Drake felt completely renewed.
If before, the flames were his soldiers, now the flames were his hands and feet.
Even his magic power seemed to have transformed as a result, becoming more vibrant.
Although Drake's condition was far from ideal, he still took the initiative and attacked Ignia.
Ignia naturally didn't back down, but instead stepped forward to meet him head-on.
The magnificent orange and white flames suddenly contracted, concentrating entirely in Drake's palm.
"Flame Dragon's Wing Blade!"
This wasn't a technique that Igneel had taught him, but one that Drake had developed himself after mastering the power of flames.
The hand blade slashed through the air in a blinding arc, striking Ignia squarely in the chest.
Ignia's pupils widened for a moment; even he hadn't expected Drake's attack to be so powerful.
The moment the hand blade struck his chest, the flames were released, erupting out from Ignia's back.
Enveloped in flames, Drake's hand seemed to have truly transformed into a razor-sharp blade, and for the first time since the battle began, he had completely shattered Ignia's defenses.
The flames of the concept of "Scorching Heat" possessed the most extreme temperature, and even Ignia's dragon scale-like skin had been pierced.
Ignia staggered back, and viscous, scalding dragon blood, like molten lava, splattered onto the ground, actually burning through the real lava.
Despite suffering such a grievous wound, Ignia became even more excited, mimicking Drake's move and unleashing a hand blade of his own.
Drake's defenses were likewise unable to withstand Ignia's all-consuming flames, and a hideous gash was left across his chest and abdomen.
Drake had grown stronger, but that only made the battle more brutal. This exchange was just the beginning, and the two soon clashed again.
As the battle escalated, the wounds on both dragon and human multiplied rapidly, and blood rained down like it was free.
Blood from Ignia's forehead flowed into his eyes, but he seemed not to notice, instead punching Drake in the gut.
Drake also kicked Ignia, and the two were sent flying backwards.
Ignia wiped the blood from his chin, smiling as he said, "I haven't asked you yet, but you didn't come here just to fight, did you?
Tell me, what do you really want?"
Drake also wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, saying, "You haven't won yet; it's too early to say that!"
Ignia laughed, "You have a point; then let's put the fun on hold for now! Don't worry; I won't kill you this time. You can still grow stronger, right?
Next time, let me truly enjoy a battle at full power!"
Drake clicked his tongue, "You're acting like you've already won."
Ignia spread his arms, saying, "Of course! I'm already impressed that you've made it this far! But the gap between us is still one you can't cross."
Drake straightened up, saying, "Is that so? I don't think so."
The two-colored flames flared up again, and Drake knew he hadn't chosen the [Fighter] ability in vain.
Even severely injured and with his magic power nearly depleted, Drake's flames remained burning hot, fueled by his unwavering fighting spirit.
The flames resembled a dragon spreading its wings and roaring to the sky, before flowing into Drake's hands.
"Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Crimson Explosive Flame Blade!"
"Dragon Slayer Secret Art, huh?" Ignia manipulated his crimson flames, wrapping them around his arm, saying, "Just a mere imitation of our power by humans."
Drake didn't reply, instead launching the fully charged flame spiral in his hand towards Ignia. And Ignia also unleashed the compressed flames in his hand, the two colliding with a deafening roar.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The flames collided, the immense energy entangling and colliding, triggering an astonishing chain reaction.
A large amount of magma flowed beneath this volcano, and it was directly detonated by the two sides' confrontation.
The magma spewed out, blasting both dragon and human into the sky.
Drake stood on a piece of shattered ground, his eyes locked onto Ignia, who had also been blasted into the air.
"Igneel taught me, Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Unshiranui Style: Crimson Phoenix Blade!"
Flames wrapped around Drake's body, forming a pair of scorching wings, carrying Drake through the sky, piercing towards Ignia like the tip of a long sword.
Ignia had just managed to right himself in the air when Drake slammed into his chest.
Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Ignia, before being sent even higher, slammed an elbow into Drake's back, sending him crashing to the ground.
Drake landed on the ground, sending magma flying. But he quickly regained his footing, and flames surged forth once more.
As expected of the Flame Dragon God, he had only been injured after taking two of Drake's Dragon Slayer Secret Arts, and still had the ability to fight back.
