Onyx prepare himself to continue his battle against me then glanced at my Soul of Nature. He smirked at him, watching the Nature Wisp float around and chuckled coldly. His gaze returned toward me and he thrusted his hand forward, causing Cerberus to charge forward with a deadly roar and prepared an attack.
"Cerberus, take down that pathetic summon!" Onyx commanded.
Cerberus fired three fireballs from each of his three heads. I held out the Soul of Nature in front of me and it panicked, feeling frightened then all three fireballs struck him, causing three large explosions upon impact.
{Spirit Valor activated. Soul of Nature has gained Immortality for 30s.}
{Red Guardian activated. Fire Damage negated and boosted Soul of Nature's abilities by +30%.}
The smoke cloud cleared and revealed the Soul of Nature was still alive. Onyx was a bit surprised, but thought I just protected him with a barrier. He snapped his fingers and Cerberus howled, his other two heads launching beams of black fire toward us.
Once again, I held out the Soul of Nature, using him to tank the beams of black fire. The beams disappeared and revealed the Soul of Nature still standing and floating in front of me. Onyx couldn't understand what was going on and how my Soul of Nature survived both attacks from Cerberus.
{Red Guardian activated. Fire Damage negated and boosted Soul of Nature's abilities by +20%.}
"I don't get August's plan...why isn't he trying to strike down the Cerberus? He obviously has the strength to take him down. He has Weakness Detection, so I know he can just detect Cerberus's weakness at strike him down. And how is the Soul of Nature not taking any damage?" Moira asked, her eyes glued upon the batte.
"That's because August is playing the long game. If you didn't notice, August used two Skill Cards: Spirit Valor and Red Guardian. Spirit Valor allows the Soul of Nature to gain immortality for 30 seconds if he is in a Fearful or Panic State, and Red Guardian gives him immunity to all Fire and Lightning Damage, boosting his Abilities by depending on the strength and number of attacks taken," Mariella explained, crossing her arms and smirking at my creativity.
"That's not even including the Soul of Nature's passive ability, Gift of Nature. There are two modes of Gift of Nature, Attack and Support. Right now August has him in Support Mode which allows the Soul of Nature to absorb Nature Energy. The Sun itself is also Nature Energy, so he's growing stronger progressively," Floria added.
Moira watched me, noticing my confident smirk and led her Mage's Sword close to her. She couldn't help but to admire my strategic acumen, but she also knew that one slip up would mean everything would fall apart.
"Cerberus! Stop fooling around and kill that summon right now! Triple Burnout!" Onyx roared, forming a hand gesture.
Cerberus howled, his mouths generating fiery energy as he prepared his ultimate attack. Leona appeared next to the Soul of Nature, acting like she was going to strike him and caused the Soul of Nature to panic and float toward me for support.
{Spirit Valor activated. Soul of Nature has gained Immortality for 30s.}
Cerberus launched three powerful beams of fiery energy toward me and I held out the Soul of Nature, using him to tank the hit and grunted as I was being slightly pushed back. I looked ahead and chuckled softly then took out another Skill Card as the attack ended.
{Red Guardian activated. Fire Damage negated and boosted Soul of Nature's abilities by +30%.}
{MAX POWER: 100% Boost!}
I noticed Cerberus needing to recharge after his powerful attack then used my Skill Card upon the Soul of Nature. "Now it's our turn!"
{Soul of Nature has obtained Full Power Strike.}
{Full Power Strike activated.}
"Basselt! Unleash all of that built up power! Gift of Nature!" I roared, changing the Soul of Nature's Gift of Nature into Attack Mode. I threw him toward Cerberus, watching him fly across the arena at top speed.
The Soul of Nature shined brightly, releasing all of his energy at once as a power dome of energy, causing a massive energy blast. Cerberus yelped loudly in pain as he was struck with the blast, crashing through the walls of the arena.
Onyx's eyes widened as he witnessed Cerberus being taken down in one hit. He narrowed his eyes toward me, his mind racing with questions. 'What was that..?'
