“Talents come in many forms.”

“They can be inherited or acquired.”

“The difference is one is a Gift and the other birthed by Effort.”

#4 Quote - Book of Races and Species.

*

Li’On Domain - Temple of the Oracles - Hidden Chamber.

Pa’Li - The Wise of the Twin Suns

“This Courting of Death shall be Reciprocated.” The weird voice proclaimed.

It worked on the same principle as Divine Speech, yet slightly different.

Pa’Li knew that. He understood that. However, he still wanted to deny the message he received.

He wanted to do it because the appearance of this Giant White Flame Manifestation proved what he had noticed a few years ago.

It proved that somebody, or something, was driving the Ascension of the White Streak Fury, and now here it was before his very eyes.

It's not actually here. This is but a projection of itself through a medium.

Understanding said part, Pa’Li immediately understood what the medium was. However, his time to contemplate was over.

The Giant White… Fury Flame Manifestation flexed slightly before it sprinted towards the Head Oracle.

The Chamber they found themselves in wasn't that big, to begin with, so it took moments for the five meters tall and ten meters long, and three meters wide manifestation of the beast to close the distance between it and the Head Oracle.

Yet, it still wasn't fast enough. Five Guards appeared before the Head Oracle. Their swords and shields are ready instantly to face the Giant White Beast.

Three stood in front of the Head Oracle and two on the sides of his Ascended Li’On form.

The Head Oracle knew he had no need for the protection, but he would not deny them the duty, and he was curious to know what would happen.

However, contrary to what he expected, when the White Flame Fury reached him and his Guards, it did not stop.

Its head slammed into the Destruction Coated Golden Armament Shield. Its shoulders slammed into two more shields on each side, yet contrary to what all of them expected, there were no loud impacts on both sides.

In one second, the White Flame Fury was in full sprint, and the next, it stood still, but ripples emerged from the places of contact.

The ripples traveled over the whole body of the White Flame Fury.

What came next surprised them all.

BOOM

A massive quantity of White Flames exploded from the White Flame Fury in all directions. It enveloped the Guards and the Head Oracle that stood behind them.

The White Flame even reached Pa’Li, although barely, as he hadn't moved to intercept the charge of the White Flame Fury.

Still, he did react by retreating slightly from its enveloping nature.

Once he was just far enough outside its reach, he observed what was happening.

A few moments passed before the enormous quantity of White Flame began receding and shaping itself again into the form it had possessed previously.

Once it had done that, it revealed six people to his vision.

Unlike his imagination, they appeared to be fine at first glance, but Pa’Li did notice that the weapons and shields the Guards manifested were gone. Once he looked a bit closer, he noticed that their expressions contained pain, as if something got ripped from them.

Behind them was a spherical Opaque Golden Barrier. It had swallowed the Head Oracle from head to toe and some of the surroundings around him.

Moments later, it rippled and vanished, and the Head Oracle reappeared with not one scratch on him, or his ceremonial robes, or his glowing Li’On-headed scepter.

“Mmm. That did less than I expected.” The strange voice said.

This time it portrayed more curiosity.

Next moment it shook its Giant head as if dismissing its thoughts. “No matter, your Guards are of no more use.”

Wondering what it meant, Pa’Li examined the Guards in question.

Their distraught and painful expressions told him of one side of the painting. However, only after he combined it with all the knowledge he possessed about the White Flame and its effects, did he figure out a conjecture.

The Golden Armament is a skill acquired with years and years of learning and practice. This dedicated effort manifested, in the weapons of their choosing, by establishing a deeply rooted connection of form/function.

Like a book made out of mental prowess. Whenever required, it's always there to be summoned and retrieved by the user. When infused into the Golden Flame, it becomes a substitute for a material weapon.

The sheer convenience of its usage was enough to forget real weapons. But if you include the Destruction Coating on the Armament, it turned into a unique weapon that became the fundamental skill of the Li’On Military.

In fact, only after you have manifested both Armament and Destruction are you allowed into the Military ranks, and yet, here were five such individuals displaying Pain and distress after being exposed to massive quantities of the White Flame.

