As the light soon dissipated, the dazzled Zaron lowered his guarding brace. He shook his head hastily to return his sight and gazed upon the pedestal that held the Dragon's Eye previously.
Both the Guardian and the Eye were nowhere to be found.
"Dammit! Where'd it go?" He yelled as he held the Artoria blade close.
Just then, he noticed Veena rush to his side – who was still disorientated upon her arrival.
"Do you think it ran away?" She wondered as she positioned herself close to his side.
Zaron shook his head.
"No ... it's still here."
He was unable to explain his reasoning, yet he felt the Guardian's intimidating presence looming within the Treasure Chamber. Both he and Veena stood back-to-back, their eyes switching constantly as they focused on investigating the surrounding chamber. Whether they were to face the Guardian or the ever-elusive Mantis, the two were prepared to fight on. At first, there were no signs of their enemy's presence.
...Leap...!
"Hm…?"
And then, as a shadow loomed over the pair, Veena glanced up.
"ABOVE!!!"
Zaron's gaze shot upwards instantly upon hearing her yell, his muscles tensioned as eyes widened at the horrifying sight that befell him.
FWOOM! Ka-BOOM!!!
The two Draiken launched themselves out of harm's way as they avoided the devastating collision, their hearts racing at the near-crushing experience.
"Mrrrrrrgh...!"
Emerging from the thick dust-cloud – the Dragon's Eye now morphed deep in its crystallized chest – was the towering Guardian. Immediately upon viewing the colossal beast, the two Draiken noticed the effects of the jewel had taken effect already. Its bulking crystallized muscles were filled with glowing dark-red rips, pulsating through its body at the pace of a heartbeat. Its blood-ruby eyes shined with ferocious adrenaline as it targeted its bothersome prey, saliva drooling from its jaws whilst it thrived in its newfound power. However, these cosmetics changes were minor compared to the addition of four new limbs.
Click..! Click...! Crack-crack...!
Grown from its torso were two additional bulky arms, flexing and crackling with anticipation as it exercised full movement in its new limbs – acting as though it was ready to crush Draiken skulls. The other two limbs that emerged were a pair of elongated demonic wings, appearing uncanny to the shape of a Draiken's wing – including several sharp talons. Fluttering and stretching with ease, the wings spanned twice the length of its own humongous body as though one simple swoop would send it flying sky bound.
Staring at the reformed crystal beast, Zaron took on his battle stance in cautious resolve – his pained heavy breaths growing hoarse by the second whilst his body shook violently. He felt drained, the deep wound in his shoulder screaming constantly as blood further stained his attire. Given the state of his body and overall consciousness, it was evident that he was close to collapse. Veena felt conscious of Zaron's wellbeing, noticing his wavering from the corner of her eye.
However, he then chuckled underneath his breath.
"Heh ... hehehe...! Hey, Veena." He called out bluntly upon flexing his wings, acting as though he was purposely taunting the beast. "This 'bozo' thinks he could copy us."
Veena gazed at him in bafflement, wondering if he had lost his mind – before deciding to follow his lead.
"Tsk...! The nerve." Veena responded in a loud, cheeky tone, acting disgusted at the prospect. "Maybe we should cut it down to size as punishment."
Leap! VROOSH!!!
Acting as though had heard their taunts, the Guardian launched itself at the Draiken duo – sweeping low with fast slices of the many claws at its disposal. With no time to react, Zaron and Veena leapt high to avoid the thrashing beast – watching the demonic beast as it slid below them.
Swipe! STAB!
They then struck down in unison, their blades penetrating its muscular crystallized back with significant resistance.
GRAB!
"GRRRGH-!!!"
The Guardian reached behind instinctively and caught the two without throwing them with significant might. Zaron and Veena tumbled across the Treasure Chamber uncontrollably, gripping their weapons for dear life as they collided against the rough ground.
Wham! BANG! ....Skiiid!
After a few tumbles, their bodies twisted automatically as their wings flapped, allowing them to regain control before the inevitable impact. Acting in sync to one another, the two Draiken landed on their feet with a firm touch and burst into immediate retaliation. They separated as they charged, circling the Guardian from either side as they planned to confuse it.
However, the beast was swift to choose its approach.
Boom! VROOOSH!!!
In that moment, the beast swivelled and launched its colossal body towards Veena, beating its newly formed wings with immense aggression. Noticing its rushed approach, the charging Veena switched and faced the Guardian directly – racing at full pelt as she planned her next moves dynamically. Considering she and the beast were yet to finish their initial brawl, she assumed the beast held a grudge against her.
Swoosh...! SWIPE-SWIPE-SWIPE-SWIPE!!!
Upon closing in on the young female Draiken, the Guardian released a relentless flurry of claws. Veena stood her ground, readying her Kurama blade as she timed her counterstrike. She drew in a deep breath, slowing her heart rate to simmer as she reinforced her body into a lowered battle-stance. And then, as the claws brushed passed her eyes, she executed.
SLASH!
Veena struck deep into the left side of the beast, holding her ground as the blade carved into the crystal. She relied on the beast's relentless aggression, using the velocity of its body to run her blade through the side of its abdomen. As the blade connected, she felt her entire body clench up to withstand the opposing mass, her feet skidding back in the process. However, even with the sheer size difference between the two opposition, she held strong.
Crack...! Swipe!
And then, with a twitch of her body, Veena separated her weapon from her beastly opponent. In retaliation, the Guardian stumbled and twisted with an aggressive halt, swinging its crystallised body round to face the scarlet-haired Draiken.
And yet, upon facing her, it was met with another, larger blade.
Swing...! CRACK!
Veena watched as Zaron sliced into the beast with pure might – lodging the Artoria blade deep into the beast's left shoulder.
"HAH! CRITICAL HIT!" Zaron yelled with a triumphant grin, celebrating his pre-emptive victory.
"Rrrrrngh...!"
It was a terribly misjudged celebration.
"Argh, come on!"
The frustrated Zaron kicked back from the damaged Guardian without delay, dislodging the blade from its shoulder as he rushed to distance himself from his colossal enemy. At the same time, the Guardian swung its claws in swift retaliation – an attack that nicked the edge of his right leg.
SWOOP...!
"Urgh!"
Zaron grunted out in abrupt pain, feeling his leg catch the claw and rip through his skin. As he landed with a wince, he resisted the desire to check the injury, continuing his focus on the crystal beast whilst planning his next approach. Exhaustion formed deep within him, heavy bouts of sweat emitting from his brow and breaths far too prevalent to hide. Furthermore, the fresh pain in his leg only added to the remaining pain that thrived throughout his body, causing him to wince at every shift in his body. Regardless of the growing setbacks, he shook his head and continued his assault.
