Chapter 165 : The Metamorphosis (Part 2)
Rei began to position himself in a full lotus form in the center of the room, his eyes closed and Ignia was standing behind him.
"Before we begin, I will explain the process so make sure you listen carefully." Ignia spoke.
"Yes master." Rei replied.
"This method is similar to the magic that I taught you before."
"[Dragon Magic: Ignis Prominence]."
"This magic allows you to completely absorb any flame and turn your body invincible from all kind of attacks whether it is debuff nor an instant death."
"Why? You become the flame itself that you use as a core."
"But you need to know, that this magic only changed the outer appearance, not the inside."
"It's like wearing a big clothes while having a skinny body to protect yourself from outside." Ignia explained while using an analogy.
"So, what I am about to tell you, a different method."
"That is to use your flames from within your body."
"To cleanse all the dirt and waste from within you, and turned your body into a perfect vessel for the [True Flame]." Ignia touched his back with her right hand.
"Now, within you, there are three flames that you have acquired."
"And each of them consists of different energy which represents the Trials that you had gone through."
"[Hell Flame] is the source of power that could bend the rules of the world, and destruction that could lead [Death]."
"[Divine Flame] is the source of power that could purify all evil of this world, reconstruction that could lead [Life]."
"And finally, [Blacksmith Flame], is the source of power that consists of both of them, a flame that was created by a sole being that is neither demon nor any divine being could do."
"We also call it, the [Human's Flame] which to lead [Harmony]." Ignia explained.
Rei remained silent as he listened to every word she said, focusing on what was going to happen.
"Just like I said, each flame has its own role, [Hell Flame] as destruction and [Divine Flame] as reconstruction."
"[Destruction] is to destroy all the dirt and waste parts from within you, the reason is that [True Flame] needed a vessel that is clean from everything, a pure vessel, which is why it needed this flame to burn down everything within your body indiscriminately."
"While [Reconstruction] is to purify your body, after cleansing all the waste parts that have been burned, this process heals all the damages caused by [Destruction], and turns your body into a strong vessel that can contain the [True Flame]."
"And finally...the role of [Blacksmith Flame]...."
"...is to [Harmonize] these two opposite flames that are raging inside your body."
"You must be patient, because you need to contain these two energies while also battling with the pain that you suffer from the process." Ignia explained.
"That is all, I will now guide you through it." Ignia lifted her hand towards his head, then created a barrier around him.
"This will prevent the flames from coming out, do not open your eyes or mouth, because all those energies will leak and you will gain nothing."
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"So...are you ready?" Ignia asked him one more time.
Rei nodded his head without answering her.
Ignia closed her eyes, "I see, very well."
Rei began to gather three flames within his body, the red flame (Blacksmith Flame), the black flame (Hell Flame) and finally the golden flame (Divine Flame).
They all now gathered within the center of his body which was located on his abdomen.
"Now, use [Hell Flame] to start the process." Ignia spoke.
Rei steadied his breathing and started to control the black flame from the center that flickered everytime he moved it.
"—?!!"
Rei could feel the rising heat within his body, causing him to sweat a lot.
"Now circulate it to your whole body." Ignia instructed.
He started to move the [Hell Flame] and circulate them to his whole body as per her instruction.
It started to spread through his legs.
"—?!"
Then up to his arms.
"Ugh—!!!"
The pain began to spread all over his body, as if his organs, his muscles, his bones and even his blood began to boil and melt down from the [Hell Flame] that was circulating inside his body.
But Rei must keep his mouth shut and bear the pain, he must not scream.
After that...
His skin began to darken and crack like a black volcanic ground, and the black flame came out of those cracks on his body.
With his entire body having completely changed in color, the only part that he hadn't reached yet was his [head].
Rei could tell this was dangerous, he knew this might kill him.
Ignia could tell as well, 'Yes...cleansing your whole body can be easy for him because he had been through rigorous training many times before.'
'But...even so, the head is always the most dangerous part.'
'One mistake...and his head could explode from those raging flames.' Ignia thought as she observed him.
But...Rei didn't want to give up.
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So...
He finally started to...
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....circulate the flames towards his head.
"—?!"
It felt like being drowned in a pool of magma.
Tears of blood started to trail down his cheeks from his closed eyes, smoke and blood slipped out from the gaps of his mouth.
"...?!"
Ignia could tell how painful it must be from the way his body reacted, but she had to remain calm and be his anchor in this situation.
"Now contain the flame! Make sure to circulate it to every nook and cranny of your body!"
Just like she said, the black flames were now circulating through all parts of his body.
From his arms and legs, hands and feet, each of his fingers, and finally his head, and even his brain.
