Estoff Wraith
Amidst the chaotic symphony of endless noises, resonating gunshots, blood-curdling screams, and reverberating explosions, the tense atmosphere hung heavy in the air. As the commander, I marshaled my forces, deploying two hundred fierce Arcadians in hot pursuit of the elusive Duke Dragunov. Anxiously, I awaited the arrival of my reinforcement contingent of five hundred warriors from neighboring cities, aware that the government troops had been locked in fierce combat with my army for an extended duration.
Fortuitously, we found ourselves positioned directly above the sprawling underground domain of Arcadia, the Twilight City, providing a tactical advantage. Sensing the significance of this strategic location, I entrusted a vigilant detachment of fifty Arcadians to guard the S.S. Maryjane while I confronted my most inevitable adversaries, Kyle Leviticus and Elumina Cryst.
Hovering fifty meters above the earth's surface, where the dance of angels and magma dragons unfolded on the precipice of the atmosphere, a breathtaking spectacle unfolded before my eyes. Gilliard, my formidable Magma Dragon, relentlessly spewed fiery boulders resembling the size of soccer balls, yet each one was effortlessly evaded by the ethereal Angelic Dragon, Elumina. A master of evasive maneuvers, Elumina skillfully dodged these molten projectiles, knowing that Gilliard aimed solely for the apple perched atop her head, symbolic of her position as the devil's general.
Frustration laced Kyle's voice as he vehemently protested, "What in the world are you doing, Elumina? Unleash your Lightrays upon that wretched beast!" Our aerial duel had been raging for fifteen relentless minutes, yet the Angelic Dragon stubbornly maintained her pacifist stance, refusing to engage in combat.
Silent and unperturbed by Kyle's fury, Elumina withheld any response, further exacerbating his anger. He lashed out, repeatedly stomping on his dragon's forehead with increasing intensity, inflicting pain upon the innocent creature. Such a deranged and reprehensible act! I could no longer tolerate this madness!
"Listen, Kyle!" I seethed, my teeth clenched tightly. "Elumina is not your adversary! Your true enemy is me! Let us settle this in a one-on-one battle, a fight to the death!"
In response to my challenge, a sadistic smile spread across Kyle's face, his gaze akin to that of a child intoxicated by the thrill of warfare. "Well then!" he retorted, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Gilliard, with breathtaking swiftness, dove towards the nearest rooftop of the Twilight City, and Elumina, accompanied by Kyle, followed suit. As we dismounted from our dragon companions, we mutually agreed to deactivate our Vesryn Pulses, ensuring that our formidable dragonoids would not interfere with the impending duel.
With a firm grip on the handle of my broadsword, I assumed a centered stance, preparing for the clash ahead. This weapon of mine was no ordinary blade; it possessed a motorcycle's handle, and whenever I throttled it, the temperature of the blade surged. Wisps of smoke enveloped the broadsword, emanating a fiery hue of crimson.
Meanwhile, Kyle adopted a fencing stance, his slender sword radiating a resplendent golden glow, its movements accompanied by cascading particles of light. He murmured Latin incantations under his breath, and after a mere five seconds, he bellowed, "Lighten my spirits up, O divine being!"
As if in response to his plea, six radiant wings akin to those of a dominion angel unfurled from the enemy general's back. This wretched scoundrel, still relying on Elumina's powers! Such an affront I could not tolerate! Tightening my grip on my sword, I released a resounding war cry, and smoke billowed forth from my shoulders, gradually coalescing into formidable lava spaulders and a chest plate, fortifying me against any potential strikes aimed at my upper body.
With our power-up transformations complete, both Kyle and I propelled ourselves forward with lightning speed, colliding our swords in a clash that reverberated throughout the surroundings, creating a small shockwave. The clash between his slim sword and my broadsword resonated, signifying the clash between divine light and the primal power of the earth's core. It was a battle that mirrored the eternal conflict of heaven and hell.
From my perspective, I held steadfast in my conviction of righteousness, while Kyle personified malevolence and evil.
I unleashed a powerful hacking strike towards the left, but Kyle swiftly utilized his wings to evade my attack, taking flight. He relentlessly attempted numerous thrusts with his luminous sword, yet I deftly parried each and every blow with precision. Determined to find a weakness, he aimed at my spaulders and chest plate, hoping to breach my defenses, but to his dismay, my magma armor proved impervious. It was one of the strongest armors in all of Alterra. Realizing the futility of his efforts, Kyle swiftly retreated, landing ten meters away from me.
