<11/25/1962 – 15:02 | Eldora Tower Fl. 950, Eldora City, Junon, Sprawn Valley>

  The beginning of next week went without a hitch in the plans. Brash Danton, now referred to as Sir Danton by title of champion received some combat training by the use of magic with the assistance of Shadler. Shadler also had to teach Danton about the politics of leading in Sprawn Valley, and the role of being a leader. Every weekend for most weeks, the championship event is held for wielders attempting to take his place. In addition, the Catalyst Grove is also held to try and replace elites in direct methods. But with the excellent fighting spirit and training of the Trujima gang, as well as restrictions placed on those trying to get into the chain of the elites, this weekend went by without a single change in the rankings. As far as the champion chain is concerned, not one single challenger made it beyond the second level elite, protected by Gleeon Miao.

  At first glance, the politics seem straightforward. As a champion, you simply sign off on several legal documents that come in from the mage council, the amount of documents ranging variously. Status updates on all country, town, and city projects come in, usually to report a request in funding for materials or federal programs. There are seven members who sit at the highest level of the mage council each representing departments of interest to the nation, and lower members who vote them in, who are voted in themselves by the citizens of Sprawn Valley. As such, the mage council can easily override any refusal of signing to a document if six of the seven representatives vote to veto executive decisions. In all of this, the job of the champion is to make such executive decisions, while also remaining commander in chief for Sprawn Valley's official military organization; the General Army. The army is only intended to act in manners concerning national security, and still have a slight leash from the mage council.

  Viewed by literal experience, it wasn't the easy job that Shadler made it out to sound. Danton had to learn so much in such little time, all while wondering if this kind of life is what he really wanted for himself. Whether it is or isn't, leaving isn't a preferred option, not until he and Kite have their final rematch in about a month from now. Leading an entire nation is a lot of pressure, and Danton continued to convince himself that it simply isn't the kind of work he could enjoy. Still, the thought of protecting everybody in Sprawn Valley while aiming to improve the lives of the common folk gave a warming sensation of fulfilment.

  "Sir Danton? A word?"

  Danton snapped out of his current chain of thought, and focused on his assistant, Shadler Cowl. Shadler was teaching Danton how things work while running Eldora Tower, but there were still clusters of missing information that he was keeping for some reason. Shadler also acted as personal assistance to Danton, trying to do things for him. It was a bit much, having butlers make lunch and dinner every day, organizing public announcements on his personal behalf, and even creating ridiculous charts of tasks to be followed day-by-day, a chart which took up all of his time if not redone by bargaining, and staying cooped up in this elegant chamber built for the champion is just unsettling. Danton was never really encouraged to leave the tower or go outside. To spend his entire life in a single room just sucks, and every day that goes by, Shadler just seems less trustworthy somehow. He acts more like a chaperone than a trainer. "What is it Shadler?"

  Knowing that there was nobody else in the entire room, Shadler felt comfortable speaking about heavy matters, especially to Sir Danton, but he still tried to carefully sugar code the situation. Danton is already feeling the stress of his new position; obviously did he imagine something different. "I have a task for you that I'd like to see carried out."

  "As long as your errands take me outside of the tower, I don't care what it is."

  Sensing the frustration in his tone, Shadler took it more slowly, trying to relax Danton and himself. "This time, the matter will take you outside of the tower."

  The thought of going outside grabbed Danton's immediate attention, taking his stance and facing Shadler face to face. "Finally! I can ditch the robe and get some sun."

  "If you simply wanted to go outside, you need only ask, but it's less likely to be suggested to new champions. That's all what the fuss is over."

  "Well, whatever the task, lay it on me," Danton begged.

  Shadler nodded his head in disagreement, seeing that Danton was getting far ahead of himself. "For starters, you might want to keep the outfit." Danton was referring to a thick jacket of royalty, one exquisite in design and fashion. It's the kind of clothing only befitting on a royal king. "It carries several invisible layers of magical barriers and elemental protection."

  "Shadler, my man..." Danton held Shadler by the shoulder to try and convince him that all of this isn't necessary. "Whatever you're worried about, I promise I won't be knocked around doing some simple errands."

  "Oh, but these are not simple errands, Sir Danton." Shadler knocked Danton's grip away, hoping he would understand the situation at best. "Had you simply waited for me to finish patiently, you would have realized by now that this task I ask of you is not without an adventure and a hint of danger. Also, you won't be needing to worry about fashion for where you are being dispatched. Of course, you don't have to accept this mission I've assigned you."

  "Wait a minute," Danton stopped. "You assigned me this mission?"

  "Let me just start from the beginning," Shadler tried. He held out his right arm and hand openly, until a phased object suddenly appeared into reality, the similar trick to spawning magical weapons into battle, but there was no glyphring, thus the weapon is fully as real as it gets. The weapon Shadler teleported in his hands was not of the usual kind. Some sort of special staff, a white rod covered with special artistic designs going around the pole, and a concave crystal sphere at the center of the top core container. It's not the usual kind of staff Danton was used to seeing. "Hold this staff in your hand Danton."

  Danton did as the old man asked him too, feeling the full weight of the special staff. The material utilized some type of wood, hardened as much as steel, and weighing far more than any sword Danton has ever carried. It's heavy for a staff. "What is this?" Is Shadler giving him a free staff?

  "Danton? Do you know what magic crystals are?"

  "I've heard about them before. They're special crystals that can store Leray magic, right? I never understood how that worked."

  "They're a little more advanced than that. One of the many things our personnel does here involves procuring special crystals that have the potential to store and redistribute magical energy on higher levels. I usually call them Eldora crystals, since they have a specialty that requires our top mages to process them into usable gemstones."

  "I don't quite understand what all of that is about," Danton answered. "But what of these Eldora crystals?"

  "Eupharus Island is loaded with these crystals. Every six months, we head to Eupharus Island in order to mine and procure these crystals, taking them back to this tower's science lab for further processing. Understand?"

  "Well, yes." It's simple enough. But why ask him? Oh, of course! "Let me guess. You want me to help with the mining?"

  "Eupharus Island is a remote location without a large habitable landmass, and is actually uninhabited for many reasons, one of which being that the zone is restricted by the military. Only the top mages and the champion himself are allowed to travel to Eupharus Island."

  "Why restrict it? There something about these crystals you're not telling me about?" Danton's curiosity finally peaked, having never seen Shadler remain so clear on information before.

  "Well, Eupharus Island is also center to Sprawn Valley's one and only active volcano. The Eupharus volcano is practically the entire feature of the island itself."

  "Oh, great... Listen, why am I being asked to do this again? I mean, at first I was just appalled that you wanted me to procure some stupid crystals all by myself on a secluded island with nobody to bump into, but now it just feels like your sending me out to be blown away by lava." Danton paused to process an interesting thought. "Is volcanic lava fatal to humans under the protection of the veil?"

  Shadler went first by answering his last question. "Molten lava has proven absolutely fatal to all living things that touch it regardless of the veil. Despite Eupharus Island being under the cover of the veil, lava on its own is a substance too high in temperature for the veil to adequately protect humans. If covered in lava, you would theoretically survive slightly longer than normal due to the veil, but your HP would drain to zero in less than three seconds, while the pain level would be so intense that you'd pass out from pain shock before that were to happen. And when unconscious with zero HP, your remaining MP reserves are used to protect you in your slumber. So in six seconds, you would run out of stats, and then burn alive until all your organs shut down completely, causing the Leray system to consider you as technically dead. When that happens, the body is no longer covered by the slight protection of the veil, and is thus rendered with no magical energy source from which to draw from. In a matter of three seconds to enough exposure, the lava would kill anyone. All of that doesn't even include the harmful health effects of inhaling the toxic fumes should the lava burn certain material during its highly-active phase."

  That sure is one hell of an explanation. "Right... I'm not going."

  "With all due respect Danton, the volcano rarely erupts into the island, and we constantly monitor the activity there at all times. In fact, the volcano's last eruption was five years ago, time enough for palm trees to grow back there. That place is half a jungle now."

  "Still, anyone can just go and get the crystals. And I am kind of new to this champion thing, sooo..."

  It figures Danton would be unwilling to go. Perhaps he needs the real motivation. "The density of crystals we need is very low to the sea level, on the bottom end of the mountain itself, and the thermal vent isn't at the top of the volcano, but rather an elevated side tunnel. The top of the volcano is not open, but rather shut by an impressively powerful and sturdy bed-rock fixture."

  "We're you not listening? Get somebody else to mine it."

  "Mining and procuring the crystals wouldn't be your task."

  "What?" Danton felt confused. Why even ask him to go if other people are doing the heavy lifting?

  "Danton?" Shadler continued. "Eupharus Island is restricted due to a different kind of danger, one that poses a great threat to ordinary civilians, but much less to people like you and me who are well skilled in magical abilities."

