Chereads / Withering Monsters / Chapter 13 - Potential vs. Regimen

Chapter 13 - Potential vs. Regimen

Ishia glared at Sora then lightning crackled around her body. She stared at Sora, getting a sense of her aura.

"Ishia has achieved so much already. It's insane on how fast she grew in a matter of days." Pandora said in awe.

"All that stored up experience. Dragons evolve faster than normal beings. Because we reach our peak so quickly, we store up all that extra experience until we're ready for a limit break." Ashen explained.

"So this is a limit break?" Cecilia asked in awe.

"Yep. Ishia just broke through her limits." Ashen answered.

Ishia dashed toward Sora then her aura surrounded her body. She threw a punch, but Sora blocked it and smirked. Their collision caused a massive shockwave which created a crater in the ground and nearly destroyed the walls.

Cecilia and Silas were shocked by the power of their collision. Ashen stood up and grinned from ear to ear. He was proud of his sister, proud of her breaking her limits.

"This new power...an Ancient Power. Your bloodline is just full of Godly Beings such as yourselves..?!" Sora said then pushed Ishia back then rushed her with a kick.

Ishia blocked the attack then struck Sora with the back of her hand then spun around and palmed her stomach, knocking her backwards. "My bloodline has connections that go beyond ancestry. Our existence is connected directly to the Origin Dragon. Our Dragon of Creation. Our universe in this mortal realm is led by the Dragon of Origin, our power comes directly from the stream itself!"

"Redleaf Woods, a village that has a Dragon Stream right over it. No wonder she's growing so quickly." Silas said.

"It's more than the Dragon Stream. She also has Almighty Evolution, a passive ability only gained through the connection between the Dragon of Potential and their vessel." Cipi explained.

"Because of that ability, Ishia's power level constantly grows just from existing in her battle state. Her condition constantly grows as well." Ashen added.

"I hear them hyping you up, but do the results show?!" Sora bellowed then powered up.

Ishia's eyes shined brightly then she dashed toward Sora and roared. Sora dashed toward Ishia then the two clashed. They continuously clash then both flew to the sky. They began to rapidly clash in the sky then Ishia weaved then struck Sora's stomach. A bit of energy burst from her back and Sora coughed a bit of blood. Ishia struck Sora again, send her flying.

Ishia flew after her then grunted as she was hit with a Warp Strike. Sora punched her face then sent her crashing into the forest. She flew after her..

"Come on let's follow them!" Pandora said then surrounded herself in her aura then flew off.

Ashen followed then soon the others followed to watch the fight as well.

Ishia dodged a few of Sora's Warp Strikes and Flash Barrages. Sora went for another Warp Strike then Ishia palmed the air, generation a force field of mirror energy. The Warp Strike hit the force field then the force field began to ripple. The Warp Strike was reflected back at Sora. Sora looked surprised then groaned as she was hit.

Ishia warped in front of Sora then struck her with a barrage of Dragon Strikes. Sora deflected her next attack then grunted when an energy serpent struck her from underneath herself. Ishia grabbed Sora's leg then spun her around and threw her, causing Sora to crash through multiple trees. Sora landed on the ground then rolled on her side.

"Things aren't the same anymore. I am truly useful to Brother now." Ishia said as she walked toward Sora. "With this new power, not even you can hope to stand against me."

Sora stood up slowly then her hair flashed a platinum color then back to white. Her eyes flashed a silver color. Her aura flashed a white, blue, and purple color. Her Power Beads began to glow a light blue color.

Ishia felt Sora's power level explode then watched her. "What is this power..?"

"Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Light, Dark, Time, and Space. The Eight Beads of Power. I can imitate the Maji with power like this...once I reach this form, I will be unstoppable. You lasted this long, Ishia...but in the end, you still failed." Sora said then bellowed and her aura surged powerfully then the forest began sparkling as her aura surged across the forest.

Sora's hair turned into a platinum color, her eyes shined a bright silver, and her aura became white, blue, and purple. She looked at Ishia with a serious look.

"Are you sure you don't want to stop this battle before it goes too far?" Pandora asked.

"It hasn't gone far enough for me to stop it." Ashen said and watched Ishia.

Sora stopped time using the Bead of Time and looked at everyone who was frozen. She noticed Ashen and Pandora weren't frozen. "Watch, Devil. You'll experience me beating your sister again!"

Sora flew toward Ishia then struck her stomach then resumed time. Ishia coughed blood then looked surprised. Sora kicked Ishia away then used the Bead of Space to manipulate the gravity and pull Ishia back to her. Sora punched Ishia's stomach then a barrage of Burst Strike's hit her. Ishia yelled in pain as she was blown away. She crashed through a large boulder and it crumbled on top of her.

