XXI

Sorry for the late post. This chapter was hard as hell to write. Anyway, it's out now. Please enjoy it!

'Well, this sucks,' Ignitus launched a massive flame ball attack at Figura's back, now a massive, white Wyvern. Despite his effort, the attack had barely an effect on her. In fact, the wound that opened quickly healed, leaving no indication that he'd ever even hit her.

"Damn it."

He flew and landed on the ground below, where dozens of cheetahs and moles did their best at trying to injure the Wyvern's massive legs and lower body, to no avail. Any swords, spears, or arrows that hit her body bounced off, or were broken upon impact. They were like flies to a bull. Figura only taunted and laughed at their tries at defeating her, while she simply thwacked away anything that was unlucky enough to be near her limbs. Those poor bastards would smash into the ground, or land in the city with a loud, scary 'thud.'

They didn't come back to fight again after that.

He attempted to support the others in any way he could, assisting with any attacks, or dragging the wounded to safety, but their chances of victory were slim. He could see the other dragons, who attacked in the dozens, sending tornadoes that roared across the Wyverns body, or shot ice shards the size of small buildings at her. Despite all that, Figura's body kept right on regenerating before any real damage could be done. Talk about an unfair fight.

In the sky, the Guardian's eye caught the silhouette of Terrador, who sent volley after volley of rocks at her. His face was tired, but determined, as he continued his onslaught. The blue icicle himself, Cyril, flapped his wings behind him, raining ice shards onto her like hell.

Ignitus couldn't see Volteer, but he was more than sure that the Guardian of Electricity was also around, fighting with the ferocity of a thunderstorm itself. Yet, he knew for a fact, that it would still be no use, no matter how hard anybody tried.

Ignitus flinched as another dragon fell to the ground, injured severely. The Wyvern took a step forward, crushing a group of moles and their cannon, one that they were reloading with a fresh cannonball before they were reduced to a greasy stain on her foot. His aching head and heart that beat with fear, weren't assisted by the sounds of citizens wailing in pain, and others who were searching for loved ones who joined the battle, a search more hopeless than a bird with no wings.

"This isn't right. This isn't I wanted..." he launched into the air to avoid being crushed by her paw. He didn't want any of this. He only wanted to stop Figura, stop her from harming him, his friends, or anyone else. He didn't want the citizens to be sacrifices, nor did he want anyone to get hurt. What good was a destructive fight going to do? If they kept this up, hundreds will be dead, and the city will be in ruins, a gravestone to what once was a peaceful place.

He had to end this, or all would be lost. He had an idea, though, he couldn't tell whether it was genius, or insanely suicidal.

He flapped his wings, and ascended above the Wyvern's body. He avoided the explosions and electrical discharge that ravaged her body, yet did nothing to faze her. He flapped just above her head, which shook left and right as she attacked dragons that flew within her reach. He muttered a short prayer to the Ancestors, asking they grant him their blessing.

He took a deep breath. "HEY! STOP THIS, I WILL END THIS, NOW!"

Explosions, shocks, and the sounds of ice breaking began to lessen in his ears. The Wyvern halted her movements, confused.

"Hmm?" She looked up, bending her neck back to look at the dragon.

"Figura," Ignitus gave her a calm, serious look. "You want ultimate power, right? At the cost of our lives, the Guardians. Well, we want peace, and we want no one to die in vain, or for the rise of another.

The Wyvern blinked. "What is it that you're getting at?"

"We challenge you. If you win, we'll give ourselves up, willingly. If we win, you leave, forever, and never return to us."

Blinking again, the Wyvern turned to the earth again. She giggled at first, then chuckled, but then, it grew, into a full out laugh that shook the Earth.

"That, is so, unbelievably cliche. A deal with the villain? This is no comic or manga, boy, this is real. Your death is imminent, no, guaranteed."

"The things we want conflict each other. You want to keep fighting like this? Or, do you want a chance at your victory even sooner?"

Everyone couldn't help but shiver when the Wyvern smiled.

Ignitus and Figura, now in Karaia's form again, stood far apart from each other. They were in a plains area, far from the city, surrounded by flat land, painted with yellow grass.

"You understand the agreement?"

"Yeah, yeah." Figura tapped her paw impatiently.

Ignitus's idea wasn't as simple as a one on one final battle deal. He knew that he had no hope of defeating her like this. But, really, he was stalling for now. He had a few moments, and he would be in the clear... hopefully.

"Well, I guess we can begin n-"

Pain erupted in his side, and he screamed, as he whizzed across the plains, wind whistling in his ears. He collided with the dirt hard, grunting as he felt fresh wounds being opened across his body.

He finally settled, just in front of a mini-canyon he'd created from his impact.

He sat up, his body still raked with pain. He tasted blood in his mouth, and he now had an intense headache. But, he was stunned by her speed. She hadn't even moved, even flinched, and yet, she'd sent him flying with some attack. He didn't even know which part of her body she'd used.

