-pre-calamity-
A blonde elven girl laid unconsious her magical cuffs proppelled her in air. Miasma leaking out of thin air as the leader of the XIII chants a summoning spell.
"FROM THE END OF THE WORLD, I SUMMON YOU CALAMITY ACCEPT THIS LOWLY ELVEN GIRL AS A VESSEL AND BRING GLORY TO ME AND YOUR BRETHERN!."
The miasma grew in intensity as otherworldly shrieks is heard from beyond
"AHHH, YOU'VE COME. DEVOUR HER TO FULFILL OUR CONTRACT YE WHO CONQUERS THE WORLDS BAHAMUT!." XIII speaks in a fanatical tone unbefitting of his usual calm demeanor
XIII had been so consumed by his objective that he fails to notice another circle appearing above his, as it expands a white light appears to interrupt the summoning
"Lithea, i shall borrow your power." A soothin voice echoed through the tower's roof.
"W-what who dares stand in our way!."
"Give me back my daughter, XIII." It was none other than Ivana the Queen of Oraia
"AAAAAAH!, m-mother help me!." Reifa shrieks as unforseen hands hold onto her body
"You, the wretched Ivana how did you come here and my brethren!."
"The Hero has dealt with them." She says while moving towards him
*boom*
"N-no I refuse to believe it." XIII looks in disbelief as a huge explosion brings the floor crumbling out comes Zephyr unaffected and following him were his brethren the XII all injured and in disarray
"....."
"Queen Ivana!." Among them was a Dragonkin his mask had been cracked revealing much of his face. "Good to see you're still here, you shall die by my hands!."
"haha, is that so I'm afraid I won't be here to entertain you. Lithea your vessel calls you!."
White scales grow on Ivana's fair skin , her blonde hair turns white and her blue eyes now shine bright light, she grows feathered wings as limbs turn to fours.
"My daughter I leave her in your care Zephyr."
"..."
"N-no the ritual , Calamity will return to the void stop her!." XIII orders
Unfortunately the hero plunged himself between them demanding their attention for the time.
Lithea concentrated light threatens to overpower miasma, Calamity had to think quick which he did, abandoning Reifa to secure XIII's frail body.
"Aaaaarrrrgh!,aaaaah!." He weeped in agony as the miasma seeped into his body
His skin falls apart revealing pitch black scales, his eyes turn black, he grows horns and a spiked tail and wings similar to that of a bat.
"Not my desired but he'll do for now, you shan't stop what is destined Lithea."
"You don't belong here Bahamut , back to th void with you."
"Not until i feast on yours and your champions heart!." He lunges an attack not on Lithea but on the hero who's currently in the midst of a fight with the XII.
Gales of black slash move towards the hero is blocked by Lithea.
The XII look at Lithea in disbelief for their lives could have ended by Bahamut. She disregards the group addressing the hero
"Hero, we haven't the time I shall teleport you toward Reifa. Take her and leave this is a battle I must fight alone."
"..." the hero nods in compliance as she teleports him towards the unconscious elven girl
She glows a blinding light just as the hero grabs Reifa jumping off the tower.
-post-calamity-
I'm right in the arena neighborhood, surveying a way to make it inside the glowing pillar. I hit the wall repeatedly only to bounce back and land right on my butt.
"There must be a way in." I have to think of a way though thinking isn't my strong suit
"What had Salamander left me?." His mana with it his dragon magic which include all his powersets.
I close my eyes and look for his mana signature ignoring my own until I found a blazing hot source tucked within my soul. While harnessing his power i feel a growing pain around my shoulder blades as something sprouts from my back.
-meanwhile-
"I know who you are IX , Iron Calvary and I have been watching you since the day you set on the castle." Sara says glaring at her opponent
"IX, as in one of the XIII... argh!." Reifa's headache intensifies at the mention of that mans name
"Your highness!." Kayla holds Reifa as she speaks in delirium.
"I-if he's here that means, Zephyr's in danger!." Reifa rationalizes she attempts to move from her seat when Kayla stops her
"Your highness , you're in no shape to move. If you would allow me to look for him."