  "What sort of danger are we talking about? I feel like you were trying to say that lava is of little concern in comparison to something else."

  "Oh no," Shadler corrected. "If any lava is found on the island, we won't be doing this job. But right now, our aerial report shows no extraordinary volcanic activity. Danton, the reason we can't just go there and mine in the places we need to is because those places are guarded by a creature."

  "A creature?"

  "Yes. To be more precise, this creature resembles a natural monster created in possibility by Leray magic. But this creature is in itself a natural summon, and an element of raw spiritual energy, from a source still unknown to us."

  "The island is guarded by a summon?! Why didn't... I—" Danton struggled to keep his thoughts under control from the surprise alone. It makes sense though why people don't know. If Eupharus Island is restricted, then the news about that place must also be under wraps of the government. "A summon? Just on its own and without a master?"

  "Yes." Shadler could remember what the beast looks like every time. "The creature is a rare specimen with very strange elements that bind it to this world. The beast only lives on Eupharus Island, but we've named him Entiene."

  Why is he telling this story? Why ask people to go to such a dangerous place, for some stupid crystals? Crystal shards could be located elsewhere, right?

  "This unique summon of Entiene is completely independent, and a solo-species. This means that Entiene is capable of binding itself to a Leray wielder as a controllable summon. At the same time, there is only one available Entiene in the entire world. This we are sure of."

  "You're saying it's possible to tame Entiene? Control its powers?"

  Now Danton at least looked amazed and interested. "Yes. In truth, our records clearly indicate that Entiene has been assigned and controlled by five people before now. In most cases, only the champions of Eldora Tower are allowed to go to Eupharus, and take the challenge to control Entiene. We call this challenge, the Trial of Mages."

  "The Trial of Mages," Danton repeated.

  "Naturally, only champions get to attempt the Trial of Mages, which is why only champions or former champions have ever had control of Entiene. But over all of the years, people still live out their lives until the end. Aging cannot be prevented by the veil. So when Entiene's owner dies, Entiene is then set free. After that happens, Entiene returns to its home island to live and patrol there."

  "What does that thing eat?"

  What a silly question. "Currently, we don't know. Entiene is an element of spiritual energy, which is what gives him its translucent appearance. You can literally see through the large dragon."

  "Dragon? Entiene is a dragon?" Who could ever subdue that? Wait, "Like a drake?" Drakes are just smaller dragons. Maybe Entiene is like that.

  "Entiene is no drake. By all of our studies, Entiene is a dragon of spiritual essence, thought to feed on the spirit and will power of those who challenge it. The beast won't always use its wings to fly, especially when assigned to a wielder. Entiene does have wings that is uses to fly, but when summoned by humans, Entiene will hide those wings and refuse to use them, since it appears to try and battle in this mode with the same natural abilities that their owner has."

  "That's just weird."

  "As such, several people have attempted the Trial of Mages in the past, but in total, only a select few of the champions have ever successfully subdued the creature. By accepting the Trial of Mages, the champion is made to head to Eupharus, challenge Entiene in a fair Leray battle, and defeat him. If successful, that person will be in control of Entiene as a summon for battle, all until the day they pass."

  "And then that champion can just use Entiene in any battle? How is it that nobody has spoken about it before, if it was recorded and all?"

  "By the time television became the next best thing, the previous owner of Entiene passed, just before having the chance to debut on the live recording. As a result, many who still know about Entiene aren't taken seriously about Entiene's existence to commoners. To the populous who suspect or know of Entiene's existence, it's usually a belief in legend."

  "So I take that to mean that Lawrence Citrin never challenged Entiene?"

  "Lawrence, nor the champion before him were able to defeat Entiene, though both did challenge the creature fairly. Lawrence even challenged Entiene again this year, but he still fell far from a victory."

  "S—still, why tell me all of this and ask me to go to the island myself?"

  "Sometimes," Shadler went on, "I'm astounded by your obliviousness. I'm asking you to take the Trial of Mages head on. Your battle with Kite was on a different level than Lawrence's battle with Kite. I feel like you have a better chance at this."

  "What if that thing eats me alive?" Danton concerned. "You're the one who said it was dangerous!"

  "The lava is dangerous. Entiene is an entity entirely composed of Leray magic. This means that Entiene is also only capable of using Leray magic to battle. And so, if you are defeated, no harm comes to you whatsoever. Your battle with Entiene will take place on the top of the volcano, where the bedrock protects everything from the center of its funnel."

  "That's even more insane! What if the bedrock breaks and falls in?"

  "It's never happened before to all those who have attempted to battle there. But in the unlikely event it does happen," Shadler paused to place a tiny green gemstone into Danton's left hand. "You simply need to activate this crystal with your energy, as it will instantly teleport you back to the landing port we will arrive at. See, now I've just given you another insurance that this is actually safe."

  Danton pocketed the small gemstone, but he wasn't convinced yet. "Still, even if it is safe, I don't think I'm powerful enough right now to defeat a giant spirit dragon of legends, of which there is only one in the world."

  "Dant—"

  "I'm not cut out for it Shadler!"

  Shadler held his hand up to try and calm Danton's voice. "I still would like for you to attempt this trial. It will give you the chance to leave the tower that you've been trapped in. Plus, it provides excellent battle experience."

  "But I know nothing about the summon. Can't you at least give me some sort of boost? Like, what is Entiene's elemental weakness?"

  "As one designated to oversee the trial, I can't disclose that to you."

  "Oh come on!"

  Shadler swept his hand on the large staff Danton was still carrying. "You already have the tools you need. Your skills, and this staff will give you the chance for success."

  "This staff?" Danton examined the staff again, never realizing that this weapon might have a unique purpose.

  "This is the Mega-Staff of Eldora Tower, designed centuries ago for the sole purpose of capturing Entiene. This staff is also one of a kind; there are no other devices like this one."

  "Mega-Staff?" Danton's eyes lit up in expression. "Is this like, the most powerful staff or something?"

  "That's a matter of opinion," Shadler responded. "There are ways of overcoming any potential advantage in battle, so calling this the best weapon is only accountable to those who wield it. The Mega-Staff is uniquely designed with a concave super crystal as its base. With this design, this staff holds both of either class all in one. The Mega-Staff is both an absorber class and a crystallized class staff. That means the wielder will both amplify his magical powers, and save magic while dispersing spells." Shadler noticed Danton staring at the weapon with more concentration than before. "And of course, this is the only staff capable of binding the summon of Entiene to the wielder who defeats him. You would have to use this staff to battle Entiene to stand a chance, and if victorious, link his essence to yourself."

  "That's..." Danton shook his head, and gave Shadler an annoying glare. "Still, why ask me to do this Shadler? I really don't think I'm ready for it. Can't this at least wait or something?"

  "I'd rather know if you are going to fail or succeed in this task. The reason I am eager to see you pull this off, is because capturing Entiene and binding him to the champion, also means that the island of Eupharus will be left unguarded. If you capture Entiene, our extraction team can harvest all the crystals we need to, and mine in some of the best spots available. As things are now, Entiene won't let anyone get close to those rich zones."

  Danton's expression seemed more monotone as he stared at Shadler holding the Mega-Staff with two hands sideways. "So you do get something out of this after all."

  "What's that look for? Of course we get something out of this. Danton, if you succeed in this task, not only will you control Entiene for any battle purposes, you'll also be allowed to keep your Mega-Staff and use it in battle too, whether you summon Entiene or not. Lawrence was only permitted to hold it as champion because be proved how close he was to defeating Entiene. But now that he's out, I need to try this with someone else, someone more willing to win, and someone with exceptional skills. Only the best of the best can do this."

  Danton silently studied the staff again, imagining what it would be like to wield such power. Shadler even said himself that if anyone's championship title was lost, Entiene is still bound to them until death due them part. "Wait a minute. Kite! Kite was champion for at least five days. He knows about this too, right?"

  "Wrong," Shadler shifted. "I never offered the trial to him, and if you want to know why, it's simply because Kite told me something the moment he became the next champion. He told me that he was waiting on a tougher challenger to defeat in about a week of time. I figure it had to be you. The Trial of Mages is no big joke, nor is it anything to take lightly. In addition to this, the information about Eupharus is restricted. I didn't want to risk Kite opening up about information that would have nothing to do with him should he have—"

  "Yeah, I got it man." Danton already understood the reason well before Shadler could finish the excuse. Kite isn't great at keeping secrets, but this challenge might be beyond the both of them combined. Shadler just wants to freely mine crystals, and in return he offers a summon of incredible power and ability. Something just doesn't feel right about this, but Danton couldn't clearly identify what could also be wrong. "So you want me to take the Trial of Mages, defeat Entiene, and capture him as my personal summon. Is that all?"

  "That's all my task demands of you. All of your other duties for today have been pushed off until tomorrow to make these preparations. I am eager to see it through, but you are allowed to take all the time you need in training before you head off, regardless of my impatient ramblings."

