My Little Tactics

Chapter Thirty Four: Fire and Claws.

“Water!” Dustan called out, shooting out balls of water towards a Bomb that was heading towards the group.

“HA!” Rainbow Dash called out from somewhere to his left as she flying tackled a Skeleton into shards while leaving its bony pony head in the air spinning for a moment or two before falling to the sand.

“Aqua Spike!” One of the unicorn mage soldiers called out impaling a Jelly upon a lance of water making it pop and turn into a puddle of red.

With that the last creature was felled as the General called out. “Any wounded?”

“Aye sir!” Two soldiers came up one sporting a good gash upon their left foreleg from an Antlion that got too close and the other a rather sizable burn on their side from the Jelly.

Heading over to the two Dustan called out the chant for Cura and let the balls of light do their mending as he looked over the corpses. Three Skeletons which the mages were currently purifying which he found out stops them from being able to resurrect themselves. Two Bombs, one Antlion, and one Jelly. It was the Skeletons that dragged the fight on longer then they cared for as they had run up front to take the hits giving them time as the battle with the rest of the creatures that they could come back to life and come in to cause chaos.

They were day three into their trek. It was slow going because they were trying to avoid roaming parties of monsters as their forces were now split. The General didn’t want children and bystanders that didn’t wish to fight to be here so half the forces were left behind. That still made them a good number strong but considering everyone took shifts for active duty to help conserve stamina and magic in the desert heat it was understood. Dustan and Rainbow Dash themselves were quite ok thanks to their cloaks, to which the General had taken notice and said he would be bringing it up with the Princesses.

Truth was he wasn’t the only one, as he had already sent a message through to Spike to be delivered to Steel and Tremor to get an order sent out for the brooches since part of the standard uniform was a cloak already it would only increase the versatility of the guard giving them the ability for stealth as well as the ability to venture into territory that would be uncomfortable normally. He was also rather proud as he had finally settled on a symbol for the castle, one he felt was appropriate for himself though he doubt others would understand.

While everyone was busy he went to the death sites of the monster and came face to face with the floating crystals, and surprisingly, one treasure chest. He had come to find out that only he seemed to be able to see these as when Dustan asked they all looked at him as if he were hallucinating and suggested he drink some more water. So he simply went to them and absorbed the crystals, though no skills would be learned from the monsters he could at least refresh his HP and MP along with grinding towards the requirement for Dark Knight. However today was the first time ever he had seen a monster spawn a treasure chest and it had came from the Jelly. Opening it up he was rather surprised as what was contained in it was a Flame Rod. He quickly put the item away into his pack and would look at it more later when he could sit down and really examine it.

For now it looked to be time to set up camp and settle in. For the most part night time was the most peaceful as very few things hunted at night, most of which were Skeletons and a couple of ghosts had been spotted. He found it interesting that the Skeletons and their variants were inhabitants of Equis and not a single one was spotted that looked humanoid, minus one that was a Minotaur’s skeleton.

As he worked to set up his tent, one provided by the company he looked to Dash who was setting up near him. “Same thing as usual tonight?”

She turned to him and nodded. “Yep.” She smiled and was working on her tent more and more, though usually she failed at it and it ended up going to some soldier unlucky enough to stroll by to set it up. Dash’s problem was her best attribute in that she tried to rush setting up her tent and as such kept messing it up. Dinner wasn’t the best, field rations meant for ponies which was why he was happy he stocked up some jerky and other supplies in advanced otherwise he might eventually face health issues or worse depending on what it was that was in those rations.

After washing down jerky and dried fruits with water Dustan retired to his room to find Rainbow Dash already there with a smile on her face. “Are you ready?” she was already standing on all fours leaning forward as her tail swished quickly back and forth behind her.

“Excited mixed with aggression?” The human spoke a bit unsure.

“No.” Thinking for a moment Dash shook her head. “Sorry also its yes. Wasn’t really paying attention at that moment my bad. Was excited for the challenge.”

Laughing at that he just gave a shrug to her antics and told her. “Regardless, thank you again Dash. Sorry if I am slow about this, haven’t had a life time to get used to it.”

“No problem big guy. That is why I am here.” She proclaimed while puffing out her chest with pride.

In Dustan’s mind though suddenly she became an anthro her face became extremely chiseled and her eyes were shadowed as she repeated the line ‘I am here!’ while her arms were at her waist. Of course the mental image of Rainbow Might was just too strong for him and he started to burst out laughing. It took about five minutes for him to get himself under control from his laughter during which his teacher had a pout on her face as she was wondering what was so funny.

