Blood Thicker than Fire II
----------------------------------------
[Arthur Iglesias]
...
GOGOOOON!!!
…
The double doors closed loudly as I magnanimously entered. I wasn’t surprised in the darkness that permeated inside. Nor to the sudden light brought by the torches that lit up sequentially a few seconds later. I definitely wasn’t surprised in the slightest from the twenty-foot tall azure flame at the end of the passage less than a hundred meter away. Instead I sighed as if giving up.
Figures. This family sure loves the dramatics. Hahhh….
Hai! It’s Arthur! I don’t know why but I have the sudden urge to explain everything I experience here to the minute details but whatever. Ohh! I think Aniki mentioned this before! If I somehow wanted to narrate something in minute details for no apparent reason I must not break some four walls or else I will be smited by the great god named Ottor! Yeah! Absolutely no idea what it means! Oh well, I just have to make sure that if I have to break walls, three is enough! Moderation is the key to success! Hyahahh!
Come to think of it, I have never heard of a god named Ottar before…
Back to my soliloquy, I’ll have you know that walking in this ‘mysteeeeeerrriiiiooouuus’ corridor lit up with torchlights is really boring. Torch to the right, torch to the left and the creeping darkness everywhere. I heard that this was supposed to be a trial where the partaker’s martial strength and resolution was to be tested but I somehow don’t get it. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t being tested. Maybe the shadows of various grotesque creatures that slips between the walls or the unnerving feeling I feel a few times when I wasn’t shone by the torches was involved but I digress. They’re not doing anything to me, just walking (or phasing? Slinking?) with me instead of attacking.
In fact, I can already feel a friendship blossoming!
Hahahaha!
“HAHAHAHA!”
Ahh! I was supposed to be quiet! I can already hear the countless jeers and sneers that those nobles and elders would endlessly spout such us my ‘disregard to the tradition of the family,’ ‘insolent attitude,’ and ‘disrespect to the sacred grounds of the Ashchiemvierres.’ Well they always do that in every opportunity available so those remarks didn’t faze me any longer. Really, how immature!
What Mr. Weird Shadow People? I’m not the one to talk? Iyaah, how embarrassing? *blush*
Okay, now that we’re friends, come accompany me here! It’s really boring without a conversation partner in this dark and dreary place so let’s talk! What? Who were the cuties on the outside? Hmm, I have no idea what you are talki---
Oh! You mean Astraea and Althea!? Hahahahaha! Shadow-san, I know that we really hit it off very well, and you were thiiiiisssss close to be accepted to my sworn brother, but *killing intent* HANDS OFF, THEY’RE MINE. *killing intent*
Ohh, you were just asking? You just find them irresistibly cute that you just had to bring it up. It’s not like you can do anything with that shadow body of yours??? Iyaah, sorry about that shadow-san, you should know that I’m really protective when it comes to those two because of our circumstances in the past. You don’t want to know how many fights I had to win, perverts I had to castrate, scums I had to kill, and nobles I had to ward off to make sure the twins stay safe. After all, they really were rare and beautiful. Did you know that I…
Wait. Is it just me or did my distance to the weirdly dancing blue fire tower at the end not change at all? Huh? It really didn’t change? Wow so strange…
But now, we can talk for a little bit longer!
Well, enough about my twins, shadow-san, I could tell you about this house! After all, you live here! *ehem*
The House of Ashchiemvierre is one of the four Ducal Houses of the Eclectic Kingdom of Alshana. Like the other Houses, they serve the throne occupied by the Alshana royal family loyally and undisputedly. The fiefdom that it governs, the Crimson city and various towns and villages around its borders, along with the whole Aryanna Mountains was located to the west of the capital. Possessing three forts, the Ashchiemvierres (also known as the Flames) along with another Ducal House located slightly up north, served as the vanguard of the kingdom. We boasted the greatest military might in the kingdom with 35000 soldiers, 1500 knights and 150 mages (30 Flames included). Furthermore, because of our high affinity with fire and our ancient arts, the blacksmithing industry of the dukedom is leagues above the standard that it stand toe-to-toe against the dwarven technology! We also control the roads to and from the kingdom so we are in charge of the land trade and the transportation economy internal and external.
Awesome, right!?