  "That's quite alright." Danton weighed the pros and cons of the very event himself with thought. If he somehow falls to another in battle, even if Kite were to defeat him, then the challenge would become unavailable to Danton. If Danton does this now and wins, he'll keep Entiene for a very long time, and the very word Eupharus won't have to be mentioned again. Still, just going there is dangerous. To think that lava could be so deadly in a safe zone, on top of the potential of drowning at sea. "I accept your challenge, and will take on the Trial of Mages."

  "That's great to hear Sir Danton."

  "Just give me time to prepare. I assume you want to move out this afternoon, but I don't like the sea as much as you might think."

  "I never would have taken you for sea-sickness," Shadler admitted. "But I'm afraid you've misplaced your fears. We aren't sailing to Eupharus Island."

  "We aren't? Oh, right, teleportation."

  "Not that either. The rules imposed on the mage council, and all members associated with Eldora Tower forbid travel to Eupharus Island either by sea or by teleportation. Either mode of travel can indirectly be traced by anyone. No, Danton; we're going to take our trusted helicopter to the island."

  "Helicopter?" This is nuts! Since when did Eldora Tower secretly house motorized military vehicles? "A helicopter isn't much of a subtle exit."

  "You'll get over your fear of flying on the way there. Our chopper can be seen, as it has before in the name of research, but it can't be tracked that high in the sky."

  "I can't believe, I have to ride in a helicopter. How many more secrets exist out here? Shadler?"

  "All in good time, champ. I'll admit there is a lot of curious information we operate with all the time, but to reveal it all at once would do your head no good. So, are you ready to head out?"

  "Give me ten minutes, at least."

  "Very well. This event has been set up and arranged, even though there was a possibility you'd decline. So there's no need to set arrangements of your own. Just be prepared for everything."

  <11/25/1962 – 16:07 | Eupharus Island, Eupharus Region, Sprawn Valley>

  Chapter Theme Shift:

  Danton and Shadler both took an experienced pilot with them to land at a naturally made post on Eupharus Island. The aerial view of the island was breathtaking. White clouds of smoke hovered in various places throughout the island, mostly from the side tunnel near the top of the volcano. Only a small section of land outcropped on all sides around the volcano, with the exception to the southwest area. A limb of connective land there already continued growing the palm trees as Shadler described earlier, but there was no way of trying to imagine the elegant visuals cast from the weather here. None of this white smoke blocked out the clear sky and the sun above it, and according to Shadler, the air here was non-toxic to breathe, so long as nobody sees any dark or black smoke. Soot from volcano during higher activity creates a dangerous toxic field of gas easily visible to the eye, a toxin that also has no inhibition from the Leray veil. After exiting the vehicle together following a touchdown to the landing spot, Danton was further coached by Shadler regarding how he must go and defeat Entiene.

  "There will be plenty of time for sightseeing after you've defeated Entiene. In fact, if you win, I'll grant you the rest of the early evening off to explore."

  Danton accepted the kind offer Shadler extended with his intentions. "In that case, I won't let you down."

  "Good. Right now, Entiene isn't visible or active. It can enter a state of slumber that renders itself invisible until it senses any powerful Leray wielder or mage near its house, which is on the very top of the bedrock of the volcano."

  "So, until we make it up there, Entiene won't reveal itself."

  "That, and if we don't make a lot of mechanical noises with our drilling machines we bring by, but this is the moment where you and I separate for your task."

  "Wait." Danton glanced behind him at the colossal conic mountain, then back to Shadler with worry in his eyes. "How do I get up there?"

  On cue, the pilot of the helicopter tossed a beige-green backpack to Danton's feet, his gaze in a state of pity. "You walk."

  Danton picked up the zipped bag, full of essential supplies designated for those who go on hiking adventures. "You've gotta be kidding me."

  "I'm sorry Danton," Shadler apologized. "But we can't just take you up there. If we tried to fly there with the helicopter from virtually any altitude, Entiene would hear the noise coming, wake up, and destroy our ride. You have to hike on the mountain path located on the west side of the volcano. I've packed a paper map inside to help you find it. If you don't approach the path from the right side, you'll soon run into a dead-end. Don't take the west path no matter what."

  "Because it might ruin the trial?" Danton guessed.

  "Because we've deliberately blocked that path with massive boulders, given that the wrong side of the volcano generates heat beyond what a human can handle, and is the first spot of lava flow during higher levels of activity."

  "Oh." Danton scratched his face, uncertain if this was such a good idea.

  "Now go ahead and get going. You can stop halfway up for lunch if you'd like. We've packed everything you might need in that heavy bag. We'll also monitor your progress from here."

  "All the way down here?"

  "Entiene is a large creature. Even from here, we'll be able to see the summon as it tries to fight you. You of course won't be visible to us, but if Entiene stops fighting and gives up, that will be enough to tell us that you've passed out. If that happens, you need only to wake up naturally and activate that crystal I've given you."

  "Right... Here I go." Danton didn't yet move an inch, hesitant to trust either of these men who were asking so much of him. He then took a long study of the tall mountain before him. Getting to the path could take half an hour if he rushed it, and then getting to the top from there, the base that literally extends beyond the white puffed clouds in the sky could take five hours or more. "Here, I, go."

  Chapter Theme Shift:

  

  Hour by hour, footstep by footstep, the rocky pebbles crunched beneath the bottom layout of Danton's sport shoes. Every step and movement against gravity was a challenge. As the sun shifted position in the sky, so did the air turn from pleasant to hot. Whether it was the baking sun against the surface of the rough terrain, or the invisible currents of volcanic air circling the mountain, Danton felt as though he were experiencing a hot summer day. Hiking up this barely visible trail brought back old and forgotten memories of the past.

  It doesn't matter if you're in Sprawn Valley or not. Views and experiences like these are the same everywhere in the world. The dirt beneath the terrain held a level mixture of dark stones long cooled off, through thin and isolated threads of dried grass. There wasn't a hint of life anywhere nearby other than the low levels of vegetation struggling to live up here. The air is silent, and the smell brings to mind the fires of death. Between the naturally formed path and the edge of the cliff Danton was up against, he would only need to take about ten steps off course to fall off the side of this mountain. Even with his footing carefully planted, the view up here was both amazing and terrifying at the same time. At least the veil would protect him from a horrible fall if something should happen.

  Since he began hiking upwards, Danton took small breaks in between his walks every twenty minutes just to catch his breath, and every time he looked up at the towering volcano in the sky, this task felt much more impossible. How long has it been after four consecutive breaks? How much more would he have to climb? Danton felt so winded and tired, the sweat rolling down his back and seeping into the shirt he changed into for this occasion. His knees were sore, his legs tired of carrying the weight against gravity. Shadler packed several water bottles into the backpack among other equipment he could use to go back down the mountain, including a small medical kit of the unusual type for Sprawn Valley. After twisting the cap off another bottle, Danton sucked the entire contents of the plastic container down his throat, bringing him the indescribable feeling of relief after thirsting for so long. Only down to three bottles now, Danton tossed the empty one off the edge of the mountain, and before long, he had to relieve the build-up of all these fluids from the spring. There are no bathrooms around here, but there are also no people to bear witness.

  The white puffs of smoke coming from the volcanic heat vents simulated normal clouds for the most part, though they were only hanging out high in the sky, far above the peak of the mountain itself. Danton got to see it all, all of what the weather had to offer even to this desolate area. Even though much of the land around him seemed lifeless, the bright tint of the sunlight baking everything from above brought a sensation to the rolling cobblestone in front of him, and the bristling dried grass blades void of any green color, curving with the windy currents. In between the breaths of the faint soot and ash smell coming from the tunnels of the volcano, Danton tasted true fresh air within it all, and this left no doubt. If this volcano were to die away and settle down, Eupharus could easily be populated with any type of life thrown its way, but right now, there is nothing. Not a single bug, lizard, nor rodent scurrying around behind the small rocks, or in the air. Even birds avoid this place with its potential. The lava activity can't be the only thing to blame here.

  It's Entiene. Shadler said that thing is made out of spectral energy alone. Such a large ghost must have the natural ability to ward off any creature of nature, keeping its lair only to himself. A spirit materialized from Leray magic alone; a dragon that shares an entire region of wildlife with no one. It begs the question of where this essence came from. Entiene, a summon like no other, a tale from legends nearly void of compatibility with life itself. Something about Entiene doesn't fit the natural order of Leray magic. Shadler might have exaggerated this story, putting emphasis only on ridding the beast from this place once and for all. Whether it can be controlled or not doesn't matter. Such a beautiful place shouldn't be kept away from everything like this, and it wouldn't make sense for Leray magic to spawn a creature of spiritual madness only to disrupt the natural order of things. Defeating Entiene sounds like a task less optional than before.

