For Whom the Almighty Exists

Gariyu... You are the most powerful of all flame wielders...

You got that right, you old geezers!

And y'know what? I'm getting even stronger!

Gariyu... Our dear child...

Hey, wait! Don't go!

...Tch!

Those geezers... Can't they ever stay in one place for more than a minute?

No sign of him...

Jeez, Gariyu... You asked me to come all this way, but you're not even here!

There you are, Aldo!

Gariyu! Is that you?

Who else? I'm over here!

Gariyu?! You're... swimming in lava?!

What? Never been magma bathing before? Why don't you jump in and try it? It warms you right down to your bones!

I don't think I'd have any bones left to warm if I jumped in there!

I'll pass, thanks...

Your loss. I'll get out and join you, then. Gimme a second.

Are you sure that's safe?

Of course it is! What do I look like, a snowflake?

Ever since I gained the power of Black Flames, this magma has felt no hotter than a nice, warm bath!

......

By the way, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?

Or are you telling me you called me out here just to ask if I wanted to try a magma bath?

Of course not. I wouldn't call you all the way here just for that.

Follow me, Aldo! We're heading to the top of the Nadara Volcano!

Remember this place, Aldo?

This is where the Ember Magic Dragon was slain...and by yours truly, no less.

How could I forget? I mean, that's how you obtained your Black Flame powers.

True, this is where it all happened. But y'know...

Since then, my strength hasn't been tested at all, so I have no idea how strong I actually am right now.

...... (This guy is just asking for trouble...)

Is there really any need to test your strength? Just look at you!

You've clearly become ridiculously strong!

So please, don't drag me into some unnecessary "test"! It's not like it'll prove anything!

......

Anyway, I've decided to test just how strong I've truly become.

Did you not hear a single word I said?!

Aldo, allow me to give you a personal demonstration of my newfound power.

...... All right, all right... At least if I'm with you, I might be able to keep the collateral damage to a minimum...

So, just how do you intend to test your strength, then?

I'm going to re-attempt something I failed to do once before.

That's the reason I've come back here.

Just what do you plan on challenging this time, Gariyu?

Salamander's minions!

Salamander's... Minions?

I told you back when I was fighting the Ember Magic Dragon, but the magma here is swarming with flame elementals.

Because of that, Salamander's minions manage to survive up here.

And now... I call upon those minions!

Minions of Salamander! Heed my words!

I am Gariyu, the greatest flame wielder the world has ever known! Prepare to feel the scorching brand of my Black Flames!

Are those... Minimanders?! There's so many of them!

That looks like all of them. Now, here goes...

W-Wait, Gariyu! You're not gonna use your Black Flames on these little guys, are you?!

Of course I am! Why else would I have bothered coming all the way here?

But don't you want to really push your new powers to their limit?

Of course I do!

Well, weaklings like these are hardly an even match for your power, are they?

......

Are you insane?!

H-How could you? They didn't even stand a chance!

So what?

Why shouldn't someone as powerful as me be allowed to do whatever they want?

What?! They were defenseless, but you just burnt them to ash...

I didn't hurt them. Those little guys need elemental fire to grow, so I fed 'em.

You were... feeding them?

Let me explain. These little ones need the protection of the Fire Spirit, Salamander. In other words, they need the Brand of Fire.

Well since Salamander is gone, it's impossible to raise those Minimanders...

Not quite... Using the Brand of Fire should have the same effect...

I didn't realize that.

It sounds like you've tried this before.

Yeah. Well, I tried, but...

How's that?!

Ngh!

And that's why I wanted to try again with my new powers.

I see. It all makes sense now...

Ah, there we go...

What?! It's h-huge!

Yeah! It worked!

Bwa hah hah! You're lucky to have a powerful friend like me, huh?

I'm Gariyu, the most powerful flame wielder the world has ever known! You'd do well to remember my name.

Good job, Gariyu. Now do you understand just how powerful you've become?

I have indeed! At last, I've passed the first hurdle!

...... Of course there's more... I should have guessed.

Come, Aldo! We're heading to Ratle next!

Here we are!

Oh? Does this mean you're planning to go to Purgatory?

You there! I will use my people's traditional astral projection technique to send you to Purgatory. Are you prepared?

Am I prepared?

More like, are YOU prepared?!

What's up, Gariyu? Is this another one of your rituals, like the one you used on the Minimanders?

No, I'm serious this time! I'm gonna burn this thing to ash!

What?! Now wait just a second...

Ah, I recognize you now... You're the one who caused me so much trouble before, aren't you? I didn't recognize you at first, because you seem different somehow...

Don't think I've forgotten how you insulted me last time we met!

Is that all you've got? Too bad, hot shot.

Damn it! Even my Crimson Flame isn't powerful enough to incinerate him!

...Is that all?

Besides, he looks pretty flammable to me...

Looks can be deceiving. Fire is useless against me, as I'm imbued with the element of water.

I knew you were resistant to fire. That's why this time...

I'll incinerate you with my Black Flames!

Gariyu! What are you, ?!

Aaarrrrrrgh!

Bwa hah hah!

Gariyu! You can't go around incinerating everyone who annoys you!

Hmph! Nobody tells me what to do.

Not even you, Aldo!