There was only one explanation in Pa’Li’s mind. The White Flame destroyed the mental construct that bound the Golden Flame with form and function.

It wasn't permanent, of that Pa’Li was sure, but it would take a long time to recover the Skill, and Time was not something they had.

At the exact moment, it had proclaimed its words, The White Flame Fury moved its right paw and swapped at the pained Guards in question.

Despite the pain, the three Guards in front of it had enough experience under their belts to defend themselves. When the white claws made contact with them, no explosion occurred, but for a moment, ripples traveled from the claws into the beast only to return and blast the Guards away.

The three of them out of the way and the other two likely useless for further fights, Pa’Li heard the Head Oracle announce a retreat for them.

“You two. Retreat.” Still, while the last two retreated, he stayed.

His old eyes stared at the White Flame Fury before him.

The White Flame Fury towered over him, but his expression showed no emotions. Only determination.

“Who are you?” The Head Oracle asked out loud.

For a moment, the Giant Beast stared at Old Li’On in his Ascended form, where his old and frail body was far less burdensome.

“The Dead have no need for Knowledge.” Came the reply right before the Giant White Flame Fury stopped forward slightly and stood on its back legs. The next moment, its right paw descended on the old Li’On.

Contrary to what Pa’Li expected, the Head Priest didn't use Spellcraft as a response. No, his response was arching his right arm back, gripping the glowing scepter tightly, before instantly swinging it to meet the claws aiming at him.

The instant that the longest claw, the middle claw, met the Li’On-headed scepter, it erupted in golden brilliance as a Golden Flame manifested that exploded with such pressure that even Pa’Li felt it in his Ascended Form.

BOOM

Once the light show ended, Pa’Li saw the Giant White Fury losing its right front leg, part of its shoulder, and even part of its head.

In fact, for a moment, he saw the actual creature inside before it was covered again by the White Flame.

While it began to recover the rest of its shape, the Head Priest retreated a few steps back and pointed his scepter at the Giant White Fury. At the top of the scepter, a ball of Golden Flames manifested.

There it began to concentrate in vast quantities. At the same time, Pa’Li saw the Oracle murmur in a barely discernible voice. Once the chant finished, the Golden Flaming Ball, at the top of the scepter, launched itself at the beast.

With swiftness, it reached the giant beast, and just as it touched its exterior, it exploded.

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BOOM

Once the golden light stopped blocking his vision, Pa’Li once more saw the sight of the female White Streak Fury underneath the White Flame, only this time, it sported flaming scars upon its body back.

Pa’Li stared at it for a moment before glancing at the Head Oracle to see his next move. There he saw him point his scepter at the White Flame Fury.

Once more, a Glowing Flaming Ball began manifesting.

“Khrya-ya-ya-ya.” Echoed from the female creature hidden by the White Flames again, however, there was a difference this time.

The White Flames reformed faster.

To Pa’Li’s eyes, they appeared far more skillful than before, as if whatever had manifested using the female creature as the medium was still learning the intricacies of the White Flame.

That was when his mind alerted him to the words right after the first explosion of the White Flame, but Pa’Li ignored the thought in favor of watching everything that happened.

Right before the Head Priest finished his second chant the Giant White Fury finished its form. However, this time it would not take the attack head-on.

It stood on two legs and breathed in, or at least it appeared as if it had done so.

Right after, a wall of White Flame emerged from its maw and inched closer to the Head Oracle who sent forth his own Spell.

Two phenomena met, and another explosion occurred.

BOOM

When the light show was over, all that remained between the Giant Beast and the Head priest were ruptures of the stone floor.

Pa’Li instantly recognized that such an explosion outside this chamber would have left far more damage. The Runic Formation placed upon the Chamber prevented the majority of the damage.

“Pa’Li are you going to stand on the sidelines when an enemy of Li’On stands before you?” The Old Li’On wondered with a growling expression.

In the same instant that Pa’Li considered said fact, he saw the Giant White Fury’s face turn in his direction, but the next, it ignored him in favor of charging at the Head Oracle.

The message Pa’Li received from its actions was simple. He was unimportant, yet in the same instant that Pa’Li felt his indignation of apparent dismissal show, the beast did a right turn in the middle of its charge and left the chamber they all had found themselves in.

