Looking at him again, Mozrael noticed something odd about his appearance. He had a lanky build and seemed to lack strength. He looked weak, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than met the eye.
"Looks can be deceptive," a voice echoed in her head.
He approached her slowly, each step deliberate, his gaze locked on her. The sounds of battle between his counterpart and Aramith seemed distant as he ignored them. Mozrael stood firm, not flinching an inch, despite the sinister smile on his face. There was something strangely captivating about him, yet he wasn't handsome. Instead, he seemed more like a curiosity, a puzzle that intrigued more than attracted. His hands remained in his pockets as he stopped in front of Mozrael, glanced briefly at Lia, and then fixed his bright red eyes on Mozrael.
"I don't like hurting girls," he said, his voice smooth. "Especially ones with a pretty face and a nice body. You two aren't bad-looking. Come with me, and I'll treat you right." He bent down, meeting her gaze.
Mozrael's expression hardened. She stared at him with defiance, showing no sign of fear.
"What's with that stubborn look?" he taunted, reaching for her face. She swatted his hand away.
"Leave us alone," Mozrael said coldly.
The man chuckled darkly. "Maybe I should remind you of the position you're in," he said, his hand rising to strike her. As his palm neared her, Mozrael swiftly ducked, shifted back, and with a swift motion, drove her leg up into his chin. His eyes widened in shock as the force of the kick sent him flying into the air. He flipped and landed several feet away, blood spilling from his mouth as he felt two of his teeth with his tongue.
"Such power," he said, a smirk spreading across his face. "Now, I'm interested." He leapt toward her.
"I'm going to make you submit! You'll be begging soon enough!" he yelled. His palm slammed into the ground where Mozrael had stood moments before, and an invisible force crushed the earth beneath him.
Mozrael quickly stepped aside, narrowly avoiding the blow. She barely had time to react before he lunged again, his hands slashing in rapid succession. Mozrael defended herself, blocking each attack. It took only a moment for her to notice the claws on his fingers and the cat ears atop his head. He was in his half-form, and it wasn't pretty.
It was getting harder to keep up. Wherever she moved, he was there, relentless in his assault.
Suddenly, a loud boom echoed from where Aramith fought his own opponent. The distraction was brief, but it was enough for the man to land a hit, raking his claws across her arm from elbow to wrist, followed by a roundhouse kick that sent her crashing to the ground.
As she struggled to regain her footing, he lunged again, but she managed to roll to her feet just in time, narrowly dodging his claws that now dug into the ground with a deafening crack.
"STAY STILL!!!" he howled, his voice full of frustration as he pursued her again. Mozrael retreated, but she was slow to react this time. His claws were almost upon her face when suddenly, blue flames erupted from her shoulders, spreading rapidly down her arms until they enveloped her hands.
The flames burned the man's skin, and with a hiss of pain, he shoved her away, scratching at his arms where the burns marked him.
The blue fire that surrounded her transformed into blue gauntlets, and blue lights shimmered on her forehead and under her eyes.
Meanwhile...
BOOM!!!
An explosion rang out as Aramith was sent crashing to the ground. He rolled aside just as his attacker landed in the same spot. Their battle was escalating quickly. The man Aramith fought was covered in cuts but appeared unaffected, using his brute strength to overpower Aramith. Despite his massive build, the man was quick and ferocious.
Aramith, wielding a black sword that emitted dark mist, looked ragged, but determination burned in his eyes. A sudden jolt of pain shot through his head, and his eyes went pitch black. He screamed in agony as black spikes shot from the ground, narrowly missing him. One managed to slice across his chest, but Aramith continued to dodge and retaliate.
The battle became increasingly chaotic, both warriors pushing each other to the limit.
Realizing he was cornered, the man bit down hard on his tongue. His muscles bulged as his body began to shift, transforming into a massive, hulking bear, over 12 feet tall at the shoulder. He roared, charging at Aramith with renewed fury. Aramith, eyes black as night, met the beast with equal ferocity, his form a blur as he struck back.
