Barragon was a deckhand. Whose hands would sweep, and clean through peril.
Yet, his hands lit all that remained around him in a disastrous inferno.
Whether it was man,
Whether it was creature,
Whether it was friend,
All remained charred beyond recognition.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Kurogane's back remained against the wall of flames, unsure of what to do. As if a cornered animal, Kurogane saw no choice. Blades of grass split open, fraying from the immense heat gnawing at Kurogane's body.
Nevertheless, it would come down to combat.
Besides, isn't that what this behemoth before him desired?
A vicious pirate it seemed, dressed within a dress shirt, and a buccaneer's hat. He seemed almost an accomplished veteran of the tides, yet the striking scruffy beard that lay upon his jaw changed that notion entirely.
How utterly unfitting for such a large fellow… especially with the sizable grimace upon his face.
A tall man, whose frame was that of the wall of fire behind him, furious and filled with strength. His body seemed refined by combat, yet barely any scars riddled his skin. The only scars that were laden upon his body were many small lacerations upon his fingertips.
A ball of fire had spawned from his hand…
What?
Kurogane was confused.
He's seen outlandish things, but flame coming to life within someone's hand?
The man before him doesn't even seem fazed by the fire.
Kurogane: "Excuse me… what?!"
???: "What do you not understand, boy?! I said, it's your last fuckin' time alive! I've come to pillage this little island, and burn you to ash!"
Kurogane stared in disbelief.
Reality had set in, this gargantuan man before him wanted him turned into a pile of dust on the quaint island turnt ashen battlefield.
Why, of all things… Fire?
He had his moments with fire, especially in the past, but of all things? Fire?
Memories streamed in from the back of his mind—of flames engrossing all before him–
A tree fell before him…
Kurogane had no time to remember, nor to think.
The rugged man was rushing at him.
Kurogane must move.
Kurogane's body quickly rushed towards the left, before the flames upon the bushes stopped him, stumbling backwards. He looked towards the right, and nothing but fallen and falling trees littered his right side. Forward lay the beast of a man rushing at him. It felt as if each time that monstrous man rushed towards him, the ground slammed with pressure.
Each time the roaring inferno behind him spoke, he shuddered. It bared its fangs, rearing its head towards the puny man each time he dared approach its maw.
This close to the fire was too much for Kurogane.
Though behind the man was a respite from the inferno.
He had to get past him…
… or just go under.
Kurogane dove beneath the man going under and in between his legs, skidding against charred grass and soot as he slid forward.
He wouldn't dare risk a moment near the gluttonous flames.
???: "Feisty little fella, aren't ya?"
The burly man quickly turned around; his back now stood to the fire.
Adrenaline surged through Kurogane's body as he readied himself.
No matter the situation, it seemed as if the mementos that had been drilled into his body acted. His fist met his cheek, and his body lowered ever so slightly for easier movement. One fist lay far in front of him, gauging distance at the moment. His body followed this careful routine, assuring his safety with the stance his father instilled into him. Each cautious assessment—a practiced glance towards the weak spots of the common man. His eyes carefully traced the blazing man before him, his hands clenched into a tight fist.
It was always fight.
Never flight.
???: "Well then, boy. You do have some balls. You're willin' to challenge me?"
Kurogane: "Yeah, and you best believe this battle will end with you dead, not me."
The daunting man grabbed the ball of flame within his right hand—which was inhuman in and of itself—and crushed it.
Flame hissed from his fingertips as a screech of the inferno erupted from his newly formed fist. Within this instant, the same inferno that was beginning to swallow them both emboldened the hand that was to bring the end of the tepid child.
What the actual fuck.
What type of person has flames on their hand, and doesn't even flinch?!
Matter of fact, he was smiling.
???: "Big words for a little boy."
The blazing man cackled to himself. Perhaps he was entertained by Kurogane's bold words, but the fiery man remained steadfast in his claim to kill Kurogane. He didn't seem to let up any steam whatsoever—The enormous man remained tense with pent-up energy.
???: "Now then, before I turn you to ashes, what is your name? It'll be hard for anyone to recognize you after I burn you into charcoal. Here, I'll even go first. Barragon, Captain of the Zerstorfire."
Kurogane: "Kurogane, and it won't be me who's dead on the floor, old man."
Kurogane spat, the saliva beginning to sizzle and whine upon the ground. The heat of the now burnt dirt threatened to swallow the very insults that Kurogane hurled at the precursor of the fire.
The flame around them corroded the trees and hot screams from the foliage around them exploded with a hue of grey.
With a loud thud, a tree's remains fell to the ground, splayed open for all to observe with a terrifying gaze.
Smoke and smog filled the air at an alarming rate.
It was getting harder and harder for Kurogane to breathe.
The seared trees around them had burst open from the sudden increase in heat within this hungry hellfire.
