Only noticing that he was pursued after Lucien's save, Corenian finally decided to guard the rear properly
"No use being here if i don't do my part, right Fia?" he muttered, looking to the spirit who just gave him a nod before pointing back, alerting him to a second wave of attackers from the back. Clenching his fist tight, he ground to a halt and slammed the ground hard, causing the ground to tremor slightly. This caused the ground behind them to emit and cracking sound and afew seconds later the attackers were engulfed by the magma that burst forth from the ground. Satisfied with his work, Corenia ran to catch up with the group, rubbing his overstressed knuckles.
"Hmmm? Haven't see that in awhile, better not do it too much or your knuckles really will crack one day," Fia teased as they dashed after the group, catching up sonn enough despite the group's fast pace of movement

Raven sighed as he guarded Shinu's right side. Though it wasn't the best because there was a large pool of magma right there, which meant only one thing. Bombs, and lots of them. Raven then saw the magma moving a little and then out of the fire flew three bombs, arcing up high in the cavern and then falling but stopping before they hit the floor and gently floating back up. Their mouths in a spike grin. "Well don't you guys look like u got me by surprise,"

Raven then ran and did his spinning slash again, hoping to severe one in half on the single attack, but to much of his surprise the bomb caught his blade in its teeth. "You got to be kidding," he stated and then looked at the other two, one on each side, as they arched back high and then began to spin and coming at him like true fireballs. He let go of his blade and jumped up in the air as both of the bombs collided with each other, and richotteing off dazed. Raven landed grapped a hold of his handle and fired the gunblade up the vibrations strong enough to free itself form the jaws of the bomb.

The bomb grew in size, extremely mad at the fact, but Raven didn't pay attention because he was already slaying one of the bombs. Which was killed with a vertical cut down the middle. Zanar then made his way to the other bomb and slew it. He then heard a deep growl behind him and turned to see the bomb as big as it could get. "Well, damn," Raven said and watched as the bomb started to glow white and then a huge explosion rocked the cavern and Raven flew out from the smoke and bashed up against a wall, falling flat, his blade to his side.

"D-d-damn th-thing," Raven said grabbing his blade and struggling to even get on his knees. His body had smoke rising from the explosion. There was also blooding coming from his mouth, which he spit to the side. It also felt like he was on fire.

Shinu was a little scared... okay, he was very scared. Bodies were flying around him and monsters getting shattered by the dozens. The bats and buels were proving to be not much of a contest, but the bombs that Raven was dealing with looked tough. Shinu wanted to help, he felt like a baby in the middle. But he knew that every second he was getting closer to the moment of truth. Slowly he was lowering his body temperature to be able to summon Shiva in a flash.

Raven look out!

What Shinu didn't know was that the bomb's self destruct wasn't going to hurt just Raven. Shinu was running towards him and got caught in the explosion. Before he knew it, his body was getting hotter, would have been burnt if not for his previous cooling. Suddenly, the wind swept him off his feet and the blast sent him soaring back. When he looked down, he realized he was not going to have a cool landing... he was falling straight into the lava. It was all over he thought. Instantly he went into a panic, he couldn't save the world dead!

HEEEEEEELLLLLLLPPPPPPP!!!!

Shinu hoped that wouldn't be his last word.

Grieves turned back to see the others in trouble. He blamed himself for not protecting the others. He was their first line of defense and he failed them. Thankfully Shinu was saved by Kira, but Kira now layed unconcious, and Raven was mortally wounded. Things have obviously gone very VERY wrong.

Grieves sprinted back, his sword in one hand, one of the two daggers in the other. Leaping over the monsters that circled the unconcious Kira Grieves spun his body around, cutting bats and bombs down with ease. As he landed a Buel spun at him, the usual Buel attack. Grieves lept over the attack and stabbed his sword through the center, and with his dagger he spun his body around and stabbed it into the body of a red bat before he could get bit. Finally after all the carnage, the group had a brief moment of peace.

"Son of a bitch..."

Shinu land on the sword!

He heard this, but was it in time? Shinu already considered himself dead. What sword anyways? Landing on a sword didn't exactly sound pleasant. Look down before you die!!!! He could hear himself trying to alert his brain to get that message across.

Looking down Shinu saw a familiar blade, a wide one that he actually could land on. How firm was it stuck into the volcano? What if he missed, or slipped?! This was bad, very bad. Not like he had any better choices.