Dash!
Swing, swing...!
Before the Guardian had a chance to react, Zaron leapt into full sprint. As he charged, He swung his blade freely and rested its blunt end on his right shoulder, ensuring the fluidity of his upcoming attacks were not stunted in the process. The Guardian eyed Zaron's swift approach, letting out a rumbling snarl as it prepared its numerous claws.
Swipe...! Swing, swing! CLASH!!!
Within mere seconds, blade and claws collided, both ricocheting from one another upon collision. The beast followed up in haste with a flurry of light claw swipes, bounding towards the relentless Draiken like an oversized boulder.
SCRAPE...!
Zaron blocked the onslaught of claws with his blade, feeling them scrape across and stab against the flat of his weapon. Keeping to the flow, he transferred the opposing force into a circling counter, executing a series of rising slashes like an obliterating whirlwind.
Swing! Swing-swing! Swipe...! SLASH SLASH!!!
His counter strike was relentless, aiming initially for the already-opened wound caused by Veena's earlier strike – before proceeding to extend it to the core area of the crystal beast's abdomen.
Leap! Skiddd...!
However, the beast had retaliated easily, leaping side-wards just as the blade's tip caught the large wound.
"Whoa-!"
Zaron tripped over his own feet accidentally, stumbling forward mid-attack due to his opponent's sudden manoeuvre. With him caught off-guard, the Guardian swept low with its powerful claws – extended to the lengths of several short blades.
Slash! CLINK!
Zaron recovered hastily, driving his Artoria blade forward for a stern parry. At the same time, Veena swooped in to intervene, lunging into the beast from the side. Her Kurama blade struck hard into its hardened shell, cracking the solid crystal like it was simple glass.
"GGRRUUUAAAAAAGH!!!"
The bewildered Guardian lurched back in fury, rising tall on its hind-legs as its wild gaze glared down upon its infuriating enemy. Dangling loosely from the penetrating katana, Veena met eyes with the beast cheekily, unable to hide her playful smirk as she witnessed the unrelenting rage reach impossible levels within the beast.
"Heh-hee...! Whoops."
Leap! SWIPE! CRACK!!!
"URRRRAAAAUUUGH!?!?!?"
As Veena pushed to dislodge Kurama from the beast's torso, Zaron followed up with a burst if aggression. Aiming low, he swung his blade towards the crystal goliath's vulnerable legs, prioritising the power in his unscathed left leg to boost ahead.
SLASH!!!
In one fell swoop, he sliced deep into both legs with immense force, feel the blade cut open the opposing crystal with ease. The distraught beast staggered forward, losing overall stability as it attempted to hold its footing. Seeing his golden opportunity, Zaron spun to face the beast head-on, sustaining the flow in his blade as he pursued for a fatal finisher.
Swoop...! Swing-swing-SWING! CRACK!!!
It took a fraction of a second to execute the definitive blow. With a single leap of his good leg, Zaron rose into a relentless spinning uppercut – releasing his blade like a cartwheeling whirlwind. It sliced through the entire torso of the beast in a vertical motion, opening numerous lacerations before lodging itself deep into the neck of the enlarged crystal-goliath.
"Rrrrrggh..."
The Guardian lurched and swayed deliriously, struggling to throw Zaron off as it thrashed its many bulking arms aimlessly. However, Zaron was locked tight against its neck, digging his blade further in result to yield.
Fwoosh!
In that moment, the beast lunged at him with a claw to the neck, unfazed of the potential self-infliction it was cause in the process. From the corner if his eye, Zaron caught a glance of the incoming edge of the claw.
"HNGH...! RAAAGH!"
THRASH!
With his entire strength, Zaron separated the Artoria blade from the Guardian's neck and back flipped into a cartwheeling slash.
SLICE!!!
His timing was impeccable. The blade struck into the incoming arm with ferocious ease, dismembering the limb completely from the forearm.
"GRAAAAAAAAAA-!!!"
Upon falling into a backward stumble, Zaron hopped back immediately to retain control whilst distancing himself from the beast. He watched the crystal beast bellow in its immense agony, wondering if the beast felt any sense of humiliation. And yet, he was unable to hide the heavy, quickened breaths nor the drenched brow, feeling him own adrenaline drain from his body. Additionally, his posture was hunched, struggling to hold his own weight and the large blade in his grasp.
It was then when he noticed Veena rush up to his side.
"Are you holding up okay, Zaron?" She asked him worriedly, noticing the lack of colour in his cheeks.
"Yep ... never better..." Zaron chuckled out breathlessly, clutching his blood-soaked shoulder.
"Hang back for a while and let the elixir do its job." She then warned him consciously as she was unconvinced, wondering how long until the effects of the elixir kicked into gear.
Zaron shook his head profusely.
"Not a chance. One more push and the boss is down for the count." He assured her with a wavering glance. "It'll be a cinch."
Veena struggled to respond; her shoulder sunk as she knew his cast of optimism was a complete lie. All she saw before her was her partner was a shell of confidence crumbling away as his health depleted. At that point, Veena feared it would be too late before Zaron realised his limitations. "Zaron, you have to-!"
"Hrrrrgh ... hrrrrgh...!"
Veena halted her words, hearing the low rumbling sounds of the Guardian before them. As the two shifted focus back to the crystal-goliath, they noticed it lower into a firm braced position – covering the stub that was once its clawed arm. It continued to rumble and groan, acting as though it was chanting a spell.
Realising the situation, Zaron staggered forward frantically.
"We need to end this!" He yelled out as he limped into a run. "If we don't do it now, it'll-!"
"Grr-RAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"
"...Shit."
In that moment, the Guardian bellowed out an echoing war-cry, raising its nozzle to the non-existent ceiling above. Through the simple command of its howl, the plethora of damage inflicted from its opponents flashed in a blinding, blood-red radiant light. From its stub for an arm to the many gashes throughout its crystal body, the illumination emitting from the beast consumed the chamber gradually.
Fwoom!
And then, the blood-red aura diminished in an instant, revealing the prior damage had healed completely. Additionally, its missing arm had regrown in its entirety, flexing it freely as it brandished a new set of elongated claws.
"I-it...!" Veena muttered in blank disbelief. "Zaron, it regenerated!"
"Oh, piss off! How is that fair?!" The infuriated Zaron yelled out at the beast.
The crystal Guardian met eyes with the two Draiken upon hearing Zaron's yell, staring daggers at its prey as though thirsting for their eventual demise. Its four claws clenched into bouldering fists, rising above it's head as though building power.
"What's it ... doing?" Veena breathed out warily, unable to predict its next move.
Zaron watched on in silence, tensing up at the sight as he felt his skin crawl. And then, the beast threw its quadruple fists to the ground with immeasurable strength.
Thwomp! BOOM!!!
"Wha-?!"
Rumble...!
Upon impact, the ground shook like a miniature quake – cracking and splitting the arena with immense force. Veena held her stance, her body tensing up immediately as she avoided the emerging cracks. On the other hand, Zaron staggered. His body was too weak to withstand the growing quake, resorting to stabbing Artoria into the ground instinctively for desperate support.
"Ugh...!"
A surge of agonizing pain shot through his chest as his body shuddered against the blade, realising his body was failing him. He was unable to focus, finding his surroundings an unrecognisable blur. Furthermore, he was unable to recognise the cracks opening below his feet in a luminous orange glow.
"ZARON! MOVE!!!"
Before he realised the situation, Veena yanked him abruptly.
VROOSH!!!
As he was pulled away, a fountain of magma burst out from the new fissure. Both Draiken were lucky to avoid the burning rain falling upon them, Veena darting around the arena with the faint Zaron in tow as they were desperate to avoid their death sentence.
Boom-boom-boom! VROOSH!!!
Continuous bursts of molten magma proceed to chase the Draiken pair, following their frantic route from close behind.
"Nngh...?! Argh-!"
With the constant shoving, pulling, and dragging, Zaron was left in prolonged torment.
"I know, Zaron! I know it hurts!" Veena responded in her panicked state, her eyes wild and heart racing as she directed him from harm. "Just don't stop moving!"
As he continued to stumble, Zaron glanced back to the crystal Guardian briefly – straining his eyes to picture the beast's position. His eyes then widened in realisation.
"Veena, let me go." He murmured in request.
"Wha-? Why?!" Veena blurted out in bewilderment.
"It's distracted!"
Veena stared at him in confusion before glancing over to the beast. As pointed out by Zaron, the Guardian was not concentrating on them, instead focusing its piercing gaze on the cracked ground below with all four sets of its blade-like claws struck deep. Upon observation, both Zaron and Veena came to the same conclusion: as the Guardian prioritized controlling the flow of magma as a remote weapon, its crystallized body was completely vulnerable.
"If we split ... we can use one of us to distract it ... whilst the other attempts to flank it ... from a blind spot." Zaron suggested in a pained wheeze, struggling to stay conscious with the constant jolts and pulls.
"And ... what if it's focused on both of us at the same time?" Veena rebutted cautiously, dodging the magma spouts as she spoke.
"Then we ... try to outwit it." Zaron then chuckled faintly, giving her a reckless wink.
Veena gazed at him in disbelief, wondering what was running through his head. In any other circumstance, she would flat out refuse his suggestion, assuming the collection of injuries and deteriorating health was affecting his thought process. However, acknowledging that they were trapped with the crystal goliath, she felt his suggestion was their only viable option.
She then answered – albeit hesitantly.
"...Don't make me regret this."
Zaron grinned, nodding back to her in both confirmation and gratitude. He then separated from her support and leapt into a rushed stagger, distancing herself from her position as his directed his attention back on the beast.
Stumble...! DASH!!!
Veena set her sights on the incoming magma, speeding up her pace as she felt the burden of assisting Zaron lifting from her shoulders. With a spring in her swift step, she dodged and weaved with ease, evading every burst of molten liquid that attempted to disrupt her movement. On the opposite end, Zaron continued to stumble and sway in desperate agony, every attempt to sprint met with treacherous pain. Yet, he refused to falter, his mind set on finishing the battle before the elixir takes effect. However, much to his disappointment, the ferocious spouts of magma continued to follow him as well – invalidating his initial plan entirely.
Boom-boom-VROOSH-BOOM!!!
The Draiken pair were stuck. They were set in a vicious cycle of evasion and survival, praying not to be caught by a fountain of molten magma. It was down to taking risks and striking at the Guardian when the opportunity arose – or risk succumbing to the inevitable deathly burns. Veena brainstormed for plausible alternatives, whilst Zaron had already made up his mind.
"...Hah ... hah...! Nngh!"
Taking in deep, pained breaths, Zaron arched the direction of his charge towards the idle crystal-goliath, directing both himself and the relentless magma in his wake. He strengthened his grip on the Artoria blade as he relied on the remaining ounce of his consciousness for one last assault. He did not care for the inhumane pain that overwhelmed his mind; he did not care for his outcome; he did not even care if they emerged successful with the Dragon's Eye in hand: his sole focus was set on Veena's safety and wellbeing. A flash of his mother's face emerged briefly in his mind as he approached his colossal opponent, reminding him not to repeat the same mistake happen.
For each stride he took, he prayed for a miracle.
WHOOSH!!!
Zaron locked his grasp on the Artoria blade with both hands, trusting his entire being in his weapon as he strengthened his hold. The unsuspecting Guardian was mere seconds away from him, oblivious to his approach. From his perspective, he had an easy route to a definitive strike. Noticing his pursuit, Veena switched with desperate adrenaline as terror for his safety engulfed her mind.
VROOSH! SLASH!!!
In that moment, Zaron struck forward, veins popping from his muscles and teeth grounded intensely as his immense power transferred inti the flow of his blade. The outcome was set in stone.
Lurch-!
"...NNGH!?!?"
Zaron received a harsh reminder of the elixir as it finally took effect mid-assault. During his swing, Zaron hunched forward reactively, losing his entire momentum and strength instantly. Without warning, he felt a surge of treacherous pain erupt from his shoulder and surged throughout the veins in his body. At the same time, the Guardian twitched abruptly, its intimidating gaze diverting to Zaron in sudden alert.
SWOOSH...!
It retaliated instinctively, unleashing a swipe of its ferocious claws.
SLASH!!!
"AAAAAGH-!!!"
It was a direct hit.
"NO!!!!!"
Veena shrieked out in deathly horror as she witnessed Zaron's body hurtle back in an uncontrollable spin. It all happened so fast.
Fwip! STAB!
The first to strike the ground was his Artoria blade, stabbing deep into the black-soot, orange-glowing rock – the body followed.
Thwomp!
Worrying quantities of blood splattered upon impact, flying and splashing at every random direction imaginable. His body then continued its momentum, bashing against the blackened ground like a skipping stone.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Tumble...! CRASH!!!
Everything stopped. After a series of devastating collisions, Zaron's body struck the edge of the arena – crashing hard into the wall that it crumbled upon immediate impact. The terrified Veena raced towards his location, her eyes widened and skin pale as horror swept her mind. She could see the cracked ground glow up below his body, causing her to sprint at full velocity.
DASH! FWOOSH!
In a matter of seconds, she caught the incapacitated Zaron by the torso and leapt out of the incoming magma's trajectory.
KABOOM!!!
