Chapter 51 - Eclipse of Fire
The Temple of Eternal Ash shook violently.
Black magma burst through cracks in the floor.
Noctis screamed as corruption spread across its magnificent wings.
The great phoenix fought desperately to keep control, but every heartbeat strengthened the darkness within.
The Book of Infinite Beasts appeared before Kai.
---
Emergency Status
Guardian: Noctis
Corruption Level: 93%
Time Until Complete Corruption:
15 Minutes
Recommended Action:
Purify the Heart Flame
---
Kai looked at his companions.
"We don't have much time."
Selene tightened her grip on her silver sword.
"Tell us the plan."
Kai glanced at the Book.
"The corruption isn't centred in Noctis anymore."
"It's feeding through its Heart Flame."
Ignis nodded.
"If we purify the Heart Flame..."
"The corruption throughout its body will collapse."
Kael looked towards the phoenix.
"But reaching it won't be easy."
---
Noctis suddenly spread its enormous wings.
A storm of black fire swept across the temple.
Columns melted instantly.
The Imperial Guards retreated.
Even Rowan's Ashfang Pack struggled to remain standing.
The Crimson Flame Fox stepped forward.
"Leave the flames to me."
Its nine fiery tails spread behind it.
The Primordial Flame burned brighter than ever before.
Instead of meeting the black fire head-on...
It gently wrapped around it.
The crimson flames slowly absorbed the hatred from the corrupted fire.
The black flames began changing back into brilliant gold.
---
The Book glowed.
Skill Mastery Increased
Flame of Hope
Mastery:
35% → 42%
Effect:
Purification Power Increased.
---
Selene looked at Kai.
"The path is opening!"
Kai nodded.
"Let's go!"
Using Spirit Step, Kai sprinted across the collapsing temple.
Selene followed beside him, moving like moonlight across the broken stone.
Ignis flew overhead, tiny but determined.
Kael remained behind, maintaining the obsidian chains restraining Noctis.
Sweat covered his forehead.
"I can't hold much longer..."
---
As Kai reached Noctis's chest...
He saw it.
Hidden beneath layers of black crystal...
A single golden flame.
Barely alive.
The Heart Flame.
It flickered weakly.
As if begging not to be extinguished.
Kai slowly reached out.
"I've found it."
The instant his fingers touched the crystal—
His consciousness was pulled into another vision.
---
He stood within a vast ocean of fire.
Golden feathers drifted endlessly around him.
In the distance stood Noctis.
Not as a colossal phoenix...
But as a young woman with crimson hair and brilliant golden eyes.
Behind her shimmered wings of living flame.
She smiled sadly.
"So..."
"You found my heart."
Kai nodded.
"I'm here to free you."
She looked away.
"I don't deserve freedom."
"My corruption has already destroyed countless lives."
Kai shook his head.
"You weren't given a choice."
She looked back at him.
"The First Sovereign said those exact words."
Kai smiled.
"He must have been a wise man."
A tear rolled down Noctis's cheek.
"I was afraid..."
"That no one would ever come back."
Kai gently extended his hand.
"You waited ten thousand years."
"I think you've waited long enough."
Noctis slowly placed her hand in his.
The ocean of fire erupted into brilliant golden light.
---
Outside the vision...
The black crystal covering Noctis's chest cracked.
CRACK!
Then another.
CRACK!
The corruption level dropped.
93%... 85%... 78%...
Hope spread through the temple.
The Imperial Guards cheered.
Princess Elena smiled through tears.
"We're doing it!"
---
Then...
The cheering stopped.
A cold laugh echoed through the chamber.
Not from above.
Not from below.
But from everywhere at once.
"Hope..."
"What a troublesome thing."
The walls of the temple darkened.
Ancient murals began fading.
Names carved into stone disappeared before everyone's eyes.
Even the mural of the First Beast Sovereign slowly dissolved into blank rock.
The Book of Infinite Beasts trembled violently.
---
Warning
Memory Erasure Authority Detected
Source:
The Archivist
Status:
Remote Manifestation
---
A shadow formed behind Noctis's Heart Flame.
It had no face.
No body.
Only two glowing white eyes.
It spoke with a calm, emotionless voice.
"Beast Sovereign..."
"You continue restoring what should have remained forgotten."
Kai stepped protectively in front of Noctis.
"I don't care how much history you erase."
"As long as someone remembers the truth..."
"You've already lost."
For the first time...
The shadow became completely silent.
Then it answered.
"We shall see."
The white eyes vanished.
But before disappearing completely...
A single page tore itself from the Book of Infinite Beasts.
The page dissolved into ash.
Kai stared in shock.
"What... did it erase?"
The Book remained silent.
For the first time since Kai had awakened it...
It had no answer.