-Floor 40-
In a field of frozen corpses and bones, what Belial assumed to be an easy stride turned into a struggle.
As a roar was heard followed by glacier spikes emerge from the ground followed by a hail storm, Belial seeking refuge from the hail yet much to his dismay he found himself in an open courtyard.
Teleporting short distances won't do either , the dilemma he confronted almost made him consider unleashing the power he's saved for the last floor. He's clicked his tongue in frustration believing it was his only way out he prepares to cut his wrist with a knife before he sees Ignis who's now a snake type Dragon coiling around Belial and shielding him with his tough scales
"FIREWALL." Ignis produces a force field with his scales
"To keep you mortal safe." He says in a disinterested tone
"I'm sorry Belial, you'd have to endure this."
Flamma now a bird type Dragon takes to the skies and shines a bright red blinding Ignis and to some extent partially Belial as she emitted heat that could rival minor star she's melted the hailstorm thus clearing the sky.
"SUNFLARE." she yells as she became bright like a star
"This is my turn now, make sure that mortal lives." Says ifrit jesting
Ifrit now a splitting image of his father Salamander exudes his aura with his tough crimson red scales, wings , horns and his spiked tail emit a red glow as he summons circles from above and below, just as he shouts the spell command
"INFERNO!" . Fire erupts burning the entire courtyard into ashes leaving no hair or hide of the corpses nor the bones littered around
The icicles ceases its appearance and with the sky cleared Belial can make a figure awaiting him at a tower like a Queen she takes a look at an unworthy peasant she turns around back to her abode.
"That was a bloody chilling reception." He says still shivering from hypotension or perhaps fear
"Belial, if you're cold should I use my magic to keep you warm." Says Flamma concerned
"It would be a waste Flamma besides, you lot are getting used to your powers and I wouldn't want to get burned even if it were unintentional."
"You say that , but I seen that glint in your eyes when Flamma offered. Mortals always sway and follow their instinct." Ignis says matter of factly
"Mortal , you're wavering already. Dont tell me youre giving up hahaha" Says Ifrit challengingly
"Ignis, you .... infuriate me and you Ifrit, see that you don't fall behind like last time." Belial walks ahead seemingly to keep face
"You two that was uncalled for!." Flamma hits her siblings in and reprimanded them
The party enter through the gates and greeting them were 10 Ice giants each equipped with clubs made of Ice.
"You three follow my lead." Belial says looking at Ifrit singling him out
Belial rushed in as he materialized a dagger, he's reinforced his body and casted an illusion producing after images in all direction
"Aaah!." Belial with his illusions lunge at an Ice giant cutting it from each and every angle , the speed alone makes him hard to follow and the illusions elude to his whereabouts .
After cutting through the first giant Belial raises his hand and yells "Switch!."
Ignis takes up the queue and coils around another Ice giant as he prepares an attack squeezing it for dear life.
Flamma moves like an arrow engulfed in fire piercing a giant's head resulting in a small explosion covering the peripheral view of the final giant.
Ifrit tackles the last giant , with his claws and teeth he tears and gnaws at the giant breathing fire and burning it whole.
"Good work you lot,are getting useful ahh .choo." Belial says barely holding up the freezing weather still affecting him
"*sigh* you're too uppity for a mortal, just admit you are cold." Says Ignis exasperated
"Hahaha, you're fond of this mortal, is that why you worry for him." Ifrit teases
"Perish the thought."
"Hehe, Ignis you just can't be honest with yourself." Flamma looks on endearingly
"Stop looking at me, I'm not c-cold." Belial moves on still refusing Flamma's offer.
The group head further in into a corridor , the weather progressively become colder as they head deeper, it didn't take long for another obstacle to block their path. A number of Wyverns pounce at the group of four. Belial moves to intercept casting a fire spell to hamper their advance.
"Burning your corpses might warm me up." Belial said to himself as he yells out his spell "FIREWHIP."
He materializes a fire whip hitting a group and hindering the other Wyverns movements.
The three adolescent Dragons proceed to use Belial's distraction to their advantage
Ifrit tanks in and claws 3 wyverns , he takes a moment considering to use INFERNO but decides against it making do with powerful melee strikes
Flamma's inflamed feathers act as projectiles shooting down the enemies in groups mainly those that Ifrit left behind
Ignis uses his long reach to block out attacks with his iron defenses securing the groups blindspots not a single slash or claw dentured his flawless scales
The path inside becomes much smoother, it appears that NIdhogg all but exhausted all her hospitable courtesy at the courtyard, there were no traps nor a plethora of enemies aside from Wyverns however their numbers maybe they prove to be much weaker perhaps thanks to the trio of adolescents that support Belial, he'd not admit it to be a boon as he's still impacted by hypotension shivering from the subzero temperature.