Barragon grinned at the fiery log of wood dividing them and with sudden strength, reached towards the log and threw it across the charred dirt.
At this point, hurling such a large log wasn't even an impossibility.
Kurogane was convinced that Barragon could launch a boulder like a lightweight lure if he wanted to.
Kurogane took a deep breath, almost coughing from the smoke, and poised himself to take action, rather than succumb to trepidation.
He wouldn't let fear paralyze him again.
The fire around him terrified him to no end, but he wouldn't stand here and let anyone throw him around like a ragdoll. His father had ingrained too much for someone like him to go to waste.
Kurogane wouldn't let anyone take away the little memory of home from him.
Crash.
Another tree's corpse fell, and Barragon rushed towards Kurogane at a hefty speed.
How the hell did a man of that siz–
He had no time to think.
Kurogane quickly pushed the rushing fist of flame aside, avoiding the fiery hand barely by pushing away his meaty forearm rather than the wrist, which was covered in flame.
Despite the deflection, Barragon pressed onward. He used his elbow to fight off the parry.
His elbow jabbed forward, a jet of wind following as Kurogane dodged to the side, his face feeling the wind. Though he couldn't stop the momentum and he began to fall off balance.
He overshot it due to his inability to confront the flames before him.
His stance had been thrown off from the quick one-two with one arm…
One arm?
While falling, Barragon's other arm was already raised in a fist above Kurogane's head, ready to crush it.
Shit, Kurogane focused on one arm too heavily; now the other was coming to punish his lack of balance.
He caught himself by placing his hand on the ground, and lifted his leg as fast as he could.
He planned to strike the brute while he attacked him, using his momentum against him, but he felt an overwhelming sense of fright from attempting to counterattack.
Kurogane pivoted off of his palm, shooting backwards onto blackened dirt.
He saw as Barragon's hand breathed with flame.
For once, his refined senses paid off.
Barragon: "Quick on your feet, huh? No worries, I'll make sure you never move that fast again."
Barragon chimed, his hand resting about his shaggy beard as he contemplated something.
In the one moment he had been allowed to rest, he tried to formulate a plan. A plan to beat the behemoth before him.
What seemed to happen whenever he clenched his fists was to beget fire. Barragon gave life to the inanimate fire before the both of them, and manipulated the flames to his whim.
What did that mean for Kurogane though?
Either way he looked at it, there only remained a barrier that he couldn't cross.
Was running his best idea?
He quickly shoved that thought aside. He wouldn't run, he never had, and never will. When his thoughts returned to reality—a beast was about to collide with Kurogane.
Kurogane realized, within the small time he had before Barragon rammed into him, Kurogane didn't have time to dodge.
Instead, his hands raised to his chest, his right arm interlacing his left arm, forming a double layered cross block. He had to create a cross block to truly fortify his defenses in hopes that Barragon's strength wasn't vast enough to stun him entirely.
Barragon shot forward, ramming into Kurogane as he predicted.
Perfect, just as he planned—
Kurogane: "—Ngh!!"
A strength unlike any before.
As if a cannonball embedded itself within his torso.
The amount of force generated by the momentum Barragon had built up decimated Kurogane's reinforced block. Kurogane had nowhere near the strength nor technique necessary to block the battering ram that was Barragon's shoulder.
All of the remaining air was shot out of him, alongside splatters of red blood.
Why did his own hubris limit him so deftly?!
Kurogane coughed, his body far too stunned to move.
Damn it, that bastard was right. Barragon kept good on his promise to invalidate any chance Kurogane had at running. Kurogane's arms were out of commission. Limp at his sides, his back hunched over in the lack of stamina he retained.
Kurogane's face contorted in anxiety as he realized what lay ahead.
With his body now too banged up to move properly, he'd take the brunt of any devious actions Barragon planned to do.
Kurogane's hopes plummeted at such a realization.
He knew what was about to happen, and with the little hope he had left, begged Fate for something to change.
Yet, Fate laughed in his face.
Kurogane glanced at the ferocity within Barragon's eyes.
Shit.
A fiery hand wrapped itself around Kurogane's shoulder, which seared his skin, and threw the boy across the ashy ground.
Kurogane: "HRAAAH!"
Once he had fully regained his bearings, he was already barreling towards an alit tree.
His eyes widened in fear.
Whether or not he attempted to conquer his fear of fire or not. It wouldn't stop both the immense collision force or the burning fury that awaited him.
The burning sensation of reality lay headfirst.
Kurogane raised his arms with fear-fueled determination in an attempt to block the charred wood before him.
It wasn't enough.
No, not at all.
As Kurogane crashed directly into the orange-red hue tree, pain akin to that of a crumbling sensation began to fill his arms.
Ringing.
Ringing and throbbing.