Gariyu!

I'm...buuurning! I'm...meeelting...!

Thank goodness, he's all right!

Yes! Another success!

Huh?! A success? But I thought...

You did it...

Uh... What's going on here?

Take a good look at my chest. He managed to burn away my precious axe... To think, that a flame wielder could be so powerful!

You...just destroyed the axe? I thought you were trying to incinerate him?

Honestly, Aldo... Would I really make a habit of incinerating people in public for all to see?

Well I'm relieved to hear that. I'm sure you're, uh...

(Wait...does that mean he'd be happy to incinerate people as long as nobody's around?!)

Ah, never mind... You've got your own unique way of doing things, Gariyu, but I'm sure everything will be...just fine.

Did you see that, Aldo?

Yeah, you did great!

And with that, I've scaled the second hurdle!

...... Let me guess. There are more hurdles.

Of course! Next stop, Purgatory! Let's go!

So, you want to go to Purgatory after all? One moment then, please.

Hnghhhhhh!

Very well. I shall send you to Purgatory via astral projection now. Are you prepared?

Hey, Gariyu...

The fact you've come to a place like this means you must be trying to...

You guessed it. The reason I came here...

Is this guy!

Fire Spirit Salamander! Do you remember me?

Hrm? Ah... You're Vaschtal's little human, aren't you?

That's right. I'm the one who challenged you, one flame wielder to another.

You did what?!

Feel the wrath of my Crimson Flame!

Your attacks are nothing but embers to me, little human.

Tch! You pompous little...!

Do you truly know what it means to bend flame to your will? It appears I must use my power as a Fire Spirit to teach you a rather practical lesson on flame wielding.

Ha! You think this little spark scares me?

Yaaarrrrrrgh!

Let me get this straight. You challenged Salamander, the greatest of all Fire Spirits...to a duel?

I did. And you know what? That duel taught me what true power looks like.

My techniques were useless back then! But now that I've grown as a flame wielder, and gained a wealth of new power...

I'm sure I can best you this time!

Very well. I accept your challenge, human. Let us see how you have stoked the fire within you.

The flames that burn within me are the Eternal Flame. Greatest of Fire Spirits, I brand thee in black flames!

S-Such power...!

How'd you like that, Salamander?!

You've surpassed my expectations, human. I'd never have dreamed the Eternal Flame could be tamed by a creature like you...

Impressive, Gariyu. That's high praise, coming from Salamander himself!

......

Well, I'm not done yet...

Gariyu! Surely you're not going to fight Salamander to the death, are you?!

......

Salamander. You agreed to confirm just how powerful a flame wielder I've become, didn't you?

Indeed I did, and so I shall, human. You have done well to contain such power in a body as small as yours.

Then tell me...

Who's more powerful? Me, or that old Fire Drake Vaschtal? Well, when he was in his prime, at least.

Vaschtal, you say...

Vaschtal is a cut above even great Fire Spirits like myself. There is no way a mere human could ever best him.

Tch!

However...you are not like other humans. With power like yours, I daresay you could stand against Vaschtal, and could have done so even when he was in his prime.

You really think so?!

I gain nothing from deceiving you, human. I speak the truth.

I see. At last, it's come to this...

What's the matter, Gariyu? Aren't you happy you won?

It's too early to celebrate. I have one thing left to do.

Another one?!

You've proven yourself against the great Fire Spirit Salamander! What other proof of your strength could you possibly need?

Don't worry, Aldo! This will be my final challenge!

Let's head to the core of Purgatory!

Hey, Gariyu. What is it you're planning to do here?

It'll all become clear soon. Look over there, Aldo.

Hey! Can you hear me?! You've got visitors!

They're still here somewhere! I can sense their presence!

That's right, it's me! I came all this way just to see you!

Show yourself, geezers!

Huh?! Those flames...

Long time no see, you old geezers. I thought you'd kicked the bucket years ago.

Oh? So you can tell, can you?

Well, of course you'd notice. After all, even though you're flickering out now, you were pretty godly, back in your day.

I'm glad you're here. I wouldn't have been able to finish this, otherwise, so this entire journey would have been a waste.

Now, let me brand onto your souls just how powerful I've truly become!

Gariyu, wait! You came all this way just to fight? This could be the last time that you see them!

Do you seriously have to do this?!

Who said anything about fighting, Aldo?

I... I guess I misread the situation. After all, why would you come to fight the ones who raised you?

There will be no fighting. Instead...

I'm going to erase these geezers from existence, once and for all! I cannot fail!

Gariyu, no! Stop!

Rise, Eternal Flame! I command thee!

Gariyu!

You're right! This is my very own Eternal Flame!

I'm not a child any more! Looks like I'll have to become an even more powerful flame wielder for you to take me seriously!

Even the great Salamander was impressed by my power...

That's why...

...Please, stop worrying about me.

You don't need to stay here anymore, or appear in my dreams, worrying yourselves sick over me... I'm strong enough to look after myself now.

...Geezers?

You're right. That's why I don't want to see you lingering in Purgatory any more. There's, uh...something else I want to say, too...

...I feel exceptionally fortunate to have been raised by you all.

......

...Farewell.

Gariyu...

*sniff* I'll miss you, you old geezers...