The burst of molten magma shot up to the sky in an enormous explosion. Although a narrow miss, the shock wave sent both Veena and Zaron careening across the blackened arena. As they tumbled, Veena wrapped her body and wings around Zaron with a tight grip, protecting him from further trauma as they slowed to an eventual halt. Albeit dazed and dizzy, Veena was quick to leap back onto her feet. Her first action was to check on Zaron's condition, ignoring her surroundings entirely. As she inspected him, dread set in instantly.
The first issue she noticed was the state of his entire body. He was covered from head-to-toe with blood and soot, including his two Draiken-wings the were splayed across the black-soot ground. Additionally, he was seen with a vacant, bulging gaze and gasping, opened mouth, acting as though he was desperate for air to return to his lungs. Finally - and the most devastating of all – three fatal, gaping lacerations were found seeping across his body: Two talons had struck him deep in the abdomen and chest with thick amounts of blood spewing whilst the last talon had swiped the left side of his cheek. He was conscious, albeit struggling to breathe and on the verge of death.
"No ... no-no-no! Th-this can't be happening!" Veena stammered in horrified panic, attempting to find any way to cover the horrendous gashes.
Riiip...!
With no other option, she ripped off sections of his jacket and covered the two lacerations using significant amounts of pressure to prevent any further blood-loss. Furthermore, she ripped away the neck piece of her shirt and pressed it firmly against the gash on his check.
"NNGH-!!!"
As she placed pressure on the wounds, Zaron jolted unbearably – yelping inaudibly and breathlessly as he felt the burst of pain surge through his wounds.
"Shit! Shit!" Veena cursed as an abundance of tears seeped down her cheeks, struggling to hold her composure. "I'm sorry, Zaron! I'm sorry!"
However, no matter the pressure, she could not stop the blood pouring from the wounds. To add to the stress, the ground underneath the two Draiken proceeded to illuminate once more. Veena was faced with only seconds to act.
Realising her conundrum, her mind was falling apart: if she focused on pressuring his lacerations, the two would face a direct blast of the incoming magma fountain; on the other hand, if she were to force Zaron from their position, the further trauma would certainly kill him. She considered one other option, yet she knew it was a ludicrous idea.
Rumble...!
Whilst pressurising his wounds, she lifted him carefully. She then wrapped her wings over both their bodies in frantic desperation, planning to shield them from the inevitable burning impact. The idea was flawed beyond insanity, believing both sets of wings would be eviscerated from the molten liquid. And yet, it was the only choice with an inkling of survival for both Draiken. She embraced Zaron as tightly as possible as she locked her wings around them, awaiting the immense burning pain to engulf them.
However, she was met with an unexpected sound.
Whoosh! Swing-swing! STAB! SLASH!!!
Hearing slicing blades, the baffled Veena peeked out of her wrapped wings with a shock and confused glance. From her small opening, she spotted a shadow-like figure darting around the startled Guardian, swiping and twisting with a recognisable pair of lethal arm-blades.
"No way...! Mantis?!" Veena gasped in a mix of bewilderment and awe, watching the crimson assassin zipping freely around the beast. "Why is she-?"
Distracted from its preferred targets, the beast had extracted its claws from the ground and retaliated relentlessly.
"GRYAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"
Accepting the challenge, Mantis was overwhelmingly swift with her approach. She leapt, dashed, and flipped as each claw swung her way, pinpointing the exact moment to evade the colossal attacks. Her agile and flawless flow in her acrobatics was otherworldly, acting as though she was in complete control of the situation with her predictions and manoeuvrability. Considering the injuries she received from the stabs of Zaron's wing-talons not long previous, her flawless assault was remarkable to witness. Additionally, there was an odd aura of determination emitting from the assassin, as though adamant to keep the beast away from the Draiken pair.
Swish! Leap...! SWIPE-SWIPE!!!
Thanks to the assassin's intervention, the molten magma underneath the glowing cracks simmered, saving the two Draiken from an unbearable end. Seizing the opportunity, Veena released her wings from around Zaron and returned priority to his survival.
"...Zaron? Zaron?!"
In that instant, the suffocating panic returned.
Zaron's gaze was lifeless, his mouth limp as barely a whisper of breath was passing through his lungs.
"Come on, don't do this to me. Don't do this to me!" She muttered anxiously, her body shaking profusely as she proceeded to the press down on the wounds.
"...eena...! Vee-a-...!"
The speaker in her ear then erupted, struggling for reception and severely muffled.
"Veena!"
"Lucas?!"
Her eyes lit up in a cast of hope, relieved to hear the familiar voice speak through her earpiece. Without a second of hesitation, she proceeded to update him on their predicament.
"Lucas! Zaron's dying! I – I don't know what to do!"
"...he-...xir...?"
Slap!
Veena whacked the earpiece reactively, lacking any patience for reception trouble.
"Please repeat!" She requested amid her panic.
"Has he taken the elixir yet?" Lucas asked calmly through the speaker, ensuring his voice was as clear as possible.
"He ... he took it earlier due to a previous injury!"
There was a second of silence.
She then heard him follow up on her answer with another question.
"Okay. Did the elixir take effect before Zaron fell into his current state?"
"N-no...! No! Not yet!" She rushed to answer, her bloodshot-red eyes set on the lifeless Zaron.
(...wait.)
Just then, she remembered the moment Zaron received the brunt of the beast's claws – how he lurched forward and lost his balance.
"...It started then...!"
"Please repeat, Veena."
"The elixir started the recovery process just as Zaron took the hit!" She then yelled as the realisation set in. With this, she expected to go through a CPR-like procedure, fully tensing up as she awaited the all-clear.
"Good. Leave him be."
"...Eh?"
At first, Veena thought she had lost her mind.
And then, Lucas clarified further.
"I mean it. As long as he's in a safe place, leave him alone."
"But, what about-?"
Before she could finish her baffled response, Lucas proceeded to ensure the situation.
"...Is his heart still beating?"
Veena confirmed after a quick check of his pulse.
"Yes."
"Is he still breathing?"
Veena followed up by placing the back of her hand against his lifeless mouth.
"Barely ... but yes. He's breathing."
"Then – as long as he's breathing and his heart's pumping ... the elixir will work its magic."
Veena was left in confused silence, her mind convincing her to trust in Lucas' wisdom, whilst her body refused to move from its position.
"I can't just..." She murmured worriedly, gazing upon the limp Zaron.
"Veena. You can trust me." Lucas reassured over the speaker. "One last thing: please pass the earpiece to Zaron."
Veena accepted Lucas' request, removing the earpiece from her ear, and transferring it to Zaron's.
THWOMP! BOOM!!!
