Ignar's Final Blaze
As the morning sunlight began to dye the summit of the World Tree, I said,
"Kar, let's head out."
"......Yes."
Kar's response lacked any spark. He'd pushed beyond his limits all day yesterday with mana boost, so his wing muscles were still throbbing, it seemed.
I climbed onto Kar's back and opened my subspace to check the spice box one more time. Rock salt, pepper, red powder. I'd only sniffed them yesterday, but all three had me excited already.
Flap!
We kicked off from the World Tree summit with a massive beat of wings. Turning south, the landscape below started whipping by faster and faster. The dense forest gradually thinned out, and from afar, the dry, scorching air unique to the plains came rushing in.
We were nearing Ignar's Domain.
Heat haze rose beyond the horizon, and the blackened earth glowed red-hot under the sunlight.
"M-Master. It's coming into view."
Kar said in a low voice.
"There it is."
In the middle of the plains far ahead, that silhouette from yesterday was moving slowly. A blazing mane. Every paw print scorched the earth, sparks flying from its pads. The closer we got, the more the heat pressed against my skin.
Roooaaarrr!!
The roar tore through the sky. It had spotted us.
Lava-orange eyes glared up at the heavens, and the flames in its mane burned even fiercer. The look in its eyes remembered the presence that had skimmed its territory yesterday.
"Kar, drop me here. Stay back, far away."
"W-What?! Master alone...?! "
"Can't have a scratch on my ride."
Kar tried to say more, but I didn't wait. I leaped off his back and released my human form.
Poof!
Black mist exploded outward as my gigantic six-winged black crow form manifested in midair. Pent-up mana burst free all at once, sending a shockwave of mingled lightning and wind ripping across the entire plain, slicing the air. Azure bolts crackled between my pitch-black feathers.
Below, Ignar's paws halted. Its mane flames flickered for a split second, and the bold advance froze solid.
Quick reflexes, but no thought of backing down, huh.
The pause was brief. Ignar's eyes blazed anew, flames in its mane condensing into a single point.
It started with fire.
Fwoooosh!!
The compressed blaze from its mane erupted into a massive fire pillar, cleaving the sky toward me. It had to be dozens of meters wide. The heat singed my feather tips before it even hit, a burning smell tickling my nostrils.
I spread my wings wide once.
Whoosh!
Compressed wind blasted from my wings, slamming head-on into the pillar. The instant fire and wind collided, an explosion rocked the heavens, hurling fireballs everywhere. One grazed my wing, charring a few feathers.
Not bad.
Ignar didn't stop at one shot. No sooner had I blocked the first than a second was already forming in its mane—denser, faster.
Fwoosh!
I deflected the second with wind, but the third was already incoming. Rapid fire.
Each block made the next come quicker, gaps between pillars shrinking. Fourth. Fifth. By the sixth, the heat shifted entirely. What had been mere singeing now baked my whole wings. The air itself glowed, lungs warming with every breath.
Relentless barrage.
I deflected the seventh with wind, riding an updraft to gain altitude. Distance eased the heat a bit. But Ignar wouldn't allow it. It kicked off the ground, surging into the sky. Astonishing that bulk could leap like that. Lion-like explosive power amplified by mana sent its massive frame slicing heavenward at unbelievable speed.
Claws extended for a downward strike—I tilted sideways to evade. Its talons ripped empty air, a fiery shockwave grazing my wingtips with crackling embers.
Fast.
It landed and leaped again, this time from the side. The second jump's trajectory differed, throwing off my dodge timing just a hair. Talon tips sheared off a couple feathers, which burned to ash in the heat.
Changing angles.
The third came from below upward. I folded my wings to slip the low slash, but though the claws missed, a mane burst scorched my belly. Skin stung beneath the feathers.
Fourth, fifth. Jumps accelerated, trajectories growing more complex: frontal, flank, low, diagonal. For such a heavy frame, its movements were razor-sharp, each leap exploding mane flames that rained fireballs. Tougher than the pillars—wind worked at range, but up close, unavoidable heat charred feathers nonstop, burning stench rising.
Melee specialist, then.
I beat my wings to parry the sixth leap, widening the gap. Catching my breath, I glanced down. The plain was wrecked. Pillar craters pocked the earth, leap landings cracked the ground. Collision zones had hurled giant trees root and all.
Ignar leaped again, posture shifting midair. At apex, mane flames sharpened into blades, lancing omnidirectionally. Dozens at once, blocking escape. Small individually, but varied angles left narrow gaps. As blades rained from above, Ignar rocketed up from below, claws ready. Pincer from high and low.
Tough to dodge.
I stood my wings vertical and spun. Crackle! Lightning from my whirling wings zapped the blades one by one, spin momentum letting me slip Ignar's frontal charge. Residual thunder crackled where its talons tore air. Each clash flashed the sky blue and red.
What unfolded over the plains was less a fight than two mana types clashing like a natural disaster. Kar had wisely fled toward the World Tree depths long ago.
Ignar landed and changed tactics. No more jumps—it planted all four paws, channeling mane flames downward. The earth beneath glowed red, lava light seeping through cracks. It spread fast, superheating hundreds of meters around Ignar.
What the hell?
Heat surged from below, destabilizing updrafts. Winds warped, making altitude tricky. Stripping my air advantage.
Ignar fired another pillar atop it. Earth heat and pillar combined shrank dodge space. Wind deflection failed as ground thermals disrupted trajectories.
