Chapter 155: Master and Wildfire
Chapter 155: Master and Wildfire
The shockwave rippled out, sending a plume of smoke and ash high into the atmosphere. Rocks were torn from the cliffs, tumbling down in a cascade of rubble. The sky was painted with streaks of red and gold.
For a long moment, everything was consumed by fire and smoke. The heat was unbearable, even from a distance, and the light was blinding.
Then slowly, the flames began to recede, and the thick veil of smoke lifted like dark storm clouds parting after a violent downpour.
The battlefield fell into an eerie silence.
Where the blast had erupted, the ground was a shattered expanse of broken stone and fractured earth, rocks splintered and tossed aside.
The land was a mess of jagged debris, still smoldering with traces of Cinderblaze's attack. Suddenly, the beast leaped down from a ledge, landing nimbly on the destroyed terrain. It seemed almost frantic, making sharp, urgent noises as if calling out for Eratz.
The fire beast scanned the destruction, its bright eyes darting across the rubble.
Then, a low rumble reverberated through the ground. Cinderblaze's ears perked up, and its eyes widened.
It turned its head sharply, glancing behind just in time to see the earth begin to quake and split apart.
With a startled leap, Cinderblaze propelled itself away, flames trailing behind it.
The ground beneath where it had stood erupted in a violent explosion, rocks and dust flying into the air.
From the epicenter of the blast, Eratz emerged, breaking through the shattered stone like a force of nature.
His body was battered, his clothes torn and covered in ash, but he was still standing, his body emanating a phenomenal pressure that rippled through the air.
Cinderblaze's eyes widened, and a bright, almost childlike smile spread across its face.
Without hesitation, it rushed forward, sprinting toward Eratz with incredible speed.
The fire rabbit skidded to a halt right in front of him, bouncing excitedly on its feet. It began cheering wildly, clapping its flaming hands together, almost like a fan who had just met their idol.
Eratz, still breathing heavily, straightened his posture and took a deep breath. He wiped the ash from the corner of his mouth, then raised an eyebrow as he looked down at the excited rabbit.
"... What's your deal?" he muttered, clearly amused but puzzled.
Cinderblaze let out a series of sharp, playful noises, as if trying to speak. It gestured wildly, mimicking Eratz's moves from their battle, especially the way he unleashed his beam attack.
The creature's body language conveyed pure admiration, its eyes shining with a bright, joyous light.
Eratz's expression softened, and he chuckled.
"You're really a clever beast, huh?" He sat down right in front of Cinderblaze.
He leaned back on his hands, gesturing for the rabbit to do the same.
"Calm down for a moment, let's talk."
Cinderblaze hesitated, looking at him with intrigue, then obediently sat down, its long ears flicking back and forth.
The flames around its body dimmed slightly, almost as if it were relaxing.
Eratz took a moment, gazing at the creature before him. He could feel it now, a distinct difference between Cinderblaze and his other Calamity.
Raijinara had the presence of a self-assured master, calm and complete. Cinderblaze, on the other hand, was raw potential, bursting with energy and talent but lacking the maturity that Raijinara exuded.
"You're special," Eratz began, his voice soft but firm. "I've fought beasts like you before, powerful ones. But you're different. You've got fire, not just literally, but in here," he pointed to his chest, then tapped Cinderblaze's. "You felt I was coming, yet you decided to wait for me. You didn't run nor ignored me, you just waited, because you wanted to challenged me, isn't it?"
Cinderblaze's eyes widened, and it nodded rapidly, letting out a noise that sounded like agreement. It leaned forward, hanging onto Eratz's word.
Eratz chuckled again, shaking his head.
"You remind me of two people, and I'm curious to see you together. You too need a little guidance, so," He held up his fist, eyes locked with Cinderblaze's. "What do you say? Join me. Let's push beyond our limits together."
Cinderblaze's smirk returned, but it wasn't mocking this time. It was a genuine smile, filled with excitement and anticipation.
The rabbit beast slowly extended its fist toward Eratz's, eyes glinting.
But instead of a gentle bump, Cinderblaze swung its fist forward with phenomenal force.
He unleashed a powerful heatwave, flames erupting outward like an explosion, scorching the rocks around them.
Eratz, unfazed, grinned. He unleashed his field spell in response, a shimmering wave of pure energy that swallowed the flames entirely.
The fiery heat was neutralized, the surrounding inferno extinguished in an instant.
Eratz pushed back against Cinderblaze's fist, matching its strength and overpowering it
slightly.
He leaned in, smirking.
"Would you start our partnership with a little discipline, then?"
Cinderblaze's eyes sparkled like stars, filled with admiration and joy. The rabbit beast
stopped its fiery display, retracting its flames.
It leapt away from Eratz, hopping around excitedly, making a cacophony of playful noises as
it circled him, almost like a child asking a million questions at once.
Eratz laughed, standing up.
"You've got a good spirit, I'll give you that. Alright, alright, calm down," he said, raising a hand. "I assume this means we've got an agreement then, hmm?"
He extended his aura, a wave of spiritual pressure spreading out, wrapping around Cinderblaze like a gentle embrace.
The fire rabbit stopped moving, standing still as it felt the energy surrounding it.
Slowly, its body began to disintegrate into tiny sparks of fire, the flames turning into wisps of light. The embers floated upward, drawn into Eratz's aura like moths to a flame.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Eratz watched the process, a satisfied smile on his face.
"Looks like I finally got myself another ace," he murmured.
The last spark of Cinderblaze's body faded away, absorbed into Eratz's energy. The bond was
formed, the pact sealed.
He looked up at the sky, Raijinara circling above, and exhaled deeply.
"Maybe I'm really special after all," he whispered.