Y’know, this really getting boring. Sorry shadow-san, it’s not that I don’t like your company but I really want to get this over with. See yah!
“[Flicker]”
Hyahhah! It’s slightly intriguing that even though I accelerated considerably the air resistance of this place is somewhat nil. Whatever, I just had to…
Oh shadow-san! You really don’t want to let me go! And you brought the other weird shadow people, too! I know!!! You people are so bored too that you want to race me, right!? You’re on!
Hyahhah! This great one never backs out on a race, y’know! I’m super awesome y’know!!!
“[Double Flicker]!”
Bwahahaha! Now I don’t have to wait for my foot to touch the ground for me to touch the ground, I could just walk on air! Fumu, as expected of me, I’m awesome no matter what I do. Don’t you agree, shadow-san?!!
*Raise right arm to block, then use [double flicker] backwards with a backflip. Ensure sight on all possible angle of attacks when landing. Stomp ground to use an Area-of-effect magic with a knockback effect to buy a few seconds of respite.
“[Crimson Ring]!”
*Reaction commendable. Checking for injuries: Right arm uninjured. Subconscious use Aura to block damage was assumed. Pain negligible. Continue to use Aura, follow with Aschiemvierre’s [Blood boil] and [Adrenaline]. Observe the situation.
‘Eh!!?? Shadow-san?!?! I thought we were friends!'
That sucks, my FORMER friend shadow-san overtook me for a second that I thought ‘wow, he really want to win this! What an admirable shadow-person!! Truly a shadow among shadows!!!’ but then he spun and swiped his oversized claw to my head! Well, I could’ve dodged that but because of my excitement to finish a race and the sudden betrayal of my friend *sniff sniff* I hastily chose to block instead.
*Codename: shadow-san unharmed. Unacceptable. 7 shadows were knocked back, 5 shadows disoriented, 16 are dealing with the gray flames clinging to their bodies. Good. AOE Crimson Ring yields effective damage. Use Crimson Ring as a catalyst to a higher tier magic. Input mana to the circumference. Guide fire spirits to alter third aria. Prevent risk of backlash by generating counter-revolution mana ring. Add spin factor. Exclude the [crimson ring] area. Activate gray flames.
“[Crimson Storm]!”
Weird, even in my battle mode, the strange urge to explain everything didn’t come off. Meh, whatever goes, I guess.
[Crimson ring] was a third tier magic that applies burn and knockback damage in a given area with the caster’s position as the center (but with my fire, burn damage is zero). It gives the caster ample time to use another magic or change the flow of battle. Furthermore, crimson ring enhances all fire-based attacks by 50% as long as the caster stays inside. [Crimson storm] on the other hand was an AOE field that attacks outwards from the border of the prerequisite magic using the inside a haven to prepare for another attack. Normally, the catalyst magic [crimson ring] should disappear the moment [crimson storm] was activated, but for this great me, nothing is impossible! Mwuhahaha! With a little tweak and bit of addition, I created a gray-colored whirlpool-rotating storm that becomes stronger with time as long as its eye, the [crimson ring], is present! As expected of me, I’m awesome no matter what I do.
Now, I just have finish it my-style!
*Command acceptable. Constructing appropriate mana sequence. Establishing seven aria modules. Eliminating unnecessary variables. Copy {burn hex} from the gray hex module and install to new faux-model sequence. Overwhelm with mana and capture appropriate fire spirits’ mana. Kneel and put hand on ground to harmonize with existing spells. Convert gray flame to red fire. Cast with impunity!
“[Synchronize – Imitate flame]!!!”
SHHHHHRAAAAHHHHH WHUUSHHHHH…..
Nyahahaha! Shadow-san, you should know that even if I may be a bit (?) reckless I’m not an idiot. A test created for an Ashchiemvierre would definitely be immune to fire, or at least has a high resistance. Although I admit your numbers may be a problem for an ordinary Flame, but I reckon this cheat number that spell doom was designed for me only. That’s a given! After all, as expected of me, I’m awesome no matter what I do that I have to be killed! The hardship of all popular men is unending! Fumu fumu!