“Sorry, the way you said it mixed with something from human culture and the image was too funny and I couldn’t help myself.” Hearing the explanation, while not the best, did help some with the hurt ego that was Rainbow Dash. “I am ready.”

“Ok then. Ahem, pose one!” Dash took a moment to sit down on her rear while sitting up on her fore-hooves ears and eyes forward to him while her tail was curled up around her legs.

Looking at the pose that one was an easy one, usually something she did to help warm up. “That shows you are paying attention and are relaxed while listening to me right?”

“Good job.” She adjusted her post some, slouching some as her ears tilted away one on each side hanging down some as her tail was now swishing lazily behind her while her eyes were still on him. “Pose two.”

“Um let’s see.” It took a moment but he thought he had it. “While you are physically looking at me, you aren’t really paying attention and are just kinda waiting for me to stop talking?”

Perking up she smiled. “Hey two for two, awesome. You are picking up on this rather quick.”

Nodding and chuckling he pointed to her. “Helps when I have someone explaining everything to me. No offense to ponies, but you all expect me to automatically know or figure it out, but when you don’t give me context I tend not to be able to put it together a good bit of the time. I mean, we are coming to two years now in about two or so months and I only learned about ten percent from just observing. Honestly when I think about it, that isn’t bad, that is about on part with a two year old right?”

Raising a hoof, Rainbow Dash was about to object to that when she brought said hoof to her chin as she tilted her head. “Huh, when you put it like that it kinda makes sense. Actually makes all kinds of sense and more especially since a mom and dad would say if something was bad or good helping to give clues for the foal.” Thinking for a bit more she stood up and stretched. “Let’s stop here for today.”

“Wait, what why?” Dustan was confused and disappointed as he wanted to continue.

“Because you are right.” She told him as she went to the tent flap that sealed the opening. “You are like a foal when it comes to learning this stuff and I keep throwing the advanced stuff at you. I can’t expect a foal to do tricks like me. I have to give them something easy to work up to it. Which is what this is, you are a foal learning everything and I shouldn’t be giving you a pose that says too many adult things all at once. You won’t understand it and it might actually do more harm than good in learning.”

Dustan couldn’t find flaw in her logic, which honestly made him really proud. “You have come a long way since I first met you Dash, you know besides bucking me in the chest.”

“Hey, I thought we were past that!” She glare at him playfully knowing he was joking with her.

Giving a chuckle he smiled at her. “But yeah, you were extremely rash, still are but at least I can remove the ‘extremely’ part of that statement. You have calmed down quite a bit. I image if this was a year ago and you suddenly found out I could sprout wings, you would challenge me to a race or a trick show.”

Tilting her head back and sticking out her tongue as her wing came up to scratch the back of her head she mused. “I guess you’re right. Now that I think about it if a new pegasus came to Ponyville or something I would have started with a challenge to a race to see how fast they were mostly to prove something to both them and myself. Guess I have you to thank for that.”

Shaking his head and pointing to her. “All you. You are the one who chose to change; you can thank yourself for making you twenty percent cooler.”

“Hehe, guess I will. Thanks me.” She remarked grinning like her usual self and puffing out her chest, all before coming over and giving him a big surprise hug. “Thank you too, for forgiving me and being an awesome friend. There were so many times I thought bad things at you, insulted you, hit you, or more and yet you forgave them all. You will always be my friend Dustan.”

“Hey now, don’t get all sappy on me, that isn’t the Dash I know. The Dash I know is prideful and would make sure to try to keep an awesome image.” He told her pulling back from the hug playfully and booping her nose.

She went cross eyed for a moment before chuckling. “An awesome image is nice and all, but being awesome inside is better. It’s cool if they both overlap but I rather leave the first and take the second any day now.”

With that she left with a smile and a proud strut with ears held tall and a tail that that moved back and forth a bit that left Dustan rather flabbergasted both at her words and her posture. ‘Oh wow. She really has changed a lot which…she wouldn’t have if not for me. Huh, a good change for sure. Also, going to have to remember that posture, no clue what it means. Definitely a lot of pride for sure but something else as well, an assured sense of self? Oh well.’