Mariella laughed and clapped her hands. "Now that's a true Dark Lord move! Surprising your opponent like that is a classic!"
"What just happened? He defeated that Cerberus in one attack!" Moira asked, her tone tinged with awe and disbelief.
"He gave the Soul of Nature one more skill once he was at max power due to Red Guardian. Full Power Strike can only be activated once the user is at Max Power or in a 100% State. This allows them to release an attack at full power which usually one shots any target despite their defenses," Floria explained, smiling at the result of the battle between Cerberus and the Soul of Nature.
The Soul of Nature grew tired and returned to me, shifting into a Monster Soul and entered my body. I smiled and allowed him a good rest, my gaze shifting back to Onyx.
I smirk at him and got into my stance, awaiting his next move. "C'mon, Onyx! Don't tell me your will has been broken now!"
'Tch...I forgot August is also a Synergetic Fighter...he can synchronize with any ally, but that doesn't take me out of the battle just yet!' Onyx thought, getting into his stance.
Onyx growled lowly and began bulking up his body. He lowered his posture then propelled himself toward me at high speeds with a roar. I blocked his attack and grunted softly as his strike began to push past my defenses. I pushed him back then went for a swiping chop at his midsection.
He caught my wrist and pulled me toward him, landing a powerful blow to my face. I groaned as I was knocked back, but recovered quickly then propelled myself toward him and clashed fists with him. I evaded his next attack, landing an Upper Lion Fist, knocking him in the air.
Onyx blocked my follow up strike, grunting softly as he was knocked back. He landed on the ground then throwing both arms open then generated two black fireballs. "Zodiac Arts!"
Both Leona and I were slightly surprised, noticing a Dark Leo Sigil shining on his chest. I braced myself for his attack and got into a defensive stance.
He bellowed, straighting his arms out in front of him and formed a sphere of black fiery energy. "Black Regal Roar!"
Finally, Onyx discharged a powerful black beam of fiery energy toward me, aiming to strike me down in one shot. I blocked the attack and grunted loudly, my feet caving into the ground while blocking the beam of energy. Onyx roared, changing the beam from a medium sized blast to a stronger, more larger energy beam.
An explosion happened, everyone watching with anticipation and noticing the large smoke cloud forming. Melody gripped the rails tightly, watching more intensely as she watched the smoke cloud slowly clear up.
Once the smoke cleared, I was revealed to be on one knee, panting softly with one sleeve of my long coat seared off and a tattered coat. I lowered my arms and slowly stood up, my gaze steady and firm on Onyx.
"How did you like that..? You aren't the only one with a bag of tricks. With my Dragon Boost, I can effectively super charge all of my attacks! Your Solar Charge means nothing when I'm truly activated!" Onyx boasted, chuckling at my damaged state.
I looked at Onyx with a more serious expression, taking a step forward and entering my stance one again. 'Dragon Boost?'
"It's technique only few Dragons can actually master. Their Boost varies upon mastery of the technique from 10% to 100%. It's hard to gauge his mastery but taken from the damage you took even while guarding, I'd say it's between 30% to 50% and that's a lot despite the numbers," Sephora explained, glancing at Onyx then looked at me.
I grumbled softly then closed my eyes and took a deep breath then exhaled. 'Well I suppose I should start taking this way more seriously. That Dragon Boost changes the game now..'
"It does..." Sephora agreed, her gaze returning to Onyx.
I tossed off my long coat, allowing it to flow in the wind and summond my gauntlets. I hopped up and down, rolling my shoulders and got into my stance. Onyx got into his stance as well, his eyes becoming draconic and aggressive. The two of us stared at each other, gauging each other for a moment.
"Melody...do you think August will be okay? Onyx is becoming more unrestrained," Fizz said, glancing at Melody, who was watching with a fiery intensity.
"I don't know..." Melody said, or better that was all she could say. She couldn't think about anything else other than my safety and if she should stop the battle before it got too bad.
Onyx launched himself toward me and I dashed forward, the two of us clashing again. We entered a fiery hand to hand combat, the two of us blocking and dodging each other's attacks. Onyx evaded my next attack and landed a powerful kick, launching me away.