*Calculating damage: 6 shadows incinerated. 15 shadows caught inside the storm range; burning. The rest are taking distance. Dissmiss experiment. Variables calculated. Requirements met. Activate virtual calculations for [Wisp King Summoning]
But as expected of a hikiki? hikoko? moroco?... As expected of a shut-in, you don’t know me at all! My fire is fake y’know. It’s not real y’know? It eats any source of strength with time y’know? Even resistance y’know? Especially resistance, y’knoooowww!?
*Resume calculating damage: 13 shadows incapacitated. Codename: shadow-san included. Calculations over. Use clockwise flow of [crimson storm] as anchor and absorb [crimson ring] in a sphere matrix above caster with fire spirits’ assistance. Use [crimson storm] as magic coat while injecting mana and ashes to core. Increase revolutions while decreasing mana flow outwards. Expel excess fire.
Because of the gray [crimson storm] that turned to crimson [crimson storm], your resistance was greatly diminished that I could say that it was easier to burn you than any other attack. Well, doing that was a little bit tricky but considering how awesome I am, it’s a piece of a cake!
Simply put: I cheated. Hyahhah! Teehee.
Nothing complicated. I just isolated that {burn hex} factor from the gray flames, then overwrite it to every other factors without destroying the magic sequence and altering the flow of mana while maintain the synchronized [crimson storm]. However, my fire was still fake. It just had a tremendous amount of burn hexes that it looks real. Even the mana is deceived: perceiving the fire as a red color. Mwuhahaha!
Anyway, time to end it. Bye shadow-tan. “[Alter Magic - Wisp King Summoning]!!!!! Go destroy them!”
*Add mana signature. Home in to codename: shadow-san as target. Release! Burn Motherfucka!!!! *ehem* *ehem* Rectify impulse control systems.
BOOOOOBOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!
*Calculate damage: all enemies evaporated. Tar-like substance as proof/corpses. Calculate collateral damage: Floor is melting. Ceiling undamaged. Strange but irrelevant. Two walls broken.
Mwuahahaha! As expected of me, I’m… What!? Two walls broken?!
*Deactivate [blood boil] to recover rational judgment. Continue using [adrenaline]. Moving instead of staying dormant recommended. Activate [double flicker].
*Run.
Damnit. I blame you shadow-san!!! Wahhh! Calm down, Calm down. It’s okay! It is still okay! I only broke two of them! Wahahaha! As long as I moderately do moderate actions in moderation, I will be okay, moderately. Yeah, anyway time to continue running and end this creepy adventure.
*Combat mode terminate.
[Arthur Iglesias]
Wow. I’ve being running for half an hour, maintaining [double flicker], [adrenaline], and the ever famous summoning Flames’ magic [Wisp King Summoning] but my distance was to that blue fire tower was still unchanged. On the other hand, I met with four more groups of shadow-friends but it all ended in less than 3 seconds. Fully exploiting the big ball of gray-red flame hovering above me aka ‘Wisp King’ to melt all shadows before they get to me and compounding it with [Trailblazer] and [When there’s Smoke, there’s Fire] to scout ahead and burn them all WAY before they get to me is really a method only a genius like me can think of! Nyahahaha! As expected of me, I’m a genius no matter what I do!
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Anyway, after that, I cancelled the [double flicker] and [adrenaline] and just decided to walk leisurely. Well, I still maintained the manaflow to feed to the [Wisp King] so my mana was still depleting in a slow but constant rate but I pay it no matter.
After dealing with five groups of shadow-thingies, I noticed that the fire at the distance was changing colors every time I deal with a group. From Sapphire to navy blue to green to yellow to orange. Hmm, let me think. I have a straight corridor with infinite distance guarded by groups of shadowmajigas loitering randomly.
Hmmmm…
Yep, burning them all in one shot seems a perfect idea. Genius.
...
[Navicer Ceilo Saccaron]
My name is Navicer Ceilo (shi-ye-lo) Saccaron, firstborn of the Hand of The Duke of Fire: Rene Asmetuz Saccaron.
The House of Saccaron was a minor house that serves as butlers and retainers for the main House of Ashchiemvierres for at least 7 generations. We, as the old man would like to remind in every opportunity he gets, ensure the safety of our lords and the prosperity of the land our lords govern. We serve as their right hands and there is no greater glory to serve them except, (of course) die for them.
Yes, my Dad’s crazy.