  The path wound upwards in a counter-clockwise formation, at about a twenty-degree angle that shifted higher the further Danton made it. The air all around him only became hotter the closer he made it, though the view from above also became more detailed than before. Danton could see everything near the top of the volcano; the forest on the lowest levels near the Hollifax Ocean, and even the tiny dots down there, the small shelter and the helicopter. This must be what everything looks like from the perspective of a crow. From this distance, the helicopter below might as well be a small ant. "Why do I have to walk?"

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Danton let his tired body speak for him. Even though he was getting close to the top now, it still felt so far away in comparison. Another mile maybe? If only Leray magic could make people fly on air, or have some way to reset exhaustion levels... Danton found himself gasping for air again, and he sat down on the dirty path to catch his breath and drink more water. If there was anything Shadler ever forgot to mention, it would be how thin the air will be climbing at this altitude, yet the air around him only grows warmer. What exactly is at the top of this partially active volcano? Will there by nothing to separate the peak from the lava below? What if Entiene destroyed the bedrock already?

  Danton would yell out to the world below right now from the stress if he weren't too afraid of the possible repercussions. Entiene can supposedly hear the noises of those who approach it from far away. It's best not to provoke it until the perfect arena is set, but after all this, the battle better be worth the trouble. He soon picked himself back up to his feet, and continued the hike towards the top, while the trail itself became more narrow and harder to walk on without falling off, but he kept the pace adamantly, putting every last breath into completing the mission. Climb to the top, and subdue Entiene.

  The peak finally in reach, Danton had to jump and grab hold of the edge of the final upward obstacle before him. Once he peeked his head over the edge, he focused on the amazing floor at the top of the volcano. From here to the other side, five hundred meters across the diameter, a solid formation of stone patterns covered the space in between here and the active magma below. After putting all his might into pulling his body over the edge, Danton kneeled on the bedrock; the texture sensation an experience on its own. Hot air blew slightly between the cracks in the flooring, but above all, the bedrock structure felt incredibly stable.

  This is it, the peak of Eupharus Island, and the top of the volcano. Danton dismounted his backpack from the shoulder straps, and left it behind to explore the area. The stony bedrock was much easier to walk on compared to the uphill trail that went on for many miles at a time. Other than the mild warm breezes of wind, there wasn't another sound or sight. Moments passed in silence and inactivity, and Danton used it to calm down, but after enough time, the wait brought doubt to the mind.

  "Okay... So what now?" Rumbling in the faintest form sounded in his ears, and trembled the bedrock below his feet. Danton could feel the vibrations all around him, as faint as they were. After looking around long enough in a panic, something high above him began to form. With a short-lived swirling motion of the white smoke in the sky above the mountain, a disturbance of magical energy - that's what this felt like. Danton watched that spot for any changes, as they came in just seconds after hearing more sounds of wind blowing at higher velocity and volume. In another moment, tiny particles of light barely visible to the eye gathered to the center of the aerial position above the volcanic bedrock, while Danton prayed for the structure not to give out.

  If the bedrock collapses, there will be only at most two thousand meters of space between this position and the bubbling magma beneath. If that happens, the small green crystal in his back pocket would only need to be activated in his hands. The dancing light particles became easier to distinguish when more of them poured in from all directions, seemingly from nowhere. The more light particles that formed, the easier it was to see their radiance in the sky. Swirling together in a clustered mix about two hundred meters above the bedrock, Danton kept watch in awe as the amazing magical display continued to dazzle everything around it.

  Chapter Theme Shift:

  

  The swirling of light quickened as the density of light particles grew at an exponential rate, and in about ten more seconds, the light particles all changed shape, forming several different curves and inclines while simultaneously growing brighter. By the time the light became blinding for Danton to withstand, the particles all flashed at one and materialized into reality. When Danton revealed his eyes again, he could see it in full. The material, born from the particles of light from an unknown source gave shape and form to one of the largest and most unusual creatures Danton had ever seen before. A dragon, one far wider and dangerous than the usual type, a dragon with the size of the largest summon anyone had ever witnessed before.

  The scaly creature was totally solid for a few seconds, after which Danton could suddenly see through the matter entirely. This dragon, it's transparent by about thirty percent. The dragon summon is totally see-through from every angle, and its eyes, those bright purple eyes are speckles of colored flames, as is the spectral blue fiery breath emitting from the dragon's gapped mouth. Its jaw held razor sharp teeth of which by sight alone could crunch through the bedrock Danton stood on right now. The wingspan was massive, defiantly fitting and realistic for a creature of this size requiring such aerodynamic structure to fly, though the dragon was barely flapping those massive wings at all. No doubt the floating mechanism for this thing involves magic itself. A single claw from this thing's paw was trice Danton's personal size, and the tail held some spiked structure at the end, oddly without any transparency to that specific zone.

  This must be it. This spawn of a summon like no other, a deadly creature that is ruler of all animals in Sprawn Valley itself. This summon must contain the highest level of stats, endurance, and ME levels ever recorded in all of Sprawn Valley's confidential history. This is the legend of Entiene. Though Danton knew what this meant right in this moment, he didn't dare twitch or move a single muscle, only did he exhale a single breath.

  With a rumbling roar from up high, Danton came to his senses, realizing that this spawn of magic can still be incredibly dangerous in more ways than one. This roaring of the beast must be a kind of challenge to himself. Danton pulled out his Mega-Staff, holding it tightly in one hand, lifting the heavy weight to point and aim at Entiene. The sudden standoff marked the beginning of this challenge, and the energy scopes marked the beginning of the fight.

  Already was it made clear to him that Entiene - powering its own purple energy scope on its own behalf indicated the intelligence of the creature as well as its freedom of action. Danton soon noticed another smaller holographic box attached to Entiene's energy scope, an action display center. Entiene will know several unknown abilities with names Danton knew he would have never seen before. The battling style of this monster is completely unknown, and according to Shadler, Danton must fight Entiene using only the Mega-Staff as a weapon.

  Multi-Shock! Already activating holographic text into the ADC, Entiene decided to flap its wings in hover-still position, aiming down at the small human below. Entiene's white colored horns, as it had one on each side of its head, lit up with a magical essence of light. Giving Danton little time to react, Entiene unleashed its stored energy for the attack, releasing the magic through both of its horns in the form of two electrical bolts of energy zapping down straight at the target. Danton was easily caught off guard by this electric strike, and Danton was forced to take the damage in full while experiencing the pain of a high-powered electric shock, which chipped away first at his HP levels.

  Shaking off the sensation of a stunning electrocution lasting shorter than a typical Lightning Strike, Danton psyched himself into this game of strategy. Entiene must be a powerful dragon creature, but even summons like these are capable of taking hits and damages. Danton raised his Mega-Staff higher while generating a glyphring at the end of the crystallized section. The glyphring rotated quickly until Danton finally shot the magic through the center of the ring, shooting blue bolts of pure Leray energy towards Entiene. The Magical Blitz spell Danton activated wields non-elemental magic, and should thus serve as a severe blow to Entiene's HP while ignoring its natural elemental resistances. The magic bolts traveled fast and high, but with Entiene's current distance from the top of the mountain, it was about three full seconds before all three Magical Blitz spheres were able to land into the target. Entiene could have probably dodged the attack in that time, but instead Entiene made no such attempts to move from its present position, flapping its wings at a slow rate to remain altitude-locked, and when the bolts of blue energy dissolved into Entiene's ghost like essence, Danton took immediate note of the energy scope changes.

  With his surprise, Danton only had the nerve to standby and clench his teeth in confusion as he tried to understand what just happened. Magical Blitz isn't a high tier magical skill, but it should have at least put a bigger dent into Entiene's HP. The fact that Entiene can use a simple lightning bolt attack without stressing its MP just speaks volumes about its natural ME levels. Entiene isn't just some summon that is all talk. He must have been alive for millenniums, strengthening itself and its stats over all that long time. Unlike all other summons and creatures, Entiene really is one of a kind with total control of its own actions, and as such, his stats are subject only to grow with that experience. The lack of damage must simply be Entiene's natural endurance at its finest. But if that is true, what possible weakness could Entiene really have?

  Tail Swipe! Danton bent his knees a little further the moment the ADC lit up with additional instruction that Entiene was about to follow. The ghostly dragon began to move a lot more than it was before. Entiene steadied its wings and zoomed to angle downwards, straight towards the bedrock in the mountain, and straight towards Danton.

  Entiene got much closer to the bedrock floor first before it came near Danton, making a diving frontal pass to try and attack him head on. On his way there, Entiene shoved its spiky tail into the rocky floor while drilling forward at top speed, destroying the topmost layer of the bedrock and sending its chunks flying in random directions. Using its tail to damage parts of the flooring that Danton was standing on, Entiene made its pass at Danton, bringing its tail on a collision course to Danton's face for the attack.