The next day they were up bright and early, not because they wanted to be but because a sight that had forced them to move. A Tonberry. He wasn’t going to put anyone at risk to try to confront that, he told the general to have everyone pack up quickly and move. Because of that they were all up an hour earlier then they wanted to be and those that got to sleep did so in the wagons that were being pulled. Dustan had first questioned the wagons in how they could move over the sand but a simple explanation had been give: Magic.

No matter what, the meme of ‘It is magic: don’t have to explain shit’ persisted. Honestly he didn’t mind it when it came to cases like this one. He wasn’t a researcher, and he doubt he would ever be least as of right now. Maybe one day when he hung up his sword and didn’t feel the need to patrol the Everfree with his guards leaving everything to them and the next generation of students his makeshift Class school generated.

‘Yeah, that wouldn’t be a bad way to spend my time, researching Neutral Magic. Maybe I will be able to develop more of them from my memories.’ Dustan was once more interrupted that day as a call to battle was heard.

“Aevis incoming!” A guard shouted and it was true, a flock of about ten was heading their way. Aevis were really agile in the air like that and any projectile magic usually missed as they could see it coming, unless you could somehow surprise them that was.

Dustan smiled as he drew his Coral Sword and looked to Dash. “Up, up, and away.” Before a plume of sand shot away from where he once was. Feeling the wind rush up past him was rather exile rating and he could understand why Dogs did that out of a car window as he was shooting up into the air at the speed only a Dragoon could manage. Coming up short in front of the Aevis caused them to halt their dive and stall in mid air which is just what he wanted. Holding out his sword he grinned. “Thundara!”

The flash of lightning was like a strobe light over the sand as the cracking and boom of thunder echoed with the pained crowing of the birds. As Dustan could feel gravity taking hold of him once again after a moment he ceased his lightning as he plummeted back towards the ground and shouted.

“If they aren’t dead yet, they are at least stunned, fuck ‘em up!” The sound of spells whizzing by came sharp to his hearing as flashes of light and color zoomed past him. Landing hard in the sand one foot planted firm, the other in a kneeling position while he held out one hand to the side.

“Super hero landing, really?” Dashed asked him as he stood up grinning. “What are you five?”

“Pretty sure a five year old couldn’t do what I just did.” Sheathing his sword he crossed his arms still grinning.

Sighing but giving him a smile. “Right, ok you earned that one.” She told him as she held out a hoof to bump against his fist. “Next time it’s my turn.”

“Against anything other than the Aevis family, sure it’s your turn next.” At that she looked confused. “Some Aevis have the ability to petrify anything their beak hits. Think about a pegasus flying that suddenly turned to stone, what would happen to them?”

The pale look that came over her face right away told him that she got it. “Ok yeah, good point. Even if I am confident in my flying skills I know that I can walk away from any crash landing. Being shattered though, yeah I don’t think I am going to be able to walk from that one.”

“Right. Now let me go visit the bodies really quickly, I really wish I could pluck and dress them but don’t have the time to let the bodies drain or I would be eating oversized chicken tonight.” He could see a few soldiers shiver at him mentioning his diet only for him to shrug.

“Seriously? That makes you shake?” Seeing some of them nod Dash moved to one of the pegasus. “Don’t you eat fish to help keep your wings in good shape?”

“To be fair ma’am, I take the supplements instead, I don’t mind fish as my sister eats it though.” The mare told the prismatic pegasus. “Eating something with wings though, that would make me feel like a cannibal.”

“Actually, ok fair point. I can understand that one, but the rest of you?” That got them looking away from her as she said that.

“Dash is fine. I am an omnivore. I have long since understood that ponies aren’t like me in that aspect.” Reaching up and swiping his hand through the crystal that only he could see for the last Aevis the human came back over and chuckled. “I am just happy the castle stocks for all dietary needs. For the longest time you wouldn’t believe how much I missed bacon with its greasy fatty flavor as it slathers down my throat after its been cooked to a crunchy crisp.”

A couple of the soldiers went green with that and one rushed away before the sound of retching was heard. “A bit too far big guy?”

Sighing and nodding. “Yeah, my bad.” Looking over to where the pony was retching Dustan sighed. “Sometimes I forget how good I have it and then I come back out into the world and get reminded that ponies for the most part are really…never mind.” Feeling a pat on his back made Dustan smile as the pegasus companion looked at him sympathetically.

The day marched on and so with it did the band of guards. It wasn’t until around noon when the first guard dropped, then three more that told them all something was wrong though it was easy to figure out especially when you had cooling cloaks and were still sweating up a storm. The heat, it was scorching them and so much hotter here then it was the previous day.