In that moment, Veena heard the ground erupt from close behind them, feeling Mantis and the Guardian's bout closing in on them. With her free hand, she snatched her Kurama blade and peered over her shoulder, observing the chaos as it raged throughout the arena.
FWIP-! BANG! FWOOM...! SWOOSH!!!
The battle was carnage. The Guardian had resorted to a flurry of swipes and air-bound leaps – utilising its wide-spanning wings to ascend and capture an advantage over its human opponent. Whilst swift and bombastic, there was a predictability to the assault that became a potential detriment to the beast.
Swing...! CLANG! BASH! SWIPE! CLANG!!!
Mantis was like a bullet, boosting through each evasion with the assistance of her suit's muscle enhancements. As she leapt and charged, a constant red, glowing tail followed from behind - flickering with every twitch of her direction and leap in her stride. And yet, even though she was dominant in the conflict, none of her strikes inflicted any damage to the crystal goliath. No matter the swings of her arm-blades or her boosted kicks: the beast was unscathed. She was a mere insect to the Guardian, a bothersome inconvenience that merely distracted from the main target. Unless the assassin could break through the crystal-goliath's impenetrable coating and find its weakness; or, the Guardian strikes down Mantis once she's visibly exhausted: the two were locked in a stalemate.
Veena then switched back to Zaron, her thoughts conflicted on the ideal course of action.
(Should I stay by Zaron's side ... or go backup Mantis?)
Jolt!
However, she was taken aback by Zaron staring at her directly, his bloodied gaze alert and unwavering. He nodded to her weakly, muttering the one answer to her dilemma she desperately required.
"Go...! H-help her...!"
Veena's heart leapt, grabbing his hand in response with firm reassurance.
"Don't you dare die on me." She demanded, eclipsed with fear of his condition.
Zaron stared at her silently, unable to speak or move another muscle in response. And yet, his eyes were firm and confident, expressing his acceptance to Veena's request. With that, Veena stood up with her Kurama blade in hand, glancing down at Zaron once more with lingering caution.
Dash!
And then, with a cast of renewed resolve, Veena rushed into action with both hands grappling her weapon.
"*GASP!!!*"
Just as she left to join the fight, Zaron gasped out.
"GrraaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!!"
During the time Veena was by his side, Zaron was restraining the desire to scream out in unrelenting agony. The elixir's recovery process was in full motion, burning through the lacerations and numerous other wounds across his entire body. He could feel the infamous hornet's itch erupting within his lacerations, struggling to avoid the temptation for scratching. Even though the vial only held a small portion of the elixir, it still had a surprisingly killer kick to it.
"HAA...! HAAA...! RRRRAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!"
In his mind, Zaron was adamant not to concern Veena any further, knowing his screams would freak her out.
Grip! Scrape...!
He clasped against the crack-filled ground, clawing with his hands and wing-talons for any viable stability. At the same time, he observed the battle before him, his bloodstained eyes squinting as he attempted to follow the conflict with unreliable focus.
"Hnnngh-! NNNNNGH!!!"
With his body tossing and turning violently, he was forced to wait and endure the necessary torture.
However, unbeknownst to him, a spark of gold proceeded to form within his irises.
***
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"
SWING! Swipe-! BOOM!!!
Through a burst of its wide-spanning wings, the Guardian proceeded to swing its colossal-sized crystal arms at its new target, slamming hard against the ground and causing spurts of magma to spill from the cracks.
Dash! Leap!
Anticipating the predictable approach, Mantis sidestepped with a swift burst. She then leapt above the beast just as it smashed against the ground for a second time, her sights locked in the beast's wings. Carrying her momentum, she twisted her body into flowing spin and aimed her arm-blades for the wing joints close to the beast's back.
CLANK!
Her attempt was to no effect. The arm-blades ricocheted from the wings like they struck an impenetrable rock, causing Mantis to shudder upon impact. Anticipating the beast to retaliate, Mantis hopped off its back and entered a backwards somersault.
SWIPE-SWIPE!!!
As expected, the crystal-goliath switched and launched a clawing uppercut, reaching to catch the assassin mid-leap. And yet, the claws missed Mantis' body by a hair, slicing the air and leaving itself vulnerable in the process.
Swoop..! Step! BURST!
Upon landing with a soft step, the Mantis leap forward with the boost of her powered suit, aiming to intercept the beast before it could land and recover. Instead of a high strike, the assassin aimed for the bulky legs of the beast, hoping to cripple it and restrict its movement entirely.
Swoosh-swoosh! SLASH-SLASH-SLASH!!!
Relying on her swift momentum, Mantis twisted into a wide-spinning swipe, enforcing maximum reach upon unleashing her assault. With the combination of strength, fluidity, and extension in her assault, she had no doubt that she would cripple the beast.
...Clink-clink!
And yet, her attack was to no avail, ricocheting from the lower limbs as though she had struck an indestructible rock.
Thwomp...!
In response, the crystal-goliath slammed down its many palms with ferocious spite. As her helmet twitched in realisation, Mantis swivelled the balls of her feet and leapt out of reach a second before the beast's touchdown.
WHAM!
The ground rumbled violently, sections separating through the increasing number of cracks. Avoiding the destructive counterattack, Mantic rushed into another stride and circled the Guardian as she planned her next advance.
"Grrrrrrrrgh...!"
The Guardian followed the assassin with a piercing gaze, claws aiming in anticipation for the next clash. At first, Mantis continued to sprint, hesitant to strike again knowing her current approach was useless. She considered every plausible weak point, wondering how the two Draiken were able to inflict damage previously. However, due to her delay, it was the Guardian who acted first.
Swoosh! STAB-STAB-STAB-STAB!!!
All four arms struck the blackened ground with furious intent, the crystal muscles pulsing as the Dragon's Eye embedded in its chest radiating with a shining red glow.
"GrrrrooooOOAAAAAH!!!"
The Guardian then erupted a deafening bellow, arching its neck up as it gazed upon the crusted ceiling high above. Mantis was close to striking the beast from behind, locating a potential opening close to the tail. However, just before she could proceed, a large, circular crack surrounded the beast.
Ka-BOOOOOM!!!
What followed was a wall of molten magma, shooting up from the cracks like a reverse waterfall. The wall expanded throughout the circulating crack, encasing the beast like an impenetrable shield. Noticing the burst of magma underneath her feet within the second, Mantis hopped back instinctively. She skidded on her feet due to her swift momentum, gaining distance from the beast's position as she prioritized her safety. Gazing upon this wall of burning hot liquid, Mantis halted any further movement. She watched on with heightened caution, preparing her battle-stance whilst analysing the situation.
It was a game of chicken.
"..."
