Chapter 7: Fire and Fire

From the first step into the Canyon, Takabi expected to still struggle with the magic pressure from his last visit. Before, a simple step within this space would have him struggling with any movement that wouldn't break his bones. As of now, while there was definitely weight on his back, he was able to move and jump with some difficulty.

He had memories of this place, none of which being pleasant. It was where he was reminded of how he took an innocent life.

The life of a simple child whom he had a stupid argument with.

Darkness lurked in everyone, Takabi knew that. However, there was an even deeper darkness that shook him to the point he couldn't use any of his dark powers without the overwhelming fear he would lose himself, and all traces of humanity he gained and held so tightly onto.

He doesn't want to be a monster, or a weapon.

However, the idea of training with someone so powerful had him shaking with anticipation and excitement.

The three Dragons led Takabi ahead, his eyes glancing between Garuga and Syrreth. The two of them were powerful, without a doubt, but it seemed like they both paled in comparison to the Fire Dragon in the lead. Porrelth, even while suppressing his magic energy, seemed to be in a class all his own.

This man, this Dragon, was the monster that other monsters looked for under their beds. He had a hot headed personality, but that must've been a cover up for how he truly was on the inside.

Respected. Smart.

And Powerful. Plain and simple.

"Here," Porrelth finally said, the group stopping in a rainbow colored clearing, grass and trees reflecting the odd sunlight in an intense hue.

Takabi looked at his palms, sweat slowly forming. His arms shook a tiny bit, muscles aching in a silent stir at the pressure of mana around them. The clearing felt like a pocket that was holding a thicker cloud of magic.

"This space feels nice," Syrreth commented as Garuga pulled up a large boulder for the two to sit on. Porrelth tossed his jacket aside, patting his pants as he watched Takabi.

"I'm sure you sensed it by now. This spot has a higher pressure than the others. Some areas have more magic concentration." He commented.

Takabi inhaled slowly, then exhaled a small flame. "So, how is this test supposed to start? Any warnings?"

As he asked, Porrelth threw his arm forward, a ball of massive orange flames surging at the boy. Takabi reacted fast, raising his hands and summoning a wall of white fire to cancel out the incoming heat. The sudden impact caused a heavy cloud of thick black smoke to block his view. He took a step back, violet eyes glowing faintly and his field of vision changing.

A faint image of a pair of knuckles came into view. Takabi bent back, dodging Porrelth's fist. The force cut the cloud in half and dispersed it around the two. Now in full view, Takabi used his palm to flip back and kick the Dragon's forearm. The two smiled at each other, as if that one blow somehow opened up how similarly they were feeling in the moment.

Briming in excitement.

Porrelth grabbed Takabi's ankle and tossed him into the air. The pressure felt like paper against his back at first, but when he began descending, his body crashed into the soil harder and faster than he expected. Picking himself up from the crater, Takabi wiped the blood from his nose as it healed and stood straight. Between his fingers, small fire stars formed. A wave of his arm sent the stars shooting through the air, and clapping his palms together enlarged them all at once. His eyes narrowed, forcing the fire to split apart into a swarm that came quick at Porrelth.

The fire Dragon smiled, extending his arms and letting each star strike him. Each one that connected, shattered into a small spark and faded away into the air. Once the storm of stars died down, he patted his arms and gave a taunting look at Takabi.

"That's right. A fire Dragon.. Meaning my magic is…" His eyes widened as he came out of his thoughts. "Or maybe not." He punched his palm, fire erupting in the sudden contact. Under it, small surges of violet lightning.

Garuga raised an eyebrow, his arms crossed as he watched closely. Takabi was smart, but to think of something like that after a small trial and error was honestly a bit impressive. The boy was calm, observant. All that training seemed to leave a lasting impression on him. That made Garuga smile, something Syrreth took notice of.

Takabi leapt at Porrelth. "Fake him out. Find an opening," Takabi thought.

His arm moved forward in a punch. Porrelth went to block with his palm, and Takabi took that instant to enhance his speed and appear on the ground in front of the Dragon, throwing his left arm forward. Porrelth's hand clasped around his knuckles, catching it effortlessly. "Did you really think I'd fall for a trick like that?"

A foot slammed into his cheek from the left, knocking him off Takabi. Keeping his balance, his yellow eyes fell on a clone of Takabi high fiving the original. The two smiled at him and rushed forward. Around them, violet lightning began to surge, as their speed enhanced and they vanished from view. Porrelth closed his eyes and exhaled.

He could sense him, despite the speed increase. Instead of two, he felt ten closing in all around him. His arm moved down, striking a clone and destroying it in a gust of fire. He spun on his toes, foot raising and kicking another in the throat, the copy vanishing as well.

Each clone of Takabi came into view, taking a deep breath and releasing sharp fire breaths at Porrelth. He put his arms together, a ball of fire erupting around him and blocking the attack.

Crackling filled his ears. Opening his eyes, he noticed his fire shield beginning to crack in thin layers, surges of violet electricity pouring in and shocking him. He kept his body still, taking the increasing current into his body.

Gritting his teeth, he roared a Dragon's roar, his flames exploding in a massive fireball that swallowed the copies. The real Takabi flew back, slamming into a tree with his shirt singed and torn. He stood, body steaming from the intense heat and healing his burns.

Porrelth came at him, flames around his knuckles. Takabi pulled his fist back, fire and lightning surging around his fist as the two clashed once again, shaking the clearing from the impact and letting their fire rush about wildly.

"Why do you wish to become stronger, boy?"