Both Pa’Li, and the Head Priest, were stupefied by the action. They just could not fathom that the manifestation would run away after the mighty declaration it had spoken.

The dichotomy of their expectation and reality caused them to react too slowly, giving the opponent a head start.

The first to recover was the Head Priest as he began to run after the Giant Flame Fury. Pa’Li instinctively followed right after, while the Guards stayed behind and dealt with the pain they felt from losing their Armament.

Moments after beginning his chase, Pa’Li immediately realized that the White Flame Fury was running for the exit of the underground layer of the Temple.

For one moment, his mind wondered how it knew where the exit was, but the next, he ignored it. However, his mind did remind him of a certain little tablet that he had destroyed.

A small dread overcame him as he imagined what would happen if his younger brother met with the Giant Flame Fury.

Instantly he used his full power to increase his speed.

In moments he overcame the Old Li’On and reached the exit of the underground layer.

Once he was outside, he heard the sounds of combat. Instantly he knew who he could find there and sprinted in said direction. When he reached them, he found his younger brother clad in similar armor as him, as both were Golden Armaments.

However, he also had a polearm as his weapon, and its blade was Clad with a Destructive Black Flame. The polearm descended on the White Flame Fury, and when they met, Pa’Li knew it was too late to warn his younger brother.

A ripple appeared on the Giant White Beast, and a moment later, it exploded again.

BOOM

The White Flame conflagration swallowed his younger brother and the Guards around him. Guards that had probably been fighting him to prevent help from arriving.

Despite the worry in his guts, Pa’Li’s mind reasoned that his younger brother was not in a life-threatening position. Still, in a bid to rid himself of the anxiety, he dismissed his own Armament, entered the White Flame, and walked in the direction of his younger brother.

Only after seeing him alright would he relax.

Moments later, the White Flame rippled again and began to contract and reshape itself into its previous form.

Once it did, Pa’Li noticed his brother right in front of him, wielding a Golden Polearm. He was fine. And the next instant, a Black Flame manifested on it.

Still, while his younger brother may have resisted, it was not without consequences. The pained expression on his face was evidence of that. It was still on a smaller scale when compared to the Guards around him.

“Dismiss your Armament. It's useless right now. Use pure destructive flame.” He advised his younger brother, who nodded and promptly followed his older brother's advice.

“What is that?” Ma’Li, the younger brother, asked.

“We can talk later. For now, focus on defending yourself.” Pa’Li answered just as his senses told him the Head Priest arrived.

Despite using his Ascended form, he was slightly out of breath.

Yet, the moment the Head Priest arrived, Pa’Li saw the Giant White Flame Fury twitch its head in a particular direction and immediately bolt that way.

When the Head Oracle saw the direction it chose, a bad feeling arose inside him.

A very, very bad feeling.

A bad feeling that felt very, very bad.

A very bad feeling he had not had in forever.

“Nooo.” The Head Priest shouted as vigor returned to him, and he bolted in the same direction.

“What is going on?” Ma’Li asked his older brother, but yet again, no answer came, as Pa’Li just replied later and bolted after the Head Oracle.

Pained and confused, Ma’Li shrugged his shoulders and ran after them, but not before saying one last sentence to the moaning Guards.

“It was a nice meeting with you guys. If you're interested in additional spars, I am sure it will be easy to find me. Bye.”

Meanwhile, ahead of Ma’Li, his older brother finally realized where the White Flame Fury was headed after he passed enough halfways.

It was heading to the private residence of the Head Oracle. Why it headed there, he knew not, but he did have a suspicion.

After all, everybody knew the most famous Artifact was located in the Head Oracles Chambers. Or better said, the Head Oracles chamber resided right beside it, as the mirror was affixed to one place.

Moments later, a loud and old voice screeched alongside another explosion of the White Flame.

BOOM

“MY MIRROR!!!”

With understanding and experience, Pa’Li knew what was about to happen. So when he reached the Chamber holding the Ancient Artifact, he also saw the Head Priest jump into the white conflagration in desperation.

