As the final strike of the Blazing Lion subsided, the three brave warriors stood amidst the silence that enveloped the area. The Lava Temple, once sweltering with heat, now held a somber atmosphere of grief. The roaring flames that once consumed the Lion—the Sin of Wrath—gradually died out, and its massive form began to fade into a shimmering, translucent figure.
Akira stood motionless, his hands gripping his twin swords tightly. His gaze fixated on the silver armor left in the center of the temple, radiating a brilliant light, as if it were a symbol of the liberation that had just occurred.
"It's over…" Akira whispered, but his heart still felt heavy.
Yue walked closer to her brother, supporting him with her hand. Her face was pale, yet her golden eyes sparkled with relief. "Brother, we did it… We won."
Akira nodded slowly, but his eyes never left the armor. "Yes… But what we saw… It's not over yet."
Draco, standing a short distance away and still catching his breath, spoke firmly. "It mentioned something important… Perhaps that armor holds the answers."
Akira approached the armor as if drawn to it by an unseen force. As he reached out to touch its surface, a brilliant silver light erupted, forcing everyone to close their eyes.
A Realm of Memories
When Akira opened his eyes again, he found himself standing in a lush green meadow surrounded by distant mountains. Warm sunlight bathed the landscape, and a gentle breeze blew softly. Underneath a large tree, a man and a woman sat together. The woman smiled tenderly while the man, dressed in a warrior's attire, played with a small child.
"This place…" Akira murmured, his gaze fixed on the man. His face and eyes seemed hauntingly familiar.
The laughter of the family resonated with joy, but the serene scene quickly shifted. Explosions echoed, and the clash of swords roared. A fierce battle erupted. The man, once so peaceful, now stood as a commanding figure in the battlefield, his face smeared with blood but his determined gaze unyielding.
"This is what I chose… to protect what matters most," the man's voice echoed in Akira's mind.
But what followed was a scene of great loss. The woman, who once smiled so brightly, was taken away. The man's once-bright eyes were now filled with rage and sorrow.
"Elenaar… I won't let them take you!" his voice boomed, filled with anguish.
The final image was of the man standing amidst a raging inferno, his eyes burning with fury. The flames consumed everything around him until he transformed into the Blazing Lion, a creature fueled entirely by wrath.
Return to Reality
Akira gasped as he returned to the present. The brilliance of the armor dimmed but still emitted a faint glow. Around him, the temple was quiet, its fiery surroundings reduced to gentle embers.
"That man…" Akira whispered. "He wasn't always a monster. He was someone who fought for what he loved… but his anger consumed him."
Yue looked at her brother, concern etched on her face. "What did you see, brother? Was it his memory?"
Akira nodded slowly, his hands trembling slightly. "It was a memory… of someone who lost everything and let their rage take over. He was a protector, like us. But in the end… he couldn't save what mattered most."
Draco stepped forward, his voice steady but resolute. "We've seen the truth, but this isn't the end. That armor holds something we need."
Akira looked back at the glowing armor, its light symbolizing not only the remnants of the Lion's strength but also the sorrow that had bound it.
"We may have won this battle, but the answers we need are still ahead," Akira said.
"Then let's keep moving," Draco replied. "What awaits us will only get harder."
Yue stepped closer, gripping her brother's hand tightly. "No matter what's ahead, we'll face it together."
Akira nodded firmly. "Yes. Together."
The three of them turned toward the silver armor, their resolve strong. Even as their journey through the Land of Flames seemed to reach a turning point, they knew the trials ahead would demand even greater strength.