"Lets rest here." Flamma suggests glancing at Belial
"We've only just arrived , we don't need a diversion." Says Ignis folding his arm
"I agree with Ignis, I'm urged to keep fighting." Says Ifrit in support
Flamma hits both Ignis and Ifrit giving them a glare
"Read the room you oats." She says enraged
"W-what, is this about him." Ignis rubs his head wound
"The mortal said he was fine!." Ifrit protests
"Flamma, I know your intentions are good but remember what We've agreed upon. I'm using the lot of you , you are tools and I the individual desire to keep my movement.I don't see how my wellbeing is of no concern to you." Belial chimes in irritated
Flamma draws breath before speaking to Belial
"Deep down, I rather we know how much of a good person you are. You've said we're nothing but tools, however would you have kept us safe from injuries if you'd considered us as such. Tools can be repaired as long as they remain functional , you didnt commit to a bare minimum you did us right in these circumstances so let me repay you." Flamma glows as she transfers her fiery mana to Belial
Belial eyes widen, as relief and warmth spread throughout his body. His eyes felt heavy believing it would be a sign that his body is retiring
"You're a meddlesome lass." He stifles a yawn as he falls onto Flamma for support finally letting his consciousness drift.
"He's right you are meddlesome, we will take watch" Says Ignis resigning a sigh
"Hahaha, the mortal should be thankful to have you sister." Says Ifrit as he follows Ignis
"....."
"He's suffered alot in his life, I wish I could help him but I don't want to intrude on him any further." Flamma sympathizes
She had been sitting by Belial's side notices him squirming about, she listens carefully to what would be dream speech. She hears him weep and does what she could to comfort him. She contemplates who or what molded the man before her to what he is today , she considered skrying his memories though that would violate his trust. She wanted to help this man before her alas there's nothing to be had with speculations. She does however vow to support that wizard through his turbulent times for she sees light in his blackened dark heart.
"...the only one." Belial unawaringly continues muttering incoherent speech in the meantime.
"He must be talking about him." Flamma concludes " the man in his memories."
A dragonkin by the name of Zephyr she had been aware of him through Belial's leaking thoughts every now and then.
"I just want to know Belial, who are you and what is it that you seek from this."
"Thank you, Flamma. I feel much better " says Belial
"I take it that , we are to continue ahead?."
"Yes, let's tread onwards."
"One more thing, I'd also like to thank you for.... not scrying my thoughts."
A few hours has passed since the party have taken rest. Feeling recuperated Belial stretches out his limbs and notices his shivering had gone entirely. Flamma gives him a knowing smile before rejoining her siblings.
Belial and co. tread ahead moving through corridors until they've reached a staircase each step had a guardian to keep intruders out. The 3 dragons sense that they are closer to Nldhogg.
A giant , a Wyvern and a knight?, both the giant and the Wyvern are mutated variants. Fighting all three of them would surely take a toll on Belial alas his companions had other ideas.
Flamma steps forward towards the Wyvern
"Belial, leave this to me."
"What..do you mean." Belial answers confused
"Are you slow Mortal, she ... *ahem* We've decided to take some burdens out of your hands you ought to be grateful. " Ignis backs Flamma
"Flamma worries too much about you and Ignis here , he doesn't show it but he deeply concerned about you. As for myself I want to fight that strong looking knight." Says Ifrit as he grins.
"You three...." Belial is speechless
"We're partners Belial, and partners watch each other's behind." Flamma nudges Belial onward
"Go mortal, we can take care of it." Ignis chimes
"We've resolved ourselves , now don't get in our way mortal." Ifrit puts an end to the conversation
- The 3 Dragons and the guardians of Nldhogg-
Ifrit flies and charges at the knight , Ignis takes on the Giant slithering around avoiding it's strike and Flamma lunges at the wyvern.
Thus the battle commences
-Dragons POV-
"Raaarrr!." The Wyverns howls as it's breath turns icy it shoots an ice beam at Flamma
Flamma now engulfed in flames takes the attack in stride while shooting her own fiery feather projectiles.
