Nothing Can Stop the Will of the Void

"We're running out of time, successor," Azkaban's voice grew more distant. "Remember, deep within the ruins is an ancient teleportation device. It will take you to the other Guardians."

With that final message, the mental space began to collapse, and Ace's consciousness was yanked back to reality.

When he opened his eyes, only a few seconds had passed. But the situation had become desperate. Guardian KS-7's defensive barrier was almost completely shattered. A deep sword wound ran diagonally from its right shoulder to its left hip, and oil and coolant gushed out.

"Life-form Ace... re... treat..." KS-7's voice broke up. Its systems were on the verge of collapse.

Gandalf stood before the Guardian, his sword wreathed in even denser purple-black energy as he prepared to deliver the final blow. "Nothing can stop the will of the Void."

Rage and the power of Awakening erupted inside Ace at once. The Flame Seed Stone on his chest blazed with blue light, and a surge of heat swept through him more fiercely than before. The energy conduits on his Flame Emperor Armor stopped flickering and glowed a steady blue. Even the damaged armor began to repair itself.

"Gandalf!" Ace's voice carried an authority it had never held before.

Gandalf turned and stared at Ace in shock. "Impossible... How can you..."

Ace slowly rose. Blue True Flame poured from his body and gathered in the air, forming a massive fire dragon that coiled around him. It roared, intelligence gleaming in its eyes as though it were truly alive.

"Emperor Flame Storm!" Ace thrust his right hand forward.

The fire dragon dived at Gandalf and opened its jaws, blasting out a column of pure blue flame. Gandalf raised his sword to block it. Purple-black energy collided with blue fire in a violent explosion, and the