Let me be clear, I was not the kind of person that likes to bend my head down and follow orders like a mindless golem but I knew that I was not the of person who was suited to give orders more. I am 100% normal noble, with slightly good head, fair control of my magics and slightly fairer face than my peers, I could do everything I want with passable results.
However, I would never be great.
Everything I do is mediocre.
Oh shit. Sorry about the monologue. It’s just that what I am seeing is so surreal that my brain forces me to think of something not relevant. It’s a bad habit, I know.
…
…
…
Fuck, that boy’s a monster.
Today was the “Bastard’s” inheritance rite and many interested parties came to observe the so called City’s trump card. There are those who supports the motion, (not many, of course) those who objects, (i.e. almost every major noble house) and those who are just in it to see the conflict between the two factions. I’m on the third category while Dad on the first one.
Honestly, I failed to understand my father’s decision to support someone with clear disadvantage and questionable origins and when I asked him about it, he just smiled mysteriously and replied, ‘you’ll see’.
…
Fuck, that boy’s a monster.
…Ehem, sorry about that.
Everyone but the participant was in the upper floor gathered to look (with the scrying crystal of course) at the Trial of the Courageous to decide if the young man “deserve to drink the blood of fire” but I call bullshit. This is just a roadblock from the nobles to eliminate what they did not want to become stronger by installing Fire-immuned Phantom golems and massacring the hell of anyone dared to. I still did not know why the Duke four generations ago implemented it.
The moment the young master came in, he had a nice smile and calm eyes that didn’t fit the surrounding. As if he was just there to sightsee.
And for the first five minutes, that was exactly what he did.
With unhurried footsteps and sunny smile, he watched the shadows creeping between the torches and neglected to strike them at their weakest. The younger generation sneered at his idiocy and laughed mockingly while the experienced ones felt something was amiss.
It was an inexplicable aura around him. It was like…
“…like he absorbs danger to himself to make him the deadliest predator in the vicinity.”
My head swiveled to my right and looked that the face who let out that surprised whisper.
She was beautiful. Golden-colored doe eyes that projects vague innocence to those who catch her gaze, Straight vermillion her that signifies her majestic grace and cherry-red lips that was downright sensual. Her presence and charisma was overwhelming, like a single candlelight in the middle of the dark room, forcing all to look at her became moths willingly. She sat gracefully, her porcelain-ish legs crossed, and subtle smirk graced her lips as she watch with amused concentration.
She is Lilianna Amalia Effilii Ashchiemvierre. She was the current successor of the Ashchiemvierre household and the young man’s older sister.
Ah! So beautiful! Because of her charisma, the populace adores her and every---
Uwahh, sorry! Bad habit, bad habit.
Anyway, what she said was very close to what I’m sensing that I dare not refute her. She was the girl I admire the most and I hoped to become her aide but that bitch from the Regnez got it first!
That bitch! I swear when I~~~
Oh, sorry! Sorry! My bad habit’s acting up again.
Where was I? Oh yea, that crazy bastard! Oh! He’s running now! With a crazy smile on his face! Followed those phantom golems… using his [flicker] then [double flicker] to gain more speed.
…then…
Then…
Fuck, that boy’s a monster.
The alpha shadow golem used [phantom swipe] that should have been invisible but that bastard coated his arms with aura used the force to distance himself and effectively counterattacked with a [crimson ring]…
…all of it in one second.
As if it wasn’t enough, he proceeded to demolish the shadow golems with an ingenious use of [crimson storm] without negating the [crimson ring].
Around the hall, shouts like “Impossible!!!” and “W-what!?!” rang wildly, only few people remained calm. The woman beside me, the general, a couple of Elders, the chief handmaiden (she doesn’t have expression), my father with his proud smile, and of course the Duke looking passively. The younger generations (those plunged themselves in debauchery) looked confused and lost.
On the other side of the room, I could see the patriarch of the Redmoldr House (Military and Knighthood House) grinding his teeth and the scion of the Vermillana House (in-charge of Magic crystal mines) paling gradually while whining “my babieesssss” repeatedly.
Well, I cannot blame them. Seeing that crazy monster boy melted the golems down like they’re made of wax was really surreal and justifiably ironic.
Oh, I can see the patriarch of the Christamere gritting his teeth as the cool façade of his handsome face breaks slightly.
