All dead? His stomach twisted with a wave of guilt and frustration. They were too late.Just like in the novel, no gray wolf is alive in this accident.
Ace growled softly beside him, sensing his distress. "Focus," he muttered. "There may still be hope."
Just as Arlon opened the last cage, Ace's ears perked up, and he lifted his head, sniffing the air. "Wait… there's one more. Still breathing," he whispered.
Arlon scanned the area, his eyes darting over the cages, and then he spotted it—a small cage almost hidden by debris, where a little gray wolf boy lay crumpled, barely visible. Rushing over, he dropped to his knees, fingers fumbling with the rusty chains binding the boy.
The child's clothes was covered in ash and grime, and the faint rise and fall of his chest told Arlon that he was alive, though only barely.
Arlon carefully pried away the chains, wincing at the rough iron biting into the boy's skin. But as he worked, a sudden chill ran down his spine—a presence was nearby, one that felt dark, twisted, and overpowering.
He glanced up, and his blood went cold.
A figure emerged from the shadows, the edges of his tattered black robe dripping with blood that soaked into the scorched earth beneath him. His hood obscured most of his face, but as he stepped closer, the flickering flames illuminated his features—a pale visage marred by two piercing eyes, one burning crimson, the other a sickly gold that gleamed like rotting sunlight.
The Moon Mage, he realized, dread pooling in his stomach. According to the novel, this was one of the infamous half-blood twin mages—a Moon Mage, whose power over dark magic was rivaled only by the Sun Mage, his equally deadly sibling.
The Moon Mage was known for ruthlessly using forbidden spells, sacrifices, and an insatiable thirst for blood.
Ace, now fully alert, leaped from Arlon's shoulder, landing beside him with a low, guttural growl. "Is that a half blood cursed Mage. We can take him down if you want."
Arlon froze, his breath catching as his heart hammered in his chest. "Ace, are you out of your mind?" he hissed, his voice barely audible over the roaring flames. "That's the Moon Mage. One of the strongest mages alive. I wouldn't stand a chance even if I knew how to use your power!"
The Moon Mage was already moving closer, his gaze piercing, a dark energy gathering around his hands as he muttered a quiet incantation.He's lips twisted into a cruel smile as his gaze landed on Arlon.
Step— Step—
He took a step forward, his crimson and golden eyes gleaming with an unholy light, as though he sensed Arlon's fear and was relishing it.
"Ah, the hero arrives," the Moon Mage sneered, his voice laced with mocking disdain. "Do you think this is your moment of glory? How quaint. You're nothing more than a gnat buzzing in my way."
Arlon's mind raced. He had to protect the boy, but standing against the Moon Mage was suicide. He could barely keep his hands from trembling as he backed away, keeping the wolf boy shielded behind him.
Anger flared in Arlon's chest, but he forced himself to stay calm. "Ace," he whispered, "Let me use your power."
Ace's eyes gleamed with a fierce intensity. "Alright, I'll hold him off, even if it's just for a few moments, then you draw him away from the boy."
The Moon Mage's twisted smile widened, the crimson and gold of his eyes gleaming with sadistic delight. "How charming. You really think you can stand against me?" With a casual flick of his wrist, dark tendrils of energy unfurled like snakes, surging toward Arlon with a suffocating, heavy force that bent the air around them.
Arlon dodged, barely managing to pull the wolf boy out of the line of attack, and Ace darted forward, shifting into a shadowy form to swipe at the mage. Though the attack barely scratched him, it forced the Moon Mage to step back, his red and gold eyes narrowing in irritation.
Taking advantage of the moment, Arlon backed away, clutching the wolf boy to his chest. He could feel the boy's faint heartbeat, the fragile life within him barely hanging on.
Plop—
As another cultist fell, Lawrence stole a glance around, his thoughts momentarily flickering to Arlon. The last he had seen of him, Arlon had been dealing with the cages, and he hadn't had time to follow.
Worry pricked at Lawrence's mind. Is he holding up? he wondered. Despite their overwhelming numbers, he knew how relentless the Pry cultists could be.
Lawrence tightened his grip on his sword, his unease sharpening with every moment that passed. "I'm going to find Arlon," he said firmly, his voice low but resolute.
Anthony gave him a quick nod, trusting him without question as Lawrence broke away from the battle, his sharp eyes scanning the burning ruins.
The fighting intensified as Lawrence scanned the area, looking for Arlon amidst the rubble and smoke.
Thump— Thump—
Arlon's heart pounded as he found a small sheltered nook among the roots of a massive tree, gently placing the unconscious wolf boy there, hidden from sight. He brushed a strand of hair from the boy's face, murmuring, "Stay here. I'll come back for you." But as he straightened up, his resolve turned into an iron determination.
Turning back, Arlon's mind raced through every encounter from the novel he could remember about the Moon Mage—his power, his style, his merciless nature. This wasn't just a fight for survival; it was a test of everything Arlon knew, everything he could muster.
"Alright, Ace," Arlon whispered, swallowing hard as he returned to the open area. "Let's hold him off."
Ace flicked his tail, his red eyes gleaming with a fierce light as he shifted back to his small, cat-like form. "Are you ready to accept the power of the Sky Soul Dragon?" Ace asked, his voice quiet yet charged with intensity.
