Xers and Hanken had fallen into an ambush laid by 10,000 Nyxian sorcerers. However, Varaichi wasn't in a much better situation either.
After Xers and Hanken left, Varaichi tried to calm the civilians. Fortunately, no one had been injured, which gave her some relief. Suddenly, the sound of cannons echoed from the other side of the island. Nyxian sorcerers had brought massive artillery pieces and were bombarding the island. One of the cannonballs crashed directly into the restaurant. The ceiling collapsed, trapping a little girl beneath the rubble. Her mother immediately panicked.
''M-MY DAUGHTER! SOMEBODY SAVE MY DAUGHTER! ELVA, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!''
''M-MOMMY! I'M SCARED!''
Varaichi instantly turned around and sprinted toward the restaurant.
''M-Move aside! EVERYONE GET BACK! I'M GETTING HER OUT!''
''P-PLEASE DON'T LET ANYTHING HAPPEN TO MY DAUGHTER!''
''Don't worry. Everything is under control.''
Varaichi drew her sword.
''What's your name?''
''E-E-Elva.''
''Nice to meet you, Elva. I'm going to create a shield of flames to protect you, but I won't make it too hot. You aren't afraid of forty degrees, are you?''
Elva nodded.
''Alright then. Fire's Descendant: Flame Shield! Light!''
Varaichi created a forty-degree flame barrier around the trapped girl.
''How is it? Feeling okay?''
''It's really nice! It's warm!''
''Good. Then I'll cut through the concrete. Fire's Descendant: Flame Slash!''
The concrete pinning the little girl down instantly shattered into pieces.
''That's it! Now let me remove the shield.''
Elva was finally free.
''M-MY DAUGHTER!''
Her mother rushed over and embraced her tightly.
''Thank God you're safe! W-We're forever grateful, Varaichi...''
''Please don't feel indebted. This is our duty.''
Varaichi looked up.
Another barrage had begun.
Nearly forty cannonballs filled the sky, all heading straight toward the center of the island... where the restaurant stood.
Varaichi shouted at the top of her lungs.
''E-EVERYBODY RUN! FIND COVER NOW!!''
Hearing her voice, everyone rushed beneath the trees. The cannonballs slowly began falling.
Eight of them slammed into the ground, filling the area with dust and smoke. Visibility dropped to almost nothing.
At that moment, the Tshusenkai sorcerers finally arrived on the island. They had also brought several warships. Naval battles immediately erupted at sea. Flames rose from the vessels of both fleets.
The Tshusenkai sorcerers approached the island's center but refused to enter the thick smoke. Instead, they circled along the shoreline toward the enemy fleets.
Then...
Hundreds of silhouettes emerged from the smoke.
They were Nyxian sorcerers.
Alongside them marched several hundred Silvertons sorcerers as well.
''Ah... Now we're really screwed. I'll have to handle this on my own!''
The enemy sorcerers entered Varaichi's range.
She was ready to begin the slaughter.
''Fire's Descendant... Flame Wind!''
The wind rushing toward the enemy transformed into blazing fire, burning countless sorcerers alive.
Immediately afterward, another high-ranking enemy sorcerer lunged straight at Varaichi.
She barely managed to draw her sword in time.
Their eyes met.
''You almost killed me just now, huh?''
''Hah! Guess I didn't finish the job...''
The two began clashing within the smoke.
Grunt.
Parry.
Slash.
''AHH! YOU DAMN WOMAN! TAKE THIS! HIIAAH!''
The enemy sorcerer swung his sword at Varaichi.
''Fire's Descendant: Vertical Flame Slash!''
Three vertical slashes of fire burst from Varaichi's blade and rained down upon her opponent.
The flames struck him directly.
The enemy sorcerer collapsed to the ground...
dead.
''You were more trouble than expected... W-WHAT?!''
The smoke slowly began to clear.
The battlefield became visible once more.
Nearly 900 enemy sorcerers had completely surrounded Varaichi.
Every single one of them had already drawn their swords.
Varaichi's heart suddenly began pounding.
A crushing wave of anxiety overwhelmed her.
She started sweating.
Her hands trembled uncontrollably.
''O-Okay... what do I do now? C-Calm down... Calm down... Calm down... W-What's happening to me?!''
The enemy sorcerers charged all at once.
''N-N-NO! W-WHAT'S HAPPENI—AAAAAAAHHH!!''
Suddenly...
Hundreds of enemy sorcerers were blasted backward over a hundred meters.
Flames engulfed Varaichi's entire body.
As the fire slowly faded away...
she stood there wearing a completely different appearance.
A single wing made of flames extended from her back.
A crown of fire rested upon her head like a queen's diadem.
Her hair had transformed entirely into living flames.
Even the flaming sword in her hand burned brighter than ever before.
''W-WHAT... IS THIS?''
Varaichi's instinct to survive had awakened the hidden power of Fire's Descendant.
The name of this form...
was Fire Angel.
Varaichi swung her sword.
Every swing unleashed torrents of flames that incinerated dozens of enemy sorcerers.
''Y-YES... THIS IS IT...
LET THE SLAUGHTER BEGIN!''