Chapter 1680: Final Flame
Victory, like death and disease, can be sudden.
Most people would prefer their victories to come in the form of a satisfying result or a karmic payoff after enduring a terrible trial.
But sometimes, a sudden forfeiture or weather event is all one really needs.
-The words of a general who won a war without firing a single shot.
...Very quick rewind to the moments before Infernola realized he was fucked...
[Hearth Tender’s Grace!]
"WHOA!"
The attack Serena had in mind was one that was at the absolute peak of the World-Class aether art category, [Hearth Tender’s Grace].
Like every World-Class aether art, [Hearth Tender’s Grace] channels the power of a world that could’ve been or should’ve been, and recreating a key moment from that world.
In this case, this particular aether art recreates the moment a woman first brought the warmth of fire and light into existence on her world.
The weight and majesty of this moment is then weaponized and turned into a blinding burst of fire that renders the unworthy and unholy into cinders.
However...that’s under normal circumstances.
Empowered by the nebulous and primal nature of [Chaos], the [Hearth Tender’s Grace] developed a new layer, at least for this exact moment.
In Zhen Liu’s old life, old world, there was a very similar figure to the one depicted in this aether art, except for one key difference.
This mysterious hearth tender didn’t just bring fire and light into the world, she was known by an ancient civilization by the name Tabiti, and she brought about the whole world.
In the same way Tiamat, the goddess of primordial water brought about life in the universe, Tabiti was the goddess of primordial fire that brought about creation while using what was left to make the sun and teach people how to wield fire.
As such, what should’ve just been a brief weaponized moment of a flaming shadow of a motherly woman bringing about fire for the first time, became a powerful incarnation of creation and life.
Not only that, but the fiery construct looked rather familiar to Serena.
"No way..."
Once this realization fully dawned upon her, Serena couldn’t help but to ask the man responsible for this seemingly impossible moment.
"I’ve used this aether art before in practice, and the construct never resembled my sister before. Then again, it never felt this powerful before either...is this your doing?"
"Partially," Zhen Liu admitted as he kept the energy flowing. "I am providing the raw [Chaos] you’re using to build up and condense this giant woman of yours, but [Chaos] also has the tendency to change what it can do in the presence of particularly strong [Desires]. While you may want to kick in Infernola’s ass for the sake of [Retribution], there’s probably another part of you that wants nothing more than just to see your sister again, right?"
Serena was silent for a brief moment as she kept channeling power into her aether art. But when she spoke up, she didn’t answer the question directly. Instead, she asked something that she remembered reading about in the old historical texts...and what she had seen in regards to Hurricroak and Frosttusk.
"Some of your kaijin have [Cores] that are a bit more than [Chaos] and [Desire], right? They’re actually revived souls, right?"
"They are..." Zhen Liu trailed off, already anticipating what Serena was about to ask.
"Earlier, when you showed me the [Core] born from my desire...does that mean you could’ve used it to bring back my sister?"
"Depends on two things," Zhen Liu answered honestly. "First, I need materials connected to the deceased. Doesn’t always have to be their original body, just something that carries their mark."
"Like the [Sacred Flame]?"
"Technically, but it works better if it’s something really personal."
"Okay...what’s the second thing?"
"The second thing is if the person in question wants to come back," Zhen Liu answered with sincere seriousness. "I am not a necromancer, I can’t just rip someone out of the afterlife and have them take on the role of a kaijin. I simply open the door and ask if they want another go around the bend. It’s up to them to decide if they want to walk through or not."
"..."
"So let me ask you this: if I were to open this door, do you think she would want to walk through it?"
"...no. I don’t think she would."
"Then let this moment serve as a belated funerary firework."
"Yes!"
...Now back to the present...
For all intents purposes, Infernola’s attack run was perfect.
He had a clear shot, he had no obstacles, and he had enough space to empower the [Final Star Tackle] to the absolute limit.
But alas, it wasn’t going to be enough.
Outside looking in, Infernola’s attack resembled nothing more than a fly in the face of the giant woman made of primordial fire.
But strangely, the giant woman did not smack Infernola like the insignificant insect he was.
It had plenty of time to reach out and bring down a palm, or even use the fire poker in its hand to smash Infernola into a million tiny pieces.
It didn’t do anything violent like that, though.
Instead, like a gentle mother, the fire construct reached out a single hand, a single finger and placed it in the path of the charging meteorite.
It would be normal to expect an explosion of energy, and burst of heat and light that would blind all who would dare to stare at this impossible moment, of a primordial creator stopping a calamity that threatened to wipe out their hard work...but that didn’t happen.
As the burning construct of Tabiti brought down a gentle finger towards the meteor, the fire surrounding it disappeared in an instant and Infernola found himself being stopped by that same finger pressed against his head.
No...it wasn’t Infernola being stopped.
It was the [Flame of Ambition].
With a gentle push, the fiery construct separated the [Flame of Ambition] from Copper, freeing the protokaijin and allowing him to collapse to the ground.
He didn’t show any signs of breathing, but he didn’t exactly have lungs in the first place.
Well, that and the [Flame of Ambition] was proving himself to be quite noisy.
As if to better contrast the ages between these two beings, the [Flame of Ambition] had taken on the vague silhouette of a large child.
[No! No, no, no, no, no! I was close! I was so close!] The burning child screamed as the silhouette of Tabiti kept her finger on their head. [I was supposed to replace you! To become the flame that would herald the coming of a new age! I had the power, the supporters, the army! What went wrong?!]
The giant woman of flame didn’t respond to the smaller one’s tantrum in a dismissive manner, or a punishing manner.
Instead, it somehow spoke with a voice gentler than a whisper but more powerful than a lion’s roar.
[What power you had wasn’t your own. What followers you amassed didn’t do so out of loyalty, but out of selfish greed. And your army was nothing more than extensions of yourself that failed to take root,] the giant woman explained. [You lacked something critical, oh darling offshoot of mine.]
[What?! What is that I lack?!] The offshoot scream, it’s voice sounding even younger than before.
[Purpose beyond purpose.]
[...what?]
Before explaining herself, the fire giant took her other hand and lifted up the offshoot so that they were now eye level.
In this way, they could now speak on nearly equal terms.
[You wish to supplant me, but what else? What goals, what dreams do you have beyond taking my place as the guiding light?]
[That—! That...I don’t know,] the offshoot said quietly. [I figured I would figure that out after I had done so.]
At this admission, the fiery woman smiled as gentley as a lamp light.
[My main purpose is to act a beacon for mortals, but that isn’t all. I protect them, I hurt them, I inspire them and more. My purpose isn’t just to guide, it’s help them grow.]
After saying this piece, Tabiti brought the offshoot close to her chest.
[Perhaps someday you’ll figure this out, but for now, it’s time to come home...]
And with those words, the fire giant disappeared like a blown candle.
...
After Serena’s attack fulfilled it’s purpose, the fiery giant disappeared, leaving her and Zhen Liu to quietly stare at each other as the latter retracted his [Astra] and [Taboo].
"..."
"..."
The two of them continued to stare at each other, with Serena looking rather confused at Zhen Liu.
Zhen Liu, on the other hand, kept quiet and waited for the inevitable question that he could only provide a single answer.
"Did...did you somehow make my attack sentient? Fuck, did you somehow make the [Sacred Flame] sentient??"
"Yes and maybe."
"Did...did you know that would happen?"
"No," Zhen Liu shook his head. "I am going to be completely honest here, too, I have no fucking idea how my powers work some days."
"..."
"Just take the victory and deal with the fallout."
"Right. Right...fuck."
"And there’s the realization."