Ringing and throbbing and disorienting.
Whilst Kurogane attempted to regain his bearings, loud thuds came from behind him. Kurogane was far too stunned to understand what was going on…
Barragon: "I'll admit, for a scrawny little bastard boy, you've got some spunk in ya. But, can you keep those little acrobatics up for long, boy?"
Kurogane turned around, terrified for a moment due to his lack of control in this situation.
He thought he'd be able to overcome this situation, he thought of his strength. It should've been able to conquer such an insurmountable divide.
Yet, it wasn't enough. Barragon remained upright and seemed completely fine.
At a far range, fear began to pick up as Kurogane noticed the flames screaming beside him. Heat waves distort Barragon, and trees splinter from the fire. The smog began to pick up now too.
This certainly didn't help him at all.
Kurogane's eyes darted around, noticing the fire consuming all before him.
Flames had swallowed all.
Fiery fingers decomposing and breaking down everything within its caustic stomach.
Fear was consuming him.
Kurogane: "Fuck, fuck, fuck…"
Kurogane was starting to lose focus.
Yet, Barragon wasn't.
Barragon slowly walked forward as the boy became consumed in despair.
His lumbering shape slowly became orange too, akin to the flames nearby.
When Kurogane finally came to, he saw Barragon a mere few feet away from him, and fire roared from his back.
Kurogane's legs moved backwards without his command, his fractured arms trying to grab for safety.
What the hell was going on with his body?
His brows furrowed, despondency beginning to fill the very marrow within him.
Without a thought, he almost turned around and ran away…
He stopped himself before he could, but the inferno roaring around him pushed him away, beckoning him to run for dear life.
Barragon: "Something the matter, boy?"
Barragon was now directly in front of him, his shadow far larger than anything else due to the flames behind the beast of a man.
Barragon: "Does it hurt when you fly like an insect against the ground? Why do you seem so hurt, boy?"
Kurogane backed away, falling onto the spot and ash beneath him. From the looming flames before him, his body yelled at him to escape.
His chest heaved with anxiety and fright.
He didn't know what to do…
He knew he got in and over his head. He shouldn't have decided to play the big man in charge like his father. Now he'd pay—and dearly for that matter.
Right now, despair tugged at him and urged him to run.
How would Kurogane be capable of even fighting a man who had the ability to control the very flames that had burned this small island and possibly many others to soot and ash? No matter what angle he possibly looked at this from, this death puzzle had ensnared him wholly, and had already begun eating away at his will to continue.
There seemed to be no way out of this hell, and his hubris led to the fire only growing in size—
Crouched down, in front of Kurogane, lay the man who shoved this island into the gaping maw of the inferno.
Barragon's back remained alit, his stature still sizable regardless of if he crouched down.
His muscles didn't respond to any command he gave them. Kurogane was unable to move from that spot.
Without a palpable plan to fight, nor a way to run away…
Kurogane Victis was frozen amongst the flames.
Barragon's hand extinguished, and came to rest on the paralyzed boy's shoulder.
Barragon: "This boy is unable to move! Hah, like a fish beneath the hull of a ship."
Barragon sneered, a large grimace returning to his face as the upper hand had comfortably been tossed to Barragon again.
Kurogane's eyes shot at Barragon's hand. Whether or not he wanted to, Barragon's palm rested upon him. Kurogane was unable to move, not even in the slightest, as if held up by a blade.
Crackling death loomed upon him, wearing away at all hopes, turning them to ash. He felt the cold breath of death press upon his neck as the hand of flame sat atop his shoulder. Kurogane felt as if he had already been disconnected from his shoulders. Nothing but a moribund body upon the floor. As if a corpse, waiting to be buried.
Pernicious flames surround him, preparing to eviscerate him, and consume him whole.
Head, body, soul.
Everything reduced to ash.
The fire around Kurogane extinguished his will to fight.
Barragon's other fist was cocked backwards already.
Doom awaited the pathetic boy.
Kurogane could not avert his eyes, nor his body at the flaming fist rushing towards his abdomen.
Crunch.
—The little air he had left had departed him
—A gelid feeling pierced his abdomen.
—Blood rushed towards his stomach.
Amongst the calamitous cacophony of fire, the boy had fallen down at a tree, his body unable to move.
Not because of fear, for that had left alongside the air within his lungs from that devastating blow, but rather due to the immense pain that encapsulated his torso in its entirety.
Kurogane lay slouched over at a tree.
Tinnitus spoke into his ears.
Blood attempted to escape through his mouth.
Fire screamed at the fallen boy beneath the tree.
He wasn't only gasping for air desperately, but he was attempting not to retch. That strike to his stomach felt as if his very body had been dented. Without oxygen, he'd lose what little control he had of this fight left. The worst part was that the air was already getting sparse from the smoke infiltrating his lungs.
