Like fire, her glare bore a hole straight through my chest, where Lucet's arm was resting. Every small twitch caressed my skin, Lucet seemed to be enjoying herself, taking pleasure in Zeraf's confusion. While she could survive Zeraf's powerful attacks, I stood little to no chance of running away from the crazed wolf.
An explosion of light dwarfed the lamperts high on the branches, creating enough light to illuminate the far tree lines. The flames charred the pine-green grass leaving only smouldering smoke in its wake. An anger never to be seen before lit a fire burning brighter and hotter than any eruption in Kine.
(''I said get off of him bitch!'') Like of bolt, she shot straight toward us, her figuring blurring with the great heat distortions. She was never this fast! Though Lucet was quicker, she pulled me out of the cart with her onto the burning grass, plopping me down onto my feet. It took a second before my vision caught up with what was going on.
What is going on with Zeraf? Maybe she was alarmed by Lucet since it was their first time meeting. If I can explain the situation surely she will calm down.
(''Zeraf calm down for a sec! She isn't an enemy-'') A dart of fire grazed me drawing blood from my cheek. Negotiating won't work this time I suppose.
(''Quite the feisty one you got there Abby. By the smile on your face I can guess what you are thinking.'') A dumb goddess, but a goddess nonetheless. Her understanding will lead to my growth, in turn surpassing my limits now.
Her small figure flew out onto an untouched patch of grass, each step lighting up each green blade of grass. Fire danced across her body, creating almost a shield-like bubble. I've grown since she passed out but….never have I seen this side of her.
As seconds ticked in the slowing time it seemed that her inferno was blazing hotter. This is abnormal, not something she should be able to do, not at our level at least. Was she in the realm of creation the entire time she had passed out? Not that I am one to complain but fighting her will certainly be a challenge. Moving as fast as lightning with the power to demolish buildings. Not to mention what seems to be armour protecting her from blades.
Never have I won a fight between the two of us, not with brain nor with brawn. Hopefully this time it will end differently with my new acquired weaponry.
(''Be careful boy, I sense something abnormal from her. Your original thought on her using the realm of creation wasn't wrong, but it operates a little differently than you think.'')
Works differently? Do you mean that you can grow more if you are there while you are passed out?
(''You put it very crudely. Yes, they develop their abilities far quicker than someone who goes in voluntarily, but it's not for a fair reason.'')
Now you've got me confused. And if there was such a method why didn't I use it?
(''You are an idiot boy. But allow me to explain it in simple terms. People who were forced into the realm of creation by being knocked unconscious are faced with a challenge. If you fail the challenge, you have to wait before trying again.'')
That doesn't sound too hard. I assume you have more to tell me.
(''Correct boy. Each time you fail the challenge becomes harder, so any existing power or piece of information you gained in the previous battle has to be applied or you will fail again.'')
(''But let me stress one thing boy. Everyone has different challenges, so if you ever find out what she went through, just know that your challenge will be hard by your standards.'')
I understand thank you Void. Time to put the wolf in time-out!
My right hand shifted into a sword darker than the heavens of the night littered with tiny specs of shimmering light. A dark crown of thorns wrapped around my head, enveloping me in a veil of shadow. Almost like a small shield against ranged magic attacks.
Since we last spoke I have no idea what you are capable of, but I'll show you my growth Zeraf. Maybe that will show you that my passion for you burns brighter than any flames you can conjure!
A small dark panel formed at the sole of my foot, flinging me straight towards my target. I could feel the tendrils of fire being extinguished by my blade. Before my hit could land, a sharp kick struck my knee, buckling me down. No time passed before one of her twisting kicks swung for my head scorching several of my thorns as I ducked to the floor.
This girl is bad news! Every swipe at my life was followed by another, leaving no openings to attack. I thrust my arm upwards summoning several panels to flee and gather my thoughts. One thing she can't do is fly up here after me, or at least she couldn't before.
Let's see, there are two attacks I have yet to try, so maybe I'll attempt to use the whips to immobilise her.
(''Good idea boy. I would offer to help but your heart seems dead set on winning solo. I wish you luck'')
Thank you Void.
I shut my eyes, creating an infinite plain of darkness which seeped into my core. A whip with multiple tendrils is what I need to complete my plan.
My foothold dissipated into the shadows, leaving me in freefall. I never could beat Zeraf with my brain since she could predict what I would do and easily launch a counter-attack but things are different this time because….
(''GHAAAA'')
….this isn't Zeraf!
Tens of tendrils wrapped around her limbs, tangling her up ultimately stopping the momentum of her kick. This was my chance.
I launched my hand up to the heavens once more to deliver my divine wrath. My new spell.. (''Shadow Torrent'')
With this the battle was over. Her body was enveloped by the crashing shadows, immobilizing her completely while sapping away the frin from the target's core. A checkmate.
(''I did it Lucet!'')
(''Lukewarm'')
What? That was–!
(''That was lukewarm Abby! Come, give me more. Or is this the best you can do?'')
She is still standing? Wait no, she is speaking normally now?
(''I'm glad you are back to your sense Zeraf-'')
(''Stop with that sappy shit, or I'll attack first!'')
In a mere instant the distance between us shrank, leaving my exposed body as an easy target for Zeraf's flying kick. A panel appeared barely blocking the thunderous kick. The ember shockwaves burned the shrubs to ash.
Thanks, Void.
I shifted my form to the puddle of shadow, creating more space which she couldn't close in. How is she faster after tanking my overwhelming frin?!
Darts of fire homed onto me, striking the protective shadow veil. It was a good idea to set this down at the start, but how can I take down this juggernaut?
Come on Abby you are creative! Think up something, anything.
Getting too close is a no-go, I don't even know if my blade can pierce her skin. At best it can extinguish her vermilion-coated skin. My whips can't do anything outside of immoblizing her, but that wouldn't win me the battle. I don't know if this is the true Zeraf just yet, she wouldn't willingly try to kill me normally. Only in her sleep.
I would use nature magic but her flames would incinarate anything I summon. Wait…maybe there is something I could do to beat her…
(''Boy, no. You haven't trained your veins enough to output that level of frin. At most you could do five pillars for a few seconds, there is no way you are pulling that kind of stunt you reckless kid.'')
But how will I grow if I don't take these risks? I only stood a chance against you because I surpassed and experimented.
(''This is a technique not even I can use for longer than an hour. There is no way you could do it for even a minute, its suicide boy.'')
You can't stop me from trying. I felt a connection severed in the back of my mind, leaving my head as empty as before this adventure began.
I materialized once more before plunging towards the blackened grass. If I don't win at least once then how could I protect her?
(''You decided to come down from your little puddle? You've always been a bit of a scaredy cat. Bring it on you philanderer!'')
Like a flare she sparked brighter and hotter than before, melting the very ground around her feet. A small sea of vermillion encompassed the dirt around her leaving no room to close in.
Very well, time to show her my new final move. My hands hung loosely at my sides, soaking up as much frin for the following spell. For this to work I need to be sucking up all of the atmospheric frin and reusing it at a constant pace.
(''A Dark World'') Darkness. The light of her flames was huffed out in an instant. Lamperts which had previously been humming a soft light across the forest went dark. Her frin signature shut off, this marked the end of the fight, I alone am the victor.
Color returned to the darkened world as the darkness faded into the shadows of the treeline. My balance was askew, there were two identical bodies on the floor when there should've only been one.
Why is the world going black again-?