Ifrit and the Conqueror of Flames

Shizu awoke with a sharp gasp, her chest heaving as if she'd just surfaced from drowning. Her eyes, wide with panic, darted around in disorientation, haunted by memories clawing their way back from the depths of a dream. Slowly, she steadied her breathing and turned to glance at the others still peacefully asleep beside her. Their tranquil expressions contrasted the storm rising within her.

Without warning, a powerful pulse surged from within her chest. A crimson aura leaked from her body, curling upwards like smoke escaping a furnace. Shizu clenched the edges of her mattress, her knuckles whitening as she struggled to contain a scream. Her entire frame trembled under the pain, but she remained silent. The aura soon dissipated into the air, leaving her drenched in cold sweat.

Later, she stood alone atop the hill, overlooking the village below. She wore her porcelain mask, its smooth, pale surface reflecting the faint morning light.

"So," I said gently, stepping up behind her. "Do you like our town?"

"Yes, very much," Shizu replied with a soft smile. She turned to face me, sliding the mask to the side to reveal her face, her smile serene despite the turmoil she carried.

"You're welcome to stay as long as you'd like, Shizu," I said with warmth.

"Thank you... but I have to go," she replied softly, her voice tinged with quiet resolve.

"I see," I murmured, though my eyes betrayed a trace of concern.

"If I stay here, I might bring trouble upon you all," she added, turning her gaze back to the village.

Curious, I asked, "And why would that be?"

"The goal of my journey," she said slowly, "is to find the man who summoned me to this world."

"What will you do once you find him?" I asked, my tone still calm but edged with wariness.

Shizu did not answer. The wind stirred her white cape as she looked away, her silence heavy with meaning.

"You're always welcome here. Come visit us anytime," I said, offering a kind smile.

She nodded. "Okay... Thank you."

She stepped forward and embraced me briefly—an expression of quiet gratitude, comfort, and perhaps farewell.

Back at the hut, Shizu began preparing for her departure. Eren sat nearby, brushing her blonde hair before a mirror.

"Shizu, why don't you come back to Blumund with us?" Eren offered, her tone light but sincere.

"Huh?" Shizu turned her head, surprised by the suggestion.

"It would be awfully sad to say goodbye here," Eren continued, setting the brush down. "You're an exceptional adventurer. I'm sure we'd have lots of fun traveling together."

Shizu smiled at the thought. "Traveling has taught me how nice it is to be part of a group. I'm truly grateful that my final journey was with all of you."

"Final...?" Eren echoed, a note of concern in her voice. "What do you mean by that?"

"I've been around for decades, you know. I'm not as young as I look," Shizu replied, lifting her porcelain mask to cover her youthful face.

"Huh? O-oh, you were just joking, right? Gosh... Don't scare me like that!" Eren laughed nervously, trying to shake off the unease.

At the village gates, Kaval, Gido, Rigur, and Rigurd waited.

"Ah, there they are," Rigur said, spotting Shizu and the others approaching.

"Jeez, why do women always take so long to get ready..." Kaval muttered under his breath.

But before anyone could respond, Shizu staggered to a halt. A pained expression spread across her face.

"Not... again..." she whispered.

"Shizu? Are you alright?" Kaval stepped forward, worry etching into his features.

Shizu collapsed to her knees with a scream. Her mask cracked and shattered in a burst of searing orange light. Flames engulfed her body as an orange beam surged skyward. Dark clouds gathered above, casting a shadow over the village.

Hovering in midair, Shizu's body became surrounded by a volatile flame aura that exploded outward, sending Kaval, Eren, Gido, Rigur, and Rigurd flying. I stood behind them, unmoved, watching the spectacle unfold.

"Shizu! Shizu!" Eren called out desperately, but there was no response.

Hovering in the air, her eyes now glowed red with yellow pupils—inhuman, demonic. Her tears evaporated in the blaze surrounding her.

