Chereads / Cursed Convergence: Part II / Chapter 73 - Chapter 73- The Final Flame Dance

Chapter 73 - Chapter 73- The Final Flame Dance

"Flames Are Not Born Calm, They Rage, they Consume, They Destroy. But In The Dance, I've Learned They Can Also Illuminate The Path Forward. I Am The Fire, And I Will Burn As I Choose"- Kaida

Kaida's Final Test Begins!!!

Kaida And Chikai Stand Face To Face, Their Eyes Locked Onto Each Others As They Sweep Their Feet Across The Ground, Flames Forming Beneath Them…

While Their Mother Kimiko, Sits Across From Them And Begins Playing A Flute.

Chikai(Firm, Eyes Fiery): Begin!

Kaida And Chikai Begin Their Battle, As Kaida Throws The First Strike… Her Palm Matching The Rhythm Of The Flute Being Played By Their Mother In The Distance.

Chikai Sidesteps Kaida's Strike With Precision, Her Feet Gliding Across The Flame Scorched Ground. Her Counterattack Is Swift…

A Sweeping Arc Of Her Arm Sends A Surge Of Red Fire Toward Kaida.

Kaida Spins, Narrowly Dodging The Attack, Her Flames Flickering Erratically. She Grits Her Teeth, Her Movements A Fraction Behind The Rhythm Of Kimiko's Flute.

Chikai(Calm, But Firm): Your Flame Is Strong, But Strength Alone Isn't Enough. Flow With The Music, Kaida. Let It Guide You.

Kaida's Frustration Flares. She Leaps Forward, Her Strikes Growing More Forceful, But Chikai Matches Her Every Move, Her Red Flame's Pushing Kaida Back.

Kimiko's Melody Grows More Intricate, Her Voice Weaving Through The Notes Like A Gentle Wind Fanning The Two Flames. The Tempo Shifts, A Faster Rhythm Urging Kaida To Find Her Footing.

Kimiko(Singing With Soft Voice,): "In The Tempest, A Flame Will Sway… Lost And Searching For Its Way…

Chikai Then Lands A Swift Strike Onto Kaida's Stomach As Kaida Staggers Back…

As She Takes A Moment… And Then Stands In Front Of Chikai Once More, And Sweeps Her Feet Across The Ground Beneath Her Again.

She Inhales Deeply, And Then Exhales While Her Eyes Remain Closed…

Alongside Kimiko's Flute, A Sudden Gust Of Wind Blows Past… With Crimson Petals From A Maple Tree Flying Past.

Suddenly, The Ground Beneath Them Is Scattered With Petals As To The Right Of Kaida And Chikai, A Giant Maple Tree Emerges… With Their Mother Kimiko Sitting Underneath It, Her Black Hair Flowing With The Wind.

Kaida Then Gets Into Her Stance, As She Makes The First Move… Her Arm, Moving On Its Own Toward Chikai As Kimiko Begins Playing The Flute And Singing The "Soul Of Fire" Song Once More… The Flutes Sound Intensifying, Yet The Sounds Calming.

Kimiko(Softly, Singing): "Followww The Fire, As It Guides You're Soul, And Rise Through The Ashes… A Big Dragon Fly's!"

Kaida's Movement's Shift, No Longer Forceful But Fluid. Her Arm Arcs Gracefully Toward Chikai, Her Flames Swirling In Harmony With The Songs Melody. The Once Chaotic Orange Hues Of Her Fire Begin To Stabilize, Flickering Softly With Hints Of Blue.

Chikai Steps Back, Her Expression Calm Yet Watchful. She Adjusts Her Stance, Her Own Red Flames Surging In Response. She Launches A Sweeping Wave Of Red Fire Toward Kaida, But This Time She Doesn't Falter.

With A Spin That Mirrors The Swirl Of Falling Petals, Kaida Summons Her Now Blue Flames As They Swirl Around Her And Block Out Chikai's Red Flames…

Kaida's Blue Flames Then Swirl Around Her Right Arm, As Kaida Fires Them At Chikai…

Chikai Sidesteps To The Left And Grabs Kaida's Arm, And Spins Her Around Herself…

However Kaida Then Lowers Herself To The Ground, And Sweeps Chikai Off Her Feet.

Kimiko(Voice Growing Louder, Softly): "Red Meets Blue, A Bond Untamed, A Spark Reborn… In The Circle Where Flames Clash, The Soul's True Strength Will Never Hide!"

Kaida And Chikai Rise On Their Feet, As They Begin Exchanging A Flurry Of Strikes… Their Flames Interweaving In A Mesmerizing Dance. The Ground Beneath Them Scorches And Cools In Cycles As Their Fiery Movements Carve Intricate Patterns Into The Ground.

Kaida's Eyes Sharpen, Her Breathing Syncing Perfectly With The Rhythm Of The Flute. Her Flames, Now Fully Blue, Flare Brilliantly.

Chikai(Smirking, Proud): "Finally… You've Found You're Flow.