“Should it be this hot, I mean pegasus control the weather right so I feel like a spike in temperature like this should be unheard of right?” He asked Dash who nodded and was wiping her forehead off as she too looked worse for wear.

“Everypony HALT!” The general called out to all of his troops. “Pegasus troops, are you able to do anything about this heat?”

“Sorry sir, there isn’t enough moisture in the air here to even try to gather for a cloud.” One said as she approached and she wasn’t alone, with her was a unicorn.

The unicorn wiped her brow before speaking up. “Sir, this isn’t normal, I have been detecting an increase in magical fluctuations in the area but they aren’t natural.”

The general pulled off his helmet giving a bit of a cough as even he was getting affected. “That means we are close. Some of the Eidolons came with reports of heat spikes in the area.” Looking over to the human in their midst’s the commander of the troops asked him after drinking from a canteen. “Any Eidolon you know of that would be able to do that?”

“Yeah, two of them.” Sighing and sitting down taking a swig of his own canteen to cool off Dustan shook his head. “The first is who I hope it is. Salamander, though I don’t know much about that one personally. The second is Ifrit who is less then welcoming to outsiders.” Sighing to himself the human thought one solemn thought. ‘Sure wish Phoenix was a summon in this game, might explain the heat as well and it was notorious in that it liked deserts in a few of the games.’

The sound of a pop was heard as a unicorn teleported in with a Pegasus. “Sir reporting! Eagle Vision and I have spotted a dip in the sands that leads to an underground cavern system!”

Dustan stood up and looked at the general. “I am putting bits on it that says the Esper is down there. If it is a fire type then it’s only going to get hotter from here. Have any and all unicorns start buffing and see if we can get some heat resistance going on thanks to some magic.”

General Silver Shine immediately started to gather the unicorns in the group helping them to apply said heat resistance to all those that were going to go inside. The general’s idea was that some would stay out at the entrance and secure it while the others went down. Depending on how deep it was he had planned to create checkpoints as well so that no one would get lost if the tunnel proved to be too cavernous. All and all, Dustan couldn’t see any problem with it save for the lack of man and pony power that might be left at the end. When all was said and done, the group proceeded to head into the tunnel.

The first half hour delving into the tunnel came in the form of clearing out sand and such that had been blown into it and out of their way, as well as making sure those cut from the glass that was found along the way were properly healed. The fact that there was glass wasn’t a good sign as it meant it was definitely a fire type Esper for sure that had come in there, nothing else could have melted sand into glass like that. Further evidence came about around the hour mark, as the tunnel kept on going and going as now the tunnel seemed to be getting hotter and hotter causing the group to have to take breaks.

It was right after their third break that things came to a head as the group exited the tunnel into a gigantic underground cavern. “Holy horse apples, this place is huge!”

As one of the guards said that another pointed further in. “Look, is that lava?!”

Dustan was on guard and made sure that Dash was behind him. “This is definitely its lair.” Looking around he told them. “Don’t split up, if this thing is hostile then that is the last thing we want.”

General Shine gave the word and the formation tightened up as they proceeded in towards the cavern. It was a huge place that seemed to have been part of an ancient magma channel as it had carved out a good number of places as the sleek obsidian and glass could attest to as well as various pumice rocks and more. Eventually a giant lack of lava, or rather magma since it was still underground technically, appeared in their sights with a small land bridge that connected a large island in the middle.

“There it is, that is its home.” Dustan declared confidently as he looked to the features on the island.

“How can you be so sure?” Rainbow Dash had been strangely quiet this entire time up till now.

Pointing to the island he gestured to the four stalagmites at the corners. “Those are pillars that form a square. In some other sources I know, when an Esper contracts with someone, pillars like that will have green glowing orbs on them with a red flame inside. Those do not so that means-”

“This Eidolon is still wild.” The general finished up his thought for him to which the human nodded. “And since this is its lair, it means that it’s likely to either return, or still be here.”

Speak of the devil and he shall appear is the old saying, and such was the case here. The cave started to rumble a bit as the pool of magma started to shift and something was rising up out of it. Parts of it appeared once the magma sloughed off it, crimson colored hair that seemed to be made of fire itself, two sets of ebony black horns seemingly made of obsidian one that curled back over its head and the other curling around to the side of its face. All of the ponies were backing up but Dustan was standing firm, hand on his Blood Sword’s hilt. A golden looking bangle on its left bicep depicting flames, red and white beads adorned its neck and hung down from it as clawed hands brought it onto land in front of them.