He lay, fallen at the ground.
No serenity dared to approach him. All that encompassed him was the warm void that begged for him to enter.
What surrounded him was fire.
Fire that was the bane of his existence.
Fire that held him down.
Fire that ripped the life he had from his hands.
Fire that ensured he knew one thing.
He could never have control.
Barragon was approaching him steadily, but within his mind, nothing was steady. Everything rumbled, shaking and twisting. Just as if back then…
He could never have control.
There was no longer fear. Only the feeling of despair. With that punch that Barragon embedded within him, he was disheartened. Nothing he could do here had meaning. No matter what move he did, no matter what stance he assumed, nothing would change this outcome. He couldn't flee either, the fire around him made sure of that. Kurogane was trapped in the same fire that killed them too.
It doesn't matter, does it?
He wonders if this is how his mother felt, trapped in that hut. Was it worse for her? Was it depressing for her? Was it miserable for her?
There was a blazing fire surrounding him, as if within a labyrinth of heat and blackened trees. It echoed and crackled the one thing that could possibly permeate his mind within this depression.
He could never, ever have control.
Barragon approached him, standing in front of Kurogane as blood oozed from his abdomen. Barragon was poised to finish the fight.
Kurogane eyes' didn't dare move, as injuries and burns riddled all of his body.
They were locked onto the ground. In some attempt to escape the behemoth approaching him.
Kurogane tried to think of something, anything. He had to find a way out, yet flames restricted him from each and every side.
Barragon was only getting closer.
Smoke broke into Kurogane's mouth, infiltrating his lungs once more. He coughed and coughed, trying to grab at the scraps of air left within the atmosphere.
Nothing.
Only blood spat out from his mouth, nothing returned.
Barragon emanated flame, cinders dropping around the captain. He was mere moments from ending Kurogane's life.
With a heave of his chest, and many sputters of blood, Kurogane's mouth moved, barely murmuring one word.
Kurogane: "Why…"
Kurogane's vision of the floor was interrupted with two large legs.
He knew it was him.
Kurogane knew Barragon would finish the job.
Kurogane knew he'd be erased.
Kurogane was very well aware that he was one of the only people to escape the inferno of Langoss village. He meant nothing,
As if painting over a white blot upon a dark, ink filled paper. He'd be reduced to a memory.
A memory which no one shared.
A forgotten existence.
Barragon spoke up, his breath slow and calm.
Barragon: "Why you ask, boy? It's simple, really. Because I won't have a single soul on this damned ocean dare to think they are safe. My hands will reach out, and conquer all. Such as this pathetic island here, you'll be reduced to ash too."
Barragon crouched down once more, meeting Kurogane's eyes.
Barragon: "And until that happens, I won't relent. Do you understand, filth?"
A question that rang in his mind like a bell. Echoing and echoing.
Barragon: "DO YOU FUCKIN' UNDERSTAND?!"
Barragon yelled into his ear, noise piercing the thoughts he had before.
Barragon stared into his eyes, before laughing.
A constant laugh—the one of which set this island ablaze cackled before him.
One of which caused Kurogane's body to burn.
One of which caused Kurogane's soul to fall into the depths of flame.
One of which forced him to remember.
It echoed amongst the crackling and falling of trees and flame.
Barragon caught his breath, plumes of smoke escaping his lips, before casting a gaze upon the boy once more.
Barragon: "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust."
Barragon's hand outstretched towards the fallen child once more, his palm facing Kurogane.
The crackling of flame grew louder, and louder, and louder, and louder, and louder. It was all that rang in Kurogane's mind.
In the one moment he dared to look up, a ball of flame had spawned in Barragon's palm once more. The crackling of fire came from his hand, not around Kurogane.
Something within Kurogane urged him to beg.
Beg for his life.
Beg to be remembered by someone.
Beg to not be forgotten.
Beg to stay something, anything at all.
Beg not to be reduced to the ashes around him.
Beg not to be alike those who had fallen before him.
Beg not to be like his mother, his father or the friends who once surrounded and loved him.
Plea for help, for mercy, for remembrance.
Yet, all that awaited him, was the cruel hand that had crushed many before him, set all those who wronged him ablaze, and claimed the title of the Everblazing.
Barragon released the flame.
Instantly, red and orange hues clouded his vision.
There is no pain.
No struggle.
The inferno had spat him out, leaving a decomposing corpse.
As his vision clears, Kurogane's body stings with pain.
A frigid, cold pain.
As if his very body was beginning to freeze over in the sea of flame.
Perhaps it was the cold embrace of death.
Perhaps he had finally been freed from this burning hell.
Within his final death throes, he thought of grievances regarding his life.
All he wished is that he could have control.
—Kurogane Victis was eaten by the flames.