Rei just reached his limit, but his strong will was trying to keep him from blacking out from the pain, choosing to focus on what Ignia was saying next.
"Now use your [Divine Flame]! Purify all the [Hell Flame] from within!"
Rei, who almost fell unconscious, tried to move the [Divine Flame] in the center of his body.
It flickered, but it couldn't move at all no matter how hard he tried.
Ignia could see it through her eyes that turned sharp like a lizard, 'No...he needs to circulate the Divine Flame now, or he'll die!'
When he thought he was on the verge of death….
'It's time for me to help.'
A voice came out from his body, and Ignia could hear it.
'You...'
It was Ray, sitting in full lotus form in a white space, 'I will help him to circulate the [Divine Flame] and share his pain.'
'You fool! The pain is something that your soul cannot handle!'
'Do you want to waste his effort for pulling you back from that stupid dream of yours' Ignia warned, she refused to let another one fall victim to this.
'That is why! I'm going to repay all of my debts now. He has worked so hard to reach this moment.'
'After all, I am his partner...I can't let him fail.' Ray replied with a determined smile.
Ignia bit her lips and closed her eyes, then a defeated smile bloomed across her face
'Dammit....such a fool, both of you.'
Ray smiled and slowly closed his eyes, 'Kiritsuka, this time...I will share your pain.'
He took a deep breath and finally.
'[Persona].' Using the skill to share his body with him.
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'—?!'
Unimaginable pain immediately shot out all over his body, frying his nerves. It's all of the suffering that Rei had gone through.
Memories of his painful moments for 7 years until now, started to surge out.
His body, which was his soul, began to crack, after receiving all of the trauma that Rei had suffered from for that long, plus the current pain he had now.
And yet, he refused to give up as well.
With the storm of pain throughout his body…
Ray started to control the [Divine Flame].
The golden flame flickered and began to move out from the center, then circulated through his whole body.
Just like before, it started with his legs.
'—?!'
Then his arms.
'Ugh—!!!'
This time it's different, instead of pain from being burned alive.
It was a pain that couldn't be described with words.
His body began to be reconstructed back to the way it was before, regenerating all of them from his organs, his muscles, his bones, and even his blood.
It felt as if his innards just popped out of nowhere inside of him and immediately connected with all of his sensory organs which gave him a lot of pain.
"Ugh—?!"
'Agh—?!'
His black skin began to crack and shatter, and a new skin started to regenerate, causing a lot of smoke.
The two could feel it together, but the only part that hadn't been purified yet…
Was his head.
Ray hesitated for a second but now, he must take the risk and circulated the golden flame towards his head.
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"—!!!"
More pain began to surge through his head, causing the blood from his tears and the ones leaking out of his mouth to turn black.
Which meant that the waste parts within his body had been completely purged and purified by the [Divine Flame].
But despite that...
"It's not over yet!" Ignia warned them.
After the reconstruction had done its part, now the two flames began to rage all over his body.
"—?!"
It felt like they were battling within him since the two energies were opposites, it made him feel like something was punching and kicking him from the inside, beating every part of his tender organs.
"Now! Use your [Blacksmith Flame]! And guide them all back to the center!"
The two of them heard her clearly, then finally the red flame that had been staying there for so long, began to move.
"...?!"
The red flame spread throughout his body, unlike the other flames that destroyed and healed all of his organs.
This flame didn't even touch any of them, but instead…
It caught the two flames that were fighting within his body.
The two flames were intertwined together, and the red flame now circled around them…
Slowly but surely, it began to pull them back to the center.
The pain from his body, slowly began lowered and his mind slowly began to feel ease.
Now all the flames finally returned to the center of his body again.
With [Hell Flame] and [Divine Flame] circling each other, moving around in harmony, while being enveloped by the red [Blacksmith Flame].
Rei steadied his breathing again, controlling the [Blacksmith Flame] to harmonize these two flames, mixing them into one.
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The colors that were mixed together started to change.
From red.
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To black.
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To gold.
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And finally...
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It turned into white.
*SWOOSH*
A pure color white flame was finally created.
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'How warm...'
Immediately, Rei could tell the name of this white flame that was now within his body.
As he opened his mouth…
He called upon it.
"[True Flame]."
His body was enveloped by the white flame, causing the barrier around him to break apart.
Ignia backed away slightly with wide eyes, "No way...."
The white flames blazed through his whole body and even the whole room.
Rei opened his eyes as his body from within had been circulated with this white flame.
As he stood up, his eyes changed for a moment.
His red and golden pupils had white circles around it, mixed with his [Dragon Eyes], his pupils turned into sharp like a lizard.
And his hair…it turned pure white.
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When Ignia gazed upon him, she could tell what he had become.
[True Flame], a combination of a flame from hell and heaven itself, with the human as the vessel that contained it.