The Wyvern nimbly dodges her projectiles while shooting icy spikes from it's tail
The two are fighting a battle of attrition, the sooner one let's up the other will take an initiative for a direct approach.
"Raaaaaar!." The Wyvern casts a summoning spell adding 3 more of it's kind(inferior) to its side
The Wyverns now emboldened by the presence of its minions leaps onto Flamma surrounding her from all sides.
The inferior Wyverns attempt to scratch at her back while the mutated kind attempts a frontal attack. Flamma splendidly dodges the 4 way deadlock and produces a miniature explosion. Before heaving in exhaustion.
"Raaaaar!." The wyvern now in tatters stands and makes do with final attack a dangerous spell that could end its life and here
"FOR BELIAL'S SAKE I CAN'T ADD MORE TO HIS TROUBLED MIND."
Subzero temperature surge from it's body as Flamma counters with her own miniature radiation the cold frigid winds against her scorching heat.
The two auras clashed until one collapsed the Wyvwrn unable to uncontrol it's power had all but frozen itself. Flamma takes the chance to melt turn it into dust.
Meanwhile Ignis and the Giant are engaging in a calculated battle, the Giant warry of Ignis entanglement does a 'hit and run strategy
"Haah!." The giant brandished its club unleashing an explosive ice attack upon contact, the scales on Ignis provides much needed defense while Flamma's strength is magic , and Ifrit strength lies in his attack. Ignis is purely defensive
Ignis body morphs and turns the Giant club into molten liquid. The giant tries to take himself off Ignis who's morphed into lava , alas he does not make it.
Ignis tights his grip on the Giant as it screams agonized.
The giant uses its last spurt of energy to break through Ignis tight grip. Using the hands he freed, he holds Ignis mouth forcing them open.
"A foo u .. foo." He says as he breathes red liquid on the Giant incinerating it.
Ignis now stsees at what remained of that giant and mutters to himself
"This is the last time I help that mortal."
At the very top of the staircase Ifrit and a Knight gaze upon each other to measure their strength
The knight a sculpture made of pure ice brandished it's great sword and gathered mana around it, meeting it's ferocity Ifrit laughed and gathered mana around him in response
"JUST like the fairytales father used to tell, show me your mettle knight."
The knight leaped high up lunging a strike at Ifrit, to which he met it with his sharpened claw thus the knight and the dragon begin clashing
Ifrit and the knight exchange blows each fetal enough to wound one other , the ground shakes from the intensity of their mana. The ice called blades freezes it's surrounding when clashing with Ifrit who's claws burn everything in its wake.
"This is what I meant, this is what life is for fighting the strong and prevailing." Ifrit speaks not to the silent but to himself
He swings his tail at the knight whom countered with his shield. The attack staggers the knight slightly giving Ifrit a chance . He produced an arch of mana in his claw and struck a projectile the knight barely dodged the attack in time breaking his helmet slightly
The knight whom Ifrit mistaken as male turned out to be a female of long blonde hair. Ifrit who had always been indifferent to minors couldn't avoid blushing as he stared at her cold blue eyes.
"Were mortals ever this beautiful." Ifrit thoughts lingered as he likened her to a Queen of Ice.
The knight took mere seconds to regain her foothold as she lunged a lethal attack targeting the distracted Ifrit chest
"Ahhh you almost had me." Ifrit haphazardly produced a shield repelling the attack in the nick of time.
'Is this love thought Ifrit focus. This is it do not let that mortal effort go to waste.' He thought as someone's success depended on him if he's to trample on his feelings then so be it and a part of him knows he can meet that Ice Queen elsewhere.
"Time to get serious" the knight continued a barrage of assaults to which Ifrit had countered the tit for tat continued as Ifrit bid his time to let the intricate magic circle form around him.
The knight took his bidding as an invitation met him with the force of nilfheim. Her sword baring hues of blue unleashed a powerful shock attack Ifrit took the burn and froze completely
20 seconds later cracks appeared and Ifrit emerged the magic circles increased by a magnitude of ten ready for Ifrit to issue the command.
"This is farewell to you my first love."
"INFERNO!." the spell that could render the ancient dragons to rest was casted
The upper floors erupted in flames from all sides burning the knight to cinders leaving Ifrit with tears for the beauty he had just met
"You better compensate me mortal." He says as he leaves to his siblings
To be continued