"Oh, isn't that lovely?"
Seventeen gripped his daggers and stood in front of the group, near the edge of the ring of flames, ready to fight his student if needed.
Arthur looked at them, his face expressionless. He threw the struggling rogue Shadow wrapped in his tail behind him. No one moved to help the screaming man.
He then faced them and Seventeen heard a sharp air intake behind him. It was Alice and he could see why she reacted like that.
A hole was ripped on his blood-soaked shirt as if a fist was driven through his chest and it was then healed. There were even traces of blood from his nose, ears, and eyes, the latter making it look like he cried tears of blood.
Seventeen glanced at the blue flames. They were different from what he learned about.
Sure, they were blue but, "Aren't Purity Flames supposed to be the hottest?", he wondered aloud.
"I get what you are saying.", Alice spoke, "I studied extensively about Purity Flames and it appears that there are different grades of them.", she answered.
With a difficult look, she said, "The flames that burned down our house and scarred us is a mid-grade Purity Flame."
She nodded at the blue flames before them, "Those are high-grade flames and they contain immense heat that does not radiate to the environment, so they don't feel hot when standing near but they are more dangerous."
Ruth frowned, "But no dragon can create Purity Flames. Not even the dragon lord of Fire."
Alice's eyes widened with a sudden realization, "Does that mean?"
Those would've been her final words if it weren't for the quick actions of Jade and Seventeen.
There was a quick flash and a clash of metal before Alice Night found herself looking at a black claw covered with blue flames just centimeters away from her face.
She and the others quickly jumped back.
"Whoa that was a powerful blow!", Jade exclaimed. She was blown back and her sword was dug into the ground, a long gash on the earth showed how much it took to stop her.
Seventeen was holding Arthur's scaly wrist. He had activated the gauntlets of his Dragon Knight armor before holding onto the dragon half-blood. And it was a good decision.
The tough metal that withstood Jade's powerful sword strikes started to melt. Arthur locked his glowing draconian eyes on his instructor, showing no recognition.
"Sorry, Alice. I'll have to give him a good punch in the face.", Seventeen clenched his other fist, enhanced it with magia, and punched his student in the face.
A shockwave ripped through the air but there was another noise too. The sickening crack of bones breaking.
"Ah. Shit.", Seventeen swore when he saw his fist bent at an unnatural angle on Arthur's unharmed face.
The dragon half-blood pulled against the hand holding him back. Seventeen could feel his feet dragging against the ground as he was pulled along.
"Oh.", he realized what was going to happen right before Arthur swung his trapped arm and flung Seventeen into the trees.
(Well. Brace yourself.)
"No shit, Sherlock.", he said before crashing into trees and disappearing deep into the woods.
Alice and the others were shocked at the strength displayed by Arthur. "He cannot hear us.", Ruth gritted her teeth. The immense presence was still bearing down on them.
Arthur looked at them and in the blink of an eye was in front of his sister, reaching to grab her face. Instinctively, Alice took out her sword to defend but the strike was so powerful that she was blown back and her sword flew away.
The dragon half-blood flicked his tail and intercepted an attack by Ruth and did a wing strike at her. She quickly covered her arms with thick ice scales to defend but the sharp wing tip went through her forearm.
She yelled out in pain and before she was impaled by the wing tip, a whip of blood wrapped around her waist and pulled her away from danger.
Jade dashed to him and blocked a strike from his jagged tail, her blade sparking against the tough black scales.
Jade did a follow-up attack but her opponent was fast. Terrifyingly fast.
In an instant, Arthur grabbed her by the throat and knocked the sword from her hand. But before he could crush her neck a powerful gust of wind separated them.
Arthur quickly flew back just as a green polearm obliterated the ground where he was standing a second ago.
Jade hacked and coughed when someone landed between her and the awakened half-blood.
It was Leonard Zephyrus. And he looked serious.
"You two. Get back and make sure that Ruth and Alice are alright.", he said to Flare and Claire who were holding their weapons and ready for a fight.
"But Headmaster. We can assist you.", Flare said, gripping her scythe.
"It is not a request.", Zephyrus spoke back in a cold tone.
The twins gulped and backed away to where Ruth was leaning against a tree, applying ice to her wound.
"It's been some time since I saw the Headmaster like that.", she remarked as Claire proceeded to heal her. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?", Flare asked.
"It depends."
Zephyrus and Arthur looked into each other's eyes as they faced each other in the ring of flames. Jade took a stance behind him and was ready for the order from the Cardinal.
"I know you can hear me, Arthur. Please stop this. Your actions will endanger your family and your friends.", Zephyrus told him in a calm manner.
Arthur just cocked his head and unfurled his wings, releasing a strong gust. Zephyrus narrowed his eyes and held out his hand. His polearm dislodged from the ground and flew to his hand.
There was a roar of flames in the sky as Seventeen landed beside the Cardinal with his fiery Pheonix Wings. He also carried two individuals with him.
