Support my main contracted novel and winner of Writing Prompts #26 - The Legendary Mage!
Desolate Mage: A Legend Reborn!
https://www.webnovel.com/book/12013957905760805/Desolate-Mage%3A-A-Legend-Reborn!
* * * * *
The black-haired boy stood before the dessicated corpse of Nadal-dug.
"My, my child... L-l-let me, tell you our story..."
The black-haired boy yawned; he had heard the story. He did not respond to his... Creator's story.
But it had been amusing, at least.
* * * * *
[Time remaining until Demon Duke's summoning: 1 minutes 57 seconds. Portal HP: 23%]
* * * * *
"Are you alright?" Romilda quickly pressed a priceless elixir to Sam's lips; urging her to drink it.
When they had arrived on the battle scene, it was apparent that Caitlyn and Sebastian were at least acquaintances; as they exchanged a cordial but perfunctory bow.
Romilda had been the first to arrive; as she had sensed the urgent crisis and used her Boots of Travels daily long-distance Blink to arrive - just in the nick of time to save Sam.
As she drank the elixir, Sam's wounds began to miraculously fade away; leaving only the remnants of dried blood on her now completely restored body.
"I'm Romilda." She moved to help Sam up; but Sam leaped to her feet - ready to go for round 3.
"I'm Sam! Thank you!" Sam smiled; but her gaze was fixed on her earlier opponent; eager for payback.
The duo were gathered behind their elders. The group of 5 stood alongside one another, facing off against Marquis Zusthra and Major Helena; ready for battle the moment it erupted.
The demon Marquis seemed ready to strike at any time; yet he continued standing there, smiling congenially.
The Principal spoke first, in a hushed whisper. "They're stalling. Something big is up; we can't let them drag for time, or else..."
Caitlyn's eyes flitted over to the red portal behind the demon to confirm the energy levels. He was right; another demon Marquis could have already come through if that was their aim.
"We three--" Caitlyn indicated herself, Sebastian and Swordmaster Bannon, the 3 strongest combatants, "--Take on the demon Marquis. From her power level, the demoness should be a Major; around level 23 or 24. You and you--" she pointed at Principal Snow and Vigdis, "--Will need to work together to pin her down."
She turned to Romilda and Sam.
"We'll be relying on you to get past the young demon Captain and take down the portal."
Sam and Romilda nodded gravely. They knew that they held the key to the battle.
Just then, Principal Snow looked like he had reached an internal conclusion. He interjected. "All agreed, except..."
He disappeared in a blur, reappearing before Zusthra.
"I'll take him on alone."
The two short and bald old men erupted with the power of level 29 semi-divine beings and rose up into the sky; as they knew the earth would not be able to bear the collateral damage from their clash. One was concerned for his companions; the other to avoid damaging the portal.
A rainbow bridge formed across the sky; erected by mutual agreement; upon which the two nigh-god's collided.
* * * * *
Momentarily stunned, the other 6 people shook themselves out of their reverie and looked at the Major; who stood alone in front of them. Behind her was the demon boy still beside the portal.
"Well...? Don't keep me waiting... I like women just as much as men; and I'm more than capable of serving 6... It feels better with more people..." She laughed seductively, releasing a palpable wave of charm towards their party.
"Hmmph!" Caitlyn waved her hand and erected a solid barrier in front of Sam and Romilda; dispelling the soul-temptation. The rest were above level 18; where their souls would join with their laws or concepts - they easily shook off the temptation; each with their own form of mental protection.
"Vile temptress! None of us are that weak! Wait until I skin you and use your bones to make a 1,000 demon banner!"
Or at least that's what Caitlyn, Vigdis and Sebastian thought; until the Swordmaster's eyes turned bloodshot and red; and he struck out at the red-haired woman beside him; instantly piercing her throat and spine.
"NO!!!!" The surviving 5 rushed towards the Swordmaster; Caitlyn sending a bolt of lightning at him from her charms; shocking the Swordmaster temporarily; while Sebastian demonstrated his instantaneous movement from his Xing Yi Quan Bu Fa (footwork) and closed the distance in a flash.
But it was too late. Swordmaster Bannon released his sword-aura and shattered the bonds of lightning; then met Sebastian's Tiger Claw with a slash of his fencing sword.
Blood spurted out of the slender swordsman's mouth; as he was knocked back. But before Sebastian could follow-up on his attack, the swordsman flash-stepped back - to take his place beside Major Helena.
Sebastian kept his eyes forward while he knelt down to check on his companion's state. His face fell. She was already gone.
What was worse; was that her death seemed to have strengthened the red portal; the intensity of colour grew sharper and fiercer; indicating that they had just under a minute left before all hell literally broke out.
Sebastian shed no tears, nor were there any traces of anger or remorse on his face. He merely coolly looked to Caitlyn and Princess Romilda who had just landed by his side while he covered Vigdis' eyes as a death rite. He looked indifferent on the outside - but the stoic man was seething with rage beneath the surface.
"Princess Romilda; I will have to humbly beseech you for assistance - these two opponents are above me to face alone."
"You need not ask; Sebastian." Righteous anger lit up the war-like princess' eyes. "I will flay them alive for what they've done to our Vigdis!"
Then Sebastian nodded to Caitlyn. The two easterners whose sects were rivals exchanged a look.
