Danmachi: Westward Cloud [Complete]

[Vol.4] Quest 332- Rekindled Flames

The next day, down in the Room of Prayer.

"How was your birthday, Cirrus?" Asked Ouranos.

"It was good. My kids gave me a precious gift, and I spent some time with my wives."

‘Those maid and bunny outfits—they really know my tastes.’

"That’s good, but now we must tell you some not-good news." Said Fels.

Ouranos and Fels felt bad about having to ruin his good mood.

"And that is what, exactly?"

"Do you remember when you faced and killed Epimetheus?" said Ouranos.

"Yeah? Is this about Olympia? Do they need help or something?"

"It stemmed from that whole event. The Primordial Flame, or the corrupted flame that Epimetheus used against you..." Ouranos made a strained expression. "It is still around."

The color in Cirrus’ face drained.

"W-WHAT!?" Cirrus was beyond shocked. "H-How is that possible!?"

"From what I have determined, it was most likely because of the wind carrying the embers and the very nature of the flames themselves."

"Since Epimetheus died, the embers needed to find new hosts that had deep hatred, and unfortunately, they found three hosts," Fels said regretfully. "One of which Royman has confirmed with two others in the air."

"Three!! Are they on Epimetheus’s level of strength!?" Cirrus said, wanting some clarity on the situation.

"They are, and even more so as these are the Three Great Quests."

"…Eh?" Fels' words were hard to swallow and hear. "C-come again? I’m sorry, I think age has caught up to me or you decided to pick up some jokes. What do you mean by Three Great Quests???"

"It means that the flame and its restorative properties have managed to go and bring back the Behemoth and the Leviathan. The Black Dragon, from what Lord Ouranos could only assume, is being healed, along with a boost in strength."

"A-are you fucking shitting me!? I need to go and—"

"Cirrus." Ourano's voice boomed through the room and even outside it. "We didn’t inform you, as it wasn’t until recently that I was able to detect them, and with absolute confirmation of the validity of this information. The corrupted flame has grown to hide itself and is steadily growing in strength, evolving."

Cirrus's hands were shaking a bit, but he rolled them up into a fist.

Fear can wait until he is dead.

"Then what now?" Cirrus said, looking between Ouranos and Fels, his heart beating fast. "Do we go and hunt them down? And what of the biggest elephant in the room?"

"That being is still in the north." Said Fels. "But the other two have started to finally move. We recently got word that ships have been disappearing from Yamato and Chyong."

"Fuck." Cirrus's fist tightened even more. "We have people investigating that for years and nothing."

The lives lost anger Cirrus even more.

"A massive dust storm of poisonous winds are making people evacuate in mass, north-east of Israfan."

"Tch. What hasn't this spread!?" His fist tightened even more.

"We have blocked the information. We did not want the world to panic. Doing so will only make these black beasts stronger."

"Fuck. Vesta."

A wisp of fire emerged.

"What is it?"

"It’s the corrupted portion of the Primordial Flame. It still exists in Gekai and has found hosts in the Behemoth, Leviathan, and Black Dragon."

The news shot through her.

"W-what!?" She looked at Ouranos, and he nodded. "Y-you can’t be serious! I was sure they were… the cinders! The flame must have adapted to be detected!"

"It seems we have a bit more to clean up." He held out his hand, and a broken white and red weapon came into his hand from his shadow. "Sorry, but could you once act as a forge?"

"For this, of course."

"Cirrus," Ouranos said.

He turned to see him.

"Yes?"

"Make them as strong as you can; create weapons that will put the smithing god's creations to shame. But I want them returned when the hunt ends. This I will allow solely for this grand emergency."

"I understand Ouranos. The weapons will return here under your eyes."

Cirrus turned and left. His footsteps sounded heavy as they echoed through the room.

Leaving the Room of Prayer, Vesta confronts him about his fate.

"Cirrus… You know what this means."

"Yeah. I know."

He walks through those dark corridors that spread through Orario like arteries. Contemplating that each step he takes will be his final one.

"Well…" Cirrus gave a wry smile. "Let us shine upon the world in dazzling brilliance." His gaze into the darkness grew with resolve.

"Yes," Vesta said, with pain in her heart. "The brightest start must go out with a bang."

"Sir/Master." Hecton and Fafnir emerged next to him.

"We will stand with you to the very end," Hecton said.

"Yes. We will support you till the very end," Fafnir said.

"Thank you both. Whatever happens, I will not go into the night so easily."

Cirrus knows what he has to do, and he has faith that his own luck will pull through and save him from this fate. At least he hopes he does. That is all he has left.

Desert of Black Ash.

Rumble!!!!!

Rumble!!!!!

Rumble!!!!!

The earth quaked from the beast's steps.

Even the sand couldn’t soften this creature's weight. Its twisting horns and dark-purplish skin emitted a faint poison. Its four eyes were a moonless night in the desert; its spiked tail, however, was aflame with a light purple fire, which only made the beast more intimidating, being illuminated from behind.

"URRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Its roar shook the land and sky, causing the clouds to form together. The wind blew past its scales, carrying the poison. It seemed as if it could command nature itself with a simple roar.

Deep Under the Sea.

Swish!!!!!

Swish!!!!!

Swish!!!!!

As it swam, whole ocean currents changed, and volumes upon volumes of water were pushed aside by this serpent. Sea life became unable to survive. The pressure and existence of this creature made all die from stress.

Its three eyes were like the darkest depths of the sea, but the third eye on its forehead had a deep purple fire glowing from its iris. Its rough scales were a dark shade of blue; they resembled those of koi, and a malevolent beauty could be seen from them. All of its features were made to make this monster a terror of the sea, as it cuts through the water as if it were air.

"AKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

A serpent-like shout reverberated through the ocean’s water. Up above, the sea began to turn and shift, causing a spinning whirlpool of tsunamis.

Dragon Valley.

Down and deep in the Dragon’s Valley, the One-Eyed Black Dragon opens its eyes. Its damaged eye was a dark flame to match its equally dark scales.

"Rrrrrrr….■……■■■■■….RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Immediately, every other dragon in the valley covered their king's cave, making them all blanket the entrance with 13 layers of monsters.