I flipped backwards and sprang backwards off one hand, launching fireballs from my feet toward Onyx. Onyx ran through the fireballs and grabbed my face, spinning me around and hurled me toward a wall then launched a beam of energy toward me from his mouth. I grunted and blocked the attack, another explosion happening.
"Melody, he's getting manhandled down there..! We need to stop this battle! Onyx's Dragon Boost is very dangerous if unchecked!" Sora called out, clearly worried about the state of the battle.
Suddenly, a loud roar sounded out and my aura surged powerfully around my body, revealing me in my Super Zodiac Drive. Red lightning crackled around my body and flares began to surge from my aura as I awakened my Helios Force.
Onyx smirked at me then let out a roar, his dark draconic aura surging powerfully around him. "You will not beat me as I am now, August! If you know what's good for you, you will save yourself the embarrassment and hand over the Solar Peridot!"
I walked forward and my hair slowly became a fiery mane. "That will not be happening... I will not be handing over Leona to you just because you feel like it was robbed from you. Leona chose me and that's final!"
"Then I guess I'll just have to destroy you and take it by force!" Onyx declared, stomping his foot down and getting into his Dragon Stance.
I placed one hand behind my back then held one hand out, taking on the Phoenix Stance and my gaze locked onto Onyx's. "You can try, but you will not succeed..."
Liao Ru noticed me taking on her stance she taught me, now watching me more closely and crossed her arms. She knew I was now getting ready to unleash more power to win this duel.
Onyx rushed toward me with a devastating punch, but I evaded his strike, using his momentum to pull him behind me. Onyx quickly turned around, only to be met with a back kick then I followed it with a swiftly uppercut. I landed two leaping kicks, launching myself and Onyx in the air then knocked him back with a powerful kick.
Onyx rolled backwards along the ground then recovered onto one knee. He propelled himself toward me once more, launching a barrage of strikes. I dodged each attack, my steps calculated and graceful with each evasion. I ducked under his next strike, staggering him with a backhand fist.
I knocked him back then inhaled deeply. 'Zodiac Arts: Leo Assault Burst!'
I blew out a barrage of lion shaped fireballs toward Onyx, each one hurling toward him at high speeds. Onyx began deflecting each one swiftly then rushed toward me at high speeds. He roared as he went for a swift strike at my face, but groaned as I struck his stomach before his attack reached me.
Onyx held his stomach and stepped backwards, groaning softly. He looked up and noticed white clouds slowly forming around me, his eyes widening as he noticed me merging my Rainbow Fluorite and Solar Peridot together to form my Rainbow Peridot.
"It's over, Onyx. It's time for you to bow down and learn your place. You will never be within the hierarchy...whether you like it or not," I said, my eyes glowing with pure determination.
Onyx grit his teeth then roared as he charged toward me, going for an attack but before he could reach me, my aura pulsated around my body and knocked him away. He grunted softly as he rolled backwards and recovered on one knee.
Melody felt the energy radiating from my body, her eyes slightly widening. "That energy...it feels just like that form he used a month ago at the North Emerald Base.."
"That's because it is. This is called a Fusion Zodiac Drive. Only August has this form and it's his strongest Zodiac Form. He's no longer holding anything back," Liao Ru said, a pleased look playing on her face.
Moira admired my form and my heroic presence within the form. She couldn't take her eyes off me, her heart skipping a few beats as she stared at me with adoration.
"It's a beautiful looking form isn't it? Heroes always have such majestic and pure looking forms..~ But this one in specific just screams The Goddess of Light," Mariella chuckled, leaning back in her seat as she watched.
"That's maybe because Sephora is literally with him, Mariella," Floria giggled softly, watching the fight closely as well.
Onyx scoffed softly at my form, a bead of sweat slowly rolling down his face. 'Now I have to truly be more careful...I don't truly know what this form is capable of...'
"What's wrong? Not making the first move anymore? That's fine... I'll move first this time," I said, my aura spiralling powerfully around my body.