"Shizue Izawa... The Conqueror of Flames?" Kaval murmured in disbelief. "That can't be..."

"You mean the hero from fifty years ago? From the Guild?" Eren gasped.

"Rigur, Rigurd. Evacuate the others. Now," I ordered, eyes never leaving Shizu's transformed form.

"But, Great Arceus—" Rigur began.

"That's an order," I said firmly.

"Understood!" they both responded before rushing off.

Where Shizu once floated, now stood a new form: a towering demon cloaked in fire. Black-skinned, horned, crowned with bone, with a crimson jewel embedded in its forehead. Only a red cloth hung around its waist.

"The fire spirit... Ifrit," Kaval said, recognizing the creature in horror.

"We're going to die here..." Gido whispered.

Ifrit let out a roar, unleashing a shockwave. Kaval quickly cast a barrier around himself, Eren, and Gido. I remained still, unaffected by the wind and flame.

Three pillars of fire erupted from the ground, birthing winged demons. They flew high, leaving trails of fire in their wake.

"All of you, get out of here," I said calmly.

"I can't do that," Kaval replied, unsheathing his blade.

My eyes flicked toward him, surprised by their courage.

"She's one of us. No matter what," Gido said, readying his daggers.

"We won't abandon her!" Eren shouted, her voice full of resolve.

"As you wish," I said. "Then allow me to handle the rest."

I turned to Ifrit. "What is it that you want?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he hurled a massive fireball toward me. I exhaled softly, and the flame vanished—snuffed out like a candle's flame.

Kaval and his team kept the winged demons at bay. I walked forward, slapping away every fireball with effortless precision.

"Behave," I murmured, my eyes glowing faintly purple.

The winged demons froze in place—then suddenly burst apart, consumed by their own flames.

The last demon self-destructed, breaching Kaval's barrier. They were thrown back, singed and injured.

"Ranga," I called. From my shadow emerged the majestic Tempest Wolf.

"Take them to safety."

Ranga obeyed, scooping them onto his back before disappearing into the forest.

"Now no one else will be harmed," I said, my gaze rising to Ifrit.

With a roar, Ifrit summoned flaming clones that circled around me. The ground beneath them melted from the sheer heat.

"You've earned something rare today," I said coldly. "You've made me—Arceus, the Monster King of Unity—feel genuine anger."

I snapped my fingers. The clones vanished instantly.

Ifrit roared, summoning a massive red magic circle beneath me. Flames erupted into a towering inferno, enveloping me.

From the cliff, the goblins and villagers watched in horror as fire consumed my form.

"Do you think this mild heat can burn me?" I said, stepping out of the flames unscathed. "Only the Demon King of Tyranny's fire has ever left a mark."

"Ifrit. Stop."

With a single command, a formless power gripped Ifrit, freezing him in place.

He opened his mouth, blasting another stream of fire. It dissipated harmlessly against my robes.

"Rejoice," I whispered. "You are the first in this world to witness this sword."

From the earth rose the silhouette of a great sword—elegant, massive, and forged from countless forms.

"Come, Zenith," I said, gripping its hilt.

With a single swing—though it never touched him—Ifrit was cleaved. The unity between him and Shizu shattered. Her body fell, and I caught her in my arms.

Behind me, Ifrit staggered, confused. No wound was visible, yet something vital had been severed.

A crimson thread linked his chest to my back—then dragged him into the void within me.

He screamed, flailing, casting spells that vanished into nothingness.

In the endless darkness, a voice echoed.

"Calm yourself, Ifrit. You cannot escape."

From the shadows, a colossal dragon emerged, its red eyes glowing like twin stars.

Ifrit recoiled in terror.

"You are no match for Arceus," the dragon said. "He is my sworn master."

"I am the Storm Dragon—Veldora Velgriath."

With a thunderous laugh, Veldora descended upon Ifrit. The sound of his laughter echoed across the void as judgment was rendered.