In the farther Central Lands of the Muspelheim Continent, a red-skinned Fire Giant tyrant with sharp, black horns sat down over a throne made of volcanic stone and flames. Slowly moving across the fire-covered landscape over a gigantic, blazing turtle-like beast.
An army of millions of Divine Monsters was following him very closely, alongside a few hundreds of Elite Fire Giant soldiers wearing black and golden armor, with fiery looks into their eyes. His greedy eyes were glancing at a small, red-colored crystal fragment resting over the palm of his enormous right hand.
Imbued with a tremendous Divine Power, he constantly drained this power from within this jewel's fragment, enhancing his strength and divine power even further. However, as his enormous army marched trough the blazing lands of Muspelheim, he quickly sensed the powerful, divine presence of a foreigner from these lands, who have stepped into his domain unwelcomed.
"So the Dragon King has arrived in my domain…" He instantly knew who it was. After all, he was quite related with a certain group of people that all knew about him and his feats. "Heh, interesting… To think he would choose my domain as the first continent he would visit. Fool, he will die by my flames. And once I gather these fragments, I will be completely invincible."
"My lord, we are closer to the next village." A tall Fire Giant walked to his side, his face stoic and emotionless.
The Tyrant's red eyes blazed with greediness, as he stoked his long, white beard. Instantly, he stood up and looked into the distance, he was thrice as tall as the Fire Giant at his side, who was already almost five meters tall.
"I see… Good, let's get started. Soldiers, beasts, destroy everything." He smiled, licking his lips.
"Very well, my lord." His troops immediately marched forward, riding giant, red-scaled lizards, Infernal Salamanders, who were at minimum Rank 7 Peak Stage Divine Monsters. "March! Destroy everything! Seek the Fragment!"
"OOOOOOOHHHHH!!!" The scream of hundreds of barbarians echoed across the blazing jungles, charging towards the almost unprotected village as the inhabitants were terrified by their war cry.
"W-What's happening?!"
"B-Barbarians! They're here!"
"R-Run!"
"No, they aren't barbarians…"
"T-They're the Flame Empire's Army!"
"The oracle! Bring him away!"
"Warriors! Come with me! Women and children, run to the Muspel's Bone Mountains!" An old and muscular Fire Giant stepped forward, the chief of the small village.
"B-But chief, there's no way we'll win against them! They've brought Beasts as well!" A Fire Giant cried.
"I-It's hopeless… We'll be destroyed, just like the other villages had been!" Cried another, losing hope.
"It doesn't matter if we die here, as long as we can secure the life of the women and the children, then it'll all be worth it, you fools!" The chief roared. "Stand up and fight… The oracle has yet to go away. He'll assist us. Young man."
Suddenly, a young Fire Giant boy stepped forward, wearing white robes and bone-made accessories, his young and small face revealed he was no older than seven years of age.
His eyes were gold, and he had two small golden horns growing from his forehead, with long, black hair reaching his hips. In the middle of his forehead, there was a small fragment of a Red Jewel…
Imbuing his body with this jewel's powers, the boy looked at the chief, tears flowing from his eyes.
"Grandpa…" He cried. "I don't want to go…"
The chief sighed, giving him a head pat as he kneeled.
"Boy, you have to live. The Emperor won't stop until he obtains these fragments, the jewel you have in your own body. It is a power that the gods have gifted to our tribes to lead us to a future where we can prosper in these harsh, wild lands." The chief sighed, the sound of the enemy army approaching. "Agni, you're our last hope. Survive… and seek the Fire Dragon and the Tribes within the Bone Mountains. With their aid, perhaps it might be possible to defeat this tyrant…"
"B-But…" Agni hesitated.
"Are you going to doubt your own grandfather's resolve, Agni?!" Roared the chief, glaring at him with a harsh expression. "Now, use your magic, and leave at once!"
"Ngh… Grandpa… I love you…" Agni began crying tears, as his grandfather looked at his own grandson, he couldn't treat him harshly.
He quickly hugged him back, giving him a kiss on his forehead.
"I love you too, you're like my own son. Please… you need to live, okay?!" He cried, as Agni faintly nodded.
He pointed his little hands towards the rest of the warriors, over a 150 Fire Giants gathered, the strongest warriors of the entire village, which also included seasoned female warriors of all ages. The Fire Giants were a fierce tribe of people that fought, no matter the gender or age, until the day of their death.
Only the youngest, or those that still had young children were the ones to escape, the most precious that needed to be secured, even the elderly stayed behind, raising their weapons.
"[Blessing of the God of Flames]: [Logi's Divine Protection]!"
F L U O O O O O O S H!
From Agni's hands, enormous quantities of Divine Flames surged, covering everybody's bodies with a powerful, blazing aura. Their bodies started blazing with divine strength, flaring with immense power they never thought they held… yet this power also came with a price, it drained away at people's Lifespan the more they used its powers.
But now, nobody cared about such a thing when they were already prepared to give up their lives for the future generations. The chief gave a last glance to Agni, as he then nodded at muscular young warrioress at his side.
"Leona, take care of your brother." He said.
"I will, grandfather. I love you…" She sighed, grabbing Agni with her arms, and running away as fast as possible.
In front of the chief and the 150 Fire Giant Warriors, the army of Divine Monsters and Fire Giants that obeyed the Flame Emperor arrived.
And so the Emperor himself, overseeing the battle from behind, with a wicked smile.
"Burn it all…" He smiled.
