I made it to the Inferno Cave and got off Nebula's back. I walked inside the cave and noticed how huge it was on the inside. I pushed forward then looked around. I stopped and noticed a stone tablet.
"Pyroc...The Legendary Beast and partner to the Goddess of Eternal Flames. This beast only responds to those seen as worthy and banishes those who are unfit." I read out loud.
I looked around around once again then pushed forward. After a bit of walking I stopped, noticing there was no where else to go but down. I braced myself and jumped down the edge of the path then grunted as I landed in water. I swam upwards and crawled out of the water. I walked forward once again and heard a loud roar. I grunted then felt the area become hotter. I pushed forward and noticed another stone tablet.
"Her sisters, Therris and Rivule, all helped in the creation of the Elemental Crests: The Crest of Blaze, The Crest of Plants, The Crest of Waves. If one manages to obtain all three Crests, a fourth dragon shall appear by the name of Galvan, the Dragon ruling over the Kingdom of Volta." I said, reading the tablet. "That man...he plans to obtain those Crests...I have to stop him now."
I ran forward and noticed a door in front of me, missing a piece of the door then heard a laugh. I looked around then turned around and noticed a woman behind me. She had the missing piece which was a shield. She had on a mask and wore assassin's clothing.
"The death of Queen Manami was certainly one for the books. You killed her and took her Crest. Her family will forever hate you, and so will those connected to her!" The woman laughed.
"I don't have time for your stupid games! Give me that shield now!" I said, seriously.
"Oh..? No longer the arrogant Emperor? Worried about your new wife? Hahaha! So you do have a heart. Listen...This is all going according to plan! Our leader will use Claire to obtain the Crest of Blaze then our next location is Rivule for the Crest of Waves and finally to Therris for the Crest of Plants." The woman said then adjusted her mask.
"I won't say it again.." I said then the Crest of Chaos shined on my forehead then I transformed into my Chaos Mode. "I will rip your body in pieces if I have to.."
"Yes! There's the Ryoma we all know and love! The Tyrant! The Chaos Vessel!" The woman laughed then quickly stopped when I vanished.
I appeared behind her and grabbed her head then leaned towards her ear. "When I tell you to do something...you do it. Now die for wasting my time."
"W-Wait! No-"
I snapped her neck and she fell to the floor, dead. I grabbed the shield from her hands then walked to the door and the shield shined. The shield floated back to the door and the door opened. I walked forward and noticed multiple figures who worked for the masked man appear in front of me.
"You all wish to die that badly? I'll kill you all- Nngh!" I grunted holding my head, having flashbacks about the moment I killed everyone in Manami's kingdom. "You all...really want to get me to fall again...but I won't fall to any of you!"
I bellowed and the Crest of Chaos shattered and I turned normal then my Arcane Energy surged. I opened my eyes and they shined back gold.
"Get him!" One of the masked characters said. They all charged at me.
I looked at all of them then smirked. I held my sword in the air and the blade shined brightly. "Shining Light!" I slashed in a circle, hitting all of them. They groaned then they all went flying in all different directions.
I lowered my sword then walked forward. I held my head and closed my eyes then heard a giggle. I opened my eyes then looked to my right and noticed a hooded figure. The figure walked to me and inspected me.
"So much...Hidden rage. You can't connect to Arcane because of your anger. You haven't truly Mastered Arcane yet. You haven't changed, Milord." The person said then walked around me.
"Who are you..? I don't have time for this.." I said.
The person took their hood off revealing a woman's face and I looked a bit surprised. She had long silver hair and silver kitsune ears and glowing yellow eyes. I pulled her to me then turned her around and moved her hair to the side. I checked the back of her neck and a Crest of Companionship.
"It is you...Tushori. Why are you here? Go back to Yesha with my bother." I said.
"I am here to help you. That masked man...I know who he is, but we must hurry to your beloved, Milord." Tushori said then walked forward when I let go of her.
I watched her walk forward then followed behind her. Tushori is one of my own retainers. She is exceptional with Magic and was blessed to me by the Goddess of Companionship. She is a Divine Beast who can take on a human form.
