Standing in front of me was a gigantic beast with black steel scale covering most of its body, two sets of black wings that flapped heavily in the underground, resulting a heavy gush of wind towards us, a purple slit eyes glaring at us from above, and a sharp point tail that whipped around its back, destroying the solid materials around it. Fear made everyone stand still as they stared at the awakened Black Dragon in front of us.
Meanwhile, I felt a hand brush at my side. I turned around just to see Cecilia running away with the key that she just stole.
"Wait, you bastard!" I chased her down but the Black Dragon made its attack. A blast of breath threw all of us off the air, the ground that we once stood was now gone, turning into a deep crater. I clicked my tongue, trying to find Cecilia in the air. But the bastard has quick feet.
"I admit, Princess Ashe, you are strong like your mother. But I'm a busy woman. I have two more keys to find." She smiled at my direction. Suddenly, a thought occurred to me. The fact that she said she has two more keys to find tells me that she was the cause of the destruction of Sea Canyon… And Elder Jack's death.
The air became heavy and cold. I couldn't control it… My bloodlust and rage has erupted. I have snapped.
"Cecilia! I'll kill you!" I hastily chased her down with my magic. Every attack was fast and sharp, but Cecilia kept dodging them with ease while her back was facing me. I relentlessly unleashed more magic at her, hoping that my rage hit her. But the Black Dragon's tail sent me flying on the walls, making me cough blood. My legs became wobbly and my vision became blurry. Before I could stand up, a powerful blast of magic hit me, knocking me down. The Black Dragon is no joke. I'm surprised that I am still standing up despite facing its breath. But my body was giving up. I couldn't bear to stand anymore.
I felt another attack heading my way and I quickly dodge before another round of blast came. If I take another hit, I would surely die. I forced myself to stand up. Without any pause, I quickly move forward. I tried to slash its legs, but its scale was so thick that I couldn't even leave a scratch. Then a sent out a powerful magic attack on its way, my magic exploding as it made contact with its thick scale. But after the smoke dissipated, it wasn't even scratched.
I jumped up, my figure at its eye level. Its purple eyes glared at me and I glared back with my glowing golden eyes. Black inscriptions appeared on my body and dark magic floated in the air behind me. I unleashed my attack. Swords made dark magic flying through the air, hitting the Black Dragon. But no matter what kind of attack I made against it, no scratch was seen on its body.
I clicked my tongue in frustration. Before I can unleash Death's Door, the recent attack I just acquired from the Necromancer King, I was sent flying to the ground by its claws. I coughed out blood. I tried to stand up, but I couldn't move. The pain overtook my body. The Black Dragon was about to unleash another round of its breath towards me, but a figure picked me up, his grip tight.
"Hazmuth?" I asked, not even caring whether he knows me or not. A warmth feeling of being held again by him surged, but only for a brief second.
"I knew it." Hazmuth said. He carefully placed me on the ground. His eyes were drowned with tears. "It is you, Princess Ashe." A smile formed from his face. My heart felt reassured. I'm happy because he remembers me.
"I'm glad you are alive, Hazmuth." I said, giving him a smile that I have never worn ever since my mother's death.
Hazmuth wiped his tears, but more kept coming down. "I'm sorry, your majesty. I wasn't there to protect your mother nor you. When I arrived, the queen was already dead." He said.
"I'm glad you are safe, Hazmuth. It does hurt me… My mother's death. But as much as I want to catch up to you, we got things to do." I said and Hazmuth nodded, his tears completely gone.
"What do you want me to do, your majesty?" He said.
"First, evacuate everyone. Bring them to the surface." I said and Hazmuth quickly moved without asking questions. My tone and expression was enough to convince him that I'll be okay. While he was busy evacuating everyone, I reappeared in front of the Black Dragon again. I unleashed a relentless attack of magic, hitting the tough scale of the Black Dragon. The Black Dragon didn't budge from my attack. Before its powerful breath could hit me, I moved out of the way. More waves of attacks from the Black Dragon were coming towards my way, and I dodge each of its attacks despite the pain I was feeling in my body. I danced on the chaotic battlefield, my feet touching the river of blood from the people whose life was taken by this creature. This scenario reminded me of the war in the Kingdom Of Mineva, giving me excitement once more.
After the Black Dragon's attack, I jumped up like a rocket towards its eyes. My sword slashed its eyes, making the creature blind. Or so I thought. Even its eyes are tough! My sword broke in half, leaving me with no weapon at hand. Before I could drop on the ground, to dodge, to run from its powerful attacks, another claw sent me flying again like a meteor on the ground, leaving a huge crater beneath me. However, a pool of blood was forming fast under me. Its claw slashed my back, leaving a huge gaping wound from behind. I was slowly losing vision. My body was becoming weak. My mind was spinning… Everything was becoming blurry. The blood was spilling fast from me. Then, a bright light blinded me. Its breath hitting me head on.
The world became dark.
I could see, but it was dark.
I couldn't feel my body.
I couldn't move it either.
The air was cold.
There was only. Silence around me. In this dark world.
I am dead.
