image [https://i.imgur.com/eY2gF5l.png]
The wisps came to a sudden halt, their enchanting song silenced, their joyous laughter extinguished, and just like that, they vanished into thin air. The once-illuminated cavern plunged into darkness, bereft of the ethereal glow emitted by the wisps. The only sources of light were the fiery embers cast by Ifrit and the ominous radiant aura surrounding Michael.
Confusion etched onto his face, Alpos gazed down at his hands, watching as the magical energies he had harnessed dissipated into nothingness. "I don't understand... What just happened?" he mumbled, his voice filled with bewilderment.
Realization dawned upon Alpos, and he swiftly reacted, urging Michael to act. "Michael! That's enough! We have to leave now!"
Startled, Michael halted in the midst of his assault, abruptly retreating to Alpos's side. Their window of opportunity closing rapidly, they needed to escape the treacherous situation.
"You won't get away!" Ifrit bellowed, hurling a flaming fireball toward Michael.
"Now I comprehend why you were imprisoned here... It seems I won't even have to personally end you. Farewell, Ifrit."
A shimmering portal materialized before them, and without hesitation, Alpos and Michael stepped into it, leaving their injured guards behind.
Brimming with fury, Ifrit unleashed his flames in frustration, aiming at the vanishing portal. His projectiles exploded upon impact with the ground, engulfing the demonic minions that remained in flames.
Graybeard hastened to Mila's side, and as he approached, Ifrit's attacks grew sluggish. The powers that had manipulated Mila dissipated, and a worm-like entity, wreathed in fiery essence, crawled out of her mouth, finding its way onto her shoulder as her body slumped, unconscious, into Graybeard's embrace.
In a swift motion, Graybeard caught her, only to observe the worm-like creature slowly inching across her body.
"A worm?" he exclaimed, bewildered by the unexpected sight.
"THAT'S IFRIT TO YOU!" the worm proclaimed, its voice filled with arrogance.
"You're a worm...?" Graybeard questioned, his voice laced with confusion.
"No! I am a demon! Do not mock me!" the creature retorted, its tone filled with indignation.
Gently, Graybeard lowered Mila to the ground, retrieving a torch from his backpack and igniting it with Ifrit's assistance.
"I don't understand... I believed you were possessing her," Graybeard said, his voice tinged with disappointment.
"With Michael here to assist Alpos, I had no choice but to temporarily take control of her. I hope you can comprehend the necessity."
"You deceived us," Graybeard remarked, his voice heavy with the weight of betrayal.
"Yes... but it was for the greater good! If I had not deceived you, Alpos would have discerned our true intentions. He is a tricky demon to lie to, and possesses some knowledge of relics, however, he does not completely understand it I'm sure. For you see, the powers within this chamber cannot be wielded by any demon, especially him."
"What do you mean by that?"
"These very halls we tread upon were forged by the hands of the God of Light himself. Ages ago, before the other races came into existence, this place served as a tomb for a relic deemed a vital safety measure. I presume that is why you are here. The Relic Bow, a weapon capable of piercing the first creations—the Demon God and the God of Heaven. This bow can only be wielded by an elf, an elf of pureblood origin" the creature explained, revealing the secret hidden within the chamber.
"Wait... The bow, it can really harm the Gods?" Graybeard questioned, his voice filled with awe and disbelief.
"The first creations, yes, it has the power to harm them. It can even bring about their demise," the creature confirmed.
Curiosity burning within him, Graybeard pressed further. "And what about the obelisks? What was your purpose in involving them?"
"The obelisks are not merely magical generators. The wisps above act as vigilant sentries, guarding the gates, while the obelisks serve as the mechanism to open them."
Confusion still clouding his mind, Graybeard sought clarification. "But if that's the case, what was the surge of power you experienced when the ritual commenced?"
"That aspect is rather intricate... You see, the obelisks do bestow power upon you, but that power can only be used to open the gates before us. However, just as only an elf can wield such a weapon, only an elf possesses the capability to unlock the gates as well."
Realizing the extent of Ifrit's actions, Graybeard asked with a mixture of concern and accusation, "So, you took possession of Mila to fend off Michael, even though you knew they couldn't open the vault?"