"4th seat of the Kunlun Faction; the young genius Miss Kate Lin." Caitlyn - Kate Lin - was not surprised that he knew her. She too had recognised the man.
He continued, "Shall we set aside our ideological differences just this one time for our... *Guests* over there...?" He beckoned with his head toward their opponents.
Kate Lin smiled icily; with a murderous glint in her eyes. "Yes, I completely agree, Sir Shiba Tian (literally Eighteenth Heaven in Chinese); 18th son of the Heavenly Master Sect. Let us show our *guests* how we in the east show, ahem, *hospitality*." She spoke with venom in her words; showing her loathing for the demoness and ally-turned-enemy.
As Shiba Tian and Romilda charged forward as front-liners, Kate Lin dispersed her formation flags in their surrounding vicinity; and began to chant to lay down a Suppression Field of lightning; the 2nd best element for exorcising ghosts, evil and demons after the Holy Element.
Even though their opponents combined level far exceeded theirs; Shiba Tian and Romilda showed a masterful cooperation. They struck and defended; and also advanced & retreated at will, pinning down the Major and Swordmaster.
Their combined strength multiplied as they showed their advantage of familiarity and team chemistry; allowing them to hold their own for the moment. However, the difference in levels and strength began to show.
Nonetheless, despite the duos advantage in skill and combat tactics and Romilda's heaven-defying rune set and equipment, she would get knocked back several metres everytime she was forced to block a blow from the dual-wielding demoness or the Swordmaster.
And the demoness showed transcendent swordsmanship, her two swords drawing beautiful patterns around her in an area of impregnable defence. Every time she struck out, it was like a serpent's bite, aiming at their vital points no matter how they moved.
Each time that happened, Shiba Tian would have to consume his qi to defend himself from the masterful blows; while Romilda would have to forcefully block it and get blown away, left pale faced and opening a gap in their defence.
During those short openings; Shiba Tian would come under the combined onslaught of both the demoness and the swordsman.
Until Kate Lin unleashed her trump card - "Heavenly Vajra Domain!"
The instant she completed the spell; Shiba Tian recognised it and grabbed Romilda, then jumped; nearly impaled by their enemy's stabs as they retreated.
Their enemies faces changed in surprise and they too strove to escape the formation. This time it was too late for them.
Electricity snaked out from the ground; forming shackles around their ankles then surrounding their whole bodies.
From the electric shackles, a miniscule thread of electricity rose to the skies - the skies in response sent down Heavenly Vajra White Lightning; engulfing the demoness and Swordmaster in effulgent white light - then an explosion.
BOOM!!!
"Sam, go now!" Kate Lin shouted; as she dared not assume the demon combatant's had been defeated; she continued with her hand seals and flung out countless daoist yellow charms, causing a string of explosions to bombard her enemies.
Finally, Sam's opportunity to bypass the Major and Swordsman arose - she advanced with a charge like that of a chariot; headed straight for the portal - and the demon boy.
At the same time, Princess Romilda and Shiba Tian were charging up their ultimate attacks.
"Space Sword - White Light Slash!" The teenage girl looked physically drained as she shouted and released her finishing move; an invisible shimmering of the air the only sign of the space-cleaving sword attack.
Shiba Tian's move was far less flashy - but only more destructive, not less.
"Demon Sealing Fist! Wo yu feng tian![1]" He struck out in slow-motion; but the moment he completed the forceful punch; it was as if the sky turned dark despite the lightning and explosions striking down on the formation area.
As he struck out; the illusory character for seal (feng) appeared, painted by fierce brush strokes and red ink. Then the area in the formation was *depressed* as if an immense gravity bomb had forcefully slammed the earth downwards by 10 metres.
Then the lightning, explosions, luminescence and flames were sliced in half - the effect of Romilda's transcendent sword move far surpassing her level. In the split second when reality, space and time were cleaved asunder; Kate Lin, Shiba Tian and Romilda's caught sight of their enemies - and their hearts tightened.
The swordsman had willingly used his own body to shield Major Helena from most of the impact of the battle - igniting his own life force and depleting his mana and even his own soul to protect her. All their efforts had only been able to take down their former companion.
And time was running out; placing enormous pressure on them.
They could only hope to tie down the demoness; and trust the monstrously strong girl to settle her own opponent - and destroy the portal.
All in less than 30 seconds.
She tossed down his body; ignoring the burns on her face, body and clothes. Then she charged forward through the formation which had expended its power; brandishing her red and black pair of long swords to clash once more with the trio of humans.
(3-on-1...?) She smiled confidently.
* * * * *
Sato looked on as Sam surged forward; towards him.
She looked confident; evidently she had gained from her experience of fighting a magic-user for the first time.
But he was equally confident.
His mana was full; and he had gained as much; if not more skill and battle experience through their few clashes earlier.
And his OP skills cooldowns were over.
(Come, let me show you the god-like power of a system!) His hands lit up with flames and darkness intermingling as he prepared a "welcoming gift" for their fourth round of battle.
The two youths smiled as they met once more on the desperate battlefield for planar supremacy; while sky-rending explosions and ice-age inducing frost blasts engulfed the skies.
* * * * *
[Time remaining until Demon Duke's summoning: 22 seconds. Portal HP: 23%]