Chapter Beginning: Darkness of the Depths]
The echoes of the collapse faded, leaving Ivan and Elena in utter darkness, broken only by the flapping wings of the pale hydra circling above them. The stench of decay and blood filled the air, heavy as molten lead.
Clutching his glowing swords, Ivan tried to stand, but pain pierced his body.
Ivan: This body would have perished without that magic potion.
Elena looked at him, her red eyes flashing.
Elena (frazzled): Are you alright?
Ivan (coldly): I don't need your pity, Frankenstein.
Elena (with a comical reaction): Ha! My name is Elena, you! Anyway, what are we going to do?
Ivan: We'll form a temporary alliance! You offspring of Frankenstein.
Elena (with comical annoyance): Don't you understand my name is Elena, Elena! I will attack, Ice Magic Epic (Ice Blades). Ivan: Ugh, (closes his eyes and sighs) this girl, how annoying!
Elena launched a series of magical attacks against the female Hydra, who was deflecting them with her wings.
Ivan: This monster... I think you learned her techniques in their previous fight. Ugh, this is no use against her.
Elena: What should we do then, human?!
Suddenly, a crimson glow emanated from Ivan's wounds. It wasn't blood, but a dancing flame, his wounds healing with astonishing slowness. A few fiery feathers of light fell from his shoulder. Elena stared in shock, her eyes wide.
Elena (whispering in disbelief): "This... this is impossible... the Phoenix?!" You really do have a soul like mine, and what a soul it is—the Phoenix!
There was no time for explanation. The pale hydra swooped down, its seven heads letting out deafening screams. Its eyes were lifeless, yet they echoed the movement.
"Now is not the time for that!" Ivan shouted. "Gather your strength, or we'll die here!"
Elena shook her head, taking in the situation, though in shock. She raised her sword, glowing crimson, and a powerful aura began to surround her.
[Mid-Chapter: Battle of the Depths]
A fierce battle erupted. Ivan, regaining some of his strength thanks to the Phoenix, was like a crimson shadow, stabbing and slashing. His swords sent out waves of red flames that seared the hydra's decaying flesh. Its heads healed quickly, but they couldn't keep up with Ivan and Elena's strangely synchronized speed.
Moving nimbly, Elena used her icy powers to slow the hydra's movements. A sharp ice spear pierced one of its heads, while Ivan stabbed the other.
Ivan: "Their heads heal quickly! We must reach their heart!"
Elena: "Their heart lies at the very center of their massive body, under guard! Do you have a plan, Phoenix?" She said the last word with undisguised sarcasm.
Ivan: "Just follow me!"
Ivan and Elena retreated, seizing the moment the Hydra lunged to launch a coordinated attack. Ivan unleashed a powerful wave of fire that engulfed one of the Hydra's heads, while Elena leaped with incredible speed, using the flames as cover, and charged toward the monster's body. Her icy sword blazed, and she cried out:
Elena: "Double Frostgate!"
Her sword pierced the Hydra's body, followed by Ivan with a powerful strike from his other sword, chanting:
Ivan: "Crimson Phoenix Blast!"
The two forces, the fire of the Phoenix and the ice of Frankenstein, clashed within the monster's body. A tremendous explosion shook the depths. The massive Hydra's body was badly damaged and let out a deafening scream. Elena was intoxicated, and so was Ivan.
Batori and Yahiko were fighting the male Hydra with great strength, but unexpectedly, the monster leaped upwards and plunged into the depths, heading towards...
Yahiko: Hey, Batori, this is bad! It'll catch up with them! Let's hurry, Yago... (He didn't finish his sentence.) What?
Batori: Huh? What's wrong, Yahiko...? (A stunned look.)
A destructive aura surrounded the area. We see Elena below, stunned by the aura's intensity, as if she recognizes it.
Elena: This aura... I know it.
Ivan: A powerful aura. Who is it?
Then, the male Hydra appeared before Ivan and Elena, and here's the real disaster: its eyes changed. It devoured the female monster, leaving Elena astonished. She exclaimed, "What's happening?"
Ivan: (Sighs) Hey, you! We need to get ready. Elena composed herself and said, "I will execute the final attack. Now, Enerio's dual magic, Sharian (the ultimate fusion, combining her power with the power of the Lion Spirit, Enerio)."
She unleashed a powerful attack on the Hydra, which transformed terrifyingly. Slightly damaged, it tried to strike Elena, but Ivan said, "Fire magic, Flame Fist!"
