Grand Dragon Slayer, Ragnar Ashenblade

Kintu's heart raced as he tore through the labyrinthine corridors of the cult's fortress. His breath formed mist in the frigid air, every exhalation crystalizing against the walls as he carved a path of ice through any unfortunate enough to cross him. The relics he wielded made him an unstoppable force; each wave of enemies fell, frozen in their tracks, their expressions locked in horror as they were transformed into icy statues.

He was relentless, moving with a singular purpose: to recover the three fire relics that had been taken. The fortress's cold stone walls seemed to close in on him as he turned corner after corner, his resolve unshakable. But as Kintu finally entered the relic chamber, a sense of foreboding washed over him.

Before him stood two imposing figures, the last fire relic users—guardians of the very items he sought. The first was an African woman, her fire whip coiled like a serpent in her hand, her red kimono adorned with delicate floral patterns that belied the danger she presented. Her hair, a cascade of dark curls, was decorated with flowers that seemed to glow with an internal heat. The second was a towering man, his muscular frame clad in a samurai's armor, a fire sword blazing in his grasp. His presence was that of a looming storm, his every movement crackling with unbridled power.

The samurai wasted no time. With a single command to his partner, he charged at Kintu, his fire sword slashing through the air with lethal precision. Kintu barely had time to react as Ragnar closed the distance, his speed enhanced by a technique so refined it seemed supernatural. Shadow Step, faster than Kintu's own, brought Ragnar within striking range in an instant. Kintu managed to block the first blow, but the force behind it sent him skidding back, the stone floor cracking beneath his feet.

"Go, get the relics," he barked to his partner, his voice as fierce as the flames he wielded. The woman hesitated for only a moment before nodding and turning to retrieve the fire relics.

Kintu's eyes narrowed as he summoned his relics. The battle was now, or never. But Ragnar was relentless. He struck repeatedly, each swing of his sword igniting the air around them. His flames were hotter than anything Kintu had ever faced—hotter than Borak's, hotter than Razael's, hotter than Malachai's. The intensity of Ragnar's fire was overwhelming, searing the very air Kintu breathed.

The samurai laughed as he pressed his attack. "My sword is forged with the power of five dragon cores. That is why you are losing, boy! In my homeland, I am known as the Grand Dragon Slayer, Ragnar Ashenblade. I hunt them for sport!" His voice boomed through the chamber as he delivered a series of blows that would have felled a lesser warrior.

Kintu staggered, his vision blurring as the fire sword tore through his defenses. The system kicked in, reviving him from the brink of death, but the toll on his body was immense. He could feel his strength waning, and yet Ragnar's strikes kept coming, each one heavier than the last.

"You're tough," Ragnar admitted, his tone almost admiring. "But not tough enough." He landed four more devastating blows, each one cutting deeper, and for a moment, Kintu's world went black.

The system's voice echoed in his mind. *Keep going. You cannot die here. *

Kintu's eyes snapped open; his will rekindled. He used Shadow Daggers, summoning the dark blades to strike at Ragnar from every angle. But the samurai was unfazed. With a roar, Ragnar unleashed a torrent of flames that melted the daggers before they could even reach him.

Ragnar raised his sword for what he intended to be the final blow, but before he could strike, a brilliant light flooded the chamber. Kintu looked up to see an ethereal figure descending, her beauty radiating a spectrum of colors that filled the room with a serene glow.

Nyota had arrived, but she was no longer just Nyota—she was the avatar of Hathornia, the God of Love. Her transformation was awe-inspiring. Clad in a white silk Egyptian outfit with golden trim, her body glowed with an otherworldly light. Golden bracelets adorned her wrists, and atop her head rested a gleaming tiara. Her eyes, once sharp with determination, now shone with a kaleidoscope of colors, reflecting the divine power that coursed through her.

She raised her bow, an elegant weapon that shimmered with the energy of all five love relics. With a single shot, she sent a glowing arrow crashing into the fire whip user, pinning her against the wall. The force of the impact knocked the relic from the woman's grasp, and she crumpled to the ground, her power rendered useless.