Relying on her senses, Mantis attempted to seek out any abnormalities as she anticipated the beast's next assault. Her eyes hidden behind her thick visor searched the magma and the overall surroundings for an opening. And then, the magma wall dissipated, revealing no Guardian in sight.
"...?"
Caught in a state of wary confusion, Mantis straightened up from her stance. There were no signs of how the beast disappeared – not even a dent in the ground.
Rumble...!
"?!"
It was then she realised her brief hesitation almost cost her life.
BOOM! VROOOSH-!!!
Mantis threw herself to the side as a magma fissure erupted through the crack-filled ground underneath.
Flap! Whoosh!
As it emerged from the towering magma geyser, the Guardian became airborne with a single flap of its elongated wings.
Hop! Hop! Skid...!!!
Mantis gained considerable distance from the crystal-goliath out of necessity, twisting and flipping to avoid the cracks and oncoming magma-geysers blocking her path. And then, her feet screeched to a halt upon landing on safe ground, her visor refusing to divert from facing the hovering beast.
Flap! Flap! SWOOP...!
However, she had no chance to regain her breath, for the beast soared in like a predatory hawk – claws set to slice its prey on contact. Thinking in manic haste, Mantis swivelled and retreated at full sprint.
Screeeeeech...! SWOOSH!!!
Soaring low, the raging Guardian scraped its elongated claws against the hardened ground – as though provoking its prey. In a short space of time, it gained momentous velocity, creeping on Mantis close behind as though attempting to catch her non-existent red tail.
SWIPE!!!
Filled with adrenaline, it struck at Mantis with ferocious swings, ensuring no possibility of escape from its flurry of expansive claws. Acting as though she had eyes at the back of her helmet, Mantis leapt up high with a sharp boost of her glowing red legs. Her timing was impeccable, lifting high enough for the beast to swoop underneath obliviously. Furthermore, she found a perfect chance to inflict damage, her sights targeting the centre of the beast's winged back. In that very second, she twisted herself mid-leap and struck down with her empowered legs.
FWOMP-! BANG!!!
Mantis shot down upon her colossal target before it could retaliate, a rush of adrenaline engulfing her on descent. Like a bullet, he struck the beast's back with her powered kick, forcing her colossal opponent to collapse against the ground unexpectedly.
Crack!
As frantic as she struck, Mantis leaped away from the Guardian once more, returning to the crumbling ground with a firm landing. The assassin could feel the strain in her body erupt upon landing firmly, realising her vitality was dwindling. Additionally, she was also conscious of the lingering repercussions from her previous injuries, feeling the immense throbbing in her torso and abdomen regardless of the remedies she used to dowse the issue. Regardless, Mantis was poised to overcome the challenge and accomplish her mission. She watched as the beast tumble and scraped against the ground, satisfied at the force behind her technique. However, upon further inspection, she soon realised it only inflicted the minimal damage to the crystal-goliath – a mere crack on the back.
"..."
Mantis shoulders raised and fell in a tired huff, unable to quell her disappointment before returning to a prepared stance. Meanwhile, the beast rose back up in a bewildered, shaking its head in attempt to conform its bearings.
Step step step...!
"...And here I thought you wanted us dead."
Mantis glanced over her shoulder upon hearing the sudden voice, noticing a scorn-filled Veena stepping up to her side with her katana in hand.
"I have no idea what you're playing at..." She muttered to the assassin whist her eyes were dead set on the beast ahead. "But, I'm sure you're sick of this thing just as much as we are."
Mantis spoke no words in response, yet the compliant aura she emitted was enough for Veena to understand her similar frustrations.
"So, I take it you're happy with a temporary truce?" Veena then questioned the assassin as she aimed her weapon forward, a playful smirk breaking through her focused expression.
After initial hesitation, Mantis answered with a subtle nod.
Leap! DASH!!!
With minds set on the target, the pair kicked off in an instant – charging at the hulking crystal beast with weapons prepared to clash and strike.
"GgrrrrrrrrrRRRRRRRGH....!!!"
Witnessing the two approach it, the Guardian stood towering on its hind legs, opening out its four boulder-like arms as though welcoming the challenge. Even though both their resolves were high, Veena and Mantis were stuck with the exact same thought process.
(How are we going to break through such an impenetrable body...?)
After observing Mantis' assault on the Guardian, Veena deduced that the beast had strengthened its body after the regeneration. She then assumed the beast was both near-impenetrable and able to regenerate itself at will with the endless power of the Dragon's Eye. The daunting reality threw Veena into a state of dread, feeling as though they had no hope of conquering the Guardian. However, her mind was set on the goal, praying for a miracle to end the fight victorious.
Leap! VROOSH!!!
In that moment, Mantis shot ahead with a sharp boost in her speed, almost soaring through the air as she prepared to strike the Guardian's head. Witnessing the assassin rush into combat, Veena kept a low profile, prioritizing attacking the legs in hopes of crippling the crystal beast – even when the likelihood of inflicting damage was minimal. With seconds from contact, both assassin and Draiken swung their blades at the Guardian. However, as the two approached, the beast timed their incoming attacks with anticipation.
Flap! WHOOSH!
Swing! Swing...!
The pair's attacks missed their target, causing Veena to skid to an abrupt halt. At the same time, Mantis landed beside her, executing a controlled combat roll before switching to face their enemy's new location. High above the arena, the Guardian soared. It's piercing gaze was locked onto the two opponents below whilst its many elongated claws shined and primed for attack.
SWOOP...!
The beast descended and carved through the air at momentous velocity, increasing its speed as it aimed for the two grounded enemies.
Swoosh-swoosh...! Slash-slash-slash-SLASH!
Upon levelling out its flight and executing a flurry of swipes at the two, both Veena and Mantis leaped airborne simultaneously. They evaded the swooping Guardian by mere inches, performing a rising somersault to ensure no claw talon would catch them.
"Ah!"
In that moment, Veena noticed a potential opening to strike – a small crack in the beast's otherwise impenetrable back.
"Ooh! I've got a plan." She yelled in a burst of excitement.
She then landed immediately, eyeing the Guardian as it swooped round the edge of the arena – preparing for a follow-up assault. Mantis followed suit, landing beside the Draiken with a curious glance from her visor.
Flap-flap-! Swoosh!
Keeping the momentum flowing, the beast was soon soaring at the two once again.
Slash-slash-slash-SLASH!!!
Many claws swung at the two upon close impact, elevating both its momentum and aggression on the second pass. Anticipating the approach, both Veena and Mantis evaded once more. Mantis changed her trajectory at the last second, leaping to the side to ensure guaranteed evasion. On the other hand, Veena repeated her leaped up above once again, her sights set on executing her plan. Timing her jump, Veena twisted her body to perform a mid-air roll, allowing her to avoid the relentless claws whilst setting her position up for her anticipated retaliation. Carrying her momentum, she then opened out her wings to stabilise her body. And then, she reached out with her wing-talons, hooking onto the Guardian's back in one swift motion.
