Chapter 19: Pride

"WHAT?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU REFUSE?! I DON'T ALLOW IT!" shouted Ignis angrily. 

His body was itching for a good battle but the person he'd chosen didn't want to fight. This is not how it went down when the main character was involved. The main character's existence always attracted battles of life and death where there, the main character would shine like the brightest star in the night sky. Since when did the antagonists refuse to battle. 

[I mean I don't want to fight. I just realised today that I'm too old for this shit. I should be in retirement, enjoying my retirement days in peace and relaxation. If you want to fight, find someone else! I won't do it!] said the old giant with determination. 

Ignis was gobsmacked by this entire situation that he was left speechless. Never had he expected things to go this way. Giants were supposed to be battle hungry, finding great pleasure in facing off against worthy adversaries. But this one didn't want to. 

He looked around to come up with a solution but he had nothing. He thought of threatening the old village chief with his clansmen but he wasn't that type of person. Although he idolized the Fire Lord, he wasn't as cold blooded and ruthless like him. Ignis was almost out of options when an idea came up.

"Hey old man, do you really have a trace a of True Giant's bloodline coursing through your veins?" he asked. 

[Yes, why? Let me tell you, coveting this bloodline is pointless. You won't obtain anything even if you massacre the entire village to obtain it. The pride of giants is immensely deep and strong that a giant would rather die than to submit.]

"Good. Since you don't want to fight me then I'll make things very easy for you. Kneel in front of me and beg me to spare your life! No! Just kneel before me then I'll leave."

[Okay.] The old giant didn't think much of it and agreed. If it meant saving his life and that of his clansmen, kneeling wasn't much of a big deal. 

He stood in front of Ignis and bent the first knee. The old giant suddenly felt that something was wrong with his body. And when he checked the problem, the extremely tiny bloodline trace had awakened and was boiling like an active volcano. 

[What's happening to me?]

"I don't know, just hurry up and kneel old geezer, I want to leave this boring place as soon as possible." said Ignis whose voice was also agitated. 

Just because the old giant didn't realise it didn't mean that he didn't. Ignis could see the birthmarks of the old giant squirming like provoked snakes. The old giant bent the second knee but something deep within him refused. It refused with everything it had that the old giant's bald head was covered in sweat. 

[My bloodline… is awakening…! But how is this possible?! How can a Bloodline Awakening be so… simple. Pride…] muttered the old giant in a daze.

Seeing this, Ignis wasn't happy but instead became angry. He realised that if this old geezer used that huge brain of his, he'd realise what was happening and refuse to fight. 

"I SAID KNEEL!"

Ignis jumped high up in the air and stomped squarely on the old giant's head, causing the old giant to lose his balance and the second knee touched the ground. And as though something had snapped, the atmosphere suddenly became heavy and tense. It was like Ignis had broken a taboo that he shouldn't have. 

[YOU DAREEEE!!!]

BOOOOM!!!

The old giant swung his axe so fast he only left an afterimage. Ignis's focus had never left the old man so he dodged the attack effortlessly. 

The red birthmarks on the old giant's torso spread out to cover its entire body, turning the old giant's body red. The old giant also grew taller by another five meters and became a fifteen meter tall giant. Its bald head had veins pulsating all around it like worms and its body became even more muscular and its vitality greatly boosted. 

"Yes! Yes! Yessss!!!" Ignis on the side started to celebrate seeing that his plan had worked. 

[Come!]

The other battle axe that had been kicked far away flew back and was firmly grasped by the old giant. The old giant swung both axes at the same time, not giving Ignis any chance to dodge or escape. 

Boom!

The ground was full of cracks from the impact of the battle. Since Ignis couldn't dodge, he grabbed both axes but the attack was heavy and his waist bent about ninety degrees forward. The force of the collision was released by his legs which was what destroyed the ground. 

"HA!"

Ignis pushed the two axes back and jumped a few metres above ground and sent a powerful punch which the old giant blocked with one of his axes while the other one was covered in red energy and swung down vertically.

Red flames covered Ignis's naked body as he blocked the attack with his forearms but the axe still pierced through his skin by a few inches. He then unfurled his arms and grabbed the axe then pulled it. The old giant also pulled but Ignis was already prepared for that, his body became light and propelled himself forward using the force of the old giant.

[Dragon's Breath!]

A massive cloud of yellow flames engulfed the old giant but he came out unscathed but not just that. Like Ignis, the old giant grabbed at the yellow flames and swallowed them whole. 

The red birthmarks were tinged with a yellowish glow. The red energy wrapped around the two axes again but the old giant didn't swing casually. 

[Axe Quake!]

A massive fissure opened up on the earth and even though Ignis had dodged the attack, the shockwaves stil sent him flying.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Ignis and the old giant kept exchanging blows with neither side being heavily injured but the old giant's moves became slower with every exchange of moves. 

"Damn old age!" cursed Ignis as he chose to finally finish the battle. He created some distance between him and the old giant and prepared his attack. 

"After this next move I'm leaving!"

The old giant seemed to understand Ignis even though it had lost itself to the rage of its bloodline. It threw away the two axes and clenched its fist which were then coated in the red energy. The two parties were prepared to wrap things up. Ignis's body was covered in different types of flames, red, orange and yellow. His body became extremely hot and the ground he stood on liquefied because of how hot his body was. 

Feeling the threat of Ignis's next move, the old giant also went all out. The birthmarks that had turned its body red immediately shrunk and covered only the giant's palms. The two sides were ready and without wasting time, unleashed their attacks. 

Boom!

Ignis shot forth at extreme speed, his entire body emitting billowing heat waves that burned even the air around him. While the giant did a clap attack. 

[Meteoric Burst!]

[Mosquito Double Slap!]

BOOOOOOOM!!!