"Stay where you are girl."
The Sultan eyes narrowed as he looked in the arena's as a red pillar glows engulfing the whole place
"Ahahahaha!, i didn't think you'd expose me before i got to my trophy. "...."Things didn't go as planned eh Ozwald." He says to himself rather than Sara
"What's going on!." The announcers shock at the turn of events "The arena is changing!." A member of the crowd yells "There are swords everywhere!." Another member of the crowd points "Look over there, its a d-dragon!."
"Enthal the wrathful's , Iron Armada." Reifa says baffled that she knows its name
"So you finally revealed yourself." Sara says bemused "i shall slay you and your abominable dragon."
In a field of swords , spears and armor scattered all over appeared an iron encased dragon silver hide and wings, spikes and scales of black its mouth is guarded by iron and it roars a metallic roar.
"Hahahaha, good to see you my friend." Rostoff says before pointing his fingers at the crowd's stands. "Kill them." He says with disinterest.
Sword projectiles suddenly fire everywhere in the arena and the crowd stands
The Sultan leaps before summoning a great sword.
"Your highness!." Kayla hugs her Princess in a void attempt to shield her.
"GOLDEN PRIDE!." He summons lion astral projectiles to intercept the swords, each roar as the slash and gnaw on each sword.
"Impressive for a mortal , however can you stop thi.."
"Don't you turn your back on me!." Sara pounced stabbing Rostoff.
Sara seethes as she speaks face to face with Rostoff
"Why did you kill my father, what had he done to deserve a gruesome death."
The dragonkin smirked as his wound enclosed on her swords flesh replaced by iron, theres arrogance to him that irritates most or rather everyone who'd known him.
"Why?, well ofcourse its because of her." He says pointing at Reifa being held by Kayla's hands
"Y-you mean over a grudge you killed someone unrelated that you know nothing of, you monster!." She cries as she stabs her sword repeatedly into the flesh parts of his abdomen.
"W-why not , our lives didn't matter when her mother decided to abandon us to our fate. We are but mere insects to you elites , why do you fault me when you commit murder for your lieg's sake." He spoke as a sword flies over to Sara's left side.
she hurriedly removes her sword from his abdomen and leaps back avoiding the projectile.
"Just like myself over 12 moons ago, your quest for revenge won't be realized. I'm not like the insects you lord over!." Rostoff speaks fanatically as he attacks Sara directly
"Insects?, it is you whos lowly don't you dare conflate me with your kind." Sara meets him headon
The elixir proved to be a boon for Sara as she moves agily evading Rostoff destructive powerful strikes Enthal's swrd sends shocwaves decimating the arena debris hit Sara slightly cutting her face.
"Not bad, however it will wear off soon. I will outlast you and deal with your Sultan."
"Tch." Sara grimaces at the thought of what very well could be possible
"Speaking of the Sultan." A voice reverberate in the arena as a sudden figure jumps from mid air
"Ozwald?, what are you doing here."
"Aiding you ofcourse, look over there."
The Sultan fights Enthal valiantly with his projectiles when suddenly he coughs blood , drops to the ground falling on his knees as if sharing his pain his projectiles cry out in his stead.
"W-what was done to me?."
"You were poisoned your lordship." Inir says calmly his visage changing his face that of a skeleton.
"W-whats the meaning of this?." Kayla says shocked still holding Reifa in her arms
"You are an undead." Reifa speaks heavily
"Princess Reifa , you have a choice here spare the people of R'ual, your friend here and the Sultan should you choose to come with me peacefully." ... "or I shall kill everyone here with the Sultan busied I can kill each and every member of the crowd." He says matter of factly.
"Is this your handler's wish."
"Yes for my master is reasonable unlike IX he hates shedding unnecessary blood."
"Y-your highness no, I won't let you what if they mean to harm you."
"Listen to me Kayla, I like you. You are among my friends ,along with Zephyr , Hubert and Sara. If my existence brings harm to you or any innocent then I'd rather get snuffed here and now." She says looking at Kayla hugging her.
