Raging clashes of steel surrounded the area, vines flying, screams echoing through the beautiful land. The ground trembled as the Draymorns split up, running in different directions.
Despite the odds they had, thw battle was one-sided, The screams of ogres roaring for battle, the Geomorphs moving the earth putting holes everywhere.
In the air buzzing sounds surrounded the field as tbe Skyborn utilized the aerial field.
Using their their fast-paced movements the lizard men were using the unbalanced landscape.
Lying on the uneven ground the young master bit his lip, eyes locked on the chaos Unfolding before him-roars, vines lashing through the air with sharp crack. Is this the help she meant? The thought gnawed him, powerless to intervene, his body too weak, but his mind racing.
Crawling in the direction of the vestige, a red-haired figure stood not far from him.
"Hey... This.... Is... Our fight. "
"would you shuy it already?" the Kiroki princess and daughter of choji had also jumped from the hill top to help the young master and choji.
"i could stand up just fine, " choji chimmed, dusting off the dirt on his clothes.
The girls each wrapped the young master's hands under their shoulders, observing the distance not far from them. Zereth was standing against the vestige. The princess murmured," will he be okay? " shaking off the thought, she added, "let's go. Where in the way here."
Nodding to her, choji flashed away with them to safety.
"what is the meaning of all this?" the vestige snapped. Its voice smooth, a dangerous growl
Scanning the area the battle was almost near it's conclusion. The Draymorns were absolutely being destroyed. "this can't be happening... Arggg."
A purple aura pushed the air back As the unstable ground shattered, rocks hitting both friend and foes.
A swirl of lightning was created as the aura clashed against itself.
"Not bad for a vestige," zereth replied in kind. He busted his own aura, a darkish color never before seen, which clashed with the vestige.
The two dense auras dissappeared upon class, everything becoming still as if there wasn't a wind howling roughly. A zap rang in front of zereth and the vestige before it blew up, the wind extending all the way to the valley of meadow, destroying the beautiful terrain.
"Not bad for a vestige," Zereth replied in kind, his own aura—dark and never before seen—clashing with the vestige.
The two dense auras disappeared upon impact, everything turning as still as steel, as if there wasn't even wind howling. A zap rang out in front of Zereth and the vestige before it exploded, the wind extending all the way to the valley of the meadow, destroying the beautiful terrain.
"You are not bad," the beast exclaimed. "I will kill you and make everyone here into Draymorns and continue my march."
"A mythical being's vestige, or a talk-no-bark vestige?" Zereth added, unsheathing his sword.
"Why are you in a hurry to die?" the beast yelled, charging at Zereth.
The body unwrapped itself, thorny vines surrounding it. The beast waved a hand, and all the vines under the earth came out, now ten times the size they were, rushