Chapter 14: Igniting the Inferno
It was a long walk to Saurus Rock, but Fireclaw never slowed or lagged behind. He lead the whole way there, ignoring any signs of weakness from his muscles from the constant walking. His feet never ached, his legs never burned, and his lust for blood grew. The feeling Fireclaw got when the Cold Fire sword began to take it's toll on him was gradually returning even though his sword was a hallowed and purified blade. The sword's shining silver blade with its golden hilt and handle reflected the moonlight like a flawless mirror. The moon began to acquire a crimson tint as it rose higher into the sky. The view of the Great Valley as they began to ascend the base of Saurus Rock was breathtaking. Fireclaw was impressed that they had no trouble with sharpteeth or dark beings as they made their way up.
"So Fire, what do you plan to do exactly? Do you know who will fight with you?" Strut asked.
"The only ones who are capable of being his two champions are my brother and I." Aeris replied in a matter-of-fact tone. Strut sheepishly backed off.
"Fireclaw, there is something you must know about Valmonway. I figured I'd take this opportunity as we're climbing to tell you it. Valmonway is a fallen divine prince. As strange as this may sound, if you have any intention of killing him, you must not fight with dark power. He can feed off of that and regenerate himself, no matter what you do to him. I can still sense the darkness in your soul, unfortunately, and you must try to suppress it as much as you can." Falchion explained.
"A fallen divine prince? Sounds like something Allo told me about a while ago. Some religion or something back on Reptilon, something like the seven-"
"The seven sires? The seven sires of Indra?" Falchion interrupted.
"How the hell did you know that?" Fireclaw asked curiously.
A tree broke away from the weight of a huge boulder sitting on it. The steep incline sent the boulder rolling down the hill at a dangerously high speed. Fireclaw and Falchion dove opposite directions to avoid being crushed.
"That was close." Falchion said.
"Got that right. Anyhow, how did you know about the seven sires? I thought it was just some religious thing or something Allo was into. I know his Aunt and Uncle are somewhat." Fireclaw said again.
"Where do you think we rainbow faces come from? We aren't just magical beings you know, okay well maybe we are, but we do have to come from somewhere. Valmonway is one of the seven sires. He's the sire of corruption." Falchion replied. Fireclaw was a bit taken back by the fact that Allo could have been worshiping a corrupt lord.
"Well, that's awesome to know..." Fireclaw said nervously.
After a couple hours of hiking up the side of Saurus Rock, the group decided to rest for a while. Fireclaw looked at a watch he had and saw that the time was only about eight thirty. Only four hours until the world fell apart at the seams. The sky was totally clear with no clouds in sight, and a wind began to blow. At first everyone had attributed it to their altitude, but the wind was growing stronger. Dark clouds began to swirl over the summit of Saurus Rock. Lightning flashed and struck very close to the group. Pterano was nearly blown off on two different occasions and was struggling to keep his balance and grip in a tree he was huddled against. Fireclaw used his sword as a climbing axe and dug the blade into the ground to climb the hillside and keep his footing as the dust blew wildly from the sudden windstorm. The swirling clouds opened a circle in the eye and a blue light began to emanate from the center of it. It shined down directly on top of Saurus Rock not far from where the group was. Their climb was nearing it's end and soon they'd have to face the source of the storm.
As they approached the top of the giant rock they could see a tall longneck standing on its hind legs facing away from them. His arms were folded across his chest and a halberd radiating a black flame was fastened to his back. Fireclaw was the first to climb to his feet. There was no wind on top of Saurus Rock while everything else around it flew up and around them as if they'd just entered a raging tornado. Trees and rocks blew around them in wide circles and dust clouds had blotted out the view of the Great Valley. A gray cylinder surrounded them all and their only source of light was the eye of the storm glaring down on them with the fury of a hurricane.
"I'm so delighted to see that you've taken care of my Grandson in my absence." The longneck said. It definitely did not sound like Grandpa Longneck.
"Eldin. So it's true, you do plan to resurrect Valmonway." Fireclaw said coldly.
"You've always been quick to catch on, Fireclaw. I suppose that comes with your job title, being the militaristic one that you are." Eldin replied tauntingly. Fireclaw grew angrier as he spoke.
"Military or no military, you and that bastard you call a lord are going to die right here. You will die by my hand alone. And the spirits of the many that have fallen to my blade because of the dark power that your 'lord' consumed me with will guide my blade to send you to the darkest pits of hell!" Fireclaw shouted. A sonic boom erupted from him as he shouted the last few words.
"You always have been one of talk. Perhaps you've kept your sanity due to your keen sense of forgiveness, or maybe you're just too cowardly to fight someone of your skill." Eldin taunted.
"Perhaps you should do the same then. I know you're hiding something, Eldin. I sense another presence with you as well you hypocritical bastard." Falchion declared.