Smart.
Wind failed? Lightning. I summoned bolts from wingtips, splitting the pillar head-on. It shattered sideways, but heat remnants baked my whole plumage. Singed smell everywhere.
Good enough recon.
It had played most cards. My turn. I folded wings tight for a vertical dive. Ignar reflexively fired a pillar—I twisted to graze it sideways. Heat roasted my feathers, stench surging, but ignored. Piercing earth heat, I targeted its flank.
Crackle!Boom!
Wingtip thunder smashed its side. Bolts burrowed through hide, filling air with burning fur and sizzling leather. Ignar's body convulsed.
"Grraaaarrrgh!!"
It roared in agony, twisting. Mana-laced roar unleashed a shockwave—close range hurled me sideways. Bone-rattling vibration pierced my frame.
Regaining balance midair, I eyed it. Flank hide charred and peeled, one hind leg dragging. Yet it rose. Eyes unquenched. Mane flames burned brighter—injury fueled mana surge via rage.
Roooaaarrr!!
Roaring charge—not a leap, but quadrupedal sprint. Each step exploded earth, accelerating. Mid-run, it spewed flame blades and pillars. All prior attacks at once.
Rage buffs it.
I zapped blades with thunder, dodged pillars, beat wings to deflect rising claws. Once, twice, thrice. Onslaught density way up. Not overwhelming, but demanding focus.
A mane burst grazed my face, heat stabbing eyes—I blinked reflexively. Talons were already at my beak. Body curled back instinctively. Claws nicked chest, shearing feathers that fluttered down. Sharp pain flashed.
That could've been bad.
I dropped altitude for distance. Chest: half-dozen feathers gone, skin grazed raw. No blood, but stinging.
Pausing to survey Ignar.
Impressive.
Four Kings earned the name. Pillars, melee leaps, blades, earth scorch, rage frenzy. All from one beast. Mana reserves deep—flames unwaning after all this. But gap remained. It was all-out; I had margin.
Dragging to evening won't do. Belly's rumbling soon. Spices untested.
Time to end it—then I sensed Ignar shift.
Ignar knew.
Pillars blocked. Melee deflected. Blades downed. Earth scorch mere check. Rage-fueled charge? Foe merely staggered, unscathed.
One path left.
Mane flames dimmed—not extinguishing. Mana from body, paws, roar—all streamed back to mane. All for one strike.
Ignar's eyes changed.
Air shifted. Ground heat doubled. Earth melted around Ignar, mane flames stabbing skyward into a colossal pillar. Air warped white-hot nearby.
That's dangerous.
All split mana now unified. Density transformed. Melting sounds reached me: sizzle, boil, crack. All-in one shot.
Centered heatwave roiled flows. Wings bucked. Too wide to evade in this turbulence.
Fine.
I unfurled all six wings. Shhhk! Latent thunder erupted between black feathers. Lightning and wind enveloped me, wingtip sparks intensifying. Air crackled around.
Fire versus thunder—battlefield air tensed in dual layers. Red below, azure above. Plains split in twain.
Ignar crouched. Mane flames pinpointed, surroundings blazing white.
Roooaaarrr!!
Lifetime flames compressed into one massive fireball, hurtling forth. Sky bled red. Passage vaporized air into vacuum; heat alone ashed plains grass. A roadside giant tree merely grazed—gone, evaporated.
Cool.
Six wings forward, I summoned mana. Crackle! Thunder-wind smashed fireball dead-on.
BOOM!!
Heaven shattered. Explosion quaked plains. Shockwave ringed out, uprooting trees, gouging earth dozens of meters deep into a mega-crater. Overhead storm of fire and lightning pierced clouds.
Dust and embers took ages to settle. Wingtips singed, a few feathers burned, chest scratch throbbed. That was it.
I looked down. Ignar slumped there. Mana drained, mane extinguished. Eyes dimmed, charred fur sparking residual thunder, smoke rising. Legs quivered. Yet head up, unbowed.
I folded wings, descended. Mana-empty, it struggled to stand, scraping remnant flames.
Talons clamped its scruff first.
Crunch!
Ignar's bulk slammed earth, cratering the plain anew. Plains shook.
Grrrrumble...
Low, thick groan from under talons. Too weak for roar, but defiant lift pulsed through claws. No strength left. Mane flames faded slow.
The Divine Beast that scorched these plains for centuries melted quietly into earth's heat.
"Caw."
(You fought well.)
Talons held firm; beak severed windpipe.
Now, the important part.
Beak tore huge flank chunk. Crunch!
One chew, and hot energy flooded my gut. No mere warmth—mana flowed from chest to wingtips, refilling battle drain.
This...
With Turaka, no clue—back then, no mana control, just tasty chomps. Now, Michael's gift let me feel inflow crystal-clear. Each swallow: heavy heat settling cozily. Winter-hot-broth bliss, tension melting.
Relaxation brought bold flavor. Condensed mana meat burst like mouth-flames on chew. Tender. Juices oozed deeper chew, umami coating tongue. Raw, yet this good.
I ate silently awhile. Extinguished-mane plains hushed. Scorching earth cooled; wind scattered ashen grass.
Ignar's throne: vast crater only.
Kar returned from afar, peering down—but silent.
Site of the fallen Divine Beast that blazed centuries. On ash-wind plains, one crow dined quietly.