⁂~(Updated 2022-12-31-)~⁂

*Still needs work*

(This is the free version.)

Word Count: 4580

Footing his way past the final bottleneck of rocks, Kazuki stepped into the Blistering Grotto's steaming heart. He wiped the soot and sweat from his face with one of his robe's sleeves. "It's hotter here all of a sudden," he said. "I can feel it through Lilith's magic shield. We better be careful."

Kazuki walked closer to the green and purple toxins whirling into the charred air above a super-geyser in the center of the hollow. He leaned closer over its edges and thrust his hand to protect his face as the vast recess of arcane-resistant metals spat their embers. The metallic black fluids travelled a small notch in the crags and poured into metal zinc tubes that aligned the jagged walls. As the rusty pipelines and walls oozed with black pudding, the enchanted metal poured into an ancient armour press containing large platemail moulds.

Reaching out with his sixth sense, Kazuki touched the overwhelming presence of magic and heat. "The magic is harsh here," he muttered. "It feels like it's dying."

Lilith's magic fire shield protected Kazuki as he sidestepped the deadly toxins from the super geyser. Leaning over the side, he observed the blue-white magmas come to a hard boil around the luminous pit and conjure rising bubbles filled with green sulphuric fumes. The colossal fire ants had detected him and created red-yellow mist patterns with their six sticky claws as they scattered.

They're heavily attracted to the mana of this place, thought Kazuki. They didn't seem scared of me back in the grotto. But here, they ran away.

Kazuki eyed the fire ants as they scampered up the obsidian walls. Flipping their bright red-orange bodies to the jagged ceiling, the ants leapt onto the suspended cage hanging from a stalagmites cluster. He followed the insects with his thermo-eyes as they twisted down the rusted chain links and into the swinging cell above him.

The ants crawled inside as a sudden inky black mass entangled the cell, sending spikes through the ants, killing and throwing them into the super geyser below.

Kazuki pointed up to the prison. "Up there," he said. "What was that? I saw something kill those fire ants."

Onikuma pressed through the narrow cavity behind Kazuki with occasional grunts and fumbles. He hustled into the opening and smacked all four of his monstrous paws into the volcanic soil. The soil cracked. "Kaemon. Hang on. I'm coming!" he shouted.

"Careful, Onikuma," said Angelo. "This is the scent I detected in the Blood Dunes. It is a magical reservoir. I have seen two this week. An evil omen."

Onikuma's ears perked up as he sniffed the dry sulphur air. "Two magical reservoirs in a single week? Bah! You're full of it, Angelo. Even if this kid is a sage, it takes us yokai centuries to find one, let alone two."

"I already told you back in the tunnels, Onikuma. We have been to the Crystal Palace. A great evil is returning to Azmoria. We must train the little ones for war and find a new line of sages to wield the core celestite crystals before it's too late," said Angelo.

Onikuma chuckled and flexed his burly, hairy muscles. "This ferocious cavern will strengthen his muscles and wits. I am certain of it," he said, sniffing.

Kazuki wiped more sweat intermixed with soot from his face, scratched his head in embarrassment and gestured with a broad smile to the rusted cage above the ancient sparkling geyser. "Hey. Can you guys free the kid? There's no way I can get up there," he asked.

Onikuma slumped his eyebrows as Angelo mirrored Kazuki, brushing back his long blonde mane in embarrassment. "Come. Let's save your host Onikuma—like the old days. Brute force. Questions later."

The bear yokai flexed his furry muscles alongside his longtime friend. "Right! Baha!" he boasted.

Lilith carefully avoided the trickles of magma and stepped beside Kazuki. Pointing to the smoky blue geyser, she closed her eyes and reached out with her magical perceptions. "So much magic emanates from this glowing pool of lava," she said. "This must be the Heart of Embers. My mother used to speak of it. She said an ancient yokai was sealed here many centuries ago because it refused to be tamed even after being defeated."

Kazuki cupped his hand and squinted past the toxic purple-green gases of the enormous geyser. "I see something glowing on the other side. What is that?"