Kaida Leaps Forward, Her Movements Graceful Yet Decisive. She Spins Mid-Air, Her Flames Forming A Spiraling Vortex Around Her. As She Descends, She Lands A Precise Strike Against Chikai's Defenses, Her Blue Fire Surging Like A Tidal Wave And Overwhelming Chikai's Red Flames.

Kimiko's Final Note Lingers In The Air, The Hauntingly Beautiful Melody Echoing Through The Now-Still Battlefield.

Kimiko(Singing): "A Soul Of Fire, Calm And True, The World Transforms… In Shades Of Blue."

Chikai And Kimiko Come To A Pause, As They Look At Kaida Who's Eyes Are Closed… As She Suddenly Makes An Intricate Hand Seal.

Kaida(Voice Unsettlingly Calm): Kyokai Ido(Realm Shift)… Moeru Saisei(Blazing Rebirth).

As Kaida Completes Her Hand Seal, The Atmosphere Shifts Violently. A Sudden Surge Of Heat Erupts, And The Battlefield Is Engulfed In A Blazing Inferno Of Blue And Red. The Ground Cracks Apart, Molten Rivers Carving Through The Earth As The Sky Darkens To An Overwhelming Red, Streaked With Bursts Of Blue Fire.

Kaida's Sub-Space Takes Form, A Fiery Apocalyptic Realm Embodying Her Deepest Emotions And Resolve.

Chikai And Kimiko Stumbles Slightly, Steadying Herself As The Warped Air Distorts Their Vision. Towering Phoenix's Of Pure Flame Soar Above, Their Haunting Cries Echo Across The Molten Wasteland. The Oppressive Heat Radiates Power, Yet There's An Undeniable beauty To The Flickering Embers And The Cascading Firelight.

Kimiko(Proud, Walking Toward Kaida And Chikai): You've Done It, My Daughters… I'm So Proud Of How Much You've Both Grown Alongside Each Other.

A Sudden Tear Drops Out Of Kaida's Eye… As She Pulls Kimiko And Chikai In For A Warm Embrace…

Kaida(Wide Smile, Tears Flowing): Ma, Big Sis… Thank You Both So Much! Without You Two I Wouldn't Have Been Able To Pull It Off… You Both Have Always Helped Me, Now It's My Turn To Make You Both Proud.

Kimiko(Softly, Smiling While Hugging Both Kaida And Chikai): We've Always Been Proud Of You Kaida… You Have A Bright Future Ahead Of Yourself, And Many People Will Look To You As Their Leader…

Kimiko(Smiling): When You Face Your Father… I Want You To Show Everyone, The Strength And Will Of Their Future Leader! Do Not Be Afraid.

Chikai(Nodding): Well Be Watching From The Spirit Realm, And Once You Defeat Him… Come Back And Have A Talk With Us!

Kaida(Curious): How Can I Go To The Spirit Realm? Isn't That The Afterlife For Departed Souls?

Kimiko(Smiling): As Long As Our Spiritual Energy Resides Within You're Heart… You Can Visit As Much As You Want! Didn't You Know That?

Kaida(Shaking Head): I Didn't Even Know The Spirit Realm Existed Until Just Recently… But I Will!

**Meanwhile, Outside Od Kaida's Soul**

Aria Removes Her Hand From Kaida's Forehead, And Steps Back As Her Soul Sight Is Still Active In Her Eyes…

Selene(Curious, Firm): I Felt A Change In Her Spiritual Energy… See Anything?

Aria(Nodding, Exclaiming): Yeah… The Color Of The Flame In Her Soul Changed From Orange To A Bright Blue Color!

Aaliyah(Yawning, Stretching Arms): I Can Feel It… She's Done It.

Kaida Then Opens Her Eyes And Is Brought Back To The Training Fields On The Back Of The Flame Faction's Village, And See's Selene, Aria And Aaliyah.

Kaida(Firm): I- I Think I've Done It… My Mother And Sister Helped Me, From The Spirit Realm.

Kaida Stands Up.

Kaida Then Looks Up Into The Sky, And See's The Sun Rising… The Sun Shining On Their Faces.

Kaida(Firm): Let's Rest A While… I Have One Final Favor To Ask Of All Of You, Tomorrow. Will You All Help Me Save The Women And Children Of The Southern Tribe…

Kaida's Eyes Lock Onto Theirs!

Kaida(Firm, Determined): And Kill My Father?!

Selene(Nodding): Yep.

Aaliyah(Nodding, Slightly Smiling): Do Ya Even Have Ta Ask?!

Aria(Yawning, Nodding): Of Course We'll Help A Friend In Need!

Kaida Bows… As She Smiles.

Kaida(Bowing): Thank You All So Much!

Kaida(Walking): For Now… You All Should Rest Up.

"The Final Battle Draws Near… The Once Small And Weak Dragon, Now Rises From The Ashes… Big And Soaring Over The Sky, It's Flames Burning Through The Heavens!"

To Be Continued, In Chapter Seventy Four…