"Why?" He repeated, throwing an uppercut that Porrelth dodged. He gripped his arm, spinning Takabi around and pulling his arm back in a joint lock. His bones scraped against one another painfully, causing Takabi to wince visibly. His teeth clamped down into his lips, halting his voice and cries of pain. "What does it matter why?"

"Tell me," He said more aggressively, pulling harder. It felt like Takabi's arm would come off. A popping filled his ears, and that's when he cried out. "Change! I want to do what my mother never had a chance to!"

"And change the structure of our lives?" He released Takabi, shoving him forward. "Forget it. Such a thing isn't possible." Takabi stumbled, whipping around as Porrelth landed a heavy fist into his gut. "I've heard all about you and your family."

Takabi dropped to his knees, wheezing heavily and coughing madly. He popped his arm back into its socket, looking up with a strained gaze.

"The tragedy that took so many lives years ago. Give me a break. Your strength is impressive, but you lack what's needed to survive training with me. What a waste of time."

"Excuse me," He yelled, flames erupting around him.

The outburst made Garuga unfold his arms in shock.

Takabi threw a fist, Porrelth blocking it with a mere glare. Takabi blinked, his eyes momentarily flashing and detected the barrier of magic between them both.

He's using more power now, Takabi screamed in his mind.

Using his momentum against him, Porrelth gripped Takabi's head and slammed him into the soil, flames bellowing heavily into the air. Once diminished, Porrelth removed his hand, Takabi's eyes rolled back, signifying his unconsciousness. "Like I said. You're lacking. No true heart or spirit."

He turned to leave, stopping when something grabbed his leg. Sighing, he said, "Don't make me repeat myself a third time."

Black knuckles struck his cheek, tossing him away. Flipping, Porrelth slid back, staring at the transformed Takabi. Violet flames bellowed around the ends of his now long, white hair. The glowing violet of his eyes blocked out his irises, and his feathered wings stretched out wide.

He screamed, not of pain, but of a sudden, intense anger. He leapt forward, throwing rapid fists in a wild fashion. Porrelth vanished, Takabi's fist coming down on a boulder and smashing it to bits effortlessly.

"He lost control?! Why?!" Garuga leapt to his feet, but Syrreth stopped him. "What are you doing?!"

"Let this play out. If he's at threat of death, we'll stop him." She smiled at him. "Don't worry."

Garuga did just that.

Gritting his teeth, he returned his gaze to the fight. Porrelth was dashing around the clearing, avoiding the trees and balls of fire Takabi spit at him. He dashed past a dinosaur, and that was the only time Takabi stopped. Porrelth took that moment to rush at the Fallen Angel. Takabi's ear twitched, and he ducked, faster than Porrelth was able to see, and he kicked up, catching the Dragon's chin.

Porrelth flew into the air, Takabi giving chase behind him, fangs gritting and steam rushing from his mouth. When he got close, he reached out, fire and lightning shooting in a thick beam at Porrelth. The Fire Dragon opened his palm, catching the blast and holding it back effortlessly.

A smile touched Porrelth's face. His thoughts were of pure enjoyment and bits of ecstasy.

So he does have potential, Porrelth thought.

Takabi's face quickly appeared from the flames, fire striking Porrelth's left ribs. He looked a little shocked, the flames swallowing both in a heavy ball of violet, erupting in a massive explosion, blowing away the nearby trees and incinerating the grass.

Garuga and Porrelth shielded their eyes. The intense winds were like razors against their skin, the surrounding wildlife rushing away as fast their feet would take them.

Once the shockwave and fires died down, Garuga scanned the fading cloud for the pair. Takabi fell out, body smoldering with darkness and fading fire. His transformation had ended, and his eyes were closed as he hit the ground, unmoving except for his chest and painful breaths.

The Shadow rushed over, kneeling next to Takabi and raising his head up. His shirt was gone, burns littering his torso and lips dried, cracked and bleeding. His pants were torn at the knees, fresh red blood oozing out but slowly stopping as the wounds began to heal.

Porrelth landed hard on his feet, soil caving in under the force. He looked at the two, then back at himself and how damaged his outfit was. "Damn. I loved this shirt." He muttered, glancing at Takabi.

The boy healed faster than any of the Dragons thought he would. He was drained of mana, yet looked as normal as he did when they first arrived. He stood, breathing heavy but fists raised in a fighting stance. His eyes held the anger and frustration he had previously, with a new calmness about himself. "Sorry… About that… Let's continue."

"Continue," Garuga repeated. "You're not fighting anymore!"

"Let the boy fight," Porrelth said. His face was blank, but a tiny smirk threatened to touch his face as Takabi ran at him. The look in the boy's eyes was one of determination. No longer pure rage, but a strange new outlook. Anger lingered, but it was buried under something else. That tiny spark of will.

The will to win. The will to protect. The will to do whatever it took to make sure all was right.

"There's that look." Porrelth muttered. "That's what I wanted to see."

Takabi threw a tired first forward. Porrelth dashed around him and placed a quick chop to the back of his neck, knocking him out cold as he hit the dirt face first.

"I like him." Porrelth said suddenly as Syrreth walked over and knelt, her hands glowing in a white light as she waved them over Takabi. "He's strong, but more importantly determined." He looked at Garuga, smiling wider and walked past him. "Mystic eye. Fallen Angel. He could be as powerful as God himself and I still wouldn't care. His will however. That is what I was interested in. After all, what good is a weapon if it has no will to fight?"

"I figured.. But to go to such extreme measures. Why make him resort to transforming? I couldn't even do that, no matter how much I made him resort to his dark side."

"Then why would I be able to?"

The two looked each other in the eye, then back at Takabi. Syrreth had a concerned look on her face when she met their gaze, and something unspoken was shared between the three.