Chapter 31: Ignis Drakonis: Part 2

After I thought out what I will have to do to reach Ignis Drakonis, I started to execute my plan. There were no mishaps along the way, thanks to Luscia's authority, and we were able to convince the people that we were looking for the entrances so that we can close them.

The time that was set for when they will start closing the entrances was in the late afternoon. In the language of time, it would be around 4:00 p.m. That means that I have around 4 hours to get Ignis Drakonis, control it, and come back out without dying or getting stuck in the volcano forever.

And so, we return back to the present, where I am getting ready to get inside of the volcano. Since, I went with Luscia to see a farmer earlier, we both know where an entrance is located, thanks to the farmer. All I have to do is ask the farmer where it is again, pretend to leave, and go inside.

Still, wow.

I never thought that I will have the chance to see one of the Divine Beasts so early in my journey. I should make sure I do not mess this up.

********************

"Mister, I have a favor to ask you."

"Yes? Oh, you are the boy who was with Miss Luscia. Why are you here?"

"Well, you see, I need to check back on the entrance of the volcano you showed us earlier so that I can tell everyone else where it is."

"I see. Okay, come with me."

After convincing the farmer to help me find the entrance, I followed him for a few minutes until he stopped moving. When I felt him stop, I naturally stopped as well, though my heart won't stop beating so hard. I guess it should be natural for me to be nervous.

"Here it is. Make sure you remember where it is so you can tell your folks."

"Thank you."

I also made sure to not tell him about my blindness so that he thinks that I can still see and remember what the entrance looks like.

"I will have to get back to the fields so make sure you get back to the village soon, 'kay?"

"Alright."

I then heard his footsteps receding from my location. After a few minutes of waiting and making sure that no one else is watching me, I then walk into the entrance, tendrils checking every corner so as to not miss anything.

This is the true start of my journey to save this world and prove to the gods that I am useful and that they did not make the wrong choice when they chose me to do this. I continue walking while making sure that I do not pass by some sort of secret passage.

If I was the one who sealed Ignis Drakonis, I would naturally want to seal its body in the deepest parts of the volcano. So, that is where I shall go.

MEANWHILE, IN THE NEARBY TOWN OF VULCAN-

(Switches to Rowan's Point of View)

"Excuse me but, have you seen my son around here?"

"No, sorry, I haven't."

"I see."

Right now, I am looking for my son, Alex. For some reason, when I came back home for lunch, he started running out through the door the moment I entered, yelling about an 'important matter' that he has to participate in. After that, I haven't seen him the entire afternoon, even though it is already almost time for me to leave and seal the entrance to the nearby volcano.

Soon after Alex left, Miss Luscia came to the knight's training area to tell us that she has found holes in the sides of the volcano, saying that we need to close them up to protect the people. I agreed with the idea and she suggested that we do it in the late afternoon, so that we can have enough time to gather the necessary personnel and to show everyone where it is.

I initially thought that it was a great idea but, after giving it some more time and thought, I realized that there is something amiss. Even though the proposal itself makes sense, I didn't understand why she didn't tell us earlier. She lived in the village for almost 2 years already and only now does she tell us to seal the entrances.

It is also suspicious how Alex said that he will do something 'important', and just a few hours later, Miss Luscia turns up and proposes an idea which could be thought of as extremely important. Of course, I might be overthinking things but, I wanted to confirm that I was wrong by finding Alex.

But, as of now, I had no such luck.

*Rumble*

Hmm?

My eyes open wide at the source of the loud rumbling sound. The sound is coming from the volcano and there is smoke coming out of the top.

********************

10 MINUTES BEFORE THE RUMBLING-

I probably have walked for a few hours and I still haven't felt anything unusual. I start thinking that I might have taken a wrong turn, which would be fatal for me. But, since I am running out of time, I should just hurry up.

I started running up the passage I was in and then I suddenly collide with something that was very smooth and hard.

Ouch!

I pull myself off of the thing I collided with and realize that it might be a door, mostly because it feels too smooth to be just another wall. If this is a door, will I be able to open it? I start pushing on it as hard as I can but, to no avail.

Wait a minute.

Can't I just go through the shadows until I reach the other side? Yeah, let's do just that. I shift through the shadows inside of the passageway until I reach the other side of the door.

Phew.

Now, let's contin-

Ah!

What the hell is happening!?

After I came through the door, I suddenly felt a huge pressure around me. I desperately send my tendrils to find the source of the pressure until I feel something scaly. I keep feeling the gigantic object until I realize that this must be the body of something.

The only thing I could think of that would be here without moving would be the body of Ignis Drakonis itself.

"Wow! So, this is the great being itself."

I walk closer to it despite the pressure threatening to crush me. If this is the body of the Divine Beast, there should be something near it that contains its soul, right? I feel around the entire room until I feel something that is kind of like a pedestal.

Jackpot!

Pedestals always have something important on it. I check its top and feel nothing. Huh? Oh, wait a minute, there actually is something there. I grab it with my tendril and drop it into my hand.

Hmm?

This is smooth but, it has sharp edges. Is this some sort of gemstone or something? Is this where Ignis Drakonis' soul is being sealed?

"Hello. Now that you are closer, I can sense that you are the same person who killed the guardian of these ruins. Your soul is too large for me to mistake you for another being. So, what is your business here?"

This voice!

This was the same garbled voice I heard right before I woke up after the fight with the Forgeclaw. That means, the thing I saw in my dream was what the Divine Beast actually looks like. Still, he kind of talks like an experienced business person. Oh, I am assuming that it is a he because of the voice.

"Um, hello. Might you be the Divine Flame Beast?"

"Indeed I am."

"That is good. Look, I do not have a lot of time to explain but, I need you to come with me."

"Then you are out of luck. I can not move my body as my soul has been shattered into pieces and sealed inside of this magical stone."

"Don't worry. I have an idea that could work. Just wait for a few seconds."

"Alright."

I then try to move my soul. Wait a minute. How am I supposed to move my soul around? Um, maybe I should try visualizing myself moving it around and putting it inside of the stone. I put that kind of scene in my mind and put it in action.

After a few seconds, I started feeling pieces of myself breaking off. I then channelled it into the stone I was holding.

"Hmm? You possess the ability of soul manipulation. Only Divine Beasts such as myself and the gods should have an ability like that. What are you?"

"Don't worry about the small stuff. Alright, get inside of your body and we need to get out of here fast."

"Okay."

I felt something gigantic fly out of the jewel and go inside of a huge body. I know this stuff because my soul is the one that is fusing with Ignis Drakonis' soul, effectively fusing my mind with his.

*Rumble*

What?

Rumbling from the inside of the volcano?! Aren't I putting myself in so much more danger than what any other normal person would experience in their entire lifetimes!?

"Hey, Ignis Drakonis, can you shrink down or something!?"

"I will try to do that."

When I finished packing the jewel into my shadow, I felt something small push itself against my body.

"I have shrunk down, as you said. Now, are we leaving this prison or what?"

"Just wait for a few more moments, please!"

After I was able to grasp what is happening, the ground started to shake even harder than before. Panicking, I started running towards the door when my foot hit something super hard.

"Ouch!"

I check what it is and find that it is a kind of metal. Maybe I should bring this with me? I don't even know what I am thinking anymore! Let's just grab all of it and run the hell out of here!