Come on...

Shinu quickly adjusted his body. He wasn't a fighter, but he was a master at controlling his body, as evidenced by his temperature control. When he was straight, he pulled his knees up high enough to give himself a wide base. With his feet spread a bit, he got both feet on the blade. His weight was too much though, the blade bent just enough to knock him off balance. He tip toed down the blade to get closer to the wall, and then his right foot slipped.

Shinu was falling again, and his only hope was to land back on that path. He kicked desperately at the wall and managed to hit enough to propel him towards the path.

Ahhhhhhh!

Shinu was now in a full panic, yelling as he fell. He could tell his upper body would land on the hard rock, but his lower body wouldn't be as fortunate. His legs were too long! His feet were going to land in the lava! He curled, and clenched his entire body.

His body smashed to the ground, and he rolled as quick as possible, just narrowly avoiding getting fried and then sprawled out. Alive was the good news, but his body took a big hit. He struggled to get to his feet...

Grieves moved forward in the moment of peace. The team couldnt take much more abuse from any more monsters, so Grieves pushed on to the end, picking up his Zweihander once again. At the end of the walk way Grieves came to a dead end. A large circular platform that seemed to be the epicenter of the heat. Obviously Ifrit's "throne".

"Come out damn it, Fight me!"

The ground began to shake. Fires erupted all around the platform. From the center of the platform flames came together and made out the shape of a Demon. This was no demon however, Grieves knew this being in front of him was Ifrit. The demon laughed in Johnathan's face.

"A mere mortal could never be a challenge for me... however, I shall humor you. You will witness the power of a TRUE GOD!" Ifrit roared as flames were gathered in front of him. Punching the ball of flames in front of him created a volley of fireballs rocketing towards Grieves. The impact was too strong for him to block and eventually a fireball broke through his guard. Ifrit moved to attack during this opening using all the power he posessed in a final attack. A massive fireball was launched at Grieves, and Johnathan had no time to react. The ball consumed him, launching him back down the path burning him as it did so. Grieves screamed in pain as he flew across the path. Eventually he hit a wall and the ball of fire exploded, dropping Grieves in a smoky, burned mess to the ground.

kairi smiled walking out side with a loving smile at the fresh air as she walked aimlessly not knowing she was headed for a battle she picked a few flowers and herbs naming them outloud as she practiced her lesson from earlier by trying to heal anything that was wilting as she walked by it

Finally Shinu made it to his feet. His legs wobbled a bit, it was the first time in his entire life that he'd actually felt pain. Well significant pain anyways. His brain was flipping through books like a computer, and finally he reached the words he was searching for. "You never know about the make up of a man until he goes through adversity. All men will fall, but only the greats can rise again and again." It was a quote that he read in a book about war. Reading and being in one was different, but the message hit home. Deep in Shinu's soul, a fire was burning. A fire that just might be great enough to match a Fire God.

Shinu looked around. His new friends were hurt, he was hurt, hurt was all around him. This is what he asked for. This is why they were here. He would not have it anymore.

Shiva!

A loud roaring voice came out of Shinu, one that didn't even sound like it could come out of a human. Intensity. Another first for Shinu. Suddenly he began screaming in a fury, poudning the ground with his fists.

Shiva come out! We must go now!!!

The summon was quicker than before. There was no tear. There was no change in body temperature. The sound of Shinu's voice was enough for the Ice Goddess to know this was not a training simulation. She was going to be in the moment of truth. The summon was like none other, it was as if he made her appear out of his emotions.

With Shiva summoned, Shinu's temperature rose. It rose to incredible heights. Anger. Another first. Anger and intensity could do a lot to make a man gain confidence. This man would be Shinu today, and Ifrit, would be his.

I'll be back. Everyone stay here. Nioelle, look after the others, your magic is needed now. Corenian, you must protect them. If I'm not back in ten minutes, I want you to run for help.

Shinu looked down at Johnathan who lay motionless on the ground.

I'll be back. I won't let your body be hurt in vain.

For the first time, Shinu's size was matched by his presence. He was a man today, and this day would be the first day of the rest of his life. He and Shiva pressed on, ready to meet Ifrit head on.

Ifrit! You have hurt my friend! Come out and face your fate!