He pushed back the exhausted Elena, who was stunned by what she saw. Yes, Ivan's eyes had changed.
Elena: What's wrong with him? Why do he have those strange eyes?!
She tried to stand, but Ivan struck her, knocking her unconscious.
Ivan: Tsun Level 1 (Eye of the Crimson Void) (allows him to see the monster's movements beforehand). I have to hurry! I only have one minute. Now, the Ikardihon Two-Sword Attack (Dimensional Destroyer), the Rashon Two-Sword Style (Thousand Sword Attack).
He unleashed two attacks simultaneously, inflicting massive damage on the monster.
Ivan (his heart pounding): Not yet. Hold on a little longer.
On the rooftop, the mysterious figure placed both hands on the shoulders of the shocked Yahiko and Batori.
The mysterious figure: Good job, guys.
As they prepared to strike, the air suddenly froze. Then, miraculously, he caught them both and delivered two powerful blows, sending them crashing into the wall. Jogo then struck him, knocking him unconscious.
Then he jumped down.
Ivan was exhausted from the effects of Tsun's eye, and the monster before him was injured. Ivan: I have no choice but to fight at a higher level because it's imperative that I... (Looks back)
The Mysterious Figure: Calm down, kid. I didn't come to fight you. You can barely stand.
Ivan: A demon behind him! Who is it?
The Mysterious Figure: Well, now come, Megalon.
Megalon emerged, the enormous coffin he had used against the legendary monster "Voltaris, The Aether Crusher" earlier.
Ivan: What is this strange technique?
Elena is still asleep.
Batori and Yahiko emerged from the rubble, still in shock at what was happening.
Batori: What was that? Was it a monster?
Yahiko: It's the same technique that was used against a previous monster Ryota encountered.
Batori: And who was that person?
Yahiko: Diablos! That's their name.
Batori: I see. I've heard of a mysterious organization. So, Diablos, huh?
Yahiko: Let's hurry!
They jumped together, heading downwards.
Below, the Hydra monster was screaming in excruciating pain, and Ivan was watching.
Ivan: The monster is being dragged!
The monster then entered the Megalon coffin, and the mysterious figure said: I'll see you again if you survive, boy.
The dungeon began to collapse, and Ivan could barely stand.
Ivan: I have to get out of here, and this girl too.
Yahiko and Batori tried to reach the bottom, but to no avail.
Then they heard a voice say: The Fire Tornado. Yes, Ivan was badly injured because of his ordinary body, and also because he was carrying Princess Elena.
He fainted, but Yahiko caught him, and Batori caught Elena.
Batori: Yahiko, we'll leave. When he wakes up, thank him for me. I hate to say this, but I'm grateful to him.
Yahiko: That's how you two are! (smiles). Your arrogant pride.
Batori and Princess Elena left.
Batori: Who would have believed that fate would make us ally with the Kingdom of Yonjun? And who is that mysterious person? His aura isn't unfamiliar to me! he wonders.
Ivan woke up after taking another magic potion.
Yahiko: Thanks, kid, for what you did, but you're reckless. (laughs)
Jogo: This is truly insane.
Ivan: What happened to Frankenstein's descendant and her companions?
Yahiko: They left, and Batori thanks you for what you did. Now let's leave; the place will be destroyed.
Ivan and Yahiko left with Jogo, thanks to teleportation magic. At the entrance to the Kingdom of Kong, we see Elena awaken and ask, "Batori, what happened?"
Batori replies, "Don't trouble yourself, Princess. We'll talk later."
At the 9th Division headquarters, he says he has work to do and then leaves.
Jogo says, "You're injured. I'll accompany you."
Yahiko says, "Leave him, Jogo. Don't worry about him."
Yahiko is well aware of Ivan's struggles with the bird's power. Before Jin's death, he also spoke to him about the awaited boy of prophecy. Then, Yahiko met Hiroshi, who told him about the bird and Ivan.
Yahiko says, "Ivan, you must mature more and more. The enemies will become stronger."
We see Ivan arrive at an unknown location and say, "Show yourself."
The God Mountain emerges from underground.
He enters and begins to scream in pain because of his ordinary body.
Ivan says, "An ordinary body comes at a high price. I used up all my ordinary magic and returned to my original form (referring to silver hair and crimson eyes, after having been an ordinary body with black hair and black eyes)." He began a phase of self-rehabilitation and renewal.
To begin a new phase.