My Yaoke Sigils formed in my eyes and I cloaked myself in my aura, propelling myself toward Onyx at high speeds. Onyx quickly gained back his focus then launched himself toward me. The two of us clashed and knocked each other back.
Onyx stretched his arms out in front of him, launching a barrage of black fireballs toward me. I dodged them then cloaked myself in aura once more flying off at high speeds. Onyx noticed me leaving the arena and followed behind me, flying behind me.
"What the— Where are they going?!" Melody asked in shock, watching as the two of us flew out of the arena.
"They probably went to a more open area to fight. This Arena is a little restrictive and knowing August, he knows Onyx is becoming more unrestrained by the second," Mariella said then stood up, summoning a Sea Serpent, hopping on its back then helped Floria and Moira on its back as well.
"We should follow them. Who knows how bad their battle will get..." Liao Ru said, standing up from her seat.
Melody and the others nodded and began to head outside the arena, getting into the Griffin Carriage and the Griffins flew off, following the trails of aura left behind by me and Onyx.
I flew threw the forests and looked back, evading the barrage of black energy blasts that Onyx fired toward me. I smirked at him and used the trees to disorient him, forcing Onyx to weave through the trees as well.
Multiple explosions set off in the forest, the continuous barrage of energy blasts continuing to hike toward me. Onyx let out a roar and continued the onslaught of blasts.
I chuckled softly, deflecting the last few energy blasts. "Now it's my turn.."
I bellowed and celestial energy began forming around my body, surging beautifully in hues of silver, blue, and white around my body. Onyx roared as he rushed toward me at high speeds, his black aura surging around his body.
Onyx bellowed and landed a powerful blow to my face, knocking me back. I soared toward him and landed a powerful blow to his face to knock him back as well. We flew toward each other, rapidly clashing but I knocked him higher in the air.
I soared up toward him, delivering a hard uppercut then evaded Onyx's counter attack. I stuck him with an elbow to his chest, spinning around on the spot and smashed him to the ground below with a downward kick.
I backflipped in the air, charging a crackling energy sphere in both hands above my head. "Zodiac Arts: Celestial Starfall!"
I roared loudly, launching an enormous rain of energy projectiles toward him, each projectiles striking Onyx continuously. Onyx groaned and roared as he was getting rapidly hit then he let out a roar, his energy bursting around him.
Onyx propelled himself toward me, aiming a powerful strike to my face. I blocked his punch then flew off at high speeds, forcing Onyx to once again give chase.
"There they are!" Moira pointed, noticing me and Onyx flying off in the distance while clashing.
"Let's follow them!" Melody called out, commanding the Griffins to follow behind me and Onyx.
Onyx and I continued our clash, reaching an area within the forest that was more open. I evaded Onyx's next attack then delivered a powerful blow that sent him crashing away. Onyx slid backwards on the ground, grunting in pain, groaning and roaring.
I got into my stance, a confident smirk playing on my face. 'There it is...he's reaching a breaking point. Let's put this battle to rest'
"Yeah! Let's take him down!" Leona roared, her flames shifting into White Flames.
"Together, my sonshine," Sephora said, her Yaoke Sigils also forming in her eyes.
Onyx roared as he charged toward me and leaped forward with a kick, but I dodged and swiftly got behind him. Onyx swiftly turned around and generated a black sphere of energy in his hand, launching it toward me.
I swiped my arm, forming a barrier with my white clouds and deflected the attack back toward him then a barrage of light projectiles began rapidly striking him and stunned him. I rushed forward and knocked him in the air with an Upper Lion Fist then warped above him, striking him with a downward kick back to the ground.
Onyx stood up and grit his teeth, his body shaking with anger. He yelled out and his eyes shone a bright red. "I won't let you win this duel!"
I smirked at him and charged two celestial spheres of energy in my hands, dashing toward him. Onyx roared at me, unleahsing a large breath of black flames toward me. I leaped over him and landed behind him, flinging both spheres toward him, both of them landing their marks and exploding.