"In order for you two to access the vault, you would have required my assistance. I did what was necessary to ensure my survival. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement. Alpos desires my demise for betraying our lord, and given the chance, he would seek your lives as well."
Graybeard's brow furrowed deeply as he sought to uncover the truth. "Why does Alpos want you dead?"
"That is not a question I am willing to answer. However, understand that our journey is far from over. Even with the wisps gone, we can still access the vault."
"But why did the wisps leave? Why didn't they finish you off? None of this makes sense to me," Graybeard expressed his confusion and frustration.
"The reason lies with the wisps themselves... You see, in just a few moments, we are about to witness a complete and absolute magical nullification."
"A magical nullification? What does that mean?" Graybeard inquired, his voice tinged with concern.
"It means that our magical abilities will cease to function, and for beings like us demons, that can be fatal... The wisps serve as a safeguard, acting like a bomb that triggers if any angel or demon attempts to open the gates," the creature revealed, shedding light on the imminent danger they faced.
"Then we must leave immediately," Graybeard urged, sensing the urgency of the situation.
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"I cannot... Even if I were to exit this chamber, the detonation would encompass the entire cavern. What Alpos said is true—I am trapped within these walls, destined to remain here for eternity. My own curiosity and boredom have become the catalyst for my impending demise."
"You mustn't speak like that. There must be some way for you to survive,"
"There is a way... But I highly doubt anyone would be willing to do it,"
"What do you mean? What is it?"
"Allow me to enter their body willingly. Someone would need to offer their own body as a vessel to shield me from the imminent detonation."
"You want... her," Graybeard replied, his voice heavy with realization as he looked at Mila, his heart filled with a mixture of apprehension and concern.
"I do..." Ifrit replied, a sad tone carried through his voice.
"You know, I cannot allow that to happen, and even if I did, she is unconscious now and unable to give her consent," Graybeard firmly stated, his voice filled with conviction.
"I understand that..."
Seating himself beside Mila, Graybeard let out a sigh, his gaze fixed on the torch before them.
"Listen, if you're willing, I can offer myself as a temporary host for you... but only temporarily," Graybeard proposed, his voice filled with a mix of determination and compassion.
Ifrit's eyes widened in genuine surprise as he looked at Graybeard.
"You... you don't fear me?" Ifrit questioned, his voice tinged with astonishment.
"Haha, well, it's not that I'm not scared," Graybeard chuckled lightly, "but I know that even if you were to inhabit my body, you wouldn't find much satisfaction in it. Who would want to be an old dwarf who's not particularly skilled at anything?"
A smirk formed on Ifrit's face. "Yes, well, you do have a point there. Lingering in your body is not something I desire."
"So, what do you say?" Graybeard inquired, his eyes locked with Ifrit's.
Before answering, Ifrit interjected, needing clarification. "But wait a moment. What do you gain from this? Surely you desire something in return."
Graybeard shook his head. "It's not about personal gain. All I want is to retrieve the bow and escape this place. We don't need senseless violence."
"You don't want senseless violence?" Ifrit echoed, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "Well, on that, at least, we can find common ground. Even as a demon, I was often regarded as one of the most passive ones..."
"Passive?" Graybeard repeated, surprised by the revelation.
"If you can call it that. Now that you have offered me such an opportunity, I suppose I can share more with you," Ifrit began. "I was imprisoned here by Alpos and a witch named Lady Gray. They deceived me into coming to this cavern and bound me to the obelisks..."
"Lady Gray... Yes... She is well known, but why would they do that?" Graybeard inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"They did it because I refused to aid their warmongering efforts... I may be a powerful demon, but truthfully, I am more of a coward than anything else," Ifrit admitted, his voice laced with a tinge of regret.
"I wouldn't say that... You're famous within history books. You're the one who defeated Michael, a true legend," Graybeard reassured Ifrit, his voice filled with sincerity.
Ifrit's expression lightened, his eyes reflecting a glimmer of hope. "Are you serious?" he asked, disbelief tinged with a hint of excitement.
"Absolutely," Graybeard replied with a cheerful expression. "You have a place in history as a legendary figure."
"I... I see..." Ifrit muttered, his voice filled with a mix of astonishment and gratitude. "In that case, let's make a pact."