No… I refuse to believe I am dead! My vengeance is not yet finished, I am not yet satisfied! After going through everything, I couldn't afford to die yet! Not like this..!
I tried to move my body, but to no avail. I kept trying and trying, but after a struggle, I couldn't. Finally, I gave up. I have accepted it. I am dead, huh…
Then, the black world suddenly shifted, bringing me back into a familiar and painful scenario.
Ten years ago… In the kingdom of Borne, stood my mother covered in blood while holding the little me.
"I'm sorry, baby." My mother whispered and kept repeating it until a loud bang echoed in the ruined chamber. The door was kicked down by a powerful force.
"You can't run from us, Ashe." A familiar voice said. I turned around and saw Vivian walking slowly towards us. But despite the threats being thrown from my aunts, my mother didn't pay attention to them. She just looked at me, tears falling from her eyes.
"My baby, Ashe. I'm sorry if this is how you see my death. Please, run. Go somewhere. Live a peaceful life or whatnot I don't care. But please be strong. Can you do that, baby?" My mother whispered to me.
Everything became blurry from there. Tears formed up in my eyes and they slowly dripped to my cheeks and fell on the ground. I couldn't hide it. I couldn't control it anymore. My anger was replaced with sadness. I miss my mother. I miss my childhood life. That peace and joy that I once had. They were all gone. Nothing could bring those experiences back.
A bright portal opened behind the young me and my mother pushed me. "I love you, Ashe." Were her last words that I remembered before she was gone from my vision. And then, when I was gone, my mother fought against my aunts. The fight didn't last long. My mother was tired from the fighting and so were my aunts too. Before Cecilia could reach my mother's neck, my mother unleashed a powerful amount of magic from her. Everyone froze.
"You! Stop her, Cecilia!" Vivian roared.
"Are you fucking crazy, woman? Just run!" Cecilia turned around and ran for her life. They also did the same thing too. But before they could reach for the door, my mother's mana overloaded, causing a huge explosion around that engulfed my aunts as well. Soon, the entire castle was being engulfed by an explosion.
The scenario shifted again. My eyes widened from the sudden scenario. I don't remember this scene…
Young version of me was in the middle of the dark world, crying because my mother was gone. A shadowy figure appeared and tried to calm me down, but to no avail. I just kept crying and crying. After an hour of crying, I fell asleep. But the shadowy figure never left my side. It comforted me whenever I was crying. It gave me warmth whenever I was feeling cold. In this black world that I live, the shadow was my best friend.
"Little Ashe." The shadow spoke. Its voice sounded like a woman. "Your mother was a brave and strong queen. She wants you to be strong." A bright portal opened behind me. The young me clinged onto the shadow.
"I don't want to go. I'm scared." I said.
"Then, here's a gift for you." The shadow figure placed her palm on my chest. A bright light appeared underneath her palm. "Whenever you are feeling scared, she will be your friend." The shadow said.
"So, I won't be alone?" The little me asked amidst sobs.
"Yes. You will never be alone, young Ashe." The shadow said and gave me a pat on the head. She slowly pushed me on the portal. "The next time we meet, is whenever you are ready." Then I disappeared from the portal.
Who was she? Who is this shadow figure who helped me when I was a little kid? Why is it that I don't remember anything about this?
"Because I erased your memories." A voice spoke. I turned around and it was the shadow from my vision.
"Why?" I said, not even realizing that my tears are falling again.
"Like I said, the next time we meet is whenever you are ready. Now is that time, little Ashe." The shadow said.
"Ready for what?"
"For your true powers to be awakened."
A black fire appeared on my chest, the same spot where her palms lit. As the flames grew bigger, I could feel my body becoming light. A huge amount of powerful mana was gushing out from me. It was painful. My mana was being sucked dry. A minute throughout the process felt like an hour of pain. Then when my mana had been completely drained, I felt at peace. I couldn't feel my mana… I felt empty. But at the same time, I felt something inside me… Like a new candle that was hidden has finally lit to life.
"What did you do?" I asked the shadow.
"Mana is just a temporary power for mages. Mana is what blocks you from unleashing your true powers. What I did was drain them." The shadow said. The shadow's figure slowly shifted into a human being. My eyes widened from the image.
"Mother..?" I said. I know it wasn't her, but it felt so real that I can't stop crying.
"You have grown, Ashe." The shadow said. "I'm sorry for leaving you alone in this world."
Then, the image disappeared. Cracks slowly formed in the black world. The cracks became large enough for the light to shine through inside. Then the void completely collapsed, revealing the underground city once more.
I unleashed a powerful aura that made the air heavy, catching the Black Dragon's attention. The shadows responded to my call, then my body was covered in shadow flames. I felt no magic coming from these shadows, not even a single magic from myself as well. But I feel the power surging inside. Finally, I have no more limitations. No more holding back.
Mages are scared of one thing and that is overloading their mana cores. But since my mana core has been destroyed, I have no more mana. But I still have powers that allow me to go all out without worrying about my mana core.
The underground city was about to collapse from my power. But I didn't care. All I cared about was killing this monster in front of me. I feel so powerful… I feel like I could take on the entire world if I wanted to..!
I have awakened from death.