Back on Mozrael's side, her opponent followed suit. His transformation was swift, turning into a massive red cat. The two collided in a flurry of speed and strength, their battle resembling a dance of contrasting lights—red and blue.
Mozrael's flames grew brighter as she fought, her body shimmering with energy. The lights on her face intensified, and blue scales began to form where the light had shone. Her breath quickened as she felt the fire surging in her heart.
She knew she was losing, but her pride wouldn't allow her to transform just yet. She wanted to defeat him in her current form, but it was becoming increasingly clear that her opponent was too strong.
The jaguar lunged, but Mozrael dodged, keeping a safe distance. It hissed, and with a terrifying burst of speed, dashed toward her. This time, Mozrael didn't retreat. Instead, she met its charge head-on, rolling into a ball of blue flame just as the jaguar's paw slammed into her. The force of the blow sent her soaring through the air like a comet.
The jaguar's eyes widened in surprise, but as it watched, confusion crept in. The fireball's shape began to change, expanding, elongating. Mozrael's body grew within the flames, her form shifting and growing larger. It was as if she was transforming into a beast like the others, but the flames obscured her true form.
The fiery sphere surrounding her grew, and with a tremendous crack of thunder, a bolt of lightning struck it. The flames dissipated, and from the smoke, a deafening roar pierced the air.
Mozrael had transformed into a magnificent blue dragon. Her scales shimmered with a turquoise hue, while her wings were dark with electric blue lines tracing the edges. She stretched out, her body over 20 feet long with a wingspan nearing 50 feet. Small spikes ran from her nape to the tail, and her scales were short but sharp.
Another roar echoed as she launched herself into the air, her body crackling with lightning. She breathed a stream of intense blue fire before diving downwards.
The jaguar—now more of a cat—tried to flee, but Mozrael was faster. She snatched him up before he could escape and shot into the sky. The cat struggled in her grip, its limbs limp from the altitude and the cold.
Mozrael soared, climbing higher, and stopped in mid-air. She stared into the cat's fearful eyes.
"I need answers from you," she growled.
The jaguar hissed and struggled, but Mozrael simply released her grip, letting it fall at terrifying speed. The creature tried to correct its fall, but it was caught once again by Mozrael's claws.
"Will you speak now?" Mozrael asked, her voice tinged with power.
The jaguar shifted back into the man, his expression one of sheer terror.
"I'll tell you everything, but please, believe me when I say I know little!" he begged.
"Who sent you?" Mozrael demanded.
"I can't tell you," he replied, trembling.
Mozrael's jaws glowed with bright blue light, and she bared her fangs. The intensity of her gaze made the man shiver.
"It was our boss!" he cried out, his voice cracking.
Mozrael closed her jaws and waited for him to continue.
"We're mercenaries," he said, his voice low. "People hire us for jobs. This man came to us, offered us a fortune, and gave us everything we needed. He said we should capture the prince of Vermillion. I don't know who he is, or where he's from. All I know is he gave us a plan, and we followed it."
Mozrael studied him carefully, her expression unwavering.
"Take me to your leader," she commanded.
"I don't know where he is!" The man looked horrified. "He communicates with us through these," he said, pulling out a small gemstone.
Mozrael's eyes narrowed, and she flung him away with a flick of her tail. He screamed as he fell, but she ignored him.
"JUST DIIIIIEEE!!!!" Aramith roared, crouching low before launching himself toward Mozrael with a burst of fury. Dark mist erupted from the ground, swirling into a violent whirlwind that cloaked his form as he charged like a living shadow.
Mozrael steadied herself, her expression resolute despite the turmoil within. Her body shimmered, becoming a streak of blue lightning that crackled with raw energy as she dove to meet him head-on. Their clash seemed inevitable, light against shadow, each hurtling forward like forces of nature on a collision course.
From the sidelines, Lia's trembling voice broke the chaos, barely audible over the roaring energy. A single tear slid down her cheek as fear and desperation gripped her. "Please... don't do this... please!" she whispered, her plea swallowed by the storm brewing between them.