"A demonic pact, huh?" Graybeard questioned, his curiosity piqued. "What do I need to do?"
"It's simple," Ifrit explained. "Cut your hand and let your blood drip onto me. As you do that, chant my name: 'Ifrit, lord of flames, I humbly give you my vessel to do as you see fit.'"
Graybeard retrieved a knife from his backpack, recognizing the urgency of the situation. With steady hands, he cut his palm, allowing his blood to flow. He followed Ifrit's instructions precisely.
"Ifrit, lord of flames, I humbly give you my vessel to do as you see fit," Graybeard chanted, his voice steady and resolute.
As Graybeard's blood dripped onto Ifrit, a transformative process began. Ifrit's essence condensed into a blazing soul, spiraling and merging with Graybeard's body.
image [https://i.imgur.com/7fgH3qs.png]
Hours pass as Graybeard falls unconscious from the demonic convergence.
image [https://i.imgur.com/Qj0qq7o.png]
Graybeard awakened from his unconscious state, his eyes immediately fixated on Mila lying before him. Ifrit, now inhabiting Graybeard's body, observed Mila with a mix of resignation and responsibility. He couldn't help but feel a sense of detachment, knowing that he was now in control of someone else's body.
"Well, I suppose I should honor his wishes at the very least," Ifrit thought to himself, reflecting on Graybeard's selfless act. "Not that I want to have this body for long."
As he rose from his position, Ifrit surveyed the room, his fingertips emanating a faint glow as he channeled his magical powers. Small fragments of flames danced around the chamber, momentarily illuminating the surroundings.
With the room now bathed in his magical light, Ifrit made his way to the center of the chamber. The once-glowing magic circle had dissipated, but the gate still stood before them, its enigmatic power waiting to be harnessed.
"The only way we can open the gate now is to have an elf of pureblood origin with us... Grismala... That's who we need," Ifrit thought to himself as he surveyed the massive gate before him.
A subtle movement caught Ifrit's attention, and he turned his gaze towards Mila, who was beginning to awaken from her slumber.
"She's an elf, but I can't use her..." Ifrit mused to himself, making his way to Mila, noticing the disfigured tips of Mila's elven ears, concealed beneath her hair.
"Graybeard! Thank the heavens you're okay! I passed out for a moment! I... I don't know what happened. Something came over me," Mila exclaimed, her voice filled with relief and confusion as she reached out to him.
"I possessed your body temporarily. Calm down," Ifrit replied, using Graybeard's voice, his tone aiming to soothe Mila's worries.
Mila quieted down, her voice filled with a mix of confusion and concern as she questioned Graybeard.
"What? What do you mean?" she asked, her tone trembling with uncertainty.
"I am Ifrit, and I am currently inhabiting Graybeard's body,"
"What... do you mean... what did you do to him?" Mila pressed further, her worry growing.
"It seems I have a lot to explain, but time is of the essence. Mila, you will have to take matters into your own hands," Ifrit replied, his tone tinged with a hint of frustration. "This gate will close soon, You're our only hope to retrieve the relic within."
"What? What are you talking about? What did you do to Graybeard? I want answers now!" Mila's questions poured out, her confusion and frustration escalating.
"Graybeard is fine, damn it! Just listen,"
switching between the souls contained within the shared body a different voice emerged. It was Graybeard's true self, finally revealing his presence.
"Mila... I willingly gave my body to Ifrit," Graybeard confessed, his voice filled with a mix of determination and selflessness.
"But why?" Mila's voice quivered with a blend of astonishment and concern.
"Ifrit would have faced certain death otherwise, and we need him. Mila, please, listen to him... He will guide you and show you the path forward," Graybeard pleaded, his words emphasizing the importance of Ifrit's aid.
With that, Ifrit took control back from Graybeard.
Confused by the situation she now faced, Mila stared at Graybeard blankly.
"I hope that satisfies your curiosity, but now we must focus on the task at hand. You need to open the gate and to do that, you will need to follow me."
Turning around, Ifrit made his way to the center of the chamber. Confused yet compelled by the unfolding events, Mila followed behind him, her mind filled with questions and uncertainty, yet trusting in the guidance that Graybeard had bestowed upon her.