The pair sidestepped the molten rocks and footed closer in wonder. An orange twinkle spun around the cortex of a floating jewel within the distant fogs as wisps of moisture and white light whetted its curved edges. Lilith blinked past the vapours with her unique half-elven traits.

"I see it," she said as she cocked a beamful smile with her eyes. "It's a firefish candy!"

"A firefish candy?"

Lilith took Kazuki by the hand and led him to the oddly-shaped orange crystal.

"It's a rare rock that provides nutrients to the firefish's natural habitats," she explained. "I haven't seen one since I was a little girl. It's your choice if you want to take it or not. Only a sage would be allowed to remove it. It would help the firefish breed in my mother's palace. Though, it might be best to leave it alone."

Kazuki studied the glowing orange rock. "If I leave it alone, they might have a chance at surviving in the wild again," he said. "It sure is cool looking, though. I wonder what made it."

"I was wondering that myself," said Lilith, crossing her plated arms. "I thought Angelo was the only one able to create these candies. But this is the biggest one I've seen yet."

A little boy's voice suddenly echoed above the smoking super geyser. "Get us out of here already! The man in here is hurt really bad," he shouted.

Angelo crouched and amassed magic into his leg muscles. "I'm coming, little one!"

"Hold on, Angelo," grinned Onikuma, halting Angelo's leap with his paw. "I've got this. You watch my back."

Onikuma's fangs sloshed as he smashed his arms against the volcanic soil. "Tsuyosa!" he chanted as his muscles inflated with a pop of yellow magic.

He cracked the gravel beneath his claws and leapt, quickly snatching one of the rusty prison bars. The bird-like cage rattled above the bubbling geysers as Onikuma climbed to the chained door. "I'm here, Kaemon!"

Kazuki watched from a distance as the bear yokai snapped the prison door's chains one by one using his magical strength. Hopefully, they're okay, he thought as he continued to patrol the Heart of Embers with Lilith.

"We should look around some more. Who knows. Maybe the monster that put them in that cage is holding a powerful artifact that could stop the masked man. Do you know anything about this place, Lilith?" asked Kazuki, catching up to Lilith.

"I don't know much," she said. "I thought the entire cavern was sealed long ago... It's giving me the creeps. We should leave."

"Come on. I've got to find what took them prisoner. Didn't you follow me to help?"

Lilith flipped to another obsidian rock.

"Of course, I'll help," she said. "But, we should free Kaemon and the boy first. Why are you acting so tough suddenly?"

Kazuki frowned. "I just don't want anyone to get hurt because of me."

Lilith sighed and sat down on an old obsidian deposit. "Don't worry, Kazuki. We'll extract the core celestites from you if that's what you want. Then the masked man won't have an interest in you anymore. Right?"

"I think it's more than that, Lilith. I think I was chosen to choose. I was chosen to choose a team to save the world."

Lilith giggled. "To save the world, huh? That's a little cheesy. But, if that's the case, Mao is still a part of the Black Lotus Clan. So you're going to need my help. Not that I want a core celestite or anything. I am happy with my own."

"I thought people could only have one celestite? What happens if two yokai share the exact same soul?" asked Kazuki as he sat on a rough black obsidian stone next to the firefish relic with Lilith.

Lilith hummed. "You know, I have never thought about that. Maybe that's what the masked man does to his followers to strengthen them. He gave Mao dark powers during the war but stopped her from using them too early. I might be able to turn her over to our side again if she isn't a monster yet. At least, I've always hoped I could..."

"I understand. You can handle Mao," said Kazuki. "I don't know if I'm ready to face a Black Lotus member. They are the world's greatest celestite bearers. Aren't you scared of facing her?"

Lilith smiled. "I taught Mao every trick she knows and, uh, vice-versa. I'm probably the only one who has a chance. Even Diaxis had a hard time with her abilities."

"Got it open!" shouted Onikuma.

Kazuki and Lilith looked over to the interruption of Onikuma busting the final chain on the prison cell door. He swung the squeaky gate open and crammed his square-shaped bear head inside. "Kaemon!" he shouted.

The dark, green hooded man lifted his bear-like yellow eyes as he slumped against the bars. "Calm yourself, Onikuma," he said. "I will live."

