"Ungh…!" Surtr groaned in pain, slowly trying to stand back up.
"One wrong step and you're dead, Surtr." Drake said. "You were born and raised in a moderately safe place, you weren't out in the wild escaping from every single thing that tried to eat you, maybe because of that, you weren't able to learn what's fear. And why you must never put your own pride before your life and those you love, even if you're a dragon. I know you have the power to "respawn", but that's limited to once a day, you can't get cocky because of this."
"…" Surtr remained in silence, glaring back at Drake with blazing eyes. "RAAAAAH!"
Recklessly, he charged once more against Drake, probably very angry of having gone through the same lecture for so long. But Drake knew this was the only way he could teach him.
"What do you think you should had done when those Rank 8 Monsters showed up, Surtr?!" Drake roared, punching him several times, Surtr's entire body gained several horrendous wounds with his massive, overwhelmingly powerful fists.
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CRAAASH!
"I-I HAD TO… RUN…!" Cried Surtr. "Take… Everyone and escape, look for a way that everyone could survive! Instead of… SELFISHLY CHARGING LIKE A DUMBASS!!!"
Surtr's jaws opened, unleashing a devastating blast of origin flames that covered Drake's entire body. The huge explosion decorated the skies completely red.
BOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!
However, amidst the Smoke, Drake seemed completely unscathed. Although he smiled rather happily.
"Well said." He smiled. "Seems like you've finally learned the actual answer, after fighting for over a week, you're a stubborn kid."
"I know… that I need to be careful… I can't be reckless. I cannot get conceited. The power I have is for a reason, it is not just to feed my own ego…" Surtr cried, suddenly tears flowed from his eyes as he bleed. "So please… Drake… Please, teach me… how to use this power properly… I don't want any more people to die!"
FLUOOOSH!
Suddenly, a strange looking gathering of Origin Flame surged above Surtr's head, resembling a beautiful crown made of golden flames!
For a small glimpse, Drake felt a huge, tremendous pressure of power surging from within the depths of Surtr's heart, only for it to quickly disappear right afterwards…
It was just a glimpse, but Drake realized this boy had an incredible potential.
"Our power is made to protect, not exactly to simply kill and feed our ego and selfishness." Drake smiled, kneeling in front of the young fire dragon, and hugging him while healing his wounds. "Son, you've finally learned a bit of us dragon's philosophy. Now rest, you're tired."
"Ugh…" Surtr immediately fell asleep the moment his head rested over Drake's shoulders, like a child too exhausted to move anymore.
"You've worked hard, Surtr." Drake smiled. "I won't disappoint you."
The days went by, as the training only got harder. Drake made Surtr undergo harder and harder trainings, pushing his own body to his limits. He taught him how to use divine power properly, and then helped him learn ways to cultivate his soul as well, like the Light Dragons had taught him.
Alongside that, Surtr's Divine Core continued growing stronger as Surtr used his own Origin Flame to cultivate it with greater power, setting his entire body ablaze… With the aid of the other five Divine Fire Dragon Souls he had accompanying him, Surtr was able to strengthen his soul and body at an insane speed.
And while that happened, Drake kept teaching him and helping him become a better version of himself. For Drake, who was already a father, this ended not being as hard as he imagined, but still, it was quite challenging.
Ultimately, with Surtr, he went to visit the Fire Dragons Realm within the Draconic Records. Where he was greeted with the rest of the fire dragon family, and also, with Muspel…
A land of flames greeted his sight and that of Benladann, Miranda, and his daughters, whom he had brought along so they could sightsee a bit.
"Woah, papa, this land is even more on fire than the other one!" Benladann said, flying around while looking everywhere.
"Big volcanic place." Kate nodded while flying around as well.
"Well, it is nice to meet Surtr's whole family now." Benladann smiled.
"You guys must be Drannia and the rest?" Wondered Miranda.
"Indeed. We're closer to Surtr, so we can manifest ourselves into brighter, more livelier forms." Said Drannia, with every other soul connected to Surtr. "Though, it is nice to meet the Dragon King in more equal terms now."
"It is nice to meet you guys as well." Drake said with a polite smile.
"Everyone, can you lead us to where mother is?" Surtr asked.
"Sure thing, come with us." Adrahunn nodded.
They quickly led us across the endless volcanic lands, as we arrived at the depths of a huge temple inside a volcano. After traversing many lava pools, we arrived at a huge room, where a gigantic fire dragon was resting.
She slowly opened one eye, glancing at us weakly. She clearly showed some surprise as her eyes opened slightly wider.
"My son… And… The Dragon King!" She said in surprise.
"We've come to check on how you're doing, mother." Surtr said. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Certainly not, based in how you I'm still resting here…" Sighed Muspel.
"Surtr told me about what has been afflicting you, Muspel." Drake said. "I think we can find the one behind it if I can manage to make a slight connection with your soul, even if temporary, it should work."
"I see… So you intend to help me to such lengths. At first, I was one of the few that didn't seemed to like you all that much, but after I've seen you teaching and helping my only living son this much… I've grown to like you a bit, brat." Muspel smiled faintly. "Do as you may."
"Hah, thank you." Drake laughed, as he gently touched her forehead.
By channeling his Dream Divinity and the power of Belle together, he was able to create a Dream Connection with her soul, and from there, traverse through the origin of her pain and exhaustion, a small thread leading farther away into the outside world.
And there, he saw a few glimpses of it…