"Zodiac Arts: Astral Storm!" I bellowed, placing my palms together in front of me and concentrating more energy in my hands.
I began to fired a barrage of celestial energy toward him, each energy blast striking Onyx in the back in rapid succession. Onyx stumbled forward and grunted as he was now in a weakened state. I took this time to prepare my next attack, forming an orb of iridescent energy in my hand.
"Zodiac Arts: Astral Punisher!" I roared, launching the orb of energy toward Onyx.
The orb of energy struck Onyx, causing a massive prismatic shard explosion that could be seen from even the Peridot Kingdom. Melody and the others arrived at the scene, a powerful force of wind causing them to groan and slightly pushed back the Griffins.
Onyx grunted softly, his Dark Impulse awakening within him then he let out a bellow, his dark aura surging powerfully around his body, his body bulking even further. I grunted softly as I braced myself once again, taking on my stance once more.
"M-Melody! Onyx's Dark Impulse, it's awakened! We have to stop this battle!" Sora called out, her body shivering as she felt Onyx's energy.
"That Black Spinel is corrupting him from the inside. Even if he is a Black Dragon, he is still wielding a Dark Zodiac Crystal that wields immeasurable amounts of Dark Energy," Liao Ru said, preparing to jump down to stop Onyx with me.
"I wouldn't go down there. You should just let August handle this," Mariella said, watching the battle with the others on her Sea Serpent.
"August can handle this. After all, he's fought Mariella twice and survived against her both times. If anyone should be the one to call th fight, it's August," Floria said, her eyes glued to the fight as well.
I watched Onyx closely then dashed toward him, leaping upward and coming down with a powerful kick, but he blocked my attack and went for a counter. I evaded his counter, palming his chest and knocked him away.
Onyx opened his hand, an orb of dark energy forming in his hand then he released a beam of energy toward me. I dodged the beam and rushed toward, landing a powerful strike to his face and knocked him away.
"August, he's corrupted! You'll need to purify him by destroying that Black Spinel within him! Make it quick!" Leona roared, running after me.
I nodded and flew after Onyx, evading a barrage of energy blasts then landed a series of strikes upon him then kicked him away. Onyx grunted as be slid backwards, grunting as black lightning crackled around his body.
I landed on the ground, surrounding my body with celestial energy. After unleashing my energy, I charged toward him before landing three consecutive punches, infusing my aura into Onyx and kicking him upwards.
"Final Burst Skill: Soul Purification!" I roared, celestial energy surging around my body.
I rose and crossed my arms, further charging up before sending more energy into Onyx's body and detonating the energy within his own body, releasing a brilliant silver burst and creating a titanic explosion that ravages the landscape.
Onyx groaned loudly, the Black Spinel within him shining brightly and shattering. He fell onto the ground, incapacitated and knocked out. I panted softly, my body forcibly reverting me to my normal form due to reaching its limit. I fell back onto the ground, staring at the evening sky and chuckled softly, coming out as the victor of the battle.
"August!" Melody called out to me.
I noticed the Griffins landing beside me and slowly sat up, watching Melody hurry toward me and get on the ground to hug me. I grunted softly and blushed, feeling Melody's tight squeeze.
"Okay...Mel...that hurts..." I grunted, my body exhausted from the rough battle against Onyx.
Melody let me go and held me at arms length, a smile playing on her face. "I'm so glad you're okay...we were worried about you and how this would end, but I'm glad this ended with you winning.."
I smiled back at Melody, gently stroking her hair and chuckled softly. "Me too...but someone should really check on Onyx now. It didn't only attack his physical body with that last attack, but I attacked his soul as well..."
Melody nodded, looking over at Fizz, Sora, and Feline. "Can you all check up on Onyx and bring him back to the carriage? We will be taking him to the citadel to rest. When he wakes, I will give my judgement upon him.."
The three nodded and went to retrieve Onyx while Melody helped me upon the carriage. Once we were all boarded upon the carriage, the Griffins flew off back to the Kingdom for me and Onyx to rest up.