The one who inherited it and succeeded in creating it, would look like a manifestation of God themselves.
"My disciple...is it...really you?" Ignia spoke while trying to approach him.
When she touched his back, the white flame that was around his body immediately moved towards her body.
But instead of harming her, she felt…
'Warm...'
After that, Rei slowly closed his eyes and the white flame vanished.
*THUD*
He fell down to the ground right after.
"My disciple!" Ignia caught him and held him in her arms. She could feel a new existence within his body.
A fourth flame was in between the three flames that surrounded it.
Ignia smiled seeing the innocent face of this young man who had achieved yet another impossible thing.
"Once again, congratulations, my disciple. This time…you are officially the strongest being in the world." Ignia smiled at his form that was peacefully sleeping in her arms, as if nothing happened.
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[Notice!]
[You have acquired the title "The Strongest One"!]
*******
In the meantime, back to the Luxion Kingdom.
Iris/Yomi had taken a leave from the capital, so she could go back to her family.
She had been away from home for so long after being promoted as the youngest commander within the royal army.
When she arrived at the front door, she was greeted warmly by her whole family.
Her father, Henry von Welford.
Her mother, Eliza luth Welford.
And finally her older brother, Albert dragh Welford.
"Mother? Father? Onii-sama!" Yomi called when she left her carriage, smiling widely upon seeing her family waiting for her arrival.
"How did you know that I'm going home?" Yomi asked in slight confusion, she was trying to surprise them with her visit.
Albert chuckled, "Silvi told us that you're going home."
Yomi side-eyed Silvi who remained calm and avoided eye contact with her, "Is that so?"
Eliza smiled, "Don't blame her, you don't know how much we miss you, so we insisted Silvi keep an eye on you." And that smile was directed at Silvi who's still avoiding eye contact with them.
The maid felt guilty and slightly trembled from the pressure of these two staring at her.
"Well...I guess that's okay. I can't blame her for doing her job." Yomi sighed then smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Silvi."
Silvi was touched by her benevolence, "T-thank you, Ojou-sama!"
"Now then, let's have some family time together, because after that..."
"Mother, Father, I have something to tell you." Yomi spoke as her face looked serious towards her parents.
Henry and Eliza were concerned when she looked at them like that, so they decided to have a meal together before she shared something that might change this warm atmosphere.
******
After dinner, they immediately moved to gather at her father's office.
Henry sat down on his seat, and Eliza stood beside him.
The two were now facing Yomi, who's currently standing in front of them.
"I have cleared everyone around this room, the only ones guarding outside are Silvi and Albert."
"Now, tell me. What is it that you want, my daughter." Henry spoke to match the seriousness of their conversation.
She only ever saw his aloof and doting personality, so this might be the first time she saw his serious side.
'Or maybe it's the second time, they scolded me before when mother was about to get poisoned.' Yomi thought during her brief observation.
"I am here to report to you as the Duke Welford, about the current activity of the Human Empire, Axel." Yomi spoke, but before she continued, she needed permission from him to let her speak.
"Go on." Henry allowed.
Yomi nodded, "Apparently, based on the information that I have gathered, The Empire is going to declare war against us."
Henry sighed, "I see...I already predicted this is going to happen, sooner or later."
"...?!"
Yomi blinked a couple times for a moment, "You knew?"
"Of course, as a Duke, I have my own espionage team to get information for me."
"Just like you, who has a Dark Guild at your disposal." Henry replied with a smile as if he knew all of this.
"Then, why didn't you tell me to...wait, then does his majesty know all along?" Yomi asked.
"Yes, me and his majesty knows about the movement from the Empire." Henry replied to her question.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Yomi slightly narrowed her brows, "We should begin to prepare for the war."
"..."
Silence.
Yomi was confused as to why they were acting like this.
That was when Iris interfered, 'Do you not understand?'
'Iris? What do you mean?' Yomi questioned her as well, as she was the only one who didn't get it.
"You are still young Iris, and I know you have achieved a lot." Henry nodded.
"Your suggestion is good, we need to prepare everything before the worst comes by."
"But that's still not enough." Henry spoke.
"What do you mean...father?" Yomi became nervous as she felt like she was missing something.
Then Eliza began to call her name.
"Iris."
"You need to know that there's an emotion that we cannot control." Eliza spoke.
"And...what is that?" Yomi asked.
Eliza seemed to hesitate to answer her, but when she looked at her, "That is...[fear]." She answered her.
"...!!" All the puzzle pieces had finally fallen into place.
Henry closed his eyes, "It seems you've realized it by now."
"That is correct, the moment we tried to prepare and start our move, it will hasten the start of the war." Henry spoke.
