Agni has been running away at the side of Leona, his big sister and protector for over a day now. After having left behind all of the mightiest warriors to buy them time, he and the others that couldn't fight were carried by their tamed Fire Salamanders, huge, scaled monsters, and ran away as fast as they could.
Yet, as much as they've ran away from the grasp of the Flame Emperor, that man's troops weren't just Fire Giants, as terrifying monsters started getting closer the more time went by. Huge Divine Beasts that could tear apart everything and everyone.
Their Salamanders were enhanced by Agni's Divine Red Orb Fragment's powers, giving them greater vitality and speed in exchange for their lifespan.
However, as the hours went by, more and more Salamanders stated dropping dead, the people that was riding them falling to the fate of the Divine Beasts chasing them.
What was a group of over two hundred has now been reduced to eighty people, running away while screaming, crying, desperate for even a small glimpse of hope… anything.
"T-This cannot continue, Leona!" Cried Agni, tears flowing from his eyes. "T-This is hopeless… So many are dying for my sake! This has no meaning anymore… What is this power if I cannot protect the lives of my family?! Let me go! I'll confront the Emperor, and give away everything I have, so everyone else can survive!"
"Stop! Agni, STOP!" Leona grabbed her little brother tightly, without letting him run away into the jaws of the Divine Beasts chasing them from behind.
"What is the point anymore?! Our grandfather has died horrible, the warriors sacrificed their lives, and mostly all the elderly had fallen behind, sacrificing themselves to buy barely a few seconds!" Cried Agni. "I can't take this anymore! Let me go! I don't want to see more people die! I'm tired of seeing everyone die!"
"You have to be strong, Agni! Everyone's hopes is in your powers! We can't let the Flame Emperor have your powers! If he does… everything will be over! Even if we all die, even if I die… You must keep living!" Cried Leona.
"Let me go…! Please, just let me-"
"GROOOAAARRR!"
FLAAASH!
Suddenly, a huge wolf-like Divine Beast covered on flames leaped from several kilometers away all the way over Agni and Leona, its huge jaws opening voraciously, clashing against both of them and the Salamander carrying them!
"AGNI!!!"
CRAAAAAASSSH!!!
Agni's vision became completely black, as he landed on the floor roughly, rolling like a ragdoll, until he finally opened his eyes, still sensing his body to be mostly fine, albeit covered on bruises and blood.
"Ungh… Leona… L-Leona…! Where are you- Ungh?!" His eyes quickly landed on the huge figure behind him.
"R-Run… Ag… ni…"
Agni's eyes opened wide, tears instantly flowing from his eyes as his entire body felt paralyzed. The gigantic red wolf's fangs piercing his big sister's torso, tearing apart her hips as her guts flowed out, still somewhat alive, vomiting blood, the girl said these last words, imploring him to escape.
As if it knew what it was doing, the wolf gave him a horrid, creepy smile, his fangs grinding deeper into Leona's flesh, blood splattering everywhere, as his tongue happily licked the sweet red liquid…
"Urgh… ARGH…! R-Run… Ag… ni!"
CRASH!
"S-Stop…!"
Agni's entire body started trembling.
CRASH!
More blood and flesh splattered in front of Agni…
"Ag… Ungh… ni…"
"STOP!"
The Red Orb's Fragment within Agni's forehead shone brightly, an intense shockwave of Divine Flame surged from within it, attempting to move the huge wolf, shaping itself as a gigantic blazing hand.
CLAAAAAASSSH!!!
The wolf was thrown away, letting go of Leona, who was already dying, her wounds were closed by Agni's burning flames, but it seemed too late…
"A-Ag… ni… run…!"
"Leona…! No! I can't leave you behind!"
Agni continued crying, as he suddenly vomited blood, and his eyes started bleeding as well. He felt his entire body weakened, as the powers he exuded from the orb fragment instantly disappeared.
He had reached the limits of what he could exert at the moment…
"Urgh…!"
"Hahahah… Foolish little child."
The huge red wolf slowly walked towards Agni, completely unscathed by his attack, his entire body exuding the aura of a Divine Beast already within Rank 9…
And it could even speak!
"My Lord of Flames shall be pleased once I show him our lifeless corpse…" Laughed the wolf, his jaws opening. "However, I will enjoy a bit of your flesh's taste… If I may! GRAAAARRGH!"
"Agni, RUN!"
"Big sis!"
Despite Leona's screams, Agni chose to die with his sister, hugging her tightly, her pained face grew more desperate as tears fell from her eyes.
"Idiot…"
CRAAAAAAASSSH!!!
"GEHAAAAGGHH…?!"
BAAAAAMMM…!
However, instead of having their bodies torn to shreds, what they heard was a huge attack reaching the mouth of the wolf, and his scream of agony as he was launched a hundreds meters away like a damn ragdoll…
"E-Eh?" Agni opened his eyes again, glancing at the enormous figure floating in the skies that had saved his life.
A huge dragon, covered on silver and blue scales, with glowing golden eyes, and golden horns shaped to resemble a crown on top of his face.
It took him only a single kick in the head to throw that overpowered wolf all the way there!
"Oh my, this is not good at all…" The dragon sighed. "[Divine Healing Cold Winds]"
FLUUOOSH!
A gust of cold winds bathed both Agni and Leona, their wounds were instantly healed, and even the lethal wounds that Leona had were instantly healed, she opened her eyes wide open, feeling her body anew.
"I almost didn't made it, huh?" The huge dragon sighed.
"A-Are you… Are you the Fire Dragon?!" Cried Agni in excitement.
"He must be! W-We've reached his territory!" Leona celebrated.
"Fire Dragon? Oh no, that's the kid over there-" Drake pointed at the distance, as Surtr was fighting against dozens of divine beasts at once with the aid of Nadia, Mina, and Jamar, all of them now having reached Rank 6 and overflowing with Divine Power.
However, before he could finish what he was saying, the roar of the wolf he had just carefreely kicked echoed behind him, as the beast rushed forward, attempting to bite his back!
"YOU BASTARD! DIEEEE!!!"