That boy did something unbelievable. He used [C. ring] as a catalyst for [c. storm] without demolishing the magic circle from the former that the effects off the latter increased tenfold. A combination of 3rd and 4th tier magic with the power of a 6th tier because of his gray flames was created.
A Flame’s M.O. was to deal everything with overwhelming firepower and if that’s not enough, more overwhelming firepower. A Flame’s nature of being loved by fire spirits made it possible with his/her near unlimited mana reserves and efficient spirit-mana-material conversion that he/she neglects mundane spellcasting.
But that boy didn’t study the Flame way.
Before he came to the Crimson Castle, his spellcating was of the normal mages. Precise, controlled and measured. He followed a step-by-step system that made it easy to follow in contrast of the Flames way of bypassing processes to practice spells.
Now that he knows to control fire spirits, he successfully mastered spirits arts to bypass complicated arias and combined it to mundane spellcasting resulting of a more efficient synchronicity in fire magics and more cohesive and sturdy magical foundations.
…he did it in three years.
And in that time, he ---- WHHAAATTTT!!!!
“WHAT!”
His fire is red! His fucking fire is fucking red!!!! What. The. Hell.
Shouts and howls and roars of bewilderment was heard throughout. Chaos brewed and exploded in near comical manner. I can see the twin houses of Razzelias and Garmett that pioneers in magical theologies and theories drooling in anticipation. Despite my shock, I can recognize the man’s plan to show-off and garner more votes for him and unexpectedly it is working.
Curiosity of the unknown entices such powerful figures.
Anyhow, how is his fire red?!
“It’s not real.” My seatmate stated prudently. Her voice was quiet, but despite shouts and gasps of the viewers and the sound of the red storm below, it was clear. It was heard.
3 seconds of silence followed until my honored father’s voice boomed.
“Princess, this one does not understand. Can you elaborate for this old man?”
“It’s not real. His fire is still fake. It’s just red.”
My father frowned, half understanding but the princess did not state more, focused on the revolving storm and the smiling boy drawing spirits at the center. More people were confused but my father looked at me.
Sigh, I knew this was coming. I closed my eyes for a few seconds then chanted…
With my eyes, I see the world. With the world, I see myself... [Truthsayer]
Dull headache followed. It took 10 seconds to calm my head as I listed to the swush and wush of the firestorm. It was oddly calming.
Then I opened my eyes. My viridian eyes. I hate the headaches but the glitters and purple sparks it produces was pretty cool. I could faintly hear sighs of amazement around me and I can see a smile of amusement from my idol, Miss Lilianna. I could not help but smile widely
Then I look at it.
I looked at him.
It was chaos. A controlled chaos of fire and magic. It’s like he was playing with the rules of the world, bending them slightly and giving them more colors and the spirits loving the thrill, were helping him. The intricacies of the spells laid bare before him and he toyed with them with expertise; obtaining only what he wants and discarding what he didn’t and the rules of magic obeyed furtively.
Simply put: a cheat. A beautiful cheat, nonetheless.
“Wow…”
I could feel all eyes on me. I gulped nervously and think of an answer. I could not just tell what I saw. I would sound like mad.
Deep breaths.
“He broke down his fire in module level, isolated {burn hex} function and bulldoze it to his fire the Flame way. The fire was still fake, but with immeasurable {burn hex} curses, his flame was more effective than any other. An ordinary fire or even a Flame’s fire should be ineffective to those fire-immune abominations but his fire was deteriorating their fire resistance then cursing them with burn hexes, melting them like right now.”
Amazed whispers and the sound of gritted teeth permeated around the room. Got to give it the young master, he sure knows how to awe the audience. Truly an Ashchiemvierre.
I closed my eyes, but still rejected to stop my spell. I instead listened to the hushed voices.
‘Damn that bastard!’ ‘Ah, I see. It was more effective that real fire. How ironic.’ ‘Hmmmmm….’ ‘My precious!!!” ‘He’s useful.’ ‘All according to plan…’ ‘Fufufufufufufu’ ‘Hm, that boy could be the chosen one’ ‘Fufufufuwhahahahafufu’ ‘I need to duel with this guy’ ‘He’s so cool’ ‘my babiessssss!!!!’
