.

- "Good." – Ssikari's spirit said. – "Now, you'll finally be able to channel your abilities within your blade. I want you to use an ability to attack me."

- "Are you serious?" – Blazorus asked, not agreeing with Ssikari's spirit's idea.

- "Hehe, don't worry. I'm a spirit. I can't possibly be hurt by any attack."

- "Alright, then… I'll give it my best shot."

Blazorus closes his eyes to concentrate, lifting the Fire Dragon's Hunger upwards and casting his ability on the tip of the blade. Ssikari's spirit is watching closely. So are Siaris and Hs'Sakar at the top of the entrance stairway. Not long afterwards, Blazorus channels 3 fireballs at the tip of the blade. Siaris widened his eyes, as it looked familiar to her.

- "That's…" – Siaris muttered to herself.

The fireballs started spinning around in a circular motion. As Blazorus opened his eyes, he unleashed a huge swing, launching the fireballs towards Ssikari's spirit.

- "Orbital Flames!" – Blazorus launches the three fireballs one after the other, swinging his blade every time each one came back at him to launch them again at the enemy. The fireballs never really hit Ssikari's spirit, though. They only passed through her, without ever dealing the slightest amount of damage.

- "Wow…" – Siaris was rather impressed by the way Blazorus handled the Orbital Flames.

- "Good!" – Ssikari's spirit said, causing Blazorus to stop. – "Very impressive."

Blazorus was catching his breath.

- "What you've just cast is called Orbital Flames." – Ssikari's spirit said.

- "I see…" – Blazorus said. – "It looked quite familiar." – He then turned to Siaris, and then back at Ssikari's spirit.

The training went on for a few hours. As Blazorus learned his many new abilities, he found ways to make them stronger. Ssikari's spirit believed he was ready for a real battle.

- "Are you ready to test your skills in battle?" – Ssikari's spirit asked.

- "Yes, I am." – Blazorus answered, looking forward to it.

- "Good. Then, I shall summon a powerful dragon to battle you. Remember, you must not hold back."

Blazorus nodded in acknowledgement. Afterwards, Ssikari proceeded to summon a powerful Fire Dragon. Blazorus could not help but feel intimidated, but so were Siaris and Hs'Sakar.

- "What is that…?" – Siaris asked. – "I've never seen anything like that before…"

- "As a Dragon Priestess, Ssikari has the power to summon the ancient dragon deities. The one she just summoned is Kelthurax."

- "Kelthurax…?" – Siaris muttered to herself.

- "This is Kelthurax, one of the most ancient dragon gods in Firestorm." – Ssikari's spirit said to Blazorus. – "He will be your final test."

- "Right…" – Blazorus eyed the giant fire dragon. He couldn't believe he was going up against something so powerful. – "Here I go."

Blazorus summoned his Dragon Wings to give him more agility in battle. He ran towards Kelthurax, who unleashed a deafening roar that caused him and the others to cover their ears. Blazorus couldn't move, but he didn't wait long for the roar to fade. He took his chance to deal the first strike of the battle. Soaring high to meet Kelthurax's head, Blazorus unleashed a swarm of swings and slashes, each one leaving a scorching hot trail of fire to mark the swings' trajectories. Kelthurax turned his head left and right out of reaction. He was seriously getting hurt by the Fire Dragon's Hunger's swarm of slashes. But it didn't last long. Kelthurax turned to face Blazorus and unleashed a scorching hot breath of Fire, causing Blazorus to fall down.

- "Oh, no!" – Siaris said. – "Blazorus!"

Ssikari's spirit remained silent. She deeply believed Blazorus would emerge victorious. It was just a waiting game.

- "Grr…" – Blazorus groaned, struggling to get back up. – "I don't… believe this…" – using his blade as support, he manages to stand up. Eyeing the mighty dragon, Blazorus plans his next move carefully. – "Did I… hurt him at all?"

Kelthurax is eyeing Blazorus very carefully as well. After recovering, Blazorus channels a spell on his blade. At the tip, he channels a small blue flame tornado, gradually increasing in size.

- "What is that!?" – Siaris asked.

- "Hmm… That is not one of Ssikari's abilities…" – Hs'Sakar said.

- "Then, where did that come from?" – Siaris asked.

- "It could be that Blazorus is starting to develop his own abilities out of desperation for survival. Kelthurax is immensely powerful. Defeating him will not be easy at all…"

- "I see…" – Siaris muttered to herself, carefully watching Blazorus's move.

Blazorus's tornado eventually grew big enough for him to cast. Afterwards, he starts spinning his body rapidly, in order to give the tornado enough momentum to travel against Kelthurax.

- "Wing's Fury!" – Blazorus launches the tornado in the direction of Kelthurax. Wing's Fury successfully lands on the Fire Dragon, dealing quite some damage. Kelthurax roars in pain.

- "Yes!" – Siaris cheered.

The cheers didn't last long, however, because once the tornado faded, Kelthurax lifted himself up and took flight. Blazorus eyed his opponent carefully. After taking some height, Kelthurax proceeds to dive down at Blazorus at full speed.

- "So, you want to take me head on, huh?" – Blazorus muttered to himself. – "Let's go, then."

He took flight, extending the Fire Dragon's hunger at Kelthurax and flying at full speed against him. The moment was quite short, as their clash was extremely fierce. No one could see the outcome of their clash, as they had been blinded by an intense light of Fire. Siaris and Hs'Sakar worried for Blazorus, and hoped to see him still standing after the light fades.