"Found them among the remains of a barrier.", he said, gently putting Vesta and Gelair on the ground, "It appears that they used up most of their magia to destroy the enchantment and then got knocked out by the immense pressure of Arthur."
Jade knelt beside the two Shadows and checked their vitals. "They are fine, Jade. They just have their magia depleted and are unconscious.", Seventeen said.
The Sword Princess confirmed his words. She carried the two and jumped over the flames and laid them beside Ruth.
She then returned and stood beside Zephyrus who was in a standoff with Arthur.
"I never imagined that he would be a dragon half-blood.", Seventeen said as he looked at the new form of his student and parallel version of his creator.
Zephyrus nodded, "You are right. But I am afraid that is not the only thing.", he said glancing at the blue flames.
A bright light flashed beside Seventeen and Alice stood beside him, "Alice. Ruth and the Shadows are hurt.", he said.
She nodded, "I've already looked at them. They will be fine. Claire Dragnia is a good healer with her ice attribute."
The four of them faced the powerful being standing a few feet from them. Arthur just narrowed his eyes and clenched his burning fist.
Suddenly the Purity Flames surrounding them rose above the trees with a deafening and terrifying roar. But that was just the beginning.
The immense presence stopped bearing down on them only to come back with more power, making the four unable to move.
"Damnit!", Zephyrus yelled and released his presence. The two presences clashed and released tons of magia that set off alarms at the research base in the Elder Mountains.
But he can feel the dragon half-blood's presence overpowering his own. "I've learned that dragon half-bloods are stronger than a dragon. Looks like it's true!"
The other three warlocks also released their presence and were able to move when they noticed what Arthur was up to.
"Arkenstein's star-spangled shorts! He's going to do a breath attack!", Seventeen yelled as Arthur's throat glowed and flames leaked from his mouth.
He gritted his teeth. A dragon's breath attack is incredibly powerful with the weakest capable of decimating an entire city. What Arthur is going to do can delete the island and a chunk of the ocean.
So Seventeen crossed his daggers.
{Air Code: Pressure Barrier}
The air around them condensed and formed a protective bubble, but it was only for them. Zephyrus placed a hand on his shoulder and gave a smile, "Don't worry.", he mouthed.
*******
Back in the beach house, Vanessa noticed the build-up of magia and narrowed her eyes, "This is not good."
Looking around to see that she was alone, the Vampire Queen snapped her fingers. Immediately an invisible protective bubble surrounded almost everyone on the island without their knowledge.
The only exceptions were the ones trapped inside the walls of flames. "I hope you did the necessary, Seventeen. Your opponent is not an easy one.", she said with a smile.
*******
"This is gonna hurt.", Seventeen said as the four warlocks braced for the inevitable breath attack. Arthur was about launch it when suddenly he extinguished the flames and his face went slack.
He grabbed his face and released a deafening roar. Everyone was surprised and confused.
Just what is going on?
Soon his roar turned into a scream and then he calmed down.
"That was not part of the plan.", he spoke in a voice that sounded like two voices speaking at the same time.
One was Arthur's voice while the other sounded deeper, hollow, cold, and ancient.
Seventeen, Zephyrus, Jade, and Alice couldn't help but be confused when the being in front of them started to laugh.
"It's been a long time since I was in dragon half-blood's body. Looks like I've become rusty.", he said after a hearty laugh.
He looked at the four warlocks and held up a finger, "One minute.", and started to transform.
The four dragon wings on his back collapsed, the jagged tail shrunk and disappeared, the black scales faded, and his ears turned normal along with his hands.
He stood before them as Arthur Night, perfectly healthy without any problems, save for his now torn clothes.
He opened his eyes. They have become normal but there was a difference. His eyes were bright blue, like liquid magia and they glowed with power.
The one behind Arthur's face broke into a smile, "That's better. Also."
With a snap of his fingers, the towering walls of blue flames surrounding them vanished into thin air, as if they had never existed in the first place.
"Sorry about that.", he said in his overlapping voice, looking at the shocked faces of a Cardinal, two captains, two instructors, and two students. Everyone was speechless for a moment.
It was Alice who broke the silence. "What happened to Arthur? And what are you?", she demanded.
"That's not a nice way to ask, sister.", the being said with a grin. He spread his arms as if for a hug, "Aren't you glad to see your brother okay?"
The Luminous Knight pointed her retrieved sword at him, "Answer me! What did you do to Arthur?"
"You're a feisty one.", he raised his hands, "Don't worry, Alice Night. Your brother is fine. He is just unconscious. Apparently, dying can be quite a shock for the mind. So he is resting and will soon wake up. That is if I let him.", he spoke without losing his smile.
Alice got chills when she heard the last words, "What do you mean by that?"
He ignored the question and continued, "As for your second question as to who I am.", he turned to Zephyrus, "I believe you know my identity, Air Cardinal Leonard Zephyrus."
Alice and Jade looked at Zephyrus for answers. He had a grave expression on his face.
The Cardinal took a deep breath and said.
"I think I know. You are the Reaper of Fallen."
Seventeen interrupted him and spoke a single word.
"Inferno."