Then the spirits quivered, as if anticipating a new game. I opened my eyes and looked at the only source of all things crazy.
…
Fuck, that boy’s a monster.
My eyes were so wide it could pop out of their sockets. My mouth was opening and closing like a drowned fish. I was sure that most of the people here watching that monster demonstrate that thing was in a similar state as I am.
I could not look away. It was beautiful, whatever he was doing. It was like he was painting using the spirits as brush and fire and mana as paint. The vortex of red and gray collided in an artistic sphere and materialized in this world. Using the [C. ring] as a stabilizer and [C. storm] as fuel added by the variables collected from the earlier battle. Beautifully, the storm caved and closed like petals of a flower and the [Wisp King] was summoned.
It was ingenious. At least one must be a Master-ranked Flame to summon the [wisp king] and if they succeeded, it would most likely be unstable. However, with the use of a methodological, timed, and controlled spellcasting, the young master summoned it almost effortlessly.
And I can see that it was stable. Calm even. With a little bit of sadistic desire to burn those unburnable.
Of course the young master humored it gladly. And it burned them like the wrath of the sun.
Everyone was stunned. The sheer firepower it showed was outstanding. Those battle-junkies and pyromaniacs among us were giddy like six-year old children finally found a new game. Those Elders opposed to his rite were left confused and lost: clearly they see the advantage of having such genius. The Marquis of Redlake was staring daggers at the young lord’s visage, hoping to kill him with his stare. The princess was smiling wider.
I… I was just there. Looking at him. Looking at his magic. I didn’t notice the passage of time as he demolished every single phantom golem there; using the [wisp king] as a morning star to throw around, blazing through the golems and teleporting back inside the weird ring of grey smoke above the young master’s head.
I could not fault him. It was effective. But what grate my nerves is the audacity of the admins here to station more phantom shadows. Minutes passed and I counted more than 200 already! I was about to stand and curse at the Vermillianas and Redmoldrs but the sudden stop of the young master made my pause.
His smile just gotten more sinister. As if a devilish prank just formed in his head.
What happened next was something I could never forget.
He raised his left arm forward, concentrating with his palm toward the azure fire illusion. Oddly, the [wisp king] floated a few inches from his hand and hummed erratically, like a beating heart. Or a time bomb. The halo of gray smoke above the young master followed and served like a corona to the sun-like [wisp king]. It revolved around the sphere like an orbital ring. I gasped as the young master poured in more and more mana, not to the sphere but to the smoke orbit.
That monster… is going to do something crazy.
Confused looks towards me was ignored as I fervently watched the sphere pulsed uncomfortably because of the choking pressure from the orbit. Young master Arthur used the smoke like a chain to control the wisp king for what he planned next.
He planned to use the self-destruct skill of the [wisp king] but channel it like a concentrated attack forwards.
When the [wisp king] could not take more pressure, Lord Arthur used the opportunity to tweak the arias inside it and grasp the self-destruct sequence to his liking. He closed his hand abruptly and balloon wisp king crumbled within and deflated but the heat and fire inside it still remained.
He shouted: “[Alter Magic: Wisp King Nova]!!!” on the top of his lungs. It may just be me but I thought I heard a rancorous childlike laugh coming from the wisp king as it deflated.
In a split second, using the corona smoke that became a spirit-clad magical circle, he pulled back his arm then punched the air forward, releasing all red heat, gray smoke, and cursing light outwards. With the control of the revolving spirit-clad corona, no excess flowed backwards.
ZzzzuuuuUUUUUUPPPP… Ting! DOOOOGOOOOOOMMMM BOOOOMMMM!!!!
A beam of angry red devoured everything in a straightforward manner. It lasted for 20 seconds; melting everything in its path. Truly, only an Ashchiemvierre would only be this hot-headed.
After a minute of dust and smoke, we could see the young mater chuckling; obviously proud of his work. The ground floor was destroyed. All of the walls were melted. The floor become uneven, half of the floor were downed 5 meters almost like a cliff. And the illusion of the azure flame was gone. Destroyed.
But all I could see is the young man breathing heavily while giggling innocently. His face laced with sweat but his smile was still present; contagious. I knew that looking at him, I was mesmerized. To him, and to the fire in his eyes.
That fire is genuine.