Ifrit wasted no time, a fireball emerged from the black pit of the epicenter of the volcano. Shiva quickly destroyed it with her index finger. Shinu looked on, he knew that as much as this was his moment, it was hers as well. Shiva froze the ceiling, and jumped up high at it, smashing it with her palm, a rain of ice shards came hurling down on Ifrit, pounding him into the ground. She did it over and over again, the ice shards now approaching hundreds. Ifrit cried out in pain, it's flames growing smaller by the second and its body being tortured by the element it hated the most.

Another inhumane roar filled the volcano, one loud enough to make the entire cave shake a bit. This time it wasn't human, it was Ifrit. His body was glowing green and heat was emitting hotter than the volcano itself. The ice shards melted and evaporated before contact. Shinu was just learning anger, but at this point, Ifrit had mastered it.

A massive ball of fire engulfed Ifrit, smoke steaming all around it. With the ball around him, he ran straight at Shiva. He was moving too fast. She tried to jump, but ended up being smashed against the wall. For what seemed like hours, the two forces pressed against each other, Ice and Fire, Goddess to God. The power was tremendous. Finally, Shiva was able to create and ice sheet between them and slide away.

Now Shiva! Trap it! Ice Dome!

Another sheet of ice, this time six times thicker than the last knocked Ifrit off its feet. He fell backwards on it, and struggled to get up because the surface was too slippery for his feet. He tried to roll off to his right, but a thick wall of ice was rising. Ifrit desperately rolled over the other direction, but that side was rising up too. Just as he made it to his feet, the dome top came over, a complete ice tomb in the shape of a dome trapped Ifrit.

Ifrit, let's stop this. My name is Shinu. I seek to become the greatest summoner in the world. There are others like you and Shiva, and probably more that I have yet to discover. The world is facing grave dangers right now, and your power could fall into the wrong hands. Join Shiva and I as we seek to save the world from iminent doom.

He wasn't buying it. He struggled furiously, smoke coming from the dome. He had no chance though, Shinu and Shiva tested that dome at least a thousand times.

You have to stop struggling, or you'll die sooner. This dome can be your final resting place, or you can help us! I swear to you, if you join our cause, your service to this world will not be in vain.

The struggling stopped. Either Ifrit had died or he was calming down. Or thinking. Shinu's mind was fluttering through the possibilities.

Shiva, a hole please, I wish to speak to Ifrit face to face.

A hole was made a few feet off of the ground, big enough for Shinu to peer through.

A loud roar escaped the hole, and Ifrit held its mouth wide open.

Bravery. Another first. Shinu approached the dome, his blood near its boiling point. Sweat was dripping from him and his temples were pounding.

Look at me! I can harness your power and use it for good! Let's help one another. I promise that if you join me, Balamb Garden will protect your home and only the most worthy of men and women will be allowed to seek your help from this day forth.

Ifrit stopped moving again, his fire red eyes staring directly into Shinu's eyes, equally as red. Without another sound, the dome was empty. Shinu's body was now literally on fire. His skin wasn't burning, but there was definite flames radiating out of him. Slowly they calmed, and the stirring inside of his body settled. Ifrit was home. Shiva then reentered as well, balancing off his body once again.

A tired group narrowly escaped the wreckage that was the volcano. For many years to come, that same place would be a training grounds for new SeeD students. For now though, it was the place that changed the fate of history forever.

Off in the distance a girl was innocently wandering. Hopefully she could help them, because this was quite the battered group. Beaten and bruised, they had done it. Balamb's Garden first mission... was a success.

"oh my gosh!" kairi yelped running up to them

"whos the most hurt i need serious injuries now!" she yelled settng the flowers down and looking them all over

without a moments hesitation she was glowing blue from her elbows to her hands grabbing onto serious injuries and healing them hurrying to the next but you could tell that she was stubbling the more she healed and then she moved to john and blinked remembering his face from him helping her once

she felt a pang on hurt inside and she healed up his serious of injuries before turning to shinu the last of the group

she put a hand on his wound and nearly sliipped off loosing her footing

"um... if you would all please... i cant fix everything at once.. we need to get to the medical office please follow me" she said and helped with everything making sure everyone was fit to travel before grabbing her head. she hadnt thought of giving so much energry and was unwise but as long as they were safe she was ok

"please just this way" she said and kept walkin down to the nurse clinic not to far away

"quickly those spells wont last long!" she yelled back at them