When the White Flame receded, Pa’Li imagined that the primary Artifact of the Temple of the Oracles transformed into dust, yet it did not happen. It appeared just fine, and neither did the Artifacts that the Head Priest used, as he stood beside the giant mirror.

Still, while the Head Oracle sighed with relief, he wasn't the only one surprised.

“Oh?” Echoed out the disappointment of the Giant Beast when it reformed. ”Looks like the Flame is too weak right now. Still, that shriek tells me it's vital.”

Right as his younger brother arrived with a puzzled look, Pa’Li saw its head tilted this way and that way as if pondering what to do next when the Head Priest spoke.

“You attempted that again, and I will use my full personal and political might to erase every single White Streak Fury in existence.” The Old Li’On, in his grayed-out Ascended form, warned with spite in his voice.

With the threat in the air, a silence ensued. At least between the Head Oracle and the giant beast made of White Flame.

“Brother, who is that?” Ma’Li whispered and asked once more.

“Shhh. Later.” Pa’Li whispered back.

“Common.” Ma’Li whispered painfully, needing to know what was actually going on.

Just as Pa’Li wanted to consider maybe saying something more than just ‘later’, the giant white beast announced its decision.

“NO” It said in its high and low-pitched voice. “Diviners are not to be trusted. Especially, the older they are and the closer they are to Death.”

One inhalation later and a breath of White Fire began to spread from the White Flame Fury.

But, contrary to the three Li’On who found themselves inside the chamber, the White Flame did not go straight for the mirror affixed on the pedestal. No, it divided itself into two and the two flames curved around the altar.

In a reflex, the Head Oracle waved his scepter, and a Golden Barrier manifested around the mirror and himself.

As soon as the two streams of White Flames met around the pedestal, they began to increase in size. In moments, the White Flame enveloped the Barrier, the Artifact, and Head Oracle.

“Pa’Li, Ma’Li, what are you doing just standing there gawking at everything? Help me protect the Mirror.” An old voice demanded from inside the Golden Barrier.

“Brother?” Ma’Li murmured as he looked at his older brother.

“Sigh. Your right, brother.” Pa’Li reasoned. “No matter how much I dislike the Temple and the Head Oracle, they are still part of the Li’On. Still, I am probably useless against it. It will be up to you, little brother. Use pure Black Flame on the white beast and as much as possible. Don't worry about anything else, and don't hold back.”

“If you say so, brother.” Ma’Li nodded.

His right hand rose above his head when a Golden Flame manifested above it. Seconds after, its shining glory began to vanish.

The Black Flame began to consume even the Light that touched it.

Right after that, the Black Flame began to grow in size, and when it became a black flaming ball three meters in radius, Ma’Li motioned in the direction of the White Flame Fury.

When the Black Flame, full of Destructiveness, came into contact with the White Flame Fury a strange interaction ensued.

At first, they excluded each other, but then they began to devour each other.

One transformed into the other as if a never-ending cycle got initiated between them.

In truth, only the users of both Flames knew that it was not so cookie-cutter clear.

Both users exerted their maximum control in order to retain their Flames and overpower the enemy.

Only after a certain balance established itself between the two Flames did things change.

At the center of the two Flames, where the balance between them manifested, a new spectacle emerged.

At first, both contestants assumed it to be the conflict zone between the Flames, but when the spectacle began to increase in size drastically, both users realized that they had lost control of the situation.

Seeing the situation, both of them did the instinctive reaction of retracting their Flames, but that new spectacle would have none of that. When its food began to dwindle, it grew aggressive in its behavior and went after both Flames.

With rapid speed, it began to devour everything.

“Brother… Ummm… I think this is bad. Very bad.” Ma’Li voiced his concerns, and he wasn't the only one.

Inside the Golden Barrier, the Head Oracle had the same feeling.

Unlike the way, the Golden Barrier became opaque when seen from the outside, its inside was transparent. So, as he watched the interaction between the two Flames, he finally realized where his very, very, very bad feeling was coming from.

Worst of all, there was no going back.

He knew that without a doubt.

“Both of you stop it at once.” The Head Oracle shouted in a hurry. “Stop feeding it. Cease all Flame usage.”