Eldin turned and smirked. He had the body and face of Bron and the skin tone of Grandpa Longneck. His armor was adorned with elegant patterns of vines and leaves. His breastplate was almost gladiator-like. The silver reflected the blue light from the storm off almost as perfectly as Fireclaw's blade did. He was wearing the same force emerald gauntlets that Fireclaw was. The emerald in the gauntlet began to glow as Eldin extended his right arm outwards. He gave a menacing look as a pool of liquid began to form on the ground underneath his hand. The liquid bubbled violently and began to take form. Soon the features of a Tyrannosaur was born from the pool of red liquid on the ground. The blood-like liquid instantly faded to the features and textures of Genghis Rex's body. He wore the same armor Eldin did, only his weapon was a massive double sided battle axe instead of a halberd.
"Hello, Fireclaw." Rex growled. He bared his teeth to Fireclaw to intimidate him, but Fireclaw stood unaffected by the attempt.
"Genghis Rex. Of course you'd be the one to be overwhelmed by the stone's power." Fireclaw said.
The three began to circle each other weapons drawn.
"There's no need to worry about Allo. He soon will feel our power. He soon will bow to the true lord of this world!" Genghis Rex declared. He banged the butt of his axe against the ground and cracked the ground on impact.
Falchion and Aeris looked at each other, nodded, then crouched down. At the same time they both levitated into the air and spread their arms out. A white light began to beam down on them to the point where the brightness completely masked their form. A few seconds later the light faded and they now wore the same style armor as Falchion and Genghis Rex. They both wielded the same sword as Fireclaw. They stepped in line with Fireclaw and faced their opponents.
"Now this isn't very fair is it?" Eldin said with an evil chuckle.
"Two against three? Of course I can't ask anything of my loyal Tyranno to help me in my time of need, that traitorous bitch." Rex said. He looked at Pterano, who in return flipped him off.
"I say it's time that we bind our true lords soul to the world. That we call him forth from the planes of the Infinite Beyond and let him take flesh again!" Eldin dramatically exclaimed.
"Marvelous idea!" Rex chimed in just as dramatically.
Eldin and Rex crossed their weapons under the light of the storm. The full moon was now directly overhead. Their weapons began to glow a bright white, then quickly faded to a dark blue. Fireclaw leaped forward and slashed down between their weapons knocking them apart.
"You bastard! Very well, if you want to do battle here, then so be it! We'll just have to give our lord a temporary body!" Eldin angrily yelled.
A dark mass fell from the sky and hit the ground directly in front of the five warriors. As the mass began to take form, Falchion and Aeris grabbed Fireclaw and spun him around. Aeris inserted her hand into Fireclaw's chest. Fireclaw lost his breath and instantly fell to his knees in pain. Falchion put his hand on Fireclaw's shoulder and channeled his energy to Aeris. Soon a black mist ran itself up Aeris' arm and to the ground like water. Fireclaw's eyes began to glow from the blood red to a bright sky blue. Aeris removed her hand as Falchion tightened his grip on Fireclaw's shoulder. The form had already taken the shape of Allo and was approaching them wielding a giant sword twice as tall as himself and about as wide as Allo's body. A light enveloped Fireclaw as he began to feel something wrapping itself around his face, torso, arms and legs. Fireclaw now saw that he had a face shield on and could tell that he was now heavily armored. Falchion removed his hand and turned to Aeris. They stepped back as Allo raised the sword and prepared to strike. Like a flash of lightning Fireclaw went from being on his knees to now flying through the air with his sword positioned for a drag cut. He sliced Allo's midsection perfectly. He landed in a roll as Allo rose to his feet. Genghis Rex and Eldin backed away.
"Allo, what happened to you?" Fireclaw said. His voice had deepened greatly.
"This Allo that you speak of is no longer here. You now face me, Fireclaw, your savior." A dark voice spoke from within Allo's body. Allo's mouth never moved.
Allo's eyes were glowing a bright red and leaving trails as he moved his head. The wound in his midsection healed itself rapidly. Eldin, Rex, Falchion and Aeris raised their arms into the air as light began to envelope the four of them. They all levitated into the air and the eye of the storm began to widen. Soon a bright ring of blue fire was swirling around the outer rim of the circle. The blood moon was high in the sky and didn't move as time passed. Time now stood still. Allo and Fireclaw locked eyes.
"F-Fire, kill... Valmon...way." Allo barely choked out.
"Hehe, this one has willpower I see. No matter, when I'm through with you he and this pathetic world of yours will be broken. We'll see who's willpower is stronger." Valmonway boomed from within Allo.
Long columns of fire dropped from the circle and began to swirl around Allo and Fireclaw. The columns solidified and became large pillars of fire. They retracted back into the sky and took Allo and Fireclaw with them. Aeris, Falchion, Genghis Rex and Eldin stayed locked in place in the air. Ozzy, Strut and Pterano ran to the center of the rock formation where Fireclaw and Allo were standing moments before. They looked up into the circle in awe.
"Kill him Fireclaw, kill that son of a bitch and end this once and for all!" Ozzy screamed to the sky. Strut looked at him in horror after hearing him swear for the first time in his life.
"Ozzy!" Strut reprimanded.
"What? Can't you see what just happened?" Ozzy countered.
"Come on Fireclaw. I know you can do this. Do this for the Great Valley. Do it for Allo. I know you can!" Pterano said under his breath.
The four divine beings disappeared in a flash of light, and the light columns faded away. The scales were balanced. The fight was now champion against champion, and only one could survive.