He felt a gust of wind, and he squinted his eyes. She was there, almost teleporting right to him. Her crazed eyes met his, but he didn't falter.

He opened his maw, and in that moment, unleashed a torrent of flames. Her saw her, craziness and all, disappear in the fire. Quickly, he got in the air, and landed some distance away, and panted heavy, trying to regain some of his mana.

The flames dissipated. No Figura. But he knew better.

His feet felt hot below him. He gasped in surprise, taking off into the air again. But, he felt the intense heat of a fire-bomb slam into him, and it detonated. He was sent flying back into the ground, but he caught himself, unfurling his wings, gliding to the ground.

She had other ideas, however.

She whipped him hard with her tail. To her delight as she saw him shout and groan in pain, and somersault uncontrollably, she watched bits of blood drop from the ground.

A devious thought came into her mind, a new attack she'd learned while experimenting with her new powers late one night.

The air grew thick and hot as she summoned a massive portion of her mana. A single flame shot up behind her. Manipulating it, she raced it around her, surrounding her, and the unknowing Ignitus, in a dome. A wall of pure fire encased them both, a wall that Ignitus was coming dangerously close to.

She licked her lips in anticipation. 'Oh, this is going to be delicious!'

Ignitus smashed into the wall of flames. Like it was gunpowder, and he was fire itself, it exploded on him. He didn't hear himself scream, the sound so loud it was deafening. All he felt was burning. The worst feeling of burning he'd ever hope to feel. Imagine taking a dive into the molten core of the planet itself, headfirst. It was so powerful that he would remember the feeling for the rest of it's life, and it would give him chills, ironically.

He descended from the field's top, his body limp. Kicking up dirt and grass, he landed back onto Earth.

"Oh come on. This isn't much fun," Figura drooled at his defeated form before her. "Fight me like you mean it!"

It was obvious. Ignitus's mana was nearly depleted. Worse, his body was covered in burns, cuts, gashes, and nasty lacerations. If he continued on like this, even without fighting, he'd die before long. All he did, and how far he'd come, and he'd die out here.

His mana was almost gone, he was sure. But, that wasn't his plan. He managed a smile with loose or missing teeth in his maw, as he lay on the ground. He knew the secret power that all Guardians held, a secret that Figura didn't know about. All this fighting alone would be worth it, that is, if he could summon it's power before he fainted.

She grew impatient, a glare now pasted onto her face. "I am no fool, child. You're beaten, tired, and scared, but, you're not dead yet."

Ignitus got onto his front paws, but he fell, too pained to stand up. His feeble attempts at resistance were already boring her.

Ignitus's clock was running out fast. His vision was getting blurry, his body was numbing, and he struggled to keep himself awake.

'To hell with it," he thought. 'Now, or never.'

He took a deep, ragged breath. He was tapping into his fury now. Figura's eyes widened with interest as his body caught flames.

'This is... new.' Her one-thousandth smile that day appeared. 'This could get interesting.'

"F-fire... P-past Guardians of F-fire..." Ignitus's chanted the words to unleash the power of the Fury.

"Oh, what's that ya got there? Some flames on your back, I see. What are you doing to yourself?" Inquired Figura curiously.

Ignoring her, Ignitus continued the chant. "I-I call upon you. I ask of you to gift... m-me with a storm of flames."

"What the hell? Is he chanting some sort of spell attack?" Figura started toward him now, a small hint of fear in her movements. She had no idea what he was doing, and that scared her. What if this kid was holding back, toying with her, and waiting for her to lower her guard, like right now! No way she was letting him beat her now!

"Turn my foes... into piles of ash... fire fury... cannot be MATCHED!"

A wall of fire engulfed the entirety of the dome's inside. It flew towards Ignitus rapidly, passing right through Figura, stunned by it's ferocity. It condensed into one column over the Guardian, and, with the same ferocity, exploded outward. Everything within the dome, excluding the dragons, was obliterated. The grass turned hot and black, and was blown away immediately as a small crater was formed.

In it sat Ignitus, unharmed. On the other hand, Figura looked like she'd lost a fight with an army of Dark Guardians. To say the least, she wasn't in a good condition anymore, much like Ignitus was. His planned had worked, though not completely.

'Time for my backup!'

"EVERYONE!" He roared. "NOOOOOOOOOW!"

A rain of elemental attacks smacked into the area, carefully aimed right for Figura. She never saw it coming, had no idea. It would be her end.

Ugh. Finally.

I give this chapter a sad face.

Why? Because of my inability to plan this chapter out fully so that it could be as awesome as I hoped. But, I also wanted to get this out. So, final confrontation with Figura (not a fight, more like questions and answers) will be next, then the beginning of the end of the Gaul arc will happen, then, the final showdown!

Despite how bad this story may be, I greatly appreciate it that everyone still continues to return to it. Despite it's many, many flaws, it's been a huge learning experience for me! Thank you all!