Drake gritted his teeth, squeezing out the last of his magic power. It had been a long time since he'd had such a hard fight; the feeling of his magic power being depleted was rare for Drake.
But Ignia was right before him, and Drake didn't want to give up just yet.
"Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Modified: Purgatory Flame Dragon Lance!"
The flames contracted in Drake's palm, forming a javelin of fire.
Grasping the flame javelin tightly, the muscles in Drake's arm bulged, and he hurled it directly at Ignia in the air.
Legend had it that the Norse god Odin possessed a divine spear crafted from the branches of the World Tree, and as long as Odin threw it, it would surely hit its mark.
It was called Gungnir, meaning the Spear of Heaven, because its trajectory across the sky resembled a shooting star.
And the flame javelin that Drake had thrown did indeed have that feeling as it streaked across the sky.
Even Ignia sensed the danger, but had no time to react, as the flame spear pierced through his body.
This move was a Dragon Slayer Secret Art that Drake had developed himself, containing all of his understanding of Fire Dragon Slayer magic.
Even Ignia was struck down from the sky by this move, crashing into the magma before him.
However, after using this move, Drake was also exhausted, and knelt on one knee.
Magma splashed upwards, and a dragon wing extended from within, then the crimson dragon crawled out of the magma.
It seemed that Drake's Dragon Slayer Secret Art had indeed dealt significant damage; Ignia had been forced to revert to his dragon form.
Slamming a claw onto the ground before Drake, Ignia looked down, saying, "I never thought you'd be able to push me this far."
Drake shakily got to his feet, a smile appearing on his face, saying, "It's not over yet! If anything, this is where it gets interesting."
Ignia revealed a puzzled expression, and at that moment, he sensed a strange surge of magic power.
He lowered his head, and immediately found the source of the magic power.
It was the six silver-white metal rods that had been driven into the ground around him, each etched with intricate patterns.
A complex magic circle, using the metal rods as nodes, appeared beneath his body, and red magic chains extended from it, wrapping around Ignia's body.
"Damn it! What are you trying to do?"
Ignia struggled, but after breaking one chain, even more chains wrapped around him.
This magic circle had been set up using the entire volcanic range as its foundation, meaning that the power binding Ignia was the natural magic power of the entire volcanic range.
Under normal circumstances, Ignia could have broken free even from the power of the entire volcanic range. But now, he was severely injured, and couldn't break free in the short term.
Drake first drank several potions to replenish his magic power, then staggered towards Ignia, saying, "Sorry, but I need to borrow some of your power."
Saying this, Drake took out a cube-shaped magic item from his ring. After twisting it in the middle, the magic item flew into the air, hovering before Ignia.
The eight triangular panels on the magic item separated, revealing a transparent crystal in the center.
Red gas flowed from Ignia's wounds, especially the one where he had been pierced, and was drawn through the eight triangular metal plates and gathered in the crystal in the center.
Ignia gave up his futile struggles, instead looking at Drake with interest, saying, "You're extracting my power? I don't know what you're planning to do, but it seems like you'll become even stronger, Drake?"
Drake smiled, saying, "That's right; you asked what my purpose was. This is it."
Ignia said coldly, "You dare to do this, you mere human! If you want power, then take it; become stronger, and then try to survive when we meet again!
Because I will definitely kill you then!"
Drake paid no heed to Ignia's threat, saying, "I will become stronger, but I will never be killed by you! The next time I come looking for you, I'll win fair and square, and beat you at your full power!"
Ignia revealed a ferocious grin, but didn't reply, instead closing his eyes.
As the two spoke, the transparent crystal gradually turned red. As the crystal became completely filled with red, the eight metal plates completed their mission, transforming into powder and scattering in the air.
Drake grabbed the crystal, and casually summoned his shikigami, Ohachiyo. Climbing onto Ohachiyo's back, Drake glanced at Ignia, saying, "Farewell; we'll definitely meet again someday."
Ohachiyo flapped its wings, flying straight into the sky.
Ignia opened his eyes, watching Drake become a black dot in the sky, and with a flap of his wing, shattered a large portion of the magic chains.
__________________
For more advance chapters visit patreon.com/bars45.
For 10$- All advance chapters.
"Schedule"
Monday - Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day
Saturday - Sunday - Off