It's gaze was unwavering, a monolithic creature made of stone and Zephyra. It's chest pulsated with a dormant immense power that made it seem indestructible. Every step it took was calculated, slow yet his approach was inevitable. Both Vizo and Indra knew that chilling certainty, that just a single blow landing cleanly on them from this monster would be enough to tear them apart.
The sheer weight of it's presence, the way it pulsated with energy, sent a wave of fear into them.
The Guardian took one more step forward, it's weight causing tremors on the floor beneath it. Debris and dust fell from the dungeons ceiling with each heavy footfall, it's glowing red eyes remained fixated on Vizo and Indra. The dungeon's oppressive energy began to surround them, creating an overpowering tension.
Vizo tightened his grip on his dagger, his breath became steady despite the sweat on his brow. "Indra, stay behind me," He exclaimed, "This one isn't like the others."
Indra nodded but didn't change her position. Her hand had already begun to tingle with the sensation of Zephyra, winds began to swirl around her fingertips. The tension lingering in the air was thick enough to choke on.
Suddenly the guardian lunged, and with a speed incredible for its mass, it's stone fist came crashing down with the force of a landslide. Vizo barely reacted in time, just managing to slip to the side, narrowly avoiding the blow as the ground he stood just moments ago exploded into several shards of stone.
"Netherflame: Blaze Step." Vizo chanted, summoning flames to his feet as he moved with a blinding speed, dashing around the creature's massive form. He slashed at the Guardian with his Zephyra infused dagger, but his attack barely left a scratch on the monolith's form. The flames flickered and died as they met the Guardian's resilient form.
"Great," Vizo muttered, realizing how little his attack had done, "On top of its overwhelming strength, I can't even damage it!"
With a low growl the Guardian turned to Vizo, it's arm swung at him like a massive club. He dove beneath it, feeling the Guardians arm brush his hair as he ducked below it. It was now clear the Guardian's movements, though slow, covered a large range of motion.
Indra, seeing Vizo's struggle, felt her Zephyra surging with urgency, "For years, I watched on the sidelines as I was helpless to save people. I'm tired of despair!!" she shouted, extending both her hands and summoning a massive amount of Zephyra, the wind was almost uncontrollable.
The untamed winds caused the space in front of her to twist and turn, the blow causing her hair to be blown back behind her face, and then letting out a short battle cry she let it out. The wind was slower than her usual attacks, but she could tell it was exponentially stronger. The massive vortex slammed into the guardian's side causing a few small cracks, but nothing serious. It also pushed the guardian a step or two.
The creature groaned in pain, but remained unfazed. It's advance continued but this time it's glowing red eyes fixated onto Indra.
"Watch out!" Vizo shouted from across the corridor, rushing to the Guardian's back side. Quickly, he called forth even more of his Zephyra, "Netherflame: Scorched Edge." Flames began to erupt around his dagger, and all the way up his arm. With a quick movement he launched a swirling arc of flames at the rocky beast. The flames lashed against it's back causing the stone to heat and crack slightly, but still, the creature advanced.
The Guardian let out a primordial roar, it's massive fists began to glow with the same red Zephyra in his eyes as it prepared to unleash a devastating strike. It raised both arms and brought them crashing down with terrifying force at Indra.
In a flash Vizo's legs ignited in flames and from the corner of her eye his silhouette looked as if it teleported. "MOVE!" He yelled, grabbing Indra's arm to pull her out of the way. The shockwave of the blast still send them reeling back and crashing into the corridor walls.
"We've barely scratched this thing.." Indra shouted, her voice began to fill with doubt once again. The pressure of the Guardian's overwhelming power weighed down on them.
Vizo bit down on his teeth, his eyes narrowing as he gauged the situation, "We're hitting it wrong. It's armor is too thick." He glanced at the cracks made from his inferno coil attack, "We need to concentrate both our attacks on one spot."
Indra nodded, her mind started to race. "Got it." She started to channel Zephyra once again, and focusing it into her hands. The air around her sang as the wind gathered with increasing severity.
"On my word." Vizo called out, preparing for another attack.
With the same ferocity, the Guardian lunged again, its fists raised. This time however, they were ready.
"NOW!" Vizo yelled, his dagger began to burn more profoundly.
Hearing Vizo's shout, Indra focused in on the swirling winds around her hand trying to release more energy. The air became a howling tempest, an untamed storm, the gusts strong enough to list the debris around her into the air. As her Zephyra surged-suddenly she felt a presence. Something deep and ancient within her, like a whisper brushing the edge of her mind.
"Release me, and I will show you the true power you hold." The voiced echoed softly, but with a deep authority. Indra recognized it instantly, this must be the Zephyra Spirit that Vizo was talking about earlier. Her spirit spoke to her, for the first time.
Indra's heart began to beat against her ribs as she took in the voice. Without questioning it, she allowed herself to be guided by her spirit. She slowly raised her hands up above her head, her voice firm, "Winds of the Free: Tempest's Wrath."
In a moment's notice the air around her began to intensify, and it engulfed her entire body. It transformed into a massive swirling cyclone, the vortex of wind grew violent, whipping around the Guardian, and pulled at it's stone body. Just from the pressure of her energy alone, tears began to form around the crack's already in it's body.
In the same moment, Vizo didn't waste a breath. He mustered all of the Zephyra remaining in his reserves, and chanted, "Netherflame: Final Requiem." his voice was low, but soon began to cause tremors in the dungeon by the weight of his voice by itself.
The moment after he uttered the words, the flames surrounding his blade exploded outward, his body became enveloped in a tornado of hellish flames. The temperature in the dungeon spiked dramatically, the very ground beneath him started to melt from the sheer heat of his flames. The flames weren't just normal though, they were imbued with the power of his specialization, Netherflame. A dark malevolent energy, that swallows both soul and substance alike.
As Vizo stepped forward, the vortex of flames followed him. It grew in size and intensity. His movements became a blur, Indra's eyes unable to keep track of him, faster than anything she had ever seen before. His feet scorched the rocks with every step, leaving behind molten rock as he circled the Guardian.
Then suddenly, the blur stopped, and in a single, decisive motion, Vizo brought his blade high into the air. The flames were sucked in to the tip of his sword, condensing into an orb of black fire, it was flickering with deadly energy of his Zephyra. Its glow was consuming, leaving the entire chamber fixated on it. It's power was menacing, and enchanting.
With a primal roar, Vizo brought his sword crashing down at the Guardian. The orb of black fire, quickly shot forward, expanding in an instant and crashing into the Guardian's exposed core with the force of an erupting volcano. The moment it made contact, the world around them seemed to slow—the sound of the explosion was deafening, and the entire dungeon shook violently.
The flames exploded outward in a cataclysmic shockwave, engulfing everything and everyone in its path. The heat was unbearable, the overwhelming force make the entire dungeon's walls crack and splinter. The Guardian, unable to stand the intense power, was engulfed by the inferno, turning it's stone body into molten fragments.
For a short moment, it was as if the flames themselves had began to sing-a haunting, mournful song of annihilation. But just as quickly as the flames came, they also flickered out, leaving naught but a smoking crater where the Guardian once stood.
The attack had left it's mark not just on the battlefield, but even the air around them-scorched, and twisted by the raw power Vizo had unleashed.
Panting heavily, Vizo dropped to one knee, his blade still dimly lit with embers, "Final Requiem..." he muttered, it seemed depleting his Zephyra reserves had put a great tax on his body. "It never fails." as he finished speaking, his body fell unconscious and smacked against the cracked stones beneath him.