"Not if i can help it your majesty." Kayla lets go standing up unsheathing a dagger she takes a position shielding her Princess
"D-don't be a fool, he's a powerful sentient undead. Don't fight him!." Reifa attempts to stand however she wavers and falls
"Aaaah!."
Kayla attempts an attacks the undead who slams her against the pavement, he looks disinterested as he strides toward Reifa
"I won't let you , take her highness." Kayla gets up and attempts another attack that fails and sends her reiling
"Aaah!." She cries in pain before getting up tears welling up she speaks.
"Please stop Kayla, you'll die!." Reifa yells at her friend
"Princess , how do you think Zephyr will feel ? If I let you hand yourself to them I wouldn't face him. I'd rather die than have them take you!." Kayla yells out a battle cry before tackling the sack of bones(puppet)
"Kayla!" Reifa cries
The both tumble in the stairs , Kayla ends up straddling the undead she stabs it repeatedly.
"You won't be taking her highness I'll make sure , you die!." Kayla declares uncharacteristically and aggressively stabbing the skull
The undead electrifies itself.
Kayla screams in pain as she lets go of the knife and passes out, Puppet throws the unconsious Kayla aside and strides back to Reifa before recovering from its injuries.
He speaks aloofly and asks. "Will you come with me or would you rather everyone die here." He says looking back at Kayla
"Take me to your master." Reifa replies determined to avoid a tragedy
The Puppet carries Reifa and leaps from the stands landing directly in the direction of his master Ozwald and Rostoff.
"V why are you helping me?."
"Why?, we're brethern and partners. I see no reason to not help you think of the profit i could make ahead hah." He says
"Hahaha, just say you are fond of me." He speaks to Ozwald before looking back towards Reifa.
"You can drop me to the ground, I won't escape." She addresses the pupped , she moves towards IX and V and addresses both "tell me where is Zephyr and what do you want from me " she says demanding an answer
Sara looks dumbfounded from the sudden development, the Sultan holding onto his sword as his projectiles fight Enthal.
"The Hero?, what about him. I only want you Princess." Rostoff replies
"Ah, about him hes alive merely paralyzed at the moment." Ozwald speaks
"You said you wouldn't help but here you are taking the hero out. I don't appreciate the subtlety." Rostoff says to Ozwald
"What are friends for? If not to lend help, which would cost you as I'm no shape to fight let alone supply my puppet with mana."
"I owe you a great deal." He says smirking before turning towards the Princess " and as what I want from you Princess I seek none other than your life." He says in a grandoise manner
"You shall have it, as long as I have your word. You shall leave the people be and go back from wence you came from." She says glaring at Rostoff
"You have my word." He says not wasting time as he readies his sword to strike
bringing down his sword
"You idiot of a princess!." Sara leaps
Sara moved and repelled his strike pushing Rostoff back as she addressed her friend
"Sara, don't interfere this is for your good!."
"My good !!??, to have my friend skewered just like my father!."
"revenge won't bring back your father!, if you go against them they'll kill you !."
"Then so be it the stakes were better had it just been me so please Reifa don't endanger your life at our expense!."
"Y-you're a single minded buffoon always can't you see that we have no way out. Its my life that I'd give just to have you breathe another day!."
"And its my life to give for your sake!, you and your noble heart. I hate that about you!."
"W-wait Sara no, i don..." reifa's voice is drawn out as she heads towards her opponents
"You pesky Sword Mistress !, stay out of my way!." Rostoff now enraged barks at Sara
As she moves with lightning speed she aims to end him at once alas Rostoff proved to be hardened as she strikes her swords break she looks at the monster smirking as he grabs her head and smashes it against the floor until she falls silent.
Reifa looks horrified starts yelling before being stopped by Ozwald , who does the talking.
"Enough Rostoff, we have the princess kill her and move on."
Rostoff exhales a sigh before replying "you're right, Princess let us end this for your and that wench sake's."
Reifa resigns herself to face imminent death thinks back on the moment she reunited with her savior 'if only I'd told him , how much he meant me' she shakes her head bluffing surely she wouldn't meet him again not him or Sara or Kayla, she's readied herself and smiled.