“Sweet Celestia protect us.” One of the guards called as she looked at the creature.

A chuckle came from its throat and judging from the tone, it was a he. “I do not know who this Celestia is, but rest assured PONIES, that she will not protect you here and not from me.”

The mouth that spoke this was fang filled and jutted out in a muzzle. Orange eyes appeared as if they were glowing embers as the creature stood up on its hind legs, digitigrades for sure as well as having razor sharp claws on it as well. Around its waist was a black tattered loincloth that seemed unaffected by the magma or the flames slowly crackling off of the creature as it stood up tall. So tall was it that Dustan estimated there could be two of him standing on each other’s shoulders and only barely look him in the eye as he was at least a good twelve feet tall.

“Hmm, what are you supposed to be?” The creature asked of Dustan as it caught sight of him finally. “I do not recognize your kind or your scent.”

‘Wait, so he has never encountered a human before? That might be a great thing.’ Taking a more confident stand then what he felt Dustan let go of the hold he had on his sword. “I take it you are Ifrit, the King of Flames?”

The Esper chuckled and leaned down to get a better look at the human now. “Indeed I am, it has been such a long sleep that it seems that my prowess has faded in all but mere whispers of legend. It pleases me to know that something remembers.”

“I am a human, one that as you can tell can understand you while only unicorns normally can do that.” Ifrit seemed to take a moment to register this fact before letting Dustan continue. “As such I was hoping to come to talk to you, to learn of some things and possibly to get you to agree to turn the heat down for the desert.”

That got the fiery fiend’s attention right away as it stood up tall. “You wish to make a compact with me?”

“If I can yes. There are creatures out there being attracted by your heat and as such it poses a danger to others with their increased presence, plus the heat around here is likely to devastate what little of an echo system there is in a desert.” Dustan while calm on the outside was mentally shaking at the presence of the Esper, this was nothing like Mogri.

“I will be willing to hear you out if you can meet my challenge.” The Esper spoke aloud as it pointed a clawed finger at Dustan. “But only you. I do not deal with ponies. The ponies tried to use me for war, to destroy; I tired of it and scorched those that wished to do so. I will not take another pony as my Master without good reason.” Lowering his clawed hands to the ground the creature stood now on all fours. “You though are willing to take my challenge to preserve nature and to help cull the creatures hurting others. A noble cause for sure.”

Dustan was surprised this was going so well, he honestly thought he would have to fight and subdue Ifrit to get him to agree. “Sure, what may I ask is your challenge?”

A grin came to the King of Flame’s muzzle. “I thirst for battle. Provide me a suitable challenge.”

‘Well shit.’ Thinking for a moment and looking around the cavern quickly Dustan tried to formulate a plan before nodding. “I will accept but give me a moment to prepare.”

Growling impatiently the Esper spoke up. “Do not take too long or I may reconsider.”

Turning to the group he quickly pulled off his pack and his cloak. “You all need to get the fuck back right now!” He yelled at them and tossed his stuff to Dash. “Hold on to that for me please. The only things I really care about that I own are that cloak and a couple of things I have gathered that I keep in that pack. Rather them not get toasted.” Deploying the new folding shield that the smith Burly Bellows had developed for him the buckler now covered his forearm.

“Whoa Dustan you don’t have to do this, we can get one of the Princesses here to do it or something.” The prismatic speedster told him as he quickly started to stretch.

“No we can’t.” He could tell she was about to ask why so he quickly told her. “Ifrit said he won’t work for ponies, I am sure someone among the group was translating for the pegasus and earth ponies here right?” Seeing someone nod he continued. “As such no one here could have a chance to earn his loyalty but me.”

“Didn’t you say this was a worst case scenario if it was Ifrit?” Shine asked him quickly as the human drew his sword and mentally changed his class to that of the one with the most evasion and speed: Ninja.

“Yeah.” Dustan said simply and walked forward. “But it’s our best shot.”

The ponies quickly all darted when they felt the heat rise up a bit as Dustan approached the creature whom merely chuckled. “So you are ready it seems.”

“Yeah, but a quick request, one that you will have no trouble fulfilling.” He called to Ifrit who growled.

He tensed up at said growl as the stone below its claws moved out of the way letting them create gouges in the earth. “Don’t try my patience, if it’s a ridiculous request then I will call off the challenge now and roast you to cinders.”