To make some since our of the category of beasts and the hierarchy there are: Normal Beasts, Rare Beasts, Mythical/Sacred Beasts, Legendary Beasts, and Divine Beasts being at the highest. Divine Beasts are the absolute strongest of all the beasts in Eyica. Divine Beasts can only be granted to you by a Goddess while the other category of beasts choose you.
"Hurry, Milord! This way!" Tushori ran forward.
I nodded and ran after her. "I'm on my way."
Claire sat on the ground and looked at Pyroc. She wasn't happy to see Pyroc, but sad. "Pyroc...This isn't how I wanted to meet you...in chains and against my will."
Pyroc looked at Claire and smoke came from her nose. She looked at the Masked Man as he tried to contact his forces, but none of them were answering. Pyroc roared loudly and a heat wave was summoned.
"Hmph. Ryoma works faster now than ever. Well he's going to be here soon so if you wish to live, accept the Crest from Pyroc. I can use you for my ultimate plan." The masked man said.
"I refuse...I want Pyroc to accept me in my own will! I'm not doing what you say!" Claire yelled and shook her head no.
"Stop being a spoiled brat and just do it before I kill you. I hear your sister...can also be a vessel and is much stronger than you. You should feel honored to be chosen over your sister. You have a much higher chance to link with this Legendary Beast." The masked man said.
Claire had tears in her eyes and she sniffled. "I don't want to! I want Ryoma! He's gonna come save me...I know he will and he's gonna kick your butt!" Claire yelled and looked at the man angrily.
The man scoffed. He summoned his sword then sensed an attack beneath him then dodged the magic spike then deflected my sword. I appear behind him then Tsuhori appeared in front of my sword then kicked my sword at the man. He dodged it then I caught it and slashed in a circle. The man blocked the attack and grunted, sliding back.
"Hmph...Your timing never cease to amaze me. I guess the only time you weren't on time was when your mother died. The death...I caused." The man said then took off his mask. He had black hair, gray eyes, and a scar on his left eye.
My eyes widened. I looked at the man in disbelief. "Alastor..? You were the man who killed my entire bloodline?! My sisters?! My father?! My mother?! Why? Why did you do it?! We were best friends!"
"I had to get as close to you as possible...So close you would suspect me last. You were lucky enough that your mother lived an extra minute to gift you the Crest of Arcane. I hated your family. Your family always had the blessings of the Goddesses who watched over Yesha. Tsuhori should've been mine! That Crest should've been mine! The Throne...would've been mine if I had the Crest. Because your mother lived and gave you the Crest when you found her, I couldn't seize the throne. You became too powerful so quickly. My only hope was to get someone who you would fully trust...Manami." Alastor said.
Tsuhori stood beside me and held her staff tightly. "You're more of a monster than Milord! No offense, Milord."
"None taken." I said.
"Monster? Heh...HAHAHA!" Alastor laughed and covered his face. "I may be a monster, but your Emperor slayed thousands of people out of rage. Killed an important figure. Went hiding. Your Emperor is a true monster. A Vessel for one of the strongest villains and monsters to ever live!"
"That's not true! Ryoma isn't a monster nor a tyrant! Stop calling him that you bastard!" Claire yelled. She was breathing heavily and we looked at her. "What was he to do...when he was pushed over the edge by his own pathetic excuse of a wife? Someone that was meant to make him happy! You all forced him to become a monster! You all forced him to become a Tyrant it isn't his fault! You're the monster! The Yascean People are monsters for allowing people like you to attack Ryoma!"
I looked at Claire then noticed Alastor walking to her. Alastor looked down at Claire then kicked her face. She groaned loudly in pain then fell back on the ground. He stomped his foot on her head and she cried out. I looked at the scene in shock.
"Do you think you have the right to speak to me in that manner...look at who's in control and who isn't. You should have chosen your words correctly..." Alastor said then began to add more pressure to her head. Claire cried loudly in pain then screamed my name.
Something in me snapped and Alastor stopped feeling my energy. Tsuhori stepped backwards sensing my incredibly dark aura. Alastor got off Claire's head then looked at me. I panted and covered my face. The Crest of Chaos shined brightly on my forehead, but instead of a red symbol, it was a dark purple color.
