"Good... Good...." White Flame's voice held a tone of satisfaction. "Now that we've reached an understanding, I shall impart the history of the world before our downfall, though some of it may seem irrelevant for now, knowledge is always a valuable asset."
"Furthermore, if you have awakened your gift, I will guide you in harnessing its full potential," he continued, "However, to leave this mountain, I need a body, and that monster beside you appears to be a fitting candidate."
Orion's eyes widened in disbelief, and he vigorously shook his head in response to White Flame's proposal. "I don't think that would be possible," he retorted without hesitation.
Silence!!
Soon after, White Flame's voice echoed once again, its tone solemn. "And why is that?"
Witnessing the White Flame's violent flickering, Orion released an exasperated sigh before speaking, "I'm not certain of how much time has passed since you've been in here, but the world has evolved significantly since then. And..."
His sentence was cut short as the White Flame's intensity fluctuated, causing interruptions. It began to expand and contract, its voice breaking as it continued, "Are you suggesting that after revealing all this, you won't be able to..."
Orion strained to hear amid the cracking voice, "...understand the magnitude of devastation and chaos they've br..."
The world around him began to blur, his head spinning from the White Flame's words, and darkness crept into his vision as if he were slipping into unconsciousness.
"GET HIM OUT OF HERE!" A soft, feminine voice suddenly echoed in his ears, as he felt his body being pulled back by a pair of cold, smooth arms.
Orion heard another voice, a loud, firm, masculine one say, "HOW ABOUT THE OTHER ONE?"
"NO TIME!!" The other voice responded.
Just as he was about to utter a word, his eyes fluttered open, causing the unknown person dragging him to stop speaking as their eyes met.
Orion couldn't even begin to describe what he was witnessing. From her smooth skin to her plump cheeks and exquisitely full lips, there was one feature that captured Orion's attention—the girl's hair.
She possessed an exceptionally long and glossy translucent mane that resembled silk, with each strand appearing as thick as a loc of hair, cascading down her back even though it seemed to be gathered into a ponytail.
"Hey, are you alright? Where do you come from?" the girl asked, tilting her head further downwards from behind him. As he gazed at her from an upside-down perspective, he took in her eyes, which mirrored the same hue as her hair, showcasing a white translucent iris that appeared to reflect his image, while a bright grey pupil rested at the centre.
Attempting to regain his bearings amidst the lingering headache, Orion was cut off from responding as another voice chimed in, "Princess, I will carry him!" Without warning, strong hands hoisted him onto a sturdy shoulder.
While scanning his surroundings, Orion's gaze froze as he caught a glimpse of the White Flame following closely.
However, it wasn't the presence of the White Flame that held him transfixed, but the eerie glow it emitted. Through that light, he could see Saria's form, unconscious against the wall, vulnerable to the Vylkr vines that stealthily crept through the cracks toward her.
Allowing the strange energy to surge through him, Orion's muscles tensed as he instinctively activated his gift at that very moment.
Instantly, his body abruptly propelled off the person's shoulder, streaking through the air with crackling lightning dancing around his outstretched hands. Arcs of electricity seared the walls and ground as he controlled the raging Vylkr energy within him.
Just as he was about to collide with the White Flame, a colossal shield forged from his lightning, towering two meters (6.6ft) in height, materialized before him, forming a protective barrier.
"BOOOM!!!" The shield shattered into a torrent of lightning as the surge of impact launched him upwards, soaring over the flickering form of the White Flame.
Predicting the repercussions from their previous encounter, Orion's reflexes kicked in once more. He quickly activated his gift again, conjuring a colossal hand wreathed in lightning this time around.
"Bam!!" His colossal electric hand materialized just in time to cushion his landing, preventing a harsh impact. Capitalizing on this momentary pause, Orion executed an agile backflip mid-air, landing with precision in front of Saria's unconscious form. Gently hoisting her tall figure onto his shoulder, he surveyed his surroundings.
Spotting his cutlass within arm's reach, he snatched it up and immediately enveloped the blade in crackling lightning.
With every swing, the electrified weapon cleaved through the Vylkr vines, sizzling and slicing them. The once-thriving foliage now lay defeated on the ground, tendrils of smoke curling from their lifeless plant fibres.
Meanwhile, on the other side, the man who had intervened to save Orion couldn't shake the sensation of his scorched back where Orion's gift had torched while he leapt forward to protect Saria. "Wow!" he exclaimed, caught up in awe as he witnessed Orion's agile manoeuvre, soaring over the White Flame with amazing finesse.
"Hey! When we get back, I will personally cover the cost of your treatment. For now, let's make sure we can get them out of here quickly," the young girl who stood close to him said, "he seems angrier than usual today."
The young man let out a sigh, instantly nodding in agreement. After all, he had been the one who insisted on rescuing them. "Alright, princess," he replied, his voice tinged with determination.
He activated his power, causing his clothing—a light blue shirt and matching pants—to transform.
The fabric hardened, assuming a glass-like texture. Despite its rigid appearance, it retained enough flexibility for the young man to move swiftly. He raced forward, stretching out both of his hands to conjure a wall resembling glass. This barrier intercepted the White Flame's advance, holding it at bay as he swiftly reached Orion's side.
"We will get you out of here as quickly as we can," the young man said.
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