Kintu watched in awe as Nyota turned her attention to Ragnar. The Dragon King's confidence faltered for the first time. He could sense the overwhelming power she now possessed, a power that even he could not match.

"You've grown strong," Ragnar said, a note of reluctance in his voice as he assessed the new threat. He stopped his attack and stepped back, realizing that the battle was no longer in his favor. "But you're a terrible fighter, Kintu," he said, his tone shifting from condescension to genuine advice. "You lack the training needed to truly master your relics."

He lowered his sword slightly, offering a rare moment of respite. "The name's Ragnar Ashenblade," he introduced himself, his voice carrying a weight that seemed to resonate with ancient battles. "But most call me Dragon King. You fought well, but you are not ready for me. Not yet."

Ragnar then let out a small chuckle. "But I'll let you in on a secret, since this was fun," he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "The God of Light despises Theda, the 13th God. His cult hid her relics and erased her from legend. That is why so few even know about her. They kill the elderly to keep her story buried, I do not know why but after meeting you I am interested.

Kintu, still catching his breath, stared at Ragnar, the weight of the revelation pressing down on him. But the moment of distraction was all the fire whip user needed. She had regained her composure and, with a quick movement, secured the three fire relics. "It's time to go," she called to Ragnar, her voice urgent. "Neither of us can take on an avatar—not today."

Ragnar nodded, a smirk playing on his lips as he glanced at Nyota. "This isn't over," he promised, his eyes gleaming with the promise of future battles. With that, he turned and followed his partner, the two of them disappearing into the shadows, their laughter echoing through the corridors as they made their escape.

As they fled, Ragnar thanked his partner for not getting involved earlier. "I've grown bored beating all these relic users," he admitted with a hint of frustration. "I need new prey, and the Death Gods Avatar sounds like fun."

She smiled; her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Baby, you love a great challenge," she teased. "I knew the best thing to do was to make you leave because we've killed avatars before."

Ragnar chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound. "I'm sure his system got the breadcrumbs I left."

Back in the room, the system chimed in, breaking the silence that had settled over Kintu and Nyota. "You have earned thirty new points. Combined with the twenty you have not used; you now have fifty available. "

The system added, "I have located the last two fire relics. They are inside Ragnar. He is returned home, so our next destination is the Fire God's continent. Chances of survival: 1%. "

Kintu, feeling utterly drained from the relentless battles, could no longer fight off the exhaustion overtaking his body. As soon as he found a moment of peace, he collapsed into a deep, dreamless sleep. When he finally opened his eyes, he found himself lying in a magnificent bed, the plush sheets a stark contrast to the dungeons and battlefields he had grown accustomed to.

Nyota was sitting by his bedside, a gentle smile on her face. "You're finally awake," she said softly. "You've been asleep for three months."

Kintu's eyes widened in shock. "Three months?" he repeated, struggling to sit up. His body still felt weak, his muscles aching from the mana drain.

Nyota nodded. "Your body could not manage the back-to-back battles, especially without proper rest or mana potions. You need to start taking better care of yourself, Kintu. Even a relic user has limits."

She paused, her expression growing more serious. "While you were unconscious, I used my abilities to break the mind control that had enslaved my people. Once they were free from the cult's influence, we began to rebuild. A new nation has been born, one of freedom and hope."

Kintu, despite the gravity of the situation, could not help but let out a chuckle. "A new nation, huh? What did you name it?"

Nyota hesitated, clearly proud of the progress her people had made, but Kintu's skeptical expression made her smile falter for just a moment. "We named it Lumina," she said, the name carrying the weight of a fresh start, of light breaking through the darkness.

Kintu grinned, unable to resist teasing her. "Lumina? That is a terrible name."

Nyota rolled her eyes, but her smile returned. "Well, it's our terrible name, and it stands for everything we've fought for."