"Alastor...I'll kill you. Your killed my family...and you hurt my wife! I'll kill you, Alastor!" I yelled and my dark aura surged wildly and destructively.
"Milord!" Tsuhori tried to hurry to me then my dark aura repelled her and blew her away.
I yelled and my aura manifested wings on my back. I panted and gripped my chest. "I'll kill you for this!"
"His aura is even more destructive. He completely shut out Arcane.." Alastor said.
I looked up and my sword changed into its Chaos Mode. I felt myself lose my humanity, but all I cared about was saving Claire and killing Alastor. My Dark Crest completely took over me. I yelled and dashed to Alastor. He dashed to me and smirked. Our blades clashed then he groaned as he was blown away.
"What the hell..? He's ten times stronger in his Dark Form." Alastor grunted then landed on his feet.
"He's completely lost himself...I can't get close to him anymore. He can't hear anything other than his own rage.." Tsuhori said.
I yelled and my aura began to destroy the ground beneath us and lava erupted from beneath us. I grunted and gripped my head. "I must...kill you...I must kill you.."
The Crest of Chaos shined and my aura turned even more dark as I began to give into my dark desires to kill. Claire looked really scared and worried. I heard a loud neigh and a beam of purification struck me. I groaned and crashed into a cave pillar. I landed on my knees and because of the purification, the Crest of Chaos disappeared and my aura vanished.
Nebula neighed loudly and shot a beam of destruction at Alastor. Alastor grunted and blocked the beam then his guard broke and he crashed into the cave wall.
"Nngh!" Alastor groaned loudly. He panted and coughed blood then got out of the wall and looked at Nebula. "The Horse of Oblivion...Tch. I'll retreat for now.."
Alastor vanished into a dark portal and Nebula galloped to Claire then an aura horn manifested on her head then she broke the chains on Claire. Claire sat up and her first instinct was to run to check up on me.
I opened my eyes slowly then Claire looked happy that I was alive and back to normal then hugged me. "Hey- Ow! Ow! That hurts..."
"I'm so happy you're alive...Oh Ryoma..." Claire said and sniffled.
Pyroc looked at us then looked at Nebula and snorted. Nebula neighed and got on her hind legs. She snorted as well and nodded. Pyroc nodded and looked at Claire then Claire looked surprised to see the Crest of Blaze appear on her hand and Pyroc turned into her companion form. Claire and I looked back and saw the tiny blue scaled dragon with tiny flames on her tail.
Claire let go of me and looked at Pyroc. "Pyroc.." She picked Pyroc up and looked at her.
Pyroc gave a cute roar and looked at Claire then looked at me and her eyes shined. Tiny sparks showered my body and healed me completely. I looked at them and felt my body become healed. I slowly stood up and Claire looked at me and smiled.
"Let's get out of here." Claire smiled.
I nodded then we all used the magic circle to teleport out the cave. Pyroc flew out of her arms and turned into her true form then Claire got on her back and Pyroc flew off. I got on Nebula's back then helped Tsuhori on. Nebula walked along the path and I looked at her.
"Thank you.." I said. Nebula whinnied and looked ahead. "For saving me and Claire...You stopped me before I became one of the Corrupted. Thank you.."
Nebula neighed and I smiled. Tsuhori smiled as well then we continued forward and entered the city.
"The Hero has returned!" A woman said.
"Emperor Ryoma! Thank you!" A man said.
Nebula looked up at me and I smiled at her. I got off her back then she nudged me forward, wanting me to get all the credit. I looked at the people and they cheered my name then I noticed Inoka run to me and hug me.
"You did it! Thank you for saving my sister!" Inoka said happily.
I looked at Inoka and smiled then hugged back. "You're welcome.."
She let me go then looked in the sky seeing her and Pyroc flying around, listening to her excited squeals. I smiled as well and watched them. I closed my eyes and sighed softly. Now I knew who the killer was, my motives became clear and I knew what I needed to do. I looked at Nebula and she looked at me. We nodded to each other.