“If I am defeated, do not hurt my companions.” Dustan quickly called out getting the creature to look startled. “I get you don’t like ponies, but they are good mares and stallions, might be a bit too fidgety at times and could be a bit more open minded, but they all came here risking their lives to help bring balance to this area.”

Ifrit paused, taken aback by the request before chuckling and growling a more pleased sounding noise. “Done. The ponies can go free once we are done one way or another. You may make the first move.”

Nodding and calming down Dustan pulled at his mana. “Silent light, shield from evil! Shell!” Orbs appeared around Dustan in a spiral from his waist before more appeared to take the place of the small ones. Once the larger ones vanished a large sphere appeared around the caster himself before vanishing.

“I didn’t take you for a caster as well, I am surprised.” Fire started to come from Ifrit’s nostrils and mouth now. “Don’t disappoint me now.” Then the large creature surged forward.

While Dustan was prepared for it to do so or even shoot flames, the speed at which it moved wasn’t something he could have anticipated as he barely avoided a claw swipe that raked the ground where he stood. In that moment, Dustan knew one thing for certain, any hit likely meant death.

As such while he was back pedaling the chant for Protect came out as the diamonds appeared to show the completion of the spell. ‘That might help me survive a hit. Problem is I am just barely staying out of range and if I piss him off too much by just dodging he might just want to kill me instead of play with me.’ The next move was risky but that is why he cast it without the chant to make it less risky to himself. “HASTE!” Roman numerals appeared in two spirals that closed in on him before the effect activated.

His gamble was rewarded, though he wasn’t as fast as he had been with Discord, the nausea was more manageable like this. “Stop stalling human!” Jumping up Ifrit launched a breath attack that would make a Charizard proud.

Dustan zipped out of the way as his mind raced, with this nausea he was likely not to be able to cast anymore, locking him to his physical side. Luckily the new burst of speed caught the summon off guard as Dustan was now up on him as he landed. Jumping up and landing a slash across the chest of the creature Dustan smiled as he roared in pain and hot red splashed out, hissing when it hit the ground.

There was just one problem. Not being used to the new speed Dustan landed a bit roughly and as such as he turned around he caught a big meaty backhand that launched him into a nearby stalagmite. The wind was knocked out of him to say the least as he pulled out a potion and chugged it even as he stood up. It did little to heal all of the damage was inflicted on him but now he could at least continue to fight.

“Good hit and good to see you can still stand after my counter.” The glow in the Esper’s eyes grew brighter as the beast grinned. “Good, my first true fight since I woke up. ENTERTAIN ME MORE HUMAN!”

The heat in the area skyrocketed and from the corner of his eye Dustan noticed a shield being erected around the group away from the fight showing that even they were feeling its effects. Thrusting the first holding his sword forward Dustan performed the Shockwave technique hitting and surprising the Eidolon before doing again with Aurablast. Running full tilt when his Aurablast hit Dustan was hoping that the invisible punch to the face would stun the Esper long enough for him to reach, his hope was in vain though as Ifrit growled a pleased growl as he looked towards Dustan running him and opened his maw spitting out more fire.

Quickly using his Dragoon Jump skill Dustan leapt up to the ceiling of the cavern before bounding off it and towards Ifrit getting a passing slash on him but only a shallow one on his shoulder. The King of Flames halted his outpouring of fire to turn and try to swipe at Dustan only for the Ninja to duck under the swipe and a red glowing saber as Aim+1 came across its forearm as Dustan quickly took off running feeling a bit better now that his sword healed him a bit.

Seems the spry action was noticed though as Ifrit mused. “Interesting, using a cursed sword to your advantage. Very brave. Clearly you are not worried about it eating your vitality or your soul.”

Chuckling Dustan held out said blade and smiled. “Cause its vitality is mine, it was made with my blood and already tired to eat me but I survived.”

“Interesting. So you were the intended sacrifice but were saved somehow or did you manage it on your own?” Ifrit asked of him genuinely curious it seemed.

Dustan was wiping the sweat off his brow when he realized something. “You are stalling, using the heat as a weapon.”

The answering grin told the tale. “Can’t it be both?”

Dustan rushed forward answering its question with an invisible punch to its face as he ran towards it, this time though Ifrit didn’t even flinch. Seems play time was over. It drew in a deep breath before roaring out, the wave of hit stopped Dustan dead in his tracks and forced him to retreat as the stone right below Ifrit now started to glow a bit, showing just how much heat he was pouring out.

