Chapter XIII: The Volcano Villude

Arriving at the entry path to Volcano Villude, Stryfe wiped the sweat off of his forehead due to the heat that was coming from the humidity. Looking around the area, Stryfe saw nothing but huge oceans of deadly lava for miles around, with no other way to get to the nest where Feyrbrand was waiting. Just then, a sudden tremor began shaking the area.

Stryfe: What the hell!?

Dart: What is that!?

Lavitz: Is it an eruption of the volcano!?

Rose: No, it's not.

Rose pointed out towards one of the distant areas of the volcano. Barely within view, Stryfe, Dart, Shana and Lavitz saw what looked like a bird engulfed in fire flying at low altitude. Stryfe saw a look of concern in Rose's face as he looked back at her.

Stryfe: Rose?

Rose: It's...the Fire Bird. It's bad timing, showing up now. We still have to deal with the Dragon.

Dart: Can we just let it go?

Rose: That...is up to him.

Suddenly, Stryfe heard a loud crow from the Fire Bird in the distance. It's silhouette became bigger as each second passed, with the sky turning red, signalling it's approach.

Stryfe: Oh no!

Dart: He saw us! Run!

Racing into the lower levels of the volcano to evade the Fire Bird, the five entered a cavern area. Looking back, Stryfe saw that the Fire Bird wasn't following them, but he had a feeling that they wouldn't lose it for good so easily.

Shana: It seems we lost him.

Stryfe: Yeah...for now.

Dart: Let's keep moving.

Heading deeper into the caverns, the five crossed through many tight pathways where one wrong step would mean a fiery death in the lava lakes below. Although the humidity was intense from the heat, Stryfe and the others kept moving, conserving their water canteens for when they really needed them. After passing through many of the underground rooms beneath the volcano, they came across a chamber where they had to jump from stone to stone to avoid the lava.

This time, everyone made sure to not be careless when making their jumps. Just then, Stryfe noticed Shana had stopped, as she was gazing into the air, like she was in a trance.

Stryfe: Shana?

Dart: Shana, what is it?

Shana: What...is this feeling? It's...calling me!?

Stryfe: What!? What's calling you!? Wait!

Dart: Shana!? Where are you going!?

Shana immediately raced ahead of the group, the blank look on her face that Stryfe saw concerned him and Dart. Following Shana into the next area of the caverns, they found Shana staring at what appeared to be some sort of creature fossilized by the lava. Stryfe then saw a fearful look on Rose's face as they approached the thing, as if she knew what it was.

Dart: This "thing" was "calling" you?

Shana: I don't know. But when I cam here, I didn't hear the voice anymore.

Stryfe: That thing...Is it alive?

Lavitz: Looks like a stone statue.

Stryfe: But it isn't...Is it?

As Stryfe went closer to take a look, Shana became concerned for his safety and everyone else.

Shana: Don't go near it!

Stryfe: Why?

Shana: I feel...that something is wrong.

Rose: She's right. This Virage is still alive.

Stryfe: Virage...?

Dart: Rose, what is that exactly?

Rose: You know about the Dragon Campaign, right?

Stryfe & Dart: Yes.

Rose: The Winglies were outnumbered, so they used this creature called Virage as their trump card in the war. Just as Humans used Dragons, Winglies used Virage.

Shana: But that was eleven thousand years ago. How can this thing still be alive?

Before anyone could speak, the Virage suddenly began moving by itself.

Stryfe: What the!?

Rose: I would say it's due to a hatred of Humans, or a vendetta against us Dragoons!

Lavitz: It seems we must settle this!

Dart: That or we can run!

Stryfe: Too late!

A bright light temporarily blinded the five, when they opened their eyes and regained their sight, the Virage stood before them fully revived. As the ancient monster rose from the lava to confront Stryfe, Dart, Shana, Lavitz and Rose, Stryfe, Dart and Rose transformed into their Dragoon Forms to attack the Virage from above while Shana and Lavitz focused on attacking it from below.