The Moon Mage had been waiting, a twisted smile of amusement on his face as Arlon approached. His voice was calm, mocking. "Coming back alone? Do you think that little show of defiance will make a difference?" He raised his hand, and dark tendrils of energy gathered around it, twisting and coiling like living serpents.
Arlon took a steadying breath and nodded, a determined fire igniting within him. "I'm ready."
"Let's see what you're made of." His voice dripped with disdain as he unleashed the tendrils, sending them slithering through the air toward Arlon with terrifying speed.
Arlon sidestepped, feeling the dark magic slice through the space where he'd stood a heartbeat ago. He dodged another set of attacks, barely managing to keep himself out of harm's way, but he knew he couldn't just keep running.
Ace leapt onto Arlon's shoulder, his form melding into the shadows curling around Arlon's neck. A sharp, searing pulse struck Arlon's chest as his heart thundered against his ribs.
He gasped, his senses overwhelmed as raw, electric power coursed through his veins, hot and volatile, as though lightning itself had chosen him as its vessel.
A raw, untamed force surged through him, scorching his veins with an intensity that felt like molten fire and crackling thunder. It wasn't just power—it was chaos, a force too vast for his body to contain.
Shook—
Dark, swirling energy began to surround them, forming a vortex of black and dark purple mist, crackling with raw, untamed energy. It spiraled upward, forming a faint hurricane that tore through the air, casting an ominous shadow across the forest.
Fsssh—
Above them, dark clouds gathered, thickening and swirling, streaked with flashes of lightning that illuminated the sky with bursts of violet and silver.
Meanwhile, not far from the scene, Lawrence was combing through the battlefield, searching for Arlon and Ace. He looked up, his eyes narrowing as he saw the stormy clouds gathering, the familiar chaotic energy crackling through the air.
It reminded him of the stormy mountain, a place known for the fierce and unpredictable power of the Sky Soul Dragon.
"Arlon…" he murmured, realizing that Arlon was drawing on Ace's power. His urgency spiked, and he quickened his pace, determination etched into his face.
As he sprinted through the scorched remains of the battlefield, Lawrence's sharp eyes caught a faint movement among the roots of a massive tree. His breath hitched as he knelt, his hands brushing away ash and dirt to reveal the unconscious wolf boy.
Relief surged through him as he pressed two fingers to the boy's neck, feeling the faint but steady pulse beneath his fingertips.
"You're alive," Lawrence murmured, his voice tinged with quiet determination. "And I'll make sure you stay that way."
As he carefully lifted the boy into his arms, the child's eyes fluttered open, a faint, searching expression in his gaze. The wolf boy's gaze scanned the battlefield, as if looking for the person who had saved him, who now stood facing the Moon Mage in the heart of the storm.
Lawrence tightened his hold, his voice soft but firm. "Don't worry. He's still out there." With that, Lawrence turned and began making his way toward the swirling, stormy clouds ahead, driven by a fierce determination to find Arlon and Ace.
Back in the clearing, Arlon felt the power surging through him, fueling his muscles, sharpening his senses, as the storm around him grew wild. He felt like he was standing at the edge of a precipice, staring into the vast, dark abyss of Ace's strength.
The Moon Mage's eyes flickered with intrigue, a slight smile playing on his lips as he watched Arlon with a twisted fascination. "So you're drawing on that dragon's power? Interesting. But you're still just a child playing with forces beyond your control."
Arlon clenched his fists, feeling the energy pulse in his veins. He forced himself to focus, centering his mind on the battle, the need to hold this mage at bay for as long as possible. "We'll see if you can still call me a child after this."
Woooosh—
The Moon Mage's hand shot forward, and dark energy erupted like a tidal wave, rushing toward Arlon with the force of an avalanche. But this time, Arlon didn't flinch. Gritting his teeth, he raised his hand, summoning the storm's fury.
Violet lightning erupted from his palm, crashing against the dark wave with a deafening roar. The resulting shockwave tore through the clearing, shaking the earth and scattering sparks into the air like shattered stars.
The mage's smile faltered, his glowing eyes narrowing with cold calculation. "So, the weakling has teeth after all," he murmured, his tone mocking yet laced with intrigue. He stepped closer, his movements deliberate, almost predatory.
"Let's see how long that spark of yours can hold out before I snuff it out."
The battlefield erupted in chaos as dark energy and violet lightning collided in midair, spiraling together in a violent storm of destruction. Each clash sent shockwaves rippling outward, shattering nearby trees and scorching the earth.
The air crackled with power, each strike brighter, louder, more desperate as the storm consumed the clearing.
But the Moon Mage was relentless, adapting to Arlon's rhythm, his attacks growing sharper, more focused. In a swift movement, he summoned a vortex of dark flames that spiraled around him, the heat searing through the air as he directed it toward Arlon.
Arlon planted his feet, every muscle in his body trembling as he summoned the storm's energy. His hands crackled with lightning, the air around him rippling with wind and fury. With a roar, he thrust his arms forward, the tempest colliding with the dark flames in a dazzling explosion of violet light.
Fsssh—
Panting, Arlon steadied himself, his eyes meeting the mage's.
Arlon's breaths came in ragged gasps, his limbs trembling as the weight of Ace's power bore down on him. Every move felt like dragging a storm through his veins—potent but heavy, unyielding.