Sora lowered her arm then exhaled. She closed her eyes and turned away. "She should be honored. No one has ever been able to push me this far before. Either they lose before I go all out, or I lose because I'm outclassed. She held her own...but a strong regimen is better than uncontrollable potential."

Ashen looked at the pile of rocks and rubble. His eyes shined a bit then he gripped his sleeve.

"Babe, call it..!" Pandora said, poking his arm.

Ashen stared at the pile and grumbled softly. "Get up..."

"Why won't he call it?" Silas asked.

"I don't know..." Cecilia answered.

Everyone watched and many tilted their heads in confusion. Suddenly, Ishia's hand reached out the rubble. She climbed her way out the pile and stood on the top of the pile of rocks. Her markings slowly faded away and her halo slowly shattered. She panted as she looked down on Sora.

Sora looked back then smirked. "You're still standing...Just what are you?"

"I am Ishia! Daughter of Queen Kinona the Dragon Oracle!" Ishia roared and her dragon aura surged powerfully around her body.

"She dropped back to her base form, but...her aura is so... powerful." Cecilia said in awe.

"Her tenacity. Her Will. Her personal flame that burns inside her...she has a true Dragon Soul." Harold said.

"You just won't quit!" Sora yelled and turned to Ishia then struck her with a barrage of Warp Strikes.

Ishia grunted as she was struck with the barrage of attacks. Sora palmed Ishia's stomach then sent her crashing into the lake. She threw a barrage of Burst Strikes at the lake. Ishia was dodging the Burst Strikes while underwater then flew out the water and evaded the Burst Strikes. Ishia countered the last Burst Strike by tanking the hit and kicked Sora's neck, sending her straight to the ground. Ishia slowly descended to the ground then panted softly.

Ishia fell onto one knee and panted heavily. Smoke came from her mouth with each exhale. Ashen watched then noticed Sora getting up. Sora ran toward Ishia then grunted and fell to her knees. She held her neck then Ashen noticed.

"Ishia hit a pressure point in her neck. The chi flow to the head has been stopped." Ashen said.

Sora began to feel lightheaded then looked at Ishia. She noticed Ishia had passed out then she weakly smiled then passed out as well. Everyone watched in awe then heard Ashen laughing. Ashen clapped his hands together then a sinister smile grew on his face.

"With such a display of strength from these two, I can conclude that we can not lose in this war. We will march to Xovia in two days. This gives everyone time who hasn't trained to train and gain experience. There is a Dragon Totem not too far from the village, I can grant you all the ability to promote and increase your abilities." Ashen said.

Soca looked at Ashen then looked back at Sora and Ishia. "Afterwards.."

"Our little battle has to wait. After we defeat Xavier, I will need your help with one more thing." Ashen said. "Just one last request before we inevitably become enemies."

"What is it..?" Soca asked.

"One last Showdown against my stepfather. He's a true Dragon God, Ryujinkami is what they call them. I haven't unlocked enough of my Ember to defeat a Dragon Stone boosted enemy. I will need your help in saving my people." Ashen said.

Soca looked at the ground. He closed his eyes. "Alright, I will help you with this one last thing."

Ragnarok smirked and chuckled. "Fool.."

...

Kinona sat in Ashen's room on his bed and looked through some old pictures of him and Ishia. She flipped to the next page then a note fell onto the floor. She picked it up and opened it.

"Dear Mom, I have a secret I've been holding for a long time, but you'll need to head to the secret location first."

Kinona stood up and followed the note. She opened the closet door then noticed the staircase leading down to Ashen's Lair. She walked down the stares then noticed the flames light up. She stopped walking, noticing the bodies of dead soldiers on the floor.

"I am a Monster. The bodies you see, are the dead men of Zyre's Forces. I will free you from him and his army. I have have his head plastered on the wall by the time I'm done with him."

Kinona looked back up to the scene and her eyes shined a bit. She walked back upstairs then closed the closet door. She leaned against the door and giggled softly. She covered her face with the paper then chuckled softly.

"Ashen...my miracle." Kinona said.

...

Sora and Ishia woke up they sat up and noticed Ashen looking out in the distance. Sora stood up and watched Ashen then noticed Ragnarok appear next to him.

"This war won't just stop at the world or universe. I will keep destroying until I can find someone strong enough to rival me or until I conquer the entire Mortal Realm. This mission that I'm on is beyond any villain we've ever heard of. We will die. This is your chance to decide if you will still stick with me or not." Ashen said.

"I go where you go! I'm not backing down now, not when I just broke my limits!" Ishia said.

"Yeah, I've made up my mind. It's a hard pill to swallow...but we'll make it through." Sora said.

Ashen nodded and smiled. "None of our enemies shall prosper..."

Ashen laughed and his eyes shined orange. He sighed then smirked. He walked off then the other two followed him.