Latavia barely dodges the fire lance that was thrown at her. “Gods, she is too fucking fast!” Latavia ducks under another fire attack while trying to close the distance between her and the fire sorceress. Latavia has pushed the pain from her numerous burns and cuts that she has gained. Despite her countless injuries, Latavia has managed to score a couple of direct hits. But because of the constant fire, Blood Plague kept getting purged.
In a brief pause between bouts , the fire sorceress spoke, “ Few have been able to withstand the fire as you have.” With respect clear in her voice, “You may call me Scarlett, the Fire Queen.”
“Being burned because I kept saving someone from hurting or trying to kill themself is different from saving yourself. But the pain is the same. You can call me Latavia. I'll annoy you by refusing to give up, not surrendering, and not dying to a bitch like you.” With cold, hard calculating eyes, Latavia regarded Scarlett, aware her target was Lightning. Lightning had used the rest of his energy to get them both out of the Blood Palace then proceeded to collapse after having to burn his own life energy in place of mana. The only difference between my sister Latavia and Lightning is the difference of blood. Latavia chanced a look over at Lightning's still form on the ground. Doesn't even know me and yet, Lightning has saved me numerous times today. I will protect him.
☆☆☆
Over at the Blood Palace, the fire disappeared. With Phoenix's mastery over fire it snuffed out at a snap of her fingers. Marethyu and Phoenix watched the fight from the parapet. They were quietly conversing amongst themselves.
“The girl should have collapsed by now,” Marethyu observed.
“Her life force is incredible. Almost rivaling yours,” Phoenix grew quiet and her eyes glowed briefly as she activated Analyze.
“What did you learn about the offworlder Latavia?”
“One, Latavia isn't her real name. Two, she has the death, shadow, and fire essences…” Phoenix switched her gaze to Lightning to assess how much damage he had sustained.
Marethyu was clearly impressed as he said, “Meaning she can become an Affliction Sorceress. Wait, is that-?”
Phoenix was clearly distracted as she interrupted Marethyu, “Her fire essence is giving her a natural resistance to Scarlett’s fire. During this fight the girl will gain either a fire affliction or a fire healing spell. I wouldn't be surprised if both happened to be honest… Shit! Lightning is almost dead. Like literally dead! He used too much mana.”
Crimson wings made of fire and blood sprouted from Phoenix’s back as she jumped off the parapet. One moment Phoenix was at the wall, the next one she was at Lightning’s side. “From ashes you rose, be made anew: Phoenix’s Tear.” A soothing fire enveloped Lightning, healing and protecting him.
Marethyu rose from Phoenix’s shadow shaking his head as he looked over the line of glass that was once dirt that stretched from the wall of the Blood Palace to where Lightning lay. Then he turned towards the ongoing fight between Latavia and Scarlett ready to intervene at that moment.
Phoenix stopped him with two words, “Wait. Watch.” The next moment, all the fire turned to a shadowy purple color. “Ghost- no. Shadow fire…”
☆☆☆
Scarlett had been certain this fight would have been a cakewalk. Then she learned the girl was resistant to fire and a decent fighter with some training unknown to Scarlett, which meant she was an offworlder. “...You may call me Scarlett, the Fire Queen.”
“Being burned because I kept saving someone from hurting or trying to kill themself is different from saving yourself. But the pain is the same. You can call me Latavia…” Following their brief conversation, Scarlett literally turned up the heat, past her own heat resistance, hoping to outlast Latavia. Scarlett knew that this fight had slipped from her grasps when she saw all the wounds that she had inflicted on Latavia start to heal. Run away. Scarlett knew she had lost the moment all the flames turned a shadowy purple color.
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☆☆☆
Ability heat resistance has leveled up.
You have met the requirements to unlock your fire essence.
You have awakened your Fire Essence.
“What? No, don’t get distracted. Survive. Why is she running?” Anger starts to build.
Your class has changed to Affliction Sorceress.
You have learned Cleansing Flame.
All of Latavia’s burns and cuts started to gradually close and heal.
You have learned Shadow Fire.
A wicked grin appeared on Latavia’s face. “This fire is now a shadow!” Immediately, all the surrounding flames turned into a shadowy purple, which glowed purple.
You have learned Shadow Manipulation.
You have learned Fire Manipulation.
As Latavia learned these spells and abilities, she gained an instinctive knowledge of how to use them. Three daggers of shadow fire formed between each finger on each hand. “You won’t escape me,” Latavia growled. “You will finish what you started.” Latavia threw the daggers, each one missing. Most missed completely, others by a number of feet and one grazed Scarlett’s arm, making her cry out in surprise and pain.
In a fit of rage, Sophie reached out a hand commanded the shadow fire with one last ditch effort:
“Let’s watch the World burn.”
You have forcibly used a spell of world annihilation.
☆☆☆
Phoenix and Marethyu immediately sprung into action following Latavia’s final spell and the fact that she collapsed. Marethyu brought Scarlett to them through her shadow. Phoenix created a dome of pure phoenix fire, her wings losing the blood and becoming pure bright red and white fire. The dome of phoenix fire was a matching red and white flame as Phoenix’s wings.
“Help us. When we save the world, you can either run or join my guild, The Underworld. We were sent to kill you, but we had an ulterior motive to capture you, Scarlett, so that we could give you the same offer of joining us. The client is a petty person who has too much money.” Marethyu then encased the dome of fire that Phoenix made with a dome of shadows. “Having another fire user will help speed up the process. If Lightning was conscious, he’d help me with the shadows.”
Scarlett looked dumbfounded for a brief moment before getting to her feet. “What do you need me for? Both of you are a fire and shadow champion. I’m not sure what help I can offer.”
“Just use your fire manipulation ability,” Phoenix coached. “Feel for my fire and the fire part of the shadow fire. We want to fuse the two together. Marethyu will be focusing on the shadow part and try to separate it from the fire to give us better control.”
The three of them stood side by side concentrating on their respective manipulation abilities. It took them the better part of four hours to completely eradicate the shadow fire of the world annihilation spell World Burn. The moment they did, Scarlett dropped to her knees completely spent. Marethyu staggered forward towards the collapsed form of Latavia. Phoenix looked over everybody to see how they were regarding mana and life force. Sighing in relief, Phoenix took out two mana potions and handed one to Scarlett, “So wanna join the Underworld?” Marethyu was walking back with Latavia in his arms. “She’s alive, how close to death is she, Phe?” Phoenix poured the mana potion down Latavia’s throat before saying, “She’ll be in a coma for about a week.”
Scarlett looked at the two champions, one of fire the other of shadow, “How are you two still standing? Are the rumors about the strength of those that reach champion status true? And if I join you, will I get my own room? If so, I’ll join your guild.”
Marethyu gave her an exhausted smile , “Yes, the rumors are true about the champion’s strength; yes, you’ll get your own room, Ready?” Phoenix had Lightning in her arms and Scarlett looked ready to ask a question when everything became dark and cold then all of them were in a room full of shadows but it was warm.
“Welcome to the Underworld.”