Grab!
Using her free hand for support, she braced for the inevitable whiplash.
"Hrrrgh...! Gruu-AAGH!!!"
Flap-flap! SWOOSH!!!
The Guardian noticed the hitchhiker upon immediate contact, accelerating the flap of its wings whilst twisting and turning as erratically as possible. It even resorted to colliding and scrapping against the various surfaces within the arena, refusing to be dominated by the pesky Draiken latched onto its back.
FWOOSH-! SCREEECH-! Flap-flap...! SWOOP! BANG!!!
"Ngh-!"
Veena held strong regardless of the frantic ride, feeling her body sway in numerous directions whilst struggling for control. Out of sheer desperation, she was able to avoid most of the incoming collisions thrown her way, shifting her position accordingly before the catastrophic impacts.
SLAM! CRASH! Swish...! BOOM!!!
The crystal-goliath was relentless with its manic collisions, refusing Veena the chance she desired to execute her plan. At certain points of the flight, Veena had to resort to holding one by a single talon, her body uncontrollably swaying and swinging from the sheer changes in movement. Regardless, she gritted her teeth and withstood the insanity.
Swoop...!
And then, she found her chance – albeit with seconds to act. Shifting her body down the beasts back, she lined herself up with the distinct crack at the central area. At the same time, she felt the beast was accelerating even further, soaring around the edge of the arena to gain momentum as it planned its next collision. With her heart racing, an unbreakable grip on both the Guardian and her Kurama blade, and eyes focused on her target close before her: she struck down with immense force.
CLINK-!
However, she jolted back abruptly as the blade ricocheted, wincing at the unexpected resistance. And yeah, as she observed the crack, she found no further damage inflicted.
"Grrr...!"
Clink-clink-clink-CLINK-CLINK...!
With all the force she could muster, the agitated Veena continued to strike down at the same crack excessively. Every stab and strike grew more ferocious, an overwhelming desperation engulfing her as she hoped to break through the impenetrable surface.
CLINKCLINKCLINKCLINK!!!
CRACK-!
Finally, after an onslaught of strikes and stabs, Veena penetrated the crystallized surface.
"HAH!"
STAB!
"GRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH-!!!"
Without hesitation, she stabbed deep into the crystal-goliath the moment she locked onto the opening. The Guardian flailed in the air, bellowing out in furious agony at the inflicted wound. Furthermore, it lost its stability from the initial and dropped to the ground.
Leap!
Noticing the ground approach at an alarming rate, Veena leapt off the beast's back and separated herself from the inevitable impact.
CRASH! BANG-BANG! BOOOM...!!!
The Guardian collapsed hard against the black-soot ground like a falling boulder, acting as though it could not support its own weight any longer. It twisted and rolled manically on the ground upon impact, unable to withstand the unbearable agony. As Veena landed gracefully, she observed the beast in its deserved turmoil. She felt a sense of satisfaction, believing it was karma for the grief both she and Zaron had to endure throughout their time reaching the Dragon's Eye. However, even though she desired to watch it squirm in eternal pain, she was adamant to proceed and finish the fight once-and-for-all.
Just then, Mantis rushed up beside her to watch the chaos, her visor locked on the beast directly without a sound. Noticing her approach, Veena switched to the assassin.
"If you focus on creating cracks on that ... thing's body, I'll follow up with my katana and cripple it." She informed Mantis, her plan clear and concise. "We can't let it regenerate, no matter the cost."
Mantis responded to her plan with a single, firm nod.
Dash! Fwoosh!
The two rushed into action without further delay, Mantis lead the charge, racing ahead whilst her entire suit emitted a bright red glow – preparing herself for the full-power onslaught. Watching the assassin sprint ahead of her, Veena held a consistent pace in her charge. She was patient, knowing the plan would backfire on them if she were too hasty.
And so, she awaited Mantis to play her part.
"Hr-rrrgh-!"
Whoosh-! CRACK! BANG! CRACK!!!
The bewildered Guardian was caught off-guard by the aggressive glowing assassin, unable to react in time as she lunged forward with a flurry of devastating kicks. With her visor locked on the beast, Mantis aimed for the most impactful areas: three strikes at the limb joints – notably both its legs and one strike at an arm; two strikes at the torso; and finally, one to the side of its cranium. The speed of her kicks was overwhelming, only taking a few seconds to unleash as she shot from one section to another. So far, it was an effective strategy, causing numerous cracks to form in the targeted areas – albeit minor in appearance. Additionally, the kick to the side of its head disrupted the crystal-goliath's concentration, shaking its head due to the inflicted daze.
Swipe!
However, before it had the chance to recover, Veena rushed in with her blade ready to strike.
SWOOSH-! CRACK! Clink-clink! STAB! CRACK!!!
Her numerous swings and stabs were as swift as Mantis' kicks, ensuring not to fall behind the crimson assassin whilst also inflicting as much damage to the beast as possible. However, not all strikes landed the mark – as Veena expected. Only one was effective enough to penetrate the beast – a side stab into the torso. The other strikes knocked the beast around and further caused disorientation, yet they were not enough to penetrate the hardened outer layer. Regardless, Veena knew she had an opportunity for a perfect follow-up.
Step-step-step-! Swoosh!
After witnessing Veena's assault, Mantis circled the crystal-goliath, aiming for the recipient of her next set of strikes – the wing joints. She was adamant to keep the Guardian grounded, feeling irritated by its constant flight pattern.
Dash!
With an abrupt burst of her feet, Mantis twisted and rushed towards the colossal target, her suit beaming red on full charge. Veena followed from a distance, eyeing the assassin's targeted approach with extreme caution whilst preparing her own next assault.
Whoosh…! SWIPE! CRACK-CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!!!
Within the next few seconds, Mantis launched herself at the stunned Guardian, arcing her full-powered legs as the streams of red followed like two luminescent tails. She struck her targets without restraint, her illuminated legs exploding in flashes of crimson light upon impact against the solid wing joints. What was left from the four strikes were the familiar, miniscule cracks.
(That's my cue!)
Picking up her pace to a full, rapid sprint, Veena gripped her Kurama blade firmly for the crippling strike. Feeling every rushed stride in her sprint, she targeted the exposed cracks with desperate anticipation – praying the results of her attacks would be more prevalent and permanent than the previous attempt.
Step-! LEAP!
Just as Mantis landed, Veena launched forward towards the bewildered crystal-goliath.
Swoop! SWING!!!
It was a guaranteed strike.
