"We need sixty more seconds to complete the energy charge," the Guardian replied, operating the control panel beside the metal door. "But at this rate, we won't hold out that long."
Gandalf's sword light suddenly became blinding as a massive violet blade wave slashed toward the Flame Wall. "Void Slash!"
Ace felt the world spin as the Emperor Flame Wall collapsed with a crash. The shockwave hurled him several meters away, and he slammed heavily into the metal door. Flame Emperor Armor's defense system activated at once, absorbing most of the impact, but Ace still felt dizzy.
Gandalf slowly walked through the shattered Flame Wall, his longsword hanging at his side, its tip scraping against the metal floor with a teeth-grating sound.
"You have nowhere left to retreat to, young heir of D," Gandalf said calmly. "Hand over the Flame Emperor Armor, and I can give you a dignified death."
Ace struggled to his feet, the Flame Seed Stone on his chest flickering unsteadily. He could feel that the armor's connection had become unstable after taking such heavy damage, yet the True Flame surging within him was more restless than ever, as if some power were awakening.
"I won't let you have your way," Ace snarled, glaring at Gandalf. "Whatever you things are, if you want to destroy this world, you'll have to step over my corpse first!"
At that moment, the Flame Seed Stone suddenly burst into dazzling light. Every golden rune on the armor lit up, forming a complex magic circle. Ace felt a mysterious power surge from the Flame Seed Stone into his consciousness.
"Emperor Domain is activating," the armor seemed to have gained its own awareness, speaking directly in Ace's mind through some unknown means. "Initialization complete. Domain deployed."
In an instant, a spherical space formed