When all of a sudden
The pillar cracked and fractured a spear comes flying hitting the ground between where Reifa and Rostoff stood a voice accompanying it
"Reifa!!!." I scream at the top of my lungs my body flying through the air thanks to Salamander's mana i obtained a pair of wings.
Swooping in I take her into my arms flying away from IX and V
"Zephyr, you look beaten." She says in disbelief
"I'm sorry for taking so long, and don't worry about me. I'm glad I made it in time."
"Again, you worry more about me than yourself. You're battered this is futile just let me go."
"Listen to me, I love you."
"Huh?, this isn't the time t-to declare your love."
"If not now, then when will I get the chance. Besides holding you in my arms like this and soaring in the sky dare I say its romantic." I hold her tight emphasizing
"Y-you idiot , lovable hero... i mean to say.... love you too." She replies blushing
"Wow , this is more than I deserve. I feel like I could take on the world." Not metaphorically but literally
"What now?." She asks before shying away
"I guess if you'd like, I'd count us an item or as you'd say a couple" i say looking at her eyes
"I'd love nothing more than to be with you , but are you sure you want me and not Kayla. There are many women out there who'd vye for you why me."
"We're more similar than you think. We both put others hopes , aspirations and dreams before our own but where I've reached a cracking point and chose recluse. You strive to deal with the hand you've dealt with I find that perseverance of yours beautiful about you and ofcourse I believe that you're the prettiest of them all, Kayla is just a friend no one can take your position you're my number Uno!." What an embarrassing confession but i had to get my point accross
"I-I'm not used to such flattery from people. Haha thank you for choosing me." She simply kisses my right cheek and blushes heavily before reciprocating my feelings "And I want to be with you too."
I was about to give her pay back for the sneak attack before another 'sneak attack' came our way
Sword projectiles rain down from the rifts i dodge the downpour , I'd better fly low.
"Hero!, how dare you !, I was close so close !." The madman IX howls as he summons more projectiles
"Zephyr you have to drop me , you can't fight while holding me in your arms!." I hate to agree but shes right i can't multitask
A sword flies while i'm distracted when a lion projectile stops it in its track.
"Leave your Princess to me boy!." Says the Sultan
There's no one who can keep her safer than the warrior Sultan himself.
As i contemplat Reifa drops herself from my arms landing onto the grounds, addressing the Sultan
"His name's Zephyr and he's my beloved hero don't you dare disrespect him you demented lion!." She says puffing her cheeks
"Gahahahaha!, the gull that this princess posses."
"*sigh* i almost got a heart attack, anyways I'm off and Sultan I leave her in your care."
He simply nods acknowledging my presence, I take my leave and fly back toward Rostoff.
I grab the spear that I've plunged and prepare to fight Rostoff.
Enthal flies over towards me his body resembling an armada living to his name the Iron Armada. I however am made from fire , my body burn with the intensity of miniature sun. My and Salamander's mana's cojoined making my spear unleash a powerful scorching attack. I melt a section of its hide and plunge my spear into its back.
He howls in pain as it wrestles me of its back. I don't let go choosing to intensify the heat burning its flesh. Rifts appear from its above me as it attempts to fire off its weapons, i choose to slide with my spear wedged into its flesh i shred a section of its back before retreating.
I land on the ground meanwhile Enthal roars as flames eat its flesh.
"Smells like barbeque ." I say musing before leaping back as Rostoff strikes behind my back
"Why do you stand in my way, aren't you a Southerner like me?!!." He howls in anger
"I don't have to explain myself to you, i know when someone's too far gone and you're beyond help for Reifa, Kayla , Sara and Hubert all you've hurt I'll beat some sense into you!."
"So be it, I won't consider you kin you elven Pet!." As if responding to IX's wrath Enthal howls and flies over to his master its exposed skin reinforced with Iron.
This is where I make my stand right Ivana, I promised to look after Reifa. I won't let anyone harm her.
"Bring it on!." I yell out on the top of my lungs
To be continued