Undeterred, Kyle embarked on another incantation, weaving his words until he reached the name of the spell. "Lightsurge!" he bellowed, unleashing a meter-thick ray of blinding light directed towards me. Reacting swiftly, I employed my broadsword to slash through the beam, dispersing its radiant energy. As the blinding assault subsided, I unleashed a fierce roar, gathering my strength for a devastating blow. However, Kyle's agility, aided by his seraphim wings, proved formidable. I knew his speed matched that of light itself, making it nearly impossible for my attacks to connect.
Yet, he faced a similar dilemma. As long as I maintained my guard, his spells proved ineffective against me. My magma spaulders possessed a natural resistance to magic, and Kyle's feeble strikes with his slim sword failed to breach my defenses. The battle teetered on the brink of a stalemate, a contest of endurance. The one who exhausted their power-up first would succumb to defeat in this grueling encounter.
A sinister laughter escaped Kyle's lips, echoing through the air. "You may believe we are on equal footing," he jeered, his voice tinged with madness. "But in this fight, I must resort to cheating!"
A shiver ran down my spine as the deranged general uttered those words, and dread consumed me as he called forth a name that struck fear into my heart: "DRACARYX! Activate the Spear of Judgment!"
"No!" Elumina's anguished scream pierced the air. How despicable of Kyle, compelling Elumina to unleash Dracaryx! Unforgivable! He always relied on underhanded tactics, devoid of any remnants of honor or integrity.
A golden radiance emanated from Elumina's chest, as if a portal to her heart had opened. From within, a sharp, triangular blade materialized, slowly emerging. Everything transpired in a blur of motion. The blade, now revealed to be a spear with seemingly infinite length, surged forward towards me with unimaginable velocity, faster than even a Planck instant. Its incredible speed rendered evasion or blocking futile.
Could this be the end of the line for me?
"Estoff!" It was Gillard's voice, breaking through the overwhelming despair.
As the deadly spear hurtled towards my throat, Gilliard sprang into action, barreling towards me with astonishing speed. In a selfless act of sacrifice, he intercepted the oncoming blade, absorbing its devastating impact. The Spear of Judgment tore through his right shoulder, causing it to evaporate upon contact. The radiant spear continued its relentless trajectory, piercing through the atmosphere until it vanished into the vast expanse of outer space. After a brief five seconds, the ethereal weapon dissipated.
"Gilliard!" I rushed to my dragonoid's side, my heart heavy with anguish. It was evident that his shoulder and neck had suffered severe damage, blood gushing forth from his wounds. A chilling realization struck me as I observed a portion of his spinal cord obliterated by the overpowering force of Dracaryx.
Kyle, with an obnoxious laugh, soared above like an accursed angel, holding the unconscious Elumina. "This is the culmination of my power and your beloved's, Estoff. This is why you should surrender!"
A growl escaped my lips, my voice filled with loathing. "Kyle Leviticus! I will utterly annihilate you!"
In response, Kyle's repulsive smirk adorned his face as he effortlessly glided away at the speed of light, resembling a shooting star. How I longed to deliver a bone-crushing blow to his detestable countenance for all the heinous acts he had perpetrated. I vowed never to forgive him.
"E...Estoff..." Gilliard strained to speak, his voice filled with determination. I wanted to intervene, fearing it would exacerbate his condition, but he held a resolute gaze, unwavering. Three coughs wracked his body, causing specks of blood to splatter across my face. "...Go...get your girl...Tiger..."
"Don't joke like that," I protested, my voice laced with anguish.
Ignoring my plea, he reached into his pocket, retrieving a pistol and placing it in my trembling hand. "...Promise me... promise me you'll perform the Vesryn Pulse with your Elumina... promise me..."
As his hands fell heavily to the ground, the vibrancy in his eyes faded. A guttural cry escaped my lips, mourning the loss of my cherished companion. Our time together may not have been long, but Gilliard had become an unwavering companion in the truest sense.
After a solemn minute, I wiped away my tears and tenderly left his lifeless body to rest upon the rooftop. I contemplated descending from the building to rendezvous with Amphere or Richard's team, but then the radio crackled to life.
"Estoff..." Richard's voice pierced through the static. "We have a grave problem."
"Gilliard has died. What could be worse than this?" I responded, the bitterness evident in my tone.
"It has indeed worsened," Richard replied, his voice weighed down by the gravity of his words. An interminable silence hung in the air, stretching what felt like an eternity before he continued. "Amphere and Rudolf... they're gone too."