Putting his weapon away Dustan started to throw out Shockwaves and Aurablasts to make up for the fact he was now also locked to ranged. Ifrit just strode towards him forcing Dustan to back further and further away, which quickly slowed as Haste wore off.

“Growing tired human? You have slowed down quite a bit. The heat must be unbearable.” This was an apex predator, one who knew its own limits and had found a prey’s limits.

Backing up quickly Dustan switched up tactics, moving towards the lava lake now Dustan uncorked another potion and chugged it down to heal the damage from earlier before tossing the vial away. “Kinda yeah, trying my best here but I am hitting a wall that I am having a hard time seeing over the top of.”

“As have many before you.” Ifrit told him as it approached. “What is more is that you trapped yourself with magma to your back, even if you were to jump using your prowess my heat will still fry you. I will say you have stood up to me better than most even in the past have.”

“But not better then all of them?” Dustan asked curiously as he went for another potion.

“Sadly no, some have met my challenge as was required.” Ifrit told him as it continued forward. “This is it human, are you prepared for the end?”

“See that is the thing about humans.” Taking hold of the potion he had in his hand he quickly chuckled it forward and upwards full power. “We are really fucking stubborn!”

The potion was sent flying to the ceiling where it hit the base of a stalactite that was now hanging just above Ifrit causing it to dislodge and come plummeting down towards the beast. Sadly it was a slow falling rock, even if its weight was rather impressive judging from the noise and impact it made when it landed, as the flame using Esper jumped out of the way rather nimbly.

“Good effort and try with tha-” Ifrit was half turned and saw something that made its eyes widen.

Dustan was right before him sworn drawn in both hands. Dustan knew violating the rules of Tactics always had a drawback that made him rather sick to his stomach as much as using Haste would even if it was a different kind of sickness. What was more was being this close to Ifrit with his heat aura turned on like this was burning, charring his skin even as he dove forward. He had already closed his eyes to avoid scorching them but because of that he couldn’t see where to attack and could only guess. Timing his shot correctly Dustan swung his sword around and met resistance only to slash through it.

As he landed the human screamed out from all the burns, even if some were healed thanks to his Blood sword. Falling to his knees and dropping his sword Dustan barely registered blood coming from Ifrit’s neck though nowhere near the amount that a fatal blow or anything that would debilitate it would cause. Unlike himself who now couldn’t bear to move because of the pain as parts of his clothing had now dry rotted and were crumbling away from him as well. The Ninja’s world was nothing but pain so he couldn’t register anything going on.

That changed when healing magic was felt coursing over him relieving him of some of the blistering white hot pain that he felt, enough that he could register that it was the medical unit from the expedition squad. Another spell and suddenly his whole body went numb letting him no longer feel any pain as ointments and other such things were quickly brought about.

“Can you understand me now human?” The deep voice of Ifrit called out to him making him look over a bit slowly as he tried to figure out what happened. “Your wild tactic was wonderful. Had a been a tad slower or you a tad faster the difference in our strength would not have mattered as you would have ended my life then and there. I had thought there was no creature foolish enough to dare approach me while my Aura was active. For that arrogance I almost paid the ultimate price. For that I am willing to admit defeat.”

“Wait…really?” Dustan could scarcely believe he heard that right.

“Well yes and no.” Ifrit called slowly turning and walking along the land bridge towards the island. “You are still far too weak to be called my Master. Your spirit is strong, so I am willing to make a compact with you. I wish to see your growth so I will lend you a portion of my power. As per your request as well, I will withdraw my Aura from this land as I project my spirit and take a good look over this world now that it’s changed.” Ifrit moved to the center of the four pillars as a large glyph appeared below him and he turned to face the group. “You have no earned the right to ask more of me as of yet. In time you may. I look forward to that time.”

Striking a pose there was a green flash and when ponies and human could see again, Ifrit was now a statue and on the pillars were glowing summoning orbs. Even though they were in an underground magma chamber, they could all tell the heat was receding and all let out a cheer. Dustan was not cheering as much as he was busy casting all of his healing magic he could to remove the burns from his body, luckily it looked as if none would leave any scars thanks to that.

Unfortunately once it was clear he was no longer in any pain, soldier and friend dog piled him mercilessly even if he wished to do nothing more then pass out then and there.

Author's Notes:

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hearth's Warming and just joy to all in general.