Although the beast was ancient, it was no pushover, as it was able to counterattack using powerful magic based attacks and an arm that had a painful swing. Before long, they were able to figure out a strategy that kept the monster on the defense. While Stryfe, Dart and Rose distracted it using their magic attacks, Shana and Lavitz used the opportunity to strike at it's arm and body.

After many repeated attempts, Lavitz and Shana finally destroyed the Virage's arm and severely damaged it's body, forcing it to stay in a kneeled position.
As the Virage tried once more to launch a laser attack from it's eyes, Stryfe charged in and stabbed the beasts' eye with his zwiehander. Dart then came in for the finishing blow, unleashing a powerful horizontal slash that sent the Virage falling into the lava pit below.

The Virage frantically tried to keep itself above the lava, trying desperately to escape its inevitable death. As the Virage kicked up lava from the pit, a patch of it came too close for comfort near Lavitz.

Lavitz: Whoa!

Stryfe: That thing just doesn't want to accept death yet!

Lavitz: Let's go back! It's dangerous to stay any longer!

Stryfe: Good idea!

Stryfe turned around to see Dart trying to comfort a shaken Shana, who was kneeling down on the ground almost curved up into a ball.

Dart: Come on, Shana! We gotta go!

Stryfe: Is she alright!?

Dart: Yeah!

As Lavitz ran over to help Dart lift her up, Stryfe noticed that Rose was still watching the Virage sink slowly into the lava pit.

Stryfe: Rose! Rose, come on!

Taking one last look at the dying Virage, Rose joined Stryfe and the rest of the group and they left the area. Arriving at an area where the only way to proceed was to jump across, each of the five jumped across the chasm one at a time before proceeding further towards the other side of Volcano Villude. As they came across an area that circled in a loop to another pathway, Stryfe noticed something eerie in the lava pit below them.

Just then, the Fire Bird emerged from the lava pit and threw flames around the five, completely cutting them off from escape.

Lavitz: The Fire Bird!

Stryfe: Dammit! It's too hot to run through! We'll be burned if we try going through those flames!

Dart: Then I guess we're gonna have to fight!

Although they were confined to a narrow space, Stryfe, Dart, Shana, Rose and Lavitz knew they had to make due with what they had against the Fire Bird. The Fire Bird was a fierce opponent at close range, as the heat it gave off made it difficult to get in close and strike at it with a blade. Fortunately, Shana was able use her arrows to distract the Fire Bird in order to give Stryfe, Dart, Rose and Lavitz a chance to attack without the danger of being burnt.

Adopting a strategy of striking at the Fire Bird from behind, Stryfe, Dart, Rose and Lavitz waited until the Fire Bird shifted it's attention to Shana, then they made their move, attacking the mythical creature's back. Although the Fire Bird would attempt to counterattack using fire magic, Dart easily absorbed them by temporarily transforming into his Dragoon Form, allowing him to use the Fire Birds own magic against it.

Finally, the Fire Bird lunged at the five simultaneously, hoping to take them out with a dive bomb strike. As the five jumped into the air to avoid the attack, the Fire Bird rammed into the wall and got stuck from the force of the impact. Seeing his chance, Stryfe landed on the Fire Bird's neck, his adrenaline making him forget the heat that the creature was giving off, and stabbed the Fire Bird in the neck with his zwiehander.

Jumping off, Stryfe saw the Fire Bird shout out a death cry before plunging into the lava pit below. As the body disappeared in the molten rock, the five struggled to catch their breath from the intense battle that just occurred.

Stryfe: *panting* Damn...That was intense.

Dart: It was one hot fight...

Stryfe: Well, let's go. I think I've had enough heat for one day.

Dart: Yeah.

Heading for the exit, the five eventually found themselves on the other side of Volcano Villude and the exit path that led them to their destination. Stryfe let out a huge sigh of relief as the idea of traveling through any more lava caverns would've probably given him heat stroke. As Stryfe, Dart, Shana, Rose and Lavitz set their sights on the nest of Feyrbrand, Stryfe looked back at the volcano one last time before moving forward...