  But Danton remained vigilant, jumping out to his left side in a quick attempt to dodge the physical attack that was to be used against him. While Danton threw himself back onto the rocky ground of the mountain peak, he saw the phased tail destroy everything in its path just as it narrowly missed his body, flying back up above the rocks with Entiene. The noise alone from all of that breaking rock sounded dangerous, as did the realization that the structural damage could have easily caused the entire flooring to collapse into the magma below. Entiene doesn't seem to give a single regard to their own safety... Entiene is probably immune to fire damage on top of everything else, but Danton still dodged that attack, his heart pounding from the rush it suddenly gave him. There is no doubt that taking a direct hit from that tail with that momentum would have virtually sent Danton flying far off the volcano itself. Without a dome shield to stop it from happening, the fight could have ended just a second ago in one single hit.

  With Entiene flying back upwards in an effort to reposition itself, Danton realized by now that he must give this battle everything he has in order to stand a single chance of victory. The best spells and the best strategies shall all be valid right now. "Photon Blast!" Again using the Mega-Staff to generate the needed glyphring for Danton's high-level spell, the staff demonstrated its own special effects for Danton as the Photon Blast was amplified in power, while simultaneously conserving the energy that Danton needed to expend to create the Photon Blast spell. On top of that, the invocation of the spell began to speed up, using the staff's natural power as a catalyst.

  In just two seconds, Danton's crystallized tip shot off dozens of luminescent phased photons, spheres of energy dark in color. Each photon shot outwards without retaining any homing properties to Danton's airborne target, and in another moment, the photons themselves sped up into narrow beams of light. Entiene was suddenly blasted one beam after another by the entire arsenal of Photon Blast, with only a few beams missing the target and traveling onward without any near collision course. When Danton's glyphring faded with the ending spell, it was clear that his entire attack spell made full contact with Entiene. But as powerful as it was, the ghostly monster continued flying around, seeming unscathed by the brutal payload.

  A magical spell such as Photon Blast, especially when amplified in power level from this Mega-Staff should have done far more HP damage than what was being reported in front of him. Danton knew that he used far more MP reserves in comparison to attack Entiene where it was in the sky. This current strategy was obviously failing to make much of a scratch on Entiene. While Danton was trying to figure this out, Entiene turned around to face him again from above, remaining partially stationary like it did at the beginning of the battle. As expected, the ADC lit up with a new attack pattern again. Breath of Will!

  Danton braced himself for whatever was to come, but even he wasn't ready to expect the glowing breath of purple fire to burst from Entiene's jaw. Entiene opened its mouth after charging its breath, shooting a wide area focused beam of magical fire to one direction below. Danton held out his Mega-Staff in a panic of reaction, unable to dodge the oncoming spur of fiery energy that would land on and around him for a diameter of eight meters. Danton was immediately feeling the heat from the breath blast, adding to his confusion with the HP dropping quickly. The Mega-Staff in front of him however reacted with a bright flash of light, cutting the duration of the purple fire beam short so suddenly. It was then that Danton remembered one of the lessons he received from Shadler earlier today; the Mega-Staff is capable of absorbing energy, mostly from projectile attacks, and rarely from other forms of spells. Though the staff didn't do much to help Danton block out the damage. The HP reduction was still high, and the enemy spell left Danton with a sensation of uncertainty and tingling all in and around his head, the burning sensation increasing despite the attack window being closed. The only thing that would possibly explain this sensation to Danton's early memories is the presence of spirit elemental magic. This element must be something Entiene can employ at random.

  "I can't let spirit damage get to me," Danton chanted in his crushing urge to let go of this fight. Entiene is far more powerful than any known being, but Danton knew this wasn't impossible. All of his training, all of his journeys, they've showed him so many things. Danton could recall winning all of his battles by well-placed strategies and wonderful spell combinations thought of in the moment. It's time to test one of those combinations. "Let's see how smart you are!" Danton spoke out to Entiene with frustration and fatigue. He was currently charging the MP energy needed to begin a spell combination, something Entiene would never see coming. Entiene was resting there in the air, its fiery breath burnt out and in need of recharging. Danton cast his aura around his own body, activating the hidden effects from the spell design. "Kafire!"

  Just as Danton finished casting Kafire, the aura that slows invocation time to 33% and increases MP conservation, Entiene launched a magical attack of his own. It was clear already that Danton was charging up a massive amount of MP energy, preparing it for use, but thanks to his Kafire aura, it will take a very long time to perform. Entiene however had other plans, and activated two red aerial glyphrings above Danton's position. Simultaneously, a red circle formed under Danton's feet, and designs of a necromancy star formed within the confines of the circle, all of the lighting fueled by magic. Entiene's Star of Darkness wasn't an instant spell either, but this version of the spell covered over half of the entire bedrock field with its inescapable radius. Danton couldn't do anything to stop it either, since he was charging the energy needed for his personal combination. As the star activated under his feet, Entiene's spell began to slowly drain Danton of his HP and natural stamina.

  The combined sensations of a growing headache, fatigue, and exhaustion quickly came over him. The power of the spell affecting Danton overtime became such a defeating feeling to experience. All in that time, Danton still managed to keep his determination alive, already using his Mega-Staff to generate three double-layered glyphrings all in an aerial triangle formation to surround Entiene. The Tri-Attack Danton set up each had their own glyphrings accompanied by an additional glyphring from the spell of Molecular Boost. Using the same trick Danton learned twice, he further charged the spell combination he created, something that would greatly overpower the elemental barrage of Tri-Attack while harming Entiene. Entiene also cannot dodge without shutting down his own Star of Darkness spell; a fatal flaw in the rather effective dark magic ability.

  Danton held his concentration strong even at the very end of Entiene's spell, where the two red glyphrings zapped Danton in place with red colored lightning bolts for a split second, draining even more of his HP. Despite this, Danton managed to activate his spell in full, launching a Fire Bolt, Ice Bolt, and Thunder Bolt through the glyphrings, which then passed through the glyphrings of Molecular Boost to power up even further before slamming into Entiene's astral body. With the triple impact, Danton saw Entiene finally react to one of his magical spells, a slight squirm in the long neck, a various shake of the head, and a short wail of displeasure. Danton knew his energy scope would be affected as well, but this was the tradeoff he chose.

  Only eleven percent?! "Come on Entiene! What must I do to win?!" Danton's aggravated provocation was only met with another ADC action for Entiene; Super Saber! The name was just as ominous as usual, with Entiene sticking to new skills every single time to prevent becoming predictable. Danton braced himself as the Kafire aura wore off. In the next short moment, one elemental glyphring after another immediately appeared in random areas, located high in the air and all aimed at the center of the same target from different angles. With the total light display of quickly generating glyphrings, Danton soon found himself surrounded from all sides with over a hundred glyphrings of three different colors, all of which were aimed at him. This must be Entiene's rebuttal to Danton's feeble Tri-Attack. Danton had to be real; the sight before him installed fear.

  Even so, Danton charged energy into his staff, thinking quickly about which spell to use just as the elemental bolts all began firing. The electrical glyphrings shot Electric-Balls instead of Lightning Strike spells, but the overall arsenal heading for him at once would still be enough for a one hit knockout. "Electric Bane!" Danton slammed the bottom end of his rod into the ground, releasing the stored energy into an interesting spell that immediately generated a five-meter wide ion field centering from the staff. The ion field went to work the moment the first few magical bolts of energy entered, as they were immediately electrocuted mid-flight until they dispersed into a light of heat. Working in all directions, Danton held the charge for as long as he could only using 15% of his MP reserves for the spell's maximum charge rate. Dozens of bolts flew towards him, and dozens more were shot down or zapped into oblivion by the electrical ion field he created. But after about three seconds, Danton's magic was fully exerted from the crystal of the staff, causing the ion field to collapse while plenty more elemental bolts were on their way to him. Without any other way to counter them, Danton was slammed with several different elements of explosive energy in the form of small spheres each with uniquely low power levels. Put together, they chipped further into Danton's overall HP until the combination ended with him collapsing to his knees from the pain.

  Danton pulled himself back up, trying to ignore all of his battle damage while figuring out what exact thing would take Entiene down. Even if he was short on plans, Danton still continued to throw everything he could think of at the astral dragon, while taunting it further for his personal comfort. "I'll shoot you right out of that sky. Spirit Volley!" Casting his staff quick and high, Danton's spell was extremely quick to invoke, as arrows each infused with a small element of spirit magic spawned from the sky above Entiene's hovering position. Without another moment, Entiene's airspace was raining with these sharp arrowheads, the devices drilling through the creature like steel rain. Danton could see all of the purple glowing arrows as they went through Entiene's ghostly essence, and Entiene had another reaction during the damage sequence it received.

