In the Forge Hall, nearly ten minutes had passed since the desperate battle.
"Cough, cough... thank you, High Guardian."
The weakened Ignis sat cross-legged on the floor. The wound on his forehead had yet to heal. In fact, since it had been formed by the clash between order and chaos, it would almost never heal without special treatment. Fortunately, after nearly ten minutes of hellish torment, the Runes Giant known as the Most Ancient Smith had finally regained his senses.
Well, not completely. Dick's still faintly burning left hand proved that. But at least Ignis had recovered most of his reason. Guardians were different from mortals; even in this state, he could suppress the chaos surging within him on his own. At least things would not get worse.
Using order power to dispel the chaos afflicting a Guardian was no simple matter. Even Dick, as he was now, felt a trace of exhaustion. Fortunately, his body was unlike an ordinary person's, and he needed only a little rest to recover fully.
Dick waved away Ignis's thanks. He stood before Ignis, and although he was much stronger than the Forge Master in terms of combat strength alone, even with the giant sitting cross-legged on the floor, the contrast between them was like that between a human and a mouse.
"If you hadn't appeared, I'm afraid I wouldn't have lasted much longer."
With lingering fear, Ignis glanced at the buildings farther back in Ulduar. He said quietly, "Thousands of years ago, that voice began appearing deep within me. I don't even know when I was overcome. It was terrifying... truly terrifying. The prisoner had escaped, yet we knew nothing about it."
"That is precisely why I came, Forge Master. Tell me, what is the situation inside Ulduar now?"
Dick looked into Ignis's