Chapter 52
Pillars of fire and mountainous surges of water cascaded through the battlefield. The sea of imperial soldiers struggled just to defend against the onslaught produced by the two female warriors. Fira and Telu synchronized their attacks almost perfectly. They each picked up where the other left off and made up for one another's shortcomings. Resting their backs firmly against the other, they presented a unity their enemies would soon see in their nightmares.
Covering her body in wild flames, Fira assumed the wings of a phoenix and took flight. Gusts of scorching heat bombarded the armies each time she moved her arms. This process had occurred a couple times in the battle up to this point. She would fly around to create curtains of fire so as to limit the amount of enemies they would fight at one time. This technique was especially helpful for the non-elemental guard fighting alongside them. However, this particular trip ended a bit differently. When Fira returned to her original position, she could not see her friend. She dropped to the ground as she looked, but it did not help. Frantically, she ran about, searching.
She avoided the imperials and covered the area thoroughly. Finally, one small sign presented itself to her. Buried in the snow, something sparkled faintly. Her fierce eyes recognized it immediately. The necklace her gentle friend always kept close lay quietly, abandoned on the cold ground.
Fira knelt down to pick up the necklace, "Telucani, where have you gone?"
***
The Alpha removed his arms from the newly-formed pillars next to him and turned to look at Lux. He slowly walked toward him descending from his raised platform.
"You'll have to excuse my underlings for being rude. I told them to make sure you reached me alone. It wasn't entirely necessary, but I made a promise to a certain person that I wouldn't allow my pride to underestimate you again." He stopped just in front of his blue-haired adversary. The colored light poured in through the windows behind him. The atmosphere tensed, neither warrior let their guard down.
"A certain person?" Lux questioned, but moved on. "No single member of the Primis is seeking this conflict. I am here to appeal to your reason. Stop this madness. Let my realm free from your grasp, and we will leave peacefully. I know and understand your logic behind this assault on my people, but I warn you now: it will not end the way you imagine. It cannot."
The Alpha smirked briefly, but a wild fury flickered behind his eyes. "You want me to simply lay aside justice because you ask it? Everything I've done has led to this moment. No, I won't stop. I've been given all power to carry out my noble purpose. I can't fail now."
"You must fail now. Do you think you have received power? It is far from it. 'A certain person'? You are missing one of your Betas. That person possessed great importance. Now where is she? Was she the price? This is what The Source accomplishes. Corruption, devastation, and failure. You have not received power. You have been betrayed."
Tremendous power flowed from the Alpha like a violent gust of wind. His presence became perfectly oppressive. "You speak to me as if I'm a child. Boy, I am two hundred years old. Perhaps you will finally understand when you taste my conviction."
He shot forward in a flash. His fist cracked like thunder on impact. Lux held his palm steady. Holding off the attack, his body did not give. Three more followed: each one faster than the last. His hands created friction. The air burned with flames. None of them landed. The target deflected, their movements equal in speed.
Lux' body glowed brightly, his eyes sparked with lightning. Briefly, he shot up then back down. Transforming into pure electricity, he traveled through the air. He struck his target. A powerful elbow crashed into the Alpha's shoulder. At first, he cringed slightly but quickly spun. Grabbing his opponent's arm with one hand, he smashed him into the stone floor with the other. The hardness of the stone gave way. Lux' head cracked it until it crumbled underneath him.
"Do you understand now?" The Alpha stood above him, seemingly unscathed. "I cannot be beaten. I am something else entirely."
"I understand...," came a pained response, "I understand it...," he breathed heavily. His open hand scraped the floor to a closed fist. He lifted himself from the floor slowly. Halfway up, he spoke again, "I do understand, but it matters not." He lifted his eyes to meet the eyes of his opponent. "You must lose nonetheless."
The Alpha gritted his teeth in anger. In his estimation, Lux simply wanted to die or he was the most stubborn person in existence. The situation called for another demonstration of power. He drew back his leg and fired it at his enemy's midsection. His leg sliced through his target as Lux disappeared. Suddenly, the blue-haired warrior reappeared on the other side of the room.
"However, I am still lightning."