Ignis run's lightly through the tunnel, slowly coming to a large open chamber. Greeted by the sight of Eric, Jerald, and Elaine laying waste to groups of monster. The Rank S Mana gate floating in the air above a large pedestal. The glowing red light illuminating the surrounding area in an Eerie Hue.
"You three need some help down here or what?" Ignis calls leaping off the stairs, the magma armor forming around his body. Landing with a heavy crash on a large bear, it's bone's crunching under his weight.
Elaine starts giggling lightly, "You and Jerald may as well be brothers with the way you act."
Eric's having slayed the current group of monsters, "Help is always welcome, go join your meat-headed brother over there." Eric points across the room with his sword.
"Ah, why do I have to help him? I'd rather save the beautiful floating princess up there or something," Ignis points at Elaine.
Jerald starts laughing, "A weak little thing like you'd just get in my way! Why don't you sit back and enjoy the show, like a kid should!"
"Yeah? Why don't you make way for the new generation? I don't think I've ever seen a fossil with as much meat as you!" Ignis leaps through the air, his foot kicking a kobold away from Jerald's back. "Jeez, you're even leaving you back open. If your reflexes are that slow, then you should just retire already."
"Hey now, that's taking things a bit too far." Jerald says, a smile painted on his face all the same.
Heavy footsteps echo from one of the passage's, "Ugh, not another one of these." Ignis glower's as the massive Ogre. "Hey, I think I found your dad," Ignis laughs pointing at the ogre.
Jerald shakes his head, a sour look on his face. "You little twerp, I'm gonna wring your neck after this gate's closed."
"Say, I've got a wild Idea," Ignis prances away from Jeralds massive bear paw as it swipes at his head. "You think your strong enough to chuck me at that thing?" The claws on his hands' forming into two half cone's.
"Absolutely not!" Elaine say's shrilly, "I'll be the one wringing both of your necks if you try it."
Jerald meet's Ignis a mischievous light in his eyes. "We gotta do this quick, alright?" he whispers holding his ace out flatly. Ignis lightly jumps' onto the side of the blade, crouching down. "Operation, CATAPULT," Ignis yell's, Jerald swings his axe with a hefty grunt. Kicking off the axe with a fiery blast, Ignis flies through the air. Pressing his arms together, he slam's through the ogre's chest with a grunt.
The ogre gapes in surprise, a massive hole open in the center of it's chest. A weird look on its face as it falls flat. The sound of meat slapping on stone echoes through the chamber. Ignis jumps up onto the side of the ogre's head, "Operation Catapult is a success." He strikes a pose, shivering he glances up.
Elaine hovers in the air, glaring at him from above, "GAH, Whatever, I suppose it was cool. Let's get this Mana gate closed."
Ignis walks up beside Jerald, "How do you close a mana gate? I'd like to help if possible."
"Oh, see those four pillar's? Just poor mana into those, should only take about 50 points from each of us." Jerald shrugs.
The gate above gleams brightly, turning in suprise at the sudden difference. In the backdrop of the redish tinge, the dark outline of a humanoid figure looms.
Stepping through the portal, in Knee high leather boots, with a fluttering red and black laced dress. What can only be described as a small fragile girl appears. The ambient mana in the are rapidly begins to rotate with her at its center.
The girl opens her closed eyes, staring at Ignis with their deep red color. Stepping forward, space itself seems to warp at her will. Her ethereal step, touching softly onto the ground in front of him.
Eric, and Jerald both accelerate across the ground. Running towards the woman, however they all fall still. The area surrounding Ignis and the girl filled with a soft white aura.
Reaching out, her finger presses against his sternum. Ignis gasps as something stirs within his chest. Molten scales slowly emerge from his his skin, at every touch.
*System alert*
- Awakening of dorment genes commencing -
Valeria pauses her steps, turning to look behind her. The red flash of light having reached them through the tunnel.
Amy stops walking, realizing something is amiss as she examines the tense look on Valeria's face. "Did something happen?" Amy asks in a concerned tone. Stella fidgets at her side as they await a response
Valeria's eyes glowing red as she gazes over her shoulder, "Do you truly have it in you, to stand by Ignis?" Her icy tone washes over Stella.
Stella's fidgeting pauses, biting her lip she stares at the ground between her feet. "…what? Does someone who shines as brightly as that even need others…?"
"No matter how brightly the light may shine, there will always be darkness." Valeria's response comes across cryptic, "His powers, are like that of the sun itself. Radiant and raging in an inferno. So what then, would become a calming beacon for a power such as that?" Valeria's head leans back as she stares at the ceilng, feeling every aura in the ante-chamber suddenly disappears.
Stella looks up at valeria, a soft gleam in her eyes. "If Ignis is like the sun, raging brightly despite the darkness of space," stella looks down, her eyes trailing along her arms. Her hair lightly tumbling into her vision, the soft gleam reminding her of something. Her gaze returns to valeria, who remains still staring at the roof, no looking past that. Into the sky above, "Then that makes me, the cool and gentle light of the moon?" Her voice quivering as an odd feeling spreads across her skin. Releasing her hold on Any's sleeve, she closes her eyes for a time. Once she opens them, she finds Valeria's gaze locked with her own.
"I see your resolve has been forged… Come with me child," Stella strudes forward taking Valeria's outstretched arm.
"No matter how long, or what the cost, I will bring him back. Please tell minnie that, no matter what happens." Stellas steely voice echoes throughout the chamber as she takes her hand.
Meanwhile among the swirling essence of time, Ignis stands locked in place. His face twitching as excruciating heat courses though his body. The expressionless girl's fingers continue drawing light featery touches. Up along his neck, her thumbs trace across his eyes. Forcing them close. Once his entire body is coated with smoldering scales she steps away.
A content smile slowly traces itself on her face, with a sigh, the time essence fades into the air.
Elaine, Eric and Jarald freeze at the sight of Ignis's skin.
His figure slowly opens it's eyes, his pupil's reptilian slits. From his back two deep black wings laced with red unfurl. His mouth opens pointed towards the sky, letting a gutteral roar into the air.
As Valeria and Stella close in on the red Illuminated archway, a deafening roar resounds. The walls themselves shaking as dust falls from the tunnel around. Pressung forwards as stines begin to fall, Valeria pulls Stella into her arms, leaping from the collapsing tunnel. They land sliding on the floor, as dust billows around them. A hazy red glow visible despite all the dust.
Ignis's wings flap once, releasing a powerful torrent of wind. The dust clearing from the air quickly. Stella's feels a large lump in her throat, as shivers run down her spine, "I-ignis…?"
Ignis's face slowly turns, his eyes meeting with Stellas. Suddenly a massive oppressive force explodes from his body, driving everyone in the room to their knees. A few large rocks dislodge from the roof, falling to the ground with. The sound if shattering stone echoing one after another.