The Snake God with SSS Rank Evolution System

Chapter 354: Blazeheart Ascension

Ignis’s flames roared as she planted her feet, golden fire surging around her fists. Her Dragon’s Will flared, the draconic energy coiling through her muscles like molten lightning. She launched herself forward, her fist blazing like a falling star as she drove it straight into the void creature’s core."[Dragon’s Will: Solar Impact]!"

The punch connected with explosive force. Golden flames erupted from the point of impact, searing through the creature’s shadowy form. It staggered, its form flickering violently as cracks of light spread across its surface. For a moment, it seemed to falter.

Then it retaliated.

A wave of condensed void energy erupted from its core, slamming into Ignis’s guard and hurling her backward. She skidded across the cracked stone, her claws digging into the ground to halt her momentum.

"Tch! It’s still standing!" Ignis snarled, flames already gathering in her palms again.

Azrynn’s voice rang out, sharp with urgency. "Ignis, watch out! It’s preparing another attack!"

"I know, I know!" Ignis leaped sideways, the creature’s tendrils slashing through the space where she had been standing. She rolled, came up in a crouch, and launched another volley of flames.

Azrynn moved with fluid grace, her silver hair catching the dim light as she nocked another arrow. She loosed it, the shaft trailing a faint glow as it struck the creature’s flank. At the same time, she activated the runes etched into the arrowhead, a pulse of binding energy erupting around the creature.

"[Rune Binding]!"

Golden chains of light materialized, wrapping around the void creature’s form. For a brief moment, they held. Then the creature convulsed, and the chains shattered, dissolving into wisps of light that were absorbed into its shadowy flesh.

"It’s useless!" Azrynn called out, her voice strained. "It absorbs light-based attacks!"

The void creature’s hollow gaze fixed on Ignis, its form shifting as shadows coiled around it. Its voice echoed, cold and layered.

"...You fight well... for a dragon... But your flames... cannot harm me... Tell me... where is the serpent who stole the Bloom...?"

Ignis’s golden eyes blazed with defiance. Her flames flared brighter as she planted her feet, her voice cutting through the void like a blade.

"I’m not telling you anything!"

She lunged again, her claws extended, fire wreathing her entire body. The void creature raised its arms to meet her, shadows surging to block her advance.

Ignis’s flames clashed against the void creature’s shadowy barrier, golden fire hissing and sputtering as it met the dense, writhing darkness. The creature held its ground, its form flickering but unyielding.

"Tch!" Ignis snarled, pushing harder. But the barrier held.

Azrynn moved in a blur, her silver hair streaming behind her as she loosed another arrow—then another, and another. Each one struck the creature’s flank, its core, its shifting limbs. But the arrows passed through or were absorbed, their light fading into the void creature’s form.

Azrynn’s yellow eyes widened. Her voice came out tight, strained.

"This is bad. It’s not even affected. Ignis, we need to retreat—now!"

Ignis’s golden eyes blazed. Her flames flared brighter, defiant.

"I’m not running!"

She lunged again, her claws extended, fire wreathing her entire body. The creature raised its arms to meet her, shadows surging to block her advance.

Azrynn’s voice rose, desperate. "Ignis, stop! You’re being reckless! We can’t win this fight—!"

Ignis’s flames roared as she slammed into the creature’s guard. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the void, but the creature held. Its shadows coiled around her arms, her legs, her throat, lifting her off the ground. She struggled, her claws raking against the void-touched flesh, but its grip was iron.

"Ghh—!"

The creature’s hollow gaze fixed on her, and it opened its maw. A wave of condensed void energy erupted from its throat, slamming into Ignis’s chest and hurling her across the chamber. She crashed into a jagged rock formation, the impact cracking the ancient stone.

"Ughh!"

She pushed herself up, shaking debris from her shoulders. Golden flames still flickered around her body, but they were dimmer now, struggling against the oppressive darkness.

Azrynn rushed to her side, her bow raised, her yellow eyes scanning the void creature as it advanced. "Ignis, please! We need to go! I can cover our escape—"

"Shut up!"

Ignis’s voice cut through, sharp and defiant. She pushed herself to her feet, her body trembling. Her golden eyes blazed brighter.

"This is getting me fired up!"

The air around her began to warp. Golden flames erupted from her body in spiraling columns, pushing back the darkness, turning the void around them into a maelstrom of heat and light. Her red hair ignited, blazing like molten fire, and the tips of her horns glowed with an incandescent golden light. Her eyes flared, not just gold, but blazing with the intensity of a newborn sun. The ground beneath her feet cracked and warped under the sheer heat radiating from her body.

Azrynn stumbled back, shielding her face from the intense heat. Her voice came out awed, breathless.

"Wha... what is this...?"

The void creature halted, its form flickering as it stared at the blazing figure before it.

The creature’s hollow gaze flickered as the heat pressed against it, its form rippling like water disturbed by a stone. It took a step back, its layered voice carrying a note of unease.

"...what is that...aura..?"

Ignis’s voice emerged, resonant and layered, echoing with the weight of her draconic heritage. Her flames blazed brighter, the air around her shimmering with heat.

"[Blazeheart Ascension]."

Ignis’s body blazed with golden-white fire as she launched herself forward, her form becoming a streak of molten light across the void.

"[Cinder Dash]!"

The void creature barely had time to react. Ignis slammed into its chest, her shoulder driving into its core with the force of a falling star. The creature recoiled, its form flickering violently as it was hurled backward, shadows scattering in all directions.

It caught itself, its hollow gaze fixed on Ignis with a flicker of surprise. Its layered voice echoed, uncertain for the first time.

"...You... are different..."

Ignis’s golden eyes blazed. She landed in a crouch, her claws scraping against the cracked ground. Her voice came out fierce, defiant.

"[Dragon’s Will: Solar Nova]!"

She drove her fist into the creature’s core. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the void, and the creature convulsed, a crack spreading across its surface. It stumbled back, its form flickering as it struggled to reform.

Ignis didn’t let up. She pressed forward, her flames blazing brighter, her claws carving deep furrows into its shadowy flesh.

"I’m tired of being saved!"

She drove her fist into the creature’s core again, flames erupting from the point of impact. The creature convulsed, its form flickering wildly.

"I’ll end this myself! I’ll show everyone that I can stand on my own!"