Flap-! FWOOOOOM!!!
However, just as she was close to landing a strike, the beast disappeared in the blink of an eye.
"WHA-?! WaaaaAAAH!"
SLAM! THUD-! Skiiid...!!!
Missing her attack entirely, the startled Veena fell and struck the ground hard, tumbling uncontrollably before planting her feet and sliding across the ground to control her momentum. Every fibre in her body tensed upon impact, causing a trail of blackened dust to appear in her wake. As she regained control, she twisted her body and faced the direction of where the beast stood previously.
And then, she glanced upwards.
"Oh ... joy."
Hovering high above her head, the Guardian loomed menacingly. It's reddened, fuming gaze bore down on its targets, a rumbling growl escaping its breath as it felt a renewed sense of almighty power coursing through its enormous wings. With all four sets of claws extracted, it was ready to rain terror upon its troublesome foes.
Flap-flap...! SWOOOOM!!!
Without delay, the crystal-goliath dived sharply towards Veena's position, swerving from side-to-side as though to throw her off-guard. With only a split-second to react, Veena propelled herself to the side, avoiding both her beastly opponent and the enlarged magma cracks below her feet. From the corner of her eye, she noticed the sharp point of its elongated claws nick the fabric of her black leggings.
Swipe...!!! CRUMBLE!!!
Realising its target evaded the assault, the Guardian stabbed its claws into the blackened ground, anchoring its velocity whilst ripping apart the rock beneath. The cracks ruptured further on contact, causing elongated magma geysers to erupt like a reverse waterfall. As the beast stabilised to a halt, it unsheathed its claws from the molten ground and rose into the air once again – as though obsessed with its ability to fly. Additionally, upon separating them from the ground, the elongated claws were coated in the bright hot magma, glowing as bright as Mantis' suit.
Fwoom! Fwoom!
However, just as it escalated, a shadow-like blur raced towards the beast.
Stepstepstep...! Leap!!!
Hoping desperately to flank the beast whilst in arms reach, Mantis appeared in the air with her visor locked on the wide-spanning wings. At the same time, the beast's molten claw twitched.
"Mantis!!!"
And yet, no matter her echoed yell, Veena's distant calls were too late to dissuade the assassin.
SWIPE!
Whilst the swift Mantis attempted to strike at the Guardian's cracked wing-joints, the beast retaliated with a timed uppercut from its molten claw.
"?!"
The assassin had no time to evade the incoming surprise assault, resorting to the only option available.
Fwip-!
As the claw curved, Mantis forced her entire body to twist and face the attack head on, guarding with an arm-blade as she braced for the impact.
SLASH!
"UNNGH-!!!"
With no chance to prevent the attack, Veena could only watch in horror as the crystal-goliath's molten-hot claw sliced through the arm-blade with ease – along with a sizeable portion of Mantis' arm. The assassin was thrown back uncontrollably, hurtling across the soot ground like a ragdoll.
Wham! Bang! Scrrrrrch...!
Eventually, she screeched to a halt upon slamming her remaining arm-blade into the cracks below, her body engulfed amongst the blackened dust clouds in the process. The Guardian swooped up high with heightened anticipation, aiming to butcher the assassin from high above without needless interference. Veena eyes widened as the goliath shot up to the darkness above, feeling incapable of preventing the fatal attack. She continued to sprint towards the downed Mantis, her guard-less katana close to her side regardless of her sense of hopelessness consuming her thoughts.
Skiiid...!
She repositioned herself in front of the crumpled Mantis without hesitation, standing directly in the path of the incoming Guardian. She drew back her blade, pointing its tip towards the crystal-beast as she awaited the dreaded clash.
(Why am I helping her...? Why am I even thinking of helping her?!)
Her mind was filled with confliction, finding herself defending her own enemy abhorrent to imagine. In Veena's mind, the assassin – whose entire purpose was to kill her destined target and fulfil her contract – was the cause of the Draiken duo's torment since their initial fight back in Dragora. To Veena, Mantis was heartless, selfish, and nothing more than a waste of oxygen. In fact, leaving her to the molten claws of the Guardian was the best outcome for everyone involved.
(But...)
Even with her numerous grievances on the matter, a small section of Veena's mind reflected Mantis' choice to fight the crystal-beast instead of escaping – along with not attempting to kill Veena when the assassin had the chance.
(This … will make things even! Right…?)
In that moment, Veena was face-to-face with the soaring Guardian and its elongated deathly claws. Her heart racing and body trembling, the Draiken girl predicted how the encounter would end between them. And yet, she unleashed a rising strike, aiming for the incoming claw as she braced mentally for the inevitable result. However, during her mid-swing, she felt a comforting hand rest on her shoulder briefly.
"Wha-?!"
Step-step! LEAP!
Feeling as though the world had slowed down to a crawl, Veena witnessed a familiar pair of sapphire wings and the recognisable Artoria blade.
Swing-! SLASH-SLASH-SLASH-SLASH!!!
In only a matter of seconds, the unexpected clash resulted in sheer devastation. The Artoria blade swung ahead and unleashed an unstoppable rising spinning-slash. Every swing connected with its target, slicing through two of the unsuspecting beast's arms and its right wing without a hint of resistance.
Bang-bang! BOOM! CRASH!!!
Startled by the sudden assault, the Guardian lost control entirely and collapsed onto the arena, tumbling across as it missed both Veena and the downed Mantis narrowly. Veena stumbled to the side in haste as she avoided the beast's trajectory, hoping not to be caught amongst the falling debris. However, whilst they were engulfed in dust and soot, neither her nor the assassin were further harmed.
And then, the arena fell quiet.
Tap-tap...!
A silhouette landed before Veena in calmed descent, the Artoria blade resting on his shoulder in a triumphant stance. Relaxing her guarded brace, Veena gazed at the silhouette in awe, a beaming smile forming across her relieved face as the familiar Draiken approach her unscathed.
"Sorry for the wait."
The silhouette stepped through the engulfing dust-cloud; his confident grin as bright as the sun whilst the golden, serpent-like eyes shone through the fog.
"I'll be honest: today hasn't exactly been … my day."
Veena shook her head profusely, rejecting his needless apology as she struggled to find the words to respond. Upon his reveal before her, Veena noticed his overall haggard appearance including the torn clothes and the significant scarring across his torso, his shoulder and left cheek. She felt pale at the sight of him, reflecting on the extensive damage he endured throughout his fights against Mantis and the Guardian. However, the damage was a mere inconvenience to him – in fact, he seemed proud of the war-wounds.
"I don't know about you, Veena ... but, I think it's time we finished up and claim our prize."
With a firm grasp on his weapon and consumed with unwavering pride, the determined Zaron was ready for one final bout.