(Previous chapter - Gauge,Var and the young tree bait thornbane. Yet he senses this and tries to attack them. Gauge impales the root and holds on to it till he reached the tyrant's domain. Var and the tree tracking down who where Gauge - interrupted by Thornbane's minions)
Roots rushed in from all directions. Gauge shoves the ore back into his satchel. He deflects the roots- one to the right - one to the left - sidesteps to left - cuts down one,
"What do you want? If the gate lets you gain power, why make your own people suffer?"
He asks as he continues to maneuver, the incoming roots.
"Power is the only truth — and no one, not even you, can deny it!"
as root emerge beneath Gauge and grasp his leg - locking him in place.
before Gauge could think - An enormous sharp root thrusts straight at him - with no other choice he blocks it with feryx *dhuff* the collision results in stalemate.
Thornbane pushed with all his strength - Gauge's arms cracks and imbues with his white embers - his strength increases. Astonishing strength, with this kind of power, I can definitely conquer this planet,
"With the power of the ore you hold I can finally move and once I do, I will wage war against Yggdrasil's kingdom. Once her armies submit to me, No one can stop from ruling this world."
He pauses - Looks at gauge,
"Join me Warrior of white flames, become my herald."
The still struggling Gauge yells, "NEVER"
Thornbane annoyed by his persistence - summons a series of smaller Dagger shaped vines around him - all of them arrows toward an Immobile gauge────────A wheel of blade made of blood cuts down all the vines charging from the front. Vines similar in appearance, ties down the vines from behind.
Var and the tree have arrived, The tree immediately informs,
"I can keep my brethren at bay. Please deal with him..."
He rushes into the forest to prevent arrival of reinforcements.
Meanwhile Var notices the cut down Vines regenerated almost instantly,
"So how do we defeat something that grows back the moment we cut them."
Gauge releases himself from the binding and answers,
"I haven't tried attacking it's trunk yet. Distract the other vines, I am going in."
Var joins his palms, with a twist *shhhlll* blood oozes from each palm, only this time he calmly chants,
"Blood Origami - Reaper's Scythe"
and pulls out a scythe and says to himself,
"It's about time someone weeded this wild tree."
Gauge runs in - One of the larger roots from the trunks tries to pierce him - He flips back dodging it - As the Root pierces the ground - He jumps on to the root and runs along it's course towards the main trunk - Cuts off some collateral branches - swings across one to another root.
He nears the body - and jumps straight at it with a fully charged Feryx─────────── in and instant all the vines branches roots that were distracted - Rushed back to the trunks -covers Thornbane creating an armor of wood.
Feryx couldn't pierce deeper - leaves a shallow mark on the trunks, while the other roots slam him to the ground, Creating a small pit. The next moment - Thornbane threw everything he had into the pit - But Var uses his bloodveil technique to cover the pit - blocking the vines.
Gauge emerges from the pit exhausted from his efforts, Thornbane is shocked to see the boy could even stand up,
"What good is any of this? If you simply joined me, You could have been a conqueror beside me!"
Gauge jumps back to Var,
"Any bright ideas? that didn't work."
Var looks at him still in a hasty battle ready stance,
"Didn't work? That is worse than a didn't work....you were completely whooped.(Var notices something)hmm...maybe that wasn't completely useless."
Gauge looks at him, as he deflects more of the incoming vines,
"What do you mean?"
Var shows him the shallow scar he left on the tree, His magma burnt through the scar creating a narrow yet deep groove.
"That thing is weak against fire, we have to ignite it, that's our only chance to defeating this thing."
Gauge understands the plans, yet doesn't know the means to it,
"How do we do that?"
Var dispels the scythe and presses his palms against the ground,
"We are gonna need a lot of blood, I'll infuse my blood into him, My blood is volatile. Once I give you the signal ignite my living essence. It should burn him to a crisp. do you understand?
(Gauge nods while severing some roots, seeing his approval Var instructs)Good. Now cut off my head....."
Gauge was startled, He doubted his ears - left steps to dodge a vine and asks again,
"You want me to kill you, Why?"
Var is annoyed now,"I TOLD you we need a lot blood. Now quick, you know I won't die."
Gauge without any delay jumps over an incoming branch and severes Var's head clean off just like the first time. Blood flows all over the ground like fountains from his head.
Thornbane was shocked and then smiled,
"You've finally taken my side but killing him was too far you could have immobilized him,A vampire woul....."
Var's severed head called out loud,
"Blood Origami : Sewing Needles"
The blood surged upward, splitting into a hundred crimson threads. Maneuvered through the hostile vines. pierced through Thornbane -Stitches him up head to toe.
"What are you doing!?Tricks like these won't hold me down!!"
He yells....Gauge places his hands on the strands of blood
-ignites the essence of Var's blood with his magma.
the white flames now ignite, Courses through the blood - burns the entire tree.
Thornbane screams for his life,"What is this treachery these ominous flames are devouring me.....NO!! my plan it was AGHHH!! it was perfect if not for you two AGHHHHHHH!!!."
The glorious flames reflect in Gauge's eyes as he reminisces what his uncle warned him.
(Vagyros to kid Gauge : This magma running through your skin will grow powerful and ignite. Once these flames ignite, dangers beyond the horizon will be coming for you....)
Meanwhile in Aether system - One of the primordial systems far away from the star of creation
In a planet shrouded by fire there stood a palace. It was no kingdom for it was prison for one single primordial.
It opened it's eyes, Bloodred with eyes similar to a cat, In low humming voice that resonated throughout the planet,
"I smell it… the scent of the Great White Flames. Not yet his own, but the essence is unmistakable. Soon… it will burn for me."
Central Floravere - Anchor of the universe
Yggdrasil still shrouded in darkness, notices the Tyrant burning with raging Flames of White from afar,
"I would expect no less from his descendent. This once I shall let you pass. For you are not a threat.... not yet."
Next Chapter - The Bloom of Freedom