"You're sliced open from head to toe, you old coot!" said Onikuma as he pointed to the desert man's lacerations. "I just got back to Azmoria, ya' know. Don't be dyin' already. Especially like this."

Kaemon pressed his back against the rusted copper bars and stood with a jitter. "It would have been far worse if it not for this boy's gifts," he said as he gestured to the skeletons of fire ants surrounding them with a burnt finger. "A great demon with incredible powers lives here, Onikuma."

A distraught tone clenched the dark man's foreign accent. "We must leave immediately, Onikuma."

Onikuma perked his furry ears and glimpsed around the prison. His black-yellow bear eyes widened. Dozens of rancid skeletons had decayed within; their bones gnawed to the morrow. "What happened here?" he asked, swallowing the lump.

"There's no time, Onikuma. They could come back at any—"

A sudden shudder vibrated the hung cage, sending wind music throughout the embedded mining pipes. Kazuki tried to pivot against the earthquake and stay on his feet next to Lilith. "This is the biggest tremor yet!" he shouted. "You're right, Lilith. We have to get out of here! Did you guys get that kid out yet?"

Angelo cupped his claws and shouted. "Onikuma, hurry it up. This dwelling is ready to blow. We have awoken that ancient beast!"

"Come, Kaemon," said Onikuma as he carefully picked up his bearer and placed him on his back poncho. "You're lucky Princess Colette is in Golden Cloud Village for a meeting with The Elder."

"We can't leave!" yelled the little boy. "Not until we defeat Uta and his hive. Daisuke says he is a threat to Golden Cloud Village. That's why I came to defeat it."

"What're you babblin' about?"

"Onikuma—protect Adrian. Fate has chosen him," said Kaemon as he fell unconscious.

Onikuma quickly seized Adrian's brown shorts with his fangs and flung him out of the crashing prison. "Angelo, catch!"

Scared of falling into the hellish Heart of Ember's mega-geyser as the cavern quaked, Kazuki held Lilith's arm. He squinted through the dispersed embers to watch Angelo leap into the searing winds and snatch the screaming little boy.

Lilith swiped and grasped Kazuki to break her fall, tripping him over her. "Woah!"

"That was a close one," said Kazuki, wide-eyed. "I almost fell right into the Heart of Embers. I would have burned to a crisp if you didn't grab me."

Lilith quickly pushed him off. "Kazuki," she said.

"What? It's nothing like that. We don't even have time to—"

Lilith slowly pointed to the white-blue lava hole in the centre of the obsidian chamber. "Look. The Heart of Embers is opening."

Kazuki stepped back as the giant super geyser bubbled its luminous metallics to the surface. "I have a bad feeling about this."

A fiery demon overlayed within red platemail punched through the Heart of Ember's gooey exterior. The yokai launched across the cinder-ridden air and anchored next to Kazuki, banging sparks from its hot metal boots as it landed. Lava dripped from its massive dragon-like form onto the terrain as wisps of vapour curled around his grotesque appearance.

As it marched forward, it manifested a flaming battle axe into its gauntlets. "Why have thou released me from slumber? Have thou destroyed the eggs?" growled the enormous yokai.

Kazuki gulped and tried to swallow his fear. "I'm Sage Kazuki," he said. "I didn't free you, and I didn't touch any eggs. At least, I didn't mean to."

The gargantuan, armoured yokai, brandished its obsidian axe at Kazuki's face and laughed. "A sage? Haha! I am Uta, ruler of this ancient temple. I have finally awoken as a free yokai after five hundred years! Your racial magic has freed me."

"My racial magic...?"

The red lizard yokai drew back his smouldering weapon and scoffed. "Do you not know who I am? We have met before."

Uta bent down and analyzed Kazuki's face with one of his hidden eyes behind interlinked iron chains. "You're a newborn half-breed," he said as he juggled his flaming axe. "Hmph! Come, children... it's time to eat!"

:: Master Kenji:: Kazuki Memory Quote: "The power to command flames is the most vigorous magic above all, Kazuki."

:: Agatha:: Kazuki Memory Quote: "All it takes is to absorb the mana. Surface the power to your mind and form a bond with the encompassing magic-pollens."