  To Danton's surprise, another ten percent of health was chipped off Entiene's health. Normally, a good spell doing that much damage wouldn't seem like much. But Spirit Volley, or even regular Volley has lower than average power levels for various reasons. The damage level was expected to be lower, even though Danton's choice was random in itself... Entiene, and spirit elemental magic. Could they be?

  Firesurge! Entiene actually landed directly on the bedrock while resting its wings to try and invoke its next attack spell. Only this version of Firesurge created by Entiene generated three waves instead of one, all of them starting at different angles equidistant apart and zooming to the same target vector. It was more than enough time for Danton to notice and react.

  Having already stand far away enough from Entiene after it landed gave Danton plenty of time to react to this odd spell. Three Firesurge waves would ultimately be fatal together, but Danton put his curious theories to hold while defending himself. Invoking the next attack combination, Danton launched a Firewall spell from the end of his staff, and then combining the advancing wave of fire with massive bulges in the ground; creating artificial rises in the bedrock by adding more bedrock. It's technically Earth Glave, merging with Danton's Firewall to become even more powerful, but when used on natural surfaces, Earth Glave can partially transform the format to build on that surface and use its texture and design for the damage. Danton's skill also happened to work effectively. All three Firesurge waves converged closer together, just in wide range of the special Earth Glave spell that pushed the waves back until they exploded. The advancing Earth Glave itself including the attached Firewall faded away shortly after, coming nowhere near Entiene's ghostly figure. Entiene was also apparently resting its wings right now, though the added weight on these delicate rocks only made Danton more nervous. He would have to finish this fight faster than planned.

  "Splice!" Using a small yellow glyphring to generate a short saber, Danton launched a magical Splice line traveling quickly towards Entiene, who made no such attempt to intercept the spell. Hoping to score some heavy damage on Entiene for the cost of his own MP, Danton instead was faced with a haunting reality check when the magical line glazed through Entiene's internal body, with absolutely no reaction or change in its energy scope whatsoever. The line continued on towards the sky until eventually fading. "What was that?" Danton's short saber faded away as well, and he was left to assess further possibilities regarding Entiene's natural resistances... A ghost body; it must not have the ability to absorb any amount of damage from physical based attacks. That means that a sword strike, or something like Splice that comes from a physical weapon is absolutely useless. Then again, some magical spells seem more effective than others. Entiene has a natural elemental weakness, but which one would it be?

  Frenzy Quake! Since Entiene was already on the ground, its ability to activate his next spell was almost immediate, much too fast for Danton. A sudden swarm of stone tentacles from an unknown source shot up from beneath the bedrock where Danton was standing, slamming into his face, launching him into the air, and knocking the Mega-Staff out of his grip. When Danton plummeted to the floor, the bruising sensation around his jaw and left eye remained far more intense than the falling damage to his chest. Knocking the wind out of him, Danton glanced around for his Mega-Staff, which was sitting a distance out of range.

  "Entiene!" Danton cried aggressively. "Spirit Bolt!" Forgetting about retrieving the Mega-Staff, Danton used his bare right hand to point and aim the glyphring at the monster, and fired the bolt of energy infused with the elements of spirit essence. Though the spell only shot out one single bolt of energy, the impact on Entiene as well as Entiene's sudden reaction as if it were in pain again gave Danton a new connection after watching the status report change from the summon's energy scope.

  Considering that at the beginning of the battle, Danton blasted Entiene with a full powered Photon Blast using the Mega-Staff, and this simple Spirit Bolt taking away the same amount of health and energy, it was already clear to Danton which element Entiene was weak against. Spirit elemental magic isn't as common for most wielders to learn, so it normally won't factor into elemental weaknesses, and against humans, the effectiveness of HP reduction is always really low. For a ghostly structure of spiritual essence, it seems that Entiene's spirit body is ironically weak against spirit elemental attacks used against him. Spirit magic, or spells that derive from similar sources have the advantage here, nothing else.

  Ultima! Moving its massive arms and wings together in silent chant, Entiene began the countdown and charge for a full area spell, and this time, Danton recognized the type of spell about to be used against him. With or without the Mega-Staff, Danton knew there was no way to dodge this. Without a dome shield, everything within a 500-meter radius would be burnt with the magical light screen. With no other way to dodge, Danton chose another method of blocking, invoking an aura around his body just as Entiene was unleashing its hellish Ultima spell. "Dampen Field!"

  Danton still covered his eyes to the surge of brightness that covered everything in all directions. At the same time, Danton could feel the intense heat seeping through the protective aura he created for himself. The aura only blocks out 70% of all magical related damages, and just 30% of Entiene's Ultima attack was painful to the skin. As soon as the bright light calmed down, Danton was still standing adamantly, his health only mildly affected.

  Danton's Mega-Staff finally teleported back into his hands automatically, and he stood still to anticipate Entiene's next move. Oddly curious to Danton's expectations, Entiene lowered its head slightly, extending its neck as if to squint at its live target. The action wasn't fast, and it led Danton to believe that Entiene was not about to attack him yet. The moment became an awkward and silent stare down between each of them. Danton and Entiene, both glaring at each other's eyes in wonder. As weird as Danton thought it was, he simply allowed it to continue longer, letting his dormant MP regenerate to slightly higher levels. Danton whispered to himself in the silence, learning why he was brought out here in the first place. "Entiene may be powerful, but I've been brought here for a reason. I'm Leray champion now, and that means I have a duty to protect the lives of those we involve with the magic we use. I won't ever give up battling this rancid-breath oversized lizard!" A moment later, Entiene made a final judgment decision. Ethereal Blast!

  Thinking fast, Danton gathered all of his remaining energy to match the signature of Entiene's next move. "Ethereal Blast!" Using Danton's entire body aura for the firing arc of the energy blast, Danton's aura fired in the form of a wide area beam, while Entiene launched a blast of similar energy from the abyss of its mouth. In an instant, both energy waves from each Ethereal Blast collided in the air, bending light and sound between the space of Danton and Entiene until the blasts finally exploded in annihilation, canceling each other out with a shockwave powerful enough to send Danton flying off the mountain, but instead of trying to keep his footing, Danton winded his hand motions with his staff into another spell, quickly shifting the magical energy into a surprise counterattack. "Creshendo!" While spawning the phased pillars of Creshendo all surrounding Entiene, Danton took the extra step of infusing spirit elemental magic into each of the phases pillars, simply adding to their damage. He did this even though it meant running completely dry on all remaining MP energy.

  At long last, Entiene was surrounded by glowing phased pillars, which all shot towards Entiene's center at once from each angle, and exploding into a short-lived light show after the impact. As a result of Danton's technique, Entiene's HP dramatically dropped down, the creature wailing out in pain. But as Danton was monitoring Entiene's energy scope, he noticed his staff lighting up on its own, after which his energy scope changed without warning.

  Danton was defiantly confused by the sudden surge in MP energy he obtained at random. It was synchronized with the odd behavior of his Mega-Staff, and now he had a higher level of recharged MP energy to use from. It doesn't make any sense to how he got this. In that time to think, Entiene made a move of its own. Downstrike! Danton recalled the spell of Downstrike, a ruthless barrage of electrical attacks that come from above, but the spell requires an electrical storm to function. Entiene will have to cast Storm Build first...

  Danton noticed the sudden weather changes above him, soon spelling out that Entiene didn't even need to bother putting Storm Build into the ADC, as it was already happening. Right above the both of them, a dark thunderstorm forming from invisible magic began to build quickly, much faster than most Storm Build spells. While Danton was left to stand there helplessly, Entiene also began to flap its wings, taking off from the ground to become airborne again. Before Entiene was only a few meters off the ground, the storm was well enough established to begin the Downstrike spell, which is exactly what Entiene did.

  Luckily for Danton, Entiene's special skill came with a beneficial twist. The sudden downpour of lightning strikes against the bedrock were randomized in location. There were plenty of them, but Danton took some hope in the fact that he would not be hit with every single electrical bolt. Soon zapped from above, Danton had to count and brace himself for the unavoidable area attack. Two more electrical bolts hit Danton, lowering his HP levels a reach further.

  By now, Entiene was high in the sky, and the Storm Build he created somehow persisted even after Downstrike ended. Danton was feeling far weaker than before given his lower HP levels, but he knowingly wasn't out of the fight. Charging energy through the crystal of the Mega-Staff, he unleashed another ranged spell at Entiene, hoping the missing elemental factor would still count for something. "Sereing Blast!" Shooting a solid white beam of light through the overpowered glyphring, Danton quickly landed a strike of magic on the creature, but he didn't stop there.

  Trying to conserve some Leray magic, Danton respawned his short saber into his left hand again, infusing the metal part of the blade with spirit elemental magic. Already was it clear that Sereing Blast wasn't as effective as he hoped for, Danton threw the sword up in the air with muscle alone, knowing it would never ascend beyond a few meters from his position. Then he activated the spacial glyphring right as the saber traveled through it. While expending more energy, another larger spacial glyphring formed high above Entiene's floating position, shooting the sword out from the end and striking a hit against Entiene's astral body from above.

