The Southern Region was a land of eternal dusk, where the horizon burned with the glow of molten rivers and the sky swirled with crimson clouds. It was here that Dave Igneel found himself, drawn by the presence of a new disturbance.
The Ash Warden, a towering figure cloaked in ember-like armor, stood at the heart of the chaos. Surrounding him were twisted creatures, their forms warped by the searing heat of the region. The ground beneath them glowed red-hot, pulsing with energy.
Dave approached cautiously, his gauntlet glowing faintly with golden light.
Ash Warden (with a deep, grating voice):
"So... another has come to challenge me. But your energy... it feels familiar."
Dave narrowed his eyes, his stance steady.
Dave:
"I don't care what you think you recognize. I'm here to stop whatever madness you're brewing."
The Ash Warden tilted his head, his ember-like eyes narrowing as he scrutinized Dave.
Ash Warden:
"Human... you are human. From that pitiful dimension called Earth. Yes... I remember now. There was another—what was his name? Ah, yes, Sung Min Ki. He was much like you... bold, defiant. But he learned the truth of this place the hard way."
Dave's expression hardened at the mention of Sung Min Ki. His mind raced, recalling the stories he'd heard about the Blossom Dimension and the mysterious figure who had vanished within it.
Dave (firmly):
"What do you know about Sung Min Ki?"
The Ash Warden chuckled, the sound like the crackling of burning wood.
Ash Warden:
"He was strong, yes... stronger than most. But strength means nothing here. This realm exists beyond your understanding, beyond even Vanik's reach. And yet... it seems the remnants of his defiance still linger in your kind. How amusing."
The Warden's voice turned cold, his ember-like aura flaring.
Ash Warden:
"But you will learn the same lesson as he did. All who oppose the Sleeves shall perish."
Without warning, the Ash Warden lunged, his molten blade slicing through the air with blistering heat. Dave countered with his Solar Flare Strike, the golden energy colliding with the Warden's fiery attack in a blinding explosion.
The battlefield shook as the two clashed, the molten rivers around them erupting in bursts of lava.
But as the fight raged on, Dave sensed something sinister. The Warden's every move exuded a killing instinct so palpable it felt suffocating. His intent was clear—he would destroy Dave without hesitation.
Dave (to himself):
"This guy... he's not just a threat to me. He's a threat to humanity."
The Ash Warden roared, his molten armor cracking as he unleashed his ultimate attack—a tidal wave of molten energy aimed directly at Dave.
But Dave wasn't deterred. Summoning the power of his gauntlet, he activated Ethereal Bind, chains of golden light wrapping around the Warden's body and halting his attack mid-strike.
Dave:
"You've said enough. Humanity won't fall to the likes of you."
With a final, decisive move, Dave unleashed Saignement de Cri, the blade's devastating energy cutting through the Warden's armor and shattering his core.
The Ash Warden let out a guttural cry as his form disintegrated into ash, his molten blade dissolving along with him.
As the battlefield fell silent, Dave stood amidst the ruins, his gauntlet dimming. He knelt by the Warden's remains, finding a glowing shard unlike any he had seen before.
The shard pulsed faintly, resonating with the energy of the Blossom Dimension.
Dave (to himself):
"So there are other dimensions... dimensions even Vanik couldn't conquer. That's why he turned his sights on Earth. But why did he fear them so much?"
He clenched the shard in his hand, his resolve strengthening.
Dave:
"If Sung Min Ki could defeat something like you, then I'll carry that legacy forward. I'll uncover the truth behind all of this."
Unknown to Dave, in the depths of the Blossom Dimension, the name Sung Min Ki had become famous. His victory over the Ash Warden was a pivotal moment in the battle against the Sleeves, a tale of defiance that inspired even those who remained trapped within.
As Dave left the Southern Region, his name too began to spread, whispered among those who still fought against the Sleeves' tyranny.