:: Sir Jiro:: Kazuki Memory Quote: "Mana does not make you strong, boy. It is what lies within your heart. It has been calling you for a short time now. I can see it in you! So where is it?"

A water-based attack is no good here and would take too long to form. But if I can collect enough mana from the Heart of Embers, I can use a fire attack and try to show my dominance. A Sir Jiro move mixed with Hi no Tori's magic, thought Kazuki.

"What are those things, Lilith?"

Lilith looked around as the army of fire ants began to surround them. "Uta's children," she said.

>*** with scaly skin and spiky black claws with long barbed tongues

"Watch out, little ones!" yelled Angelo across the super-geyser as he unsheathed his long, curved Masamune from his backside strap. "They can regenerate their limbs in lava, see in total darkness and spit acid from their barbed tongues. They use it to mine the obsidian."

Kazuki stood firm and alerted as the dozens of devilish creatures poured from the wall gaps and rushed toward Angelo and Onikuma. "Damn," he cursed. "Lilith, it's up to us to take this huge yokai down."

"No. It's up to you, Kazuki," she said as she tightened her battle skirt.

"What do you mean? I need help here," said Kazuki as he watched Lilith form the hand sign of the horse. "Look at this thing. He's the size of a house!"

"The Heart of Embers is crumbling from its awakening. I must focus on a shield to prevent the tunnel systems from collapsing in on us. None of us can stop Uta. Only you can. I have to support everyone while they fight. I'll give you guys more time before this place blows sky-high."

"Double damn," said Kazuki, sneering at the fearsome full-plated fire-yokai flourishing its enflamed axe.

"Let us leave, Uta!" commanded Kazuki as he unclipped and unsheathed Hyperfang, which glowed within a new ghostly white-violet fire.

"You are different than him," said Uta, huffing a gust of ember-filled smoke. "More complete, perhaps? Have you come to end me, Hanyo child? Enslave me?"

"I don't know what you mean. But, if you want to eat me, you'll have to dance with me first," said Kazuki as he narrowed his eyebrows and dug his boots into the surrounding volcanic ash.

Uta laughed and dashed at Kazuki. "Finally, someone with guts!"

Uta swung his heavy searing axe in rotation as Kazuki quickly shifted his glowing sword forward and deflected the blow. "Let us leave," he said. "Or I will have to take you down. I'll do the same to you as I did Vizran in the tournament!"

"Do you know how many mortal skulls I have crushed under these boots? My host sealed me away in fear of my magic becoming one with the Obsidian Shadow."

Kazuki gulped and evaded the monster's axe strikes as its booming voice resonated throughout the concave. "What makes you think you can stop me? You don't even know what you are! Typical of you half-breeds."

"I am going to defeat the masked man and you!" shouted Kazuki deflecting another spark-infused strike.

Uta bellowed with laughter, bouncing Kazuki's quick blows. "Yet you cannot even defeat me! How do you expect to face an adult of your kin? Nobody ever leaves the Heart of Embers, Hanyo child."

"Why were you sealed here?" demanded Kazuki as he swung.

"My host sealed me away, fearing losing control of my power. I am Hinotori's firstborn, Uta, the Cannibal. Eating a Hanyo will bring me great pleasure!" growled the red-armoured fire yokai.

Uta threw his obsidian axe into the dark soil and launched two gauntlets toward Kazuki's throat. Before Kazuki could react, a scorching chakram knocked back the yokai's grapple. Uta's long black dreadlocked hair whipped against the firestorm of embers as he dashed back in surprise.

"You can do it, Kazuki. Do not hesitate!" shouted Lilith. "Don't forget. We are here with you! We'll find a way, like the ones before us!"

Kazuki saw Lilith, Angelo, and Onikuma fight off Uta's hive of terrors as he faced off alone against Uta himself. They are all depending on me, he thought. It's my turn to show them what I'm made of... I wasn't only meant to pick the following line of sages. I was meant to lead them as well. Wasn't I? Chaos is my destiny, isn't Master Kenji?

"Get out of here, Onikuma!" yelled Angelo as he slashed one of Uta's juveniles. "We'll finish this and meet you outside."