  Shadler had the decency to teach Danton how to use instant matter transference on other objects mid-battle, claiming that its understanding was essential for learning full-body long-range teleportation, which Danton didn't know how to use just yet. In battle, one can use spacial glyphrings to teleport objects to and from any location if you concentrate well enough. In this case, Danton could still reach Entiene from all the way up there. Fire Blast!

  Another warning from the ADC, and Danton was soon to take a defensive stance. Entiene opened its large jaw again to blast fire from its hot breath. Only this time, the fire's color was yellow while descending down to the bedrock, an indication of fire-elemental magic, but Danton was already on it, calculating the element to be used and coming up with a counter defense plan. While invoking a large Whirlwind with his left hand, Danton added a strong element of cold and freezing water to the spell with the staff in the right hand, quickly generating a Whirlwind spinning with sub-zero temperatures. The Whirlwind of protection surrounded Danton, blocking out the sudden fire smashing down from above. With the amazing temperature difference, Danton was able to deflect the Fire Blast Entiene threw his way, but his own Whirlwind failed the moment it was over, too weak to keep that defense up for a significant amount of time. Finally, it would be his turn to attack.

  Danton's eyes opened more slightly when noticing Entiene zooming and gliding through the air with minimal wing effort. Entiene wasn't flying up or down, but in a route that would make it harder for Danton to hit. Buzzing around like a vulture who has located food, Entiene charged its energy slowly and quietly, while making it less possible for Danton to strike an accurate hit from his present distance. In just two seconds, a sudden ball of light became visible from high in the sky. This light wasn't a random glimmer of bewildering sights, nor was it an ordinary meteor. Before Entiene could learn anymore about its trajectory, his entire astral body suddenly locked in place, paralyzed while in mid-air, yet unable to fall up or downwards.

  Danton knew he was behind all of this. While invoking Ion Smash, Danton had to use extra energy from his Mega-Staff to hold Entiene in place. Ion Smash crashes down a massive meteorite larger than most meteors, but even Entiene could simply fly an evasion course around it. Danton had already just learned how to exert telekinetic energy from the force of distant magic, and this Mega-Staff simply made the process easier for him. With Entiene now stuck in place via telekinetic hold, he would be defenseless against Danton's wrath of magic!

  The impact of the Ion Smash meteor and Entiene blasted light towards Danton that was blinding. He had to let go of Entiene's energy hold, but was certain that Entiene took a direct and powerful hit in all. With his own energy waning, Danton was breathing much faster than before, winded from all of the magical usage and battling movements of today. He had to wait for the flash of light to disappear before examining Entiene's energy scope if it was still alive. Upon seeing the energy scope however, Danton also noticed Entiene's action display center already active.

  Doomsday Strike! Entiene's MP energy slowly began to decline downward, a tell for Danton to realize that he would have to stop Entiene from using his next spell, or else face the consequence of absolute defeat. Just then, an aerial glyphring as wide as the battlefield itself opened up in the sky, rotating very slowly, though still somewhat see-through due to the incomplete charging of MP energy to the spell... It's an annihilation spell, the kind that takes a long time to activate! Danton didn't know exactly what this enemy ability could do, but was certain it would cause all sorts of problems if it gets launched.

  Forget the stupid Trial of Mages! Entiene is fighting like a ravage beast. If that Doomsday Strike lands on the battlefield, it could turn all of this bedrock into sand, leaving nothing between Danton and the active magma pool below. Using the crystal to escape wouldn't be possible in that scenario, because the spell from Entiene would have long since knocked him unconscious. Shadler isn't watching this battle up close like he should be. Danton developed a sudden feeling like he was sent out here to die! The hairs on his arms and legs stood up under his clothes, and his limbs began trembling in panic. Three seconds... Five... This is defiantly a kill-everything kind of spell, Entiene's best and most dangerous ability!

  "Stop this Entiene! Call it a draw and stop the spell! You hear me?!" Danton could hear the spirit dragon roaring from above, but Entiene's flight pattern of circling the entire area in the shape of an aerial eight numeric symbol didn't change at all, and neither did the massive glyphring in the sky. "It isn't worth dying over! I can do this without Entiene! If it weren't for the lava, I could defeat you anytime I wanted!" Danton's pleas and taunts weren't making a difference for Entiene, leaving him to believe that the creature isn't intelligent enough to communicate with in the first place. And now the glyphring is solidifying!

  Danton raised his Mega-Staff, exerting all of the energy he had left for the device towards the area above. "Auto-target transference, emergency power shift, now!" Releasing the magic stored in the rest of his cells, Danton managed to generate hundreds of tiny sized glyphrings vertically angled and dispersed all over the airspace far above where Entiene was flying. He generated this many because part of the dooming spell was already visible from his position. Hundreds of small dark rocks were shooting down from the skies, the color of which was totally transformed into a dark beige hue through the other side of the glyphring acting as an entire portal to the meteor shower. Coming down at a complete vertical angle, Danton's glyphrings were all placed according to the position path of each and every single falling rock, and designed to teleport them out to a single exit glyphring located on the side of the volcano instead. While it was using all of Danton's energy to focus this massive teleportation trick, he kept it going just as the annihilation spell activated.

  In the flash of another second, hundreds of small rocks carrying tons of momentum flew through the spacial glyphrings disappearing into a space left invisible to the naked eye. Entiene didn't fully understand what was going on, not likely, but Danton did. If this fails, those rocks would all smash into the bedrock of the volcano peak. One might not be enough to smash away the bedrock, but the combined force of this meteor swarm would pound it away into dust, knocking Danton unconscious in the process. In fact, Entiene was literally flying below all of the spacial glyphrings, and this was obviously a spell that would damage its own user based on its true power and nature. Entiene would be sent to a mode of defeat as well, but likely not killed since the creature is made of a spiritual essence. In a way, Entiene is being spared its own annihilation too, but it is the option Danton preferred the most.

  The process of transferring all of the falling stones wasn't an easy task, and Danton's ability to concentrate warranted further focus the moment the stones pounded on the side of the mountain from the exit glyphring Danton created. His relocation technique requires an exit glyphring to be close by, and this was the best he could pull off. The sudden blasts to the volcano itself causes massive vibrations and earthquakes underneath him in the process, making it that much more difficult to continue the transference spell and auto-targeting function, usable only thanks to the Mega-Staff itself. The quaking became more violent rapidly, likely from the damage the rocks were causing to the volcano in other locations elsewhere.

  Meanwhile, Entiene's behavior quickly began to change upon realizing that its own spell wasn't being used properly. Entiene thus began to glide and descend slowly, as it capably sensed the vibrations in the Earth and the location of the impacts to its own spell.

  Danton couldn't hold it up any longer. While there weren't any new falling stones to worry about, and given the sudden fading of the massive aerial glyphring in the sky, Danton still had not properly set up the remaining spacial glyphring channels for the last few dozens of meteorites that were to come crashing down on the battlefield. The quakes to the area intensified completely, and the crashing stones immediately broke through the bedrock, shaking the structure apart where Danton stood. He quickly exerted the minuscule remaining energy he had left to try and jump high in the air and remain afloat, but this trick didn't work well after gaining some initial height from his jump, since his energy was all depleted.

  Soon enough, Danton got to watch the crumbling bedrock fall into the large tunnel opening below him, the magma already visible and the flooring at the top of the volcano caving in completely. Now that gravity was working on himself, Danton began to descend downward uncontrollably. Danton wanted to remain calm and not scream in a bloody panic, but the realization that his magical reserves were at zero, also means that the green crystal in his back pocket is just as useless as anything else is. This is it; the death of Brash Danton by a brutal, painful sensation that literally causes unconsciousness by pain shock in microseconds. Even with just over a mile to drop before reaching his death, Danton knew that would only be less than thirty seconds at this speed. So there is every reason and right to scream at the top of his lungs.

  This amount of time for a drop into the heat of hell, it was still enough time for Danton to think about his entire life before now. This only made the drop feel so much longer, as if time slowed down for death to rub its face in this. Danton finally decided to close his eyes and just embrace what will happen. Just as the heat began to feel unbearable, Danton suddenly crashed stomach first onto something he didn't see, knocking the wind out of him, but also according to his refreshed eyesight something that stopped his descent flat.

  Flapping its wings with slow but powerful whooshes, the astral body of Entiene managed to descend fast enough into the tunnel of the volcano to catch Danton before he could completely perish from his fall, and against all expected likelihood, Entiene began to ascend upwards at top speed, leaving Danton to hold on tight in his panicked state.