"It will spread fear to our people and it will also put the Empire at an advantage because they also began to fear our information gathering." Henry explained.
Yomi held her head, 'To think I didn't take it into account...'
'That's right, the moment we tried to move, our enemies would start to move as well.' Iris spoke.
'Then what are we supposed to do? Just sit down and let things happen?!' Yomi replied.
'Calm down, you think me and our father didn't think of that?' Iris spoke.
'Huh? What does that mean?' Yomi was confused again.
Then Henry continued to talk again, "I know this is hard for you to take in, but I need you to know."
"....?"
"To prepare something is not something that we do openly." Henry spoke as he slowly smiled.
Yomi's eyes widened in realization again, "Do you mean..."
"Yes, just like my daughter suggested, no before you suggested it, your father and mother have prepared everything for the war to happen." Henry spoke.
Yomi's eyes sparkled a bit as she was surprised by that information.
"We may look relaxed, but we still must stay vigilant towards everything that is going to happen to us." Henry spoke.
"You taught us that we need to keep our guard up, so we gathered our own information and started preparing in secret." Eliza spoke with a smile.
"But still...how did you all know that the Empire was going to declare war on us?" Yomi spoke.
Henry chuckled, "Technically we're not the one who has that information, it was..."
*CLICK* *CREAK*
Then the door behind her was opened.
"It was me, I am the one who gave it to our father and mother." Albert admitted.
"Onii-sama!" Yomi was surprised by the fact that her own brother was the one with the information.
"I know that my cute little sister has been doing her best for the Kingdom, but I want to at least reduce your problem." Albert spoke and approached them to stand beside her.
"Even though you are smart and were called the genius of this new era, you are still a child that needs to learn and enjoy your youth." Albert reached his hand and gently patted her head.
"Onii-sama..." Yomi felt touched, even Iris shared the same feeling.
'That's our Onii-sama...he hasn't changed.' Iris muttered.
"Iris, you have gone through a lot ever since you came back from the Elf Kingdom."
"As your parents we are just worried about you, who keep pushing yourself." Henry spoke.
"We got the feeling that you seem to be being chased by something, we didn't ask because we don't want to burden you." Eliza spoke.
"So, we decided to wait...for you to share the secrets that you have been hiding." Albert spoke.
Yomi felt the concern in their gaze. She felt guilty for hiding so many secrets from such a loving and supportive family.
About her being not the Iris they knew, for being someone who wasn't from this world, as well as holding a special power that could turn the balance of the world.
Yomi looked at them, as she felt the weight within her heart had been lifted.
"I...cannot tell you right now, about all the secrets that I am having." Yomi shook her head regrettably.
"But I shall share one of it, for my family." She spoke while slowly stepping back.
"Iris?" Albert was confused when she suddenly stepped back.
"For 7 years, I have been building my power from my sensei, [The Sword Saint, and my master, [The Witch]."
Henry, Eliza and Albert listened to her words. They knew all of that already from how hard she had been studying and training to get this strong.
"Just like you said...you have prepared for the war, right?" Yomi spoke while her eyes turned red.
"Iris...?" Henry was surprised from the sudden change from her eye colors.
"I am also building up an army for the war." The shadow on her feet began to spread behind her as soon as she said it.
'Her shadow?!' Albert noticed it and Henry suddenly stood up from his seat.
"What do you mean an army...Iris?" Henry asked cautiously.
"During my fight against the [King of Destruction]."
"I wished for a power to overpower all my enemies...and suddenly I was given a new power, a new strength solely for me who will soon walk into a lonely path in the future." Yomi explained as she suddenly released her magical aura around her body.
"Iris!" Henry called her name, and...
Their eyes were now fixated on something else...
Something that began to crawl out of her wide shadow.
*GRAAAHHHH*
*GRRRRRR*
Two beings that were feared for their powerful defense and combat, a being that was once alive and now crawling as a lifeless monster.
"[Undead]...?" Henry muttered.
The epitome of the dark element, the power that controlled the dead.
"To think my daughter...had obtained, [Necromancy]." Henry spoke as if he had stopped being surprised, but her brother and mother were pretty shocked by her display of power.
Yomi casted her gaze downwards for a bit before smiling weakly, "I am sorry for hiding it from you all."
Eliza and Albert looked at her, but instead being afraid, they looked a bit worried.
"Iris...are you okay?" Eliza asked her.
"Yes, mother...I am fine, so don't worry about me." Yomi nodded and placed a hand over her heart, "Even with this power, I still love you all."
"Iris..." Albert muttered, still looking concerned.
"That's why by using this power, I ask my father, mother and onii-sama…" Yomi then looked them straight in the eyes.
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"...To give me permission to join the war."
To be continued...