Oniukma gritted his fangs and lacerated a hive creature with his black claws. "Are you sure? This looks bad, Angelico!"

Another creature jumped on Onikuma's back and tried to bite his unconscious bearer, Kaemon and the little boy. Onikuma quickly grabbed the pest, snapped its back over his knee and threw it into a swarm flooding from the wall. "Really bad," he said.

"Just go, you old bear!" shouted Angelo as he spewed a fireball from his gullet and incinerated multiple creatures that blocked the exit.

Onikuma leapt from side to side and dodged his way through the multitudes of monsters with Kaemon and Adrian on his back. "Hang on! I'll get us out of here," he shouted.

"I'm surrounded!" yelled Kazuki as he furrowed his eyebrows and tensed his grip on Hyperfang.

Angelo sliced a hive of terror with almost every word. "Be careful, little one," he huffed. "Uta is an ancient yokai. He wields the Axe of Chaos. It is a deadly weapon in my world. Fitting for a final test. You must enchant Hyperfang into a new stage to block him!"

Onikuma's raspy voice echoed as he exited and dashed on all four paws through the tunnels. "Come on, guys!"

Kazuki concentrated on his inner vitalities, connecting his mind to the monsters and the magic sources within their fragile bodies. He knew they had eaten magic from watching them build their damns earlier. He unleashed Hinotori's magic, drawing the mana into his soul. He began to enchant Hyperfang with a bright scintillating aura of golden flames, much like Uta's, as he glided his palm down the spine of the curved blade.

"I'm calling this new sword, Goldfang, to symbolize that I'm ready to become a true warrior like Agatha. Let's show this sand lizard what we can do, Angelo, and make sure to protect Lilith while she protects us," he ordered.

Angelo nodded with a grunt. "I will keep fighting his kin. He will summon many more. Take him down quickly. It's up to you."

"That's what Lilith said," said Kazuki as he placed his back next to Angelo.

"You are our leader, little one. Defeat Uta alone and prove that you no longer need a teacher. I'll watch your back. But you need to learn how to unlock your abilities, even if you wish to give them up later," said Angelo, carving up the giant fire ants with his Masamune.

Lilith's fire shield encircled the confined lava crag like an eggshell. She also concentrated on burning the creatures as they tried to bite her. "There isn't much time," she said. "I don't have many mana particles left."

Kazuki shifted his boots, swung the new magically customized Goldfang to his nose, and prepared for his final test. "I'll take him down. This is it!"

Kazuki slid across the volcanic dust and sliced into the yokai's red scaly ankles that peeped between its thick red armour. However, Uta shoved his Axe of Chaos in the way, creating sparks as he deflected the blow with extreme speed.

Oh, man. It's not a magical fire. It's a real fire that's on Uta's axe! He'll chop right through me at this level! thought Kazuki as he quickly recovered and hopped back.

Kazuki looked around for help but quickly stopped himself and focused. "Can I do this alone? He's so tough. He might even give Angelo a hard time," he said.

Manifest the will of flame, and you will prevail. Use thy beam of fire to challenge Uta. He will feel my power and hopefully retreat, said Hinotori, the Celestite of Fire herself within Kazuki's mind and soul.

Kazuki rolled and evaded the towering red yokai's flaming axe thrashing for him. He quickly plunged Goldfang into Uta's knee. However, it bounced off and vibrated Kazuki's hand.

Kazuki grabbed his wrist in pain. "His armour is indestructible against melee attacks. I'll have to use Hi no Tori's fire magic against him next," he said. "And If I don't do it quickly, we're all going to be dinner for this thing!"

"Why are you attacking us, Uta? We didn't put you here. But you can help us defeat who did!"

"No, Hanyo child. Only a fully matured Hanyo with great strength can defeat the obsidian shadow."

⁂ Kazuki Flashback (The Isles of Fusion - 15 Years Ago) ⁂

"Why have you come to wreak havoc upon this peaceful village, bandits? It is filled with farmers, not warriors or wealthy noblemen. Please, leave us in peace," said Master Kenji.

"Why should we? Our children are starving while you dance and prance up here with all the food?!" yelled the bandit leader.

Young Kazuki hid behind a barrel of purple blossom flowers, watching the great Sage Kenji converse with the group of dirty bandits."

Sage Kenji refused to draw his blade and continued to reason with the bandits. "I do not want to hurt you. I know the pain you endure. Let us help you. There is no reason to hurt these people. If you do, I will have no choice but to protect them. Stop this now. You can join our village. Change your ways and live a better life."

"Join you? After all the people we have slain here already? It sounds like a trick, boss!" yelled one of the bandits.

"I have seen you before—the great mind sage," said the bandit leader, sheathing his long sword. "Sage Kenji... Would you help us? Feed us? Cloth us and forgive us?"

"Forgiveness is the only way to settle this, or your people will die here today, and your children will become orphans," said Sage Kenji.

Young Kazuki continued to watch the exchange of words behind the barrel of purple healing flowers, his brown hair now almost totally dyed violet.

"How do we know this is not some trick?" asked the bandit leader.

Master Kenji stepped forward and placed a finger on the man's forehead.

"Are you okay, boss? What's he doing to do you?"

"I... I... He is telling us the truth," said the bandit leader, who began to cry. "If we lay down our violent ways and join them as farmers, our life here will be what we always wanted. We will have true freedom."

"Even though I could force your mind. I will not decide for you," said Sage Kenji.

"Lay down your weapons, everyone. This fight is over. We are going to be a part of this village. I see the truth."

⁂The Blistering Grotto (Present Day) ⁂

"Why do you still fight? You should be dead by now!" shouted Uta, huffing.

"Because I just remembered something. A lesson of the past," said Kazuki.

"Hmm?! What would that be?"

"I do not want to hurt you," recited Kazuki. "I know the pain you endure. Let us help you. Join us, and together we can stop the masked man. This I swear to you."

"Join you? It sounds like a trick!" shouted Uta.

"Forgiveness is the only way to settle this, or we will both die here today, and your children will become orphans," said Kazuki as he noticed Uta hesitate.

"How do I know this isn't some trick? You Hanyo have tricked me before!"

"Because the only place where you will be free is by my side," replied Kazuki. "Let me prove that I have what it takes to stop him. I have the core celestites and plan on giving them to the strongest free souls. Together, we are going to put an end to destiny's chaos."

Uta lowered his axe and quenched its flames. "Prove it right now, and I will let you live," said Uta.

Kazuki closed his fiery reflective red eyes and drew upon the mana cells surrounding the Heart of Embers. As he formed the hand sign of the horse, he chanted and unleashed a deadly pillar of fire toward Uta. "Ion Beam!"

Uta gasped and quickly launched his fire beam, which clashed with Kazuki's Ion Beam, emitting soaring sparks and magma lashes.

"Defeat the masked man? Ha! You can't even defeat me! Wait... what?!"

Suddenly, Kazuki's Ion Beam pushed through. Sparks soared and began to burn Uta's armoured face. "This... this isn't possible. I wield the strongest of flames! Unless you're telling me the truth. You hold my mother inside you. But how?! No one can wield multiple-core yokai. Nobody!"

"I told you, Uta," huffed Kazuki, maintaining his focus. "I swear to you I will defeat him. Nothing can stop Sage Kenji's will!"

Uta screeched as his body began to be engulfed by black flame. "Stop, Mother. I yield!" he shouted as he fell to his knees with a crash. "This power... and hasn't even been fully matured yet. Perhaps you may have a chance, after all, Hanyo child. Go, my cavern is collapsing. I shall let you leave. But you better keep your promise."

"What about you? Aren't you coming with me? You can't stay here any longer."

"I will reside in another magma cavern to regain my full power. But rest assured. I will come to watch you destroy the obsidian shadow. Please take care of my mother. She is more powerful than you already know. That is why the obsidian shadow wanted my magic for himself. I refused to be absorbed by his sinister yokai. I thus sealed myself here within the Heart of Embers almost five centuries ago."

"I better see you again. You're now a part of the Order of the Iron Rose, Uta. You have freedom but also the responsibility to your children. Make sure you take the firefish candy crystal with you so they can find a new home."