Kintu's laughter echoed through the room, and for a moment, the weight of their struggles seemed a little lighter.

Nyota handed Kintu a simple silver ring, its design unassuming yet elegant. "Here," she said, a small smile playing on her lips. "This is for you."

Kintu raised an eyebrow, turning the ring between his fingers. "Marriage isn't something I'm seeking right now."

Nyota rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "You dummy, it's a storage ring. Not a proposal."

Kintu blinked, caught off guard by her words. "A storage ring?"

She nodded, her expression softening. "As relic users, we can only store relics within our systems. We cannot store anything else. But with this ring, you can carry supplies, food, weapons—anything you need. Consider it my thanks for saving the kingdom."

Kintu slipped the ring onto his finger, feeling a small surge of warmth as it adjusted to him. "Thank you," he said, the sincerity in his voice clear. "This will be useful."

Nyota hesitated for a moment, then continued "There's a small cash prize inside as well as a few supplies a relic hunter would need."

Kintu nodded his thanks but could not shake the feeling of inadequacy. "I'm not strong enough yet Nyota. I barely survived those fire relic users. I need to get stronger if I'm going to face them again."

Nyota regarded him thoughtfully, then sighed. "I heard a story from long ago, about a relic hunter. This hunter managed to obtain three full sets of relics and then simply vanished, quitting the hunt. The last time anyone saw him, he was in the land of the Goddess of Invention, far to the north. It's a land ruled by dwarves."

Kintu's interest piqued at her words. "Three full sets of relics? And he just… disappeared?"

Nyota nodded, her eyes narrowing slightly. "That's right. He was last seen in the north. If you're looking for strength, you might find what you need there."

She reached into her tunic and pulled out an old, worn map. Handing it to Kintu, she explained, "This map will be absorbed by your system. It will not be stored as an avatar. Consider it another small gift. Be careful, Kintu. The path ahead won't be easy."

Kintu took the map, watching as it dissolved into his system, the latest information settling in his mind. He glanced back at Nyota, offering her a small smile. "I will be. Thanks again, Nyota. For everything."

Nyota smiled back; her expression tinged with something unspoken. "Take care, Kintu. And remember, you're not alone in this."

With those words, Kintu turned to leave, his thoughts already on the journey ahead. As he walked away, he could not help but feel a newfound resolve. He would find the relic hunter and gain the strength he needed to take the last two relics.

AKintu sprinted northward, the wind rushing past him as the landscape blurred into a mix of greens and browns. His mind raced alongside his feet, already planning his next move. After a while, he slowed his pace, feeling the need to rest soon.

"System," he called out, his voice steady despite the exertion. "Check the storage. What do we have?"

The system's voice chimed in with its usual efficiency. **" Inventory includes: 200 tents, two hundred sleeping bags, 10,000 pounds of food do not worry it will not spoil, 5,000 mana potions, and fifty platinum plates added. This brings your total to fifty-four platinum plates and 500,000 gold coins." **

Kintu let out a long sigh, shaking his head. "This is too much," he muttered to himself. Kintu commanded the system, "Pull up the map and mark the country of the Goddess of Inventions."

The system complied instantly, displaying the map in front of him. A bright dot appeared in the northern region, highlighting a land filled with towering mountains and sprawling cities, a place known as Machinara. The country was famous for its advanced technology, intricate machinery, and the dwarven people who were known as expert craftsmen. This was the land where the rumored relic hunter was last seen—a place Kintu would need to venture to if he were to gain the strength necessary to confront the fire relic users again.

He stared at the map, absorbing the details. The journey ahead would be perilous, but the promise of more relics and the potential to increase his power left him with little choice. His thoughts returned to Nyota's words about the mysterious relic hunter who had vanished after collecting three full sets of relics. If Kintu could track down this hunter—or at least find clues left behind—it might give him the edge he needed.

"Machinara," Kintu murmured, his eyes narrowing with determination. "That's where we're heading next."