  Chapter Theme Shift:

  Danton realized it eventually, but he couldn't believe the wild luck he just found. The sudden ascension made it easier for him to breathe again, while the molten heat faded away quickly. Being mounted onto this creature while flying straight upwards through the new opening of the vertical tunnel forced this new experience to take hold of Danton's thoughts. He wasn't going to fall into the lava after all, even though it was sure to happen. A slight grin of excitement filled him in while he felt the incredible energy of speed he shared with Entiene right now. Entiene made all of that effort just to save him from that drop, and now carried him out of the volcano, flying in the air without a set destination in mind. Now riding on Entiene high in the air and out of direct dropping angle of the volcano, Danton could not have felt more alive than he did right now. "Ha-ha-ha! Entiene! You big dragon feller. You saved me from that drop!"

  Entiene roared just slightly, audible enough not to overpower Danton's acoustic senses. For just a fraction of a second, it sounded like some kind of verbal response to his statement, which made Danton feel more inspired by the heroic understandings of this creature. It seems Entiene is intelligent after all. "Did you do that because you felt you had to, or is it because I saved you too from that Doomsday Strike?"

  Entiene ascended slightly, only to descend back down to its original altitude. Danton accepted that as some sort of response, though he wasn't sure which one he meant. It didn't matter. Danton knew that Entiene saved him out of its own free will. He couldn't see it without any reflective material, but Danton's corneas began to shift in color to a vibrant yellow hue, slowly over time, and unbeknownst to himself. "You know, I was wrong about you being some brutal animal creature thing."

  Another mild roar from Entiene made its way to Danton, causing him to nearly laugh. "Hah! At least your reputation of strength lives on, but I know what you really are to us Entiene. Summon, ghost, entity, it doesn't matter." Danton could feel the rushing sensation flood his thoughts while linked to Entiene, the sensation of finding something that he's lost for so long a time. Even a creature such as Entiene can feel this sort of sentiment for Leray magic, as well as the loneliness of the skies that harbors freedom in its limitless zone. Shadler must have thought all this time that Danton among other champions have been seeking out that special kind of power used to control or subdue such a powerful creature of ethereal magic, but Entiene is always looking for something different. It's something much stronger than a sense of adventure or a Doomsday Strike. "What's important is that we're now friends, you and I. I will never forget this favor you've bestowed upon me. I can only offer everlasting gratitude and respect. If you want to call that battle back there a draw, then so be it..." Danton didn't hear or notice any major change in Entiene's current behavior, suggesting that the creature is in agreement with his thanks. Entiene has the body and power of a summon, but also a heart of a whole individual. Danton could feel it without the ability to describe it for himself. Friends! That's what they are to each other now. How many have failed to realize that Entiene is his own person as well? "Shadler can go kiss my ass if he thinks I'm risking my life to let him mine a few stupid crystals."

  Entiene emitted another louder and longer roar through the valley below. Its entire body then began to dematerialize and split apart into the photons of light it started from when Danton reached the top of the volcano. Still unknown to him, Danton's eye color was completely yellow and glowing in his thoughts. He felt totally connected to Entiene, but he couldn't explain or understand what was now happening to his friend. Entiene was changing its shape again, but this time, instead of dispersing through the air, all of Entiene's base particles were all flowing directly into the crystal material of Danton's Mega-Staff...

  No wait, the staff is capturing Entiene's essence! That's not supposed to happen now! That only happens if Entiene is defeated completely while using the Mega-Staff! Through the confusion, Danton soon learned that he had other problems he needed to deal with, like the fact that with Entiene's relocation into his Mega-Staff, there was now nothing for him to be seated on. Danton soon began falling down towards the earth uncontrollably, again.

  At least this time, the only thing below him was a thin, short, low dense forest approaching the edge of the ocean, but the height from this altitude and the ground gave Danton the same amount of time as before. Having rested on Entiene's wing allowed him to slowly and slightly regenerate his magic. Right now, it was more than enough to solve this issue. Danton began to exert the magic quickly, shrouding his body in an aura that is specific to defy gravity as much as possible. Though it wasn't going to change the speed of his fall one bit. That energy would be reserved for a best class Push Wave aimed downward. Danton aimed his Mega-Staff, used to conserve energy and amplify it all at the same time to generate the proper Push Wave with the best strength just before he was a second away from smacking into the ground. Even if he failed, impact wouldn't be fatal anymore.

  Danton unleashed the rest of the magic, creating a Push Wave that blew back trees for several hundred meters, and pushed him against gravity to lower his speed of descension. The results changed Danton's speed and momentum perfectly, as he descended down now only a few feet from the ground as slowly as a feather. When Danton reached the floor, his personal aura gave out again, running him completely out of magic. He would now have to let a little more magic charge back up, only to use it on a teleportation crystal, which will take him straight to the helicopter.

  The plan Danton executed for this went well enough. After appearing again post-teleportation, Shadler and the pilot were still in their positions on Eupharus Island, despite the fact that they appeared to be completely freaked out... So they weren't expecting Danton to die? It changes nothing. Danton was now sure of everything he now felt for all of this, and he approached Shadler only to let it out, denying Shadler or the pilot any chance to show their alleviation.

  "Shadler!" Danton didn't let the man reply before knocking his fist into Shadler's face, punching him far back and into the ground unexpectedly. "You complete moron! I could have died! I should have died! And no thanks to your, 'Oh, it'll be perfectly safe. Don't worry about the lava and bedrock', attitude. I'll have you reprimanded for this when we get back to Eldora Tower. Pilot! Get the routers started."

  "Yes sir!" Sharing no desire to argue with Danton after he's been angered, the pilot rushed to the helicopter to make the necessary preparations.

  Shadler pushed himself off the ground slowly and carefully, holding his jaw with his left hand. "We knew something was wrong the moment we noticed that large glyphring in the sky. I knew it had to be Entiene's doing, but I swear I've never seen that spell before in all my life. Entiene must have learned it all on his own."

  "I wonder if this Entiene has a particular appetite for human beings who dissatisfy the honor of Leray magic."

  Now Danton threatens him to be eaten by Entiene? Falling towards the lava must not have been a happy moment.

  "You know what Shadler, after this, I don't know what your crystals are supposed to be used for, and frankly I don't care anymore. When we get back, I'm going to postpone, probably ban your little expedition altogether. How dare you put a person's life in danger for your stupid treasures!"

  "You might rethink that once I get around to showing you what these crystals are really used for Danton. I must however apologize. I never meant to put your life in any danger. If I had the slightest fear the bedrock would crumble, I would have given the task to another more worthy of Entiene's capture."

  "More worthy?" Danton repeated aggressively. "You better remind yourself who you're talking to here. I am the rightful champion of Leray magic. But more importantly, I have powerful friends and allies who would on any moment assist me in dealing with problems like yourself."

  "Your gang friends back at the tower do not frighten me Danton, but I hope we both learn from this experience. We'll explain what's happened once we get back to Eldora Tower. I'll have to store the Mega-Staff in a safe place once we're there."

  "What?" Danton felt confused, but suddenly understood what Shadler was talking about. He was on the opposite side of the island when Danton's summon dematerialized and he dropped to the ground. His eyes returned to normal shortly after the capture was made complete, so Danton still never noticed the discoloration himself. "You're word was that the Mega-Staff belongs to the permanent friend of Entiene. As such, this is my Mega-Staff now. I'll need it to call forth my greatest ally."

  "You-you captured it?!" Shadler never witnessed Entiene's capture sequence. Come to think of it, Shadler never got a clear view of the close area to the volcano or the area around it. But if Danton really did capture Entiene, then that means he is worthy of this great trial after all.

  "Captured?" Danton knew that's what all of them meant, but this sequence was slightly different. Danton never defeated Entiene in battle, nor the other way around. Entiene went inside of this staff's core willingly on its own accord. It's more like Entiene just decided to join Danton and fight alongside his personal battles. Is that supposed to happen according to the trial? "Entiene is my new ally. Don't refer to me as his owner. That's not what we are to each other."

  "I see the binding effect has gone to your head a little."

  "You know," Danton started over the loud roar of the helicopter engine, "I wonder if Entiene will still do what I say, even if it does involve eating those I deem unworthy."

  "Let's just get back already," Shadler begged. Being threatened to become ghost food, and nearly watching an important figure die; that's twice an adventure too many for one day. Going back to Eldora is paramount, and because of that bedrock collapse, the volcano will probably erupt in the next few days due to the increased volcanic activity.

  Danton and Shadler made it back into the helicopter safely, while the pilot took off enroute to Eldora City. Danton thus enjoyed the rest of the ride with a new sensation of fulfillment, but he still couldn't ignore this Shadler problem in front of him. All Entiene wanted to do was guard the crystals. So a challenge to borrow some sounds okay, but fighting to the death, especially making somebody else unknowingly fight to the death over a few rock shards is beyond treachery. This will defiantly fall under a mandatory meeting with the Mage council. Just you wait, Shadler Cowl.