Zack slammed his hands together as the boulders halted in their tracks. The flames were prepared to overwhelm his vest, but Zack's wings shielded him. Elizabeth amplified the force as Zack was gradually burrowing into the ground. Under the pressure, Zack managed to keep calm and focused on the boulders.
'Why can't I control them anymore?'
Helena recalled the classes with Valan discussing the caution of large-scale attacks. That if used improperly they could be used against you. Helena was a powerful child but spreading her influence over so many boulders was difficult. It was also a new skill for Helena, and she still struggled on not shattering them under her might.
With a calm mind, Helena saw her flaw and switched tactics. Instead of controlling all of them, she focused on one. The boulder began to shake, but the others surrounding it slammed into it. They all morphed together forming a golem.
Its hands extended towards Elizabeth forcing the stream to end as she spun. Her tail shattered the arms in an instant, but Zack appeared behind her landing a strike on the vest. Another strike was coming, but Elizabeth flapped her wings vigorously to retreat. After escaping to Helena's side she gave her a smile.
"Have you been practicing?" Elizabeth asked.
Helena nodded eagerly before looking back at Zack. Elizabeth stared down the encroaching golem as she roared. Elizabeth transformed while dashing forward as her palms illuminated. Zack reached for the river as an eastern dragon formed.
"Not fast enough!" Elizabeth declared propelling into the golem.
Its body was instantly covered in cracks as flames erupted through its body. The dragon was encroaching on Elizabeth's location with its mouth opened. It intended to seize her vest and eliminate the remaining crystals in one move.
Elizabeth scoffed and placed her hands an inch apart as flames ignited. She rapidly extended them as a large blast of flames sat in her palm. Elizbeth hurled it towards the dragon as they prepared to collide. Karin watched in admiration at how easily she could conjured flames.
'Dragons are truly on another level. If any of us could close that gap it's her.' Karin smiled at Tanya.
The sound of steam hissing filled the arena along with a thick mist. Elizabeth could see the dragon's body intact and charged at Zack as the elements battled. Zack narrowly dodged the strike from Elizabeth as a cut went across his cheek.
"Not aiming for the vest anymore?" Zack's wound quickly healed.
Zack stepped in on the next swing and turned towards Elizabeth while seizing her arm to hurl her. The counter worked, but only momentarily due to her wings extending. Elizabeth shifted her momentum forward as the tail swung for his shoulder.
In Elizabeth's transformed state, her tail was no joke, and Zack was forced to conjure his spear to block. A shockwave erupted from the pressure as the ground cracked beneath them. He exerted force knocking her tail back exposing himself.
"Now!" Elizabeth relayed.
Helena transformed quickly as golden threads seized the shoulder straps of Zack's vest. He saw them form, but couldn't react in time to their speed. Before his wings could sever the line Helena yanked the vest shattering it in an instant.
"We win," Elizabeth smirked as her body gradually reverted.
"I didn't know you two could transform that fast." Zack's spear dissipated as he descended.
"We never stopped practicing," Elizabeth replied.
Helena ran up to Zack to hug his leg. After squeezing him tightly for a minute she looked up with a grin. Helena knew it would be difficult to deny her request to go anymore.
"Why are you smiling like that?" Zack lifted her up.
"Because we can go with papa now." Helena looked at Elizabeth for backup.
"If she can catch you off guard then a few troublemakers won't be a problem." Elizabeth teased.
"You do have a point. We gotta work on the rules though okay?" Zack smiled at Helena.
"Okay!" Helena squeezed tightly before running to tell her momma.
Zack was trailing behind her when Elizabeth seized his arm. He turned around to see a nervous look on her face. Elizabeth knew the feed was still live on the arena, but she couldn't pass up the opportunity. She leaned into Zack's chest to speak discreetly.
"Do-doesn't the w-winner usually get so-something," Elizabeth mumbled.
"What do you want?" Zack lifted her chin to gaze into her eyes.
"D-da-date," Elizabeth muttered.
"I'm still a little hard of hearing from the last blow." Zack teased.
Elizabeth stomped on his foot before kissing Zack. She looked towards the stands briefly before soaring into the sky. For a brief moment, she looked back with a flushed face.
"Y-you heard me!" Elizabeth shouted before disappearing.
Zack smiled as he floated up to the others. He was quickly crowded by his family as they discussed today's game. Hearing his partners talk enthusiastically with the children made him smile. He used his remaining time to listen to the stories of their sparring.
"We might have to make some more alterations to the wagon." Zack smiled.
"That wouldn't be too hard," Vanessa stated.
"There are more lessons to do before they're all ready," Haruna told Zack.
"What about us?" Tanya asked.
"I can have everyone ready by the next trip." Haruna smiled.
"We can go to the capital?" Crowley investigated.
"Not everyone can survive down there, and it's dangerous," Lilith replied.
"I'm not scared." Crowley crossed his arms.
Zack noticed all the scuff marks across his body and a tower of knots atop his head.
'Seems they clashed after all.'
"Didn't go easy on him?" Zack asked Lilith.
"Considering his transgressions I did. Isn't that right?" Lilith locked eyes with Crowley as he looked away.
"Y-yeah, big sis is very generous," Crowley replied.
'Not worth pissing her off again.' He shuddered.
"You're cutting it pretty close you know," Dyna told Zack.
Hearing this Amy rushed over to embrace him.
"Thank you." Amy smiled up at Zack.
"We should be thanking you for the memories." Zack caressed Amy's cheek while enjoying the soft embrace of her wings.
"When will you be back?" Yuki inquired.
"Altering the village shouldn't take too long," Zack replied.
"Could you bring back the usual?" Ren asked.
"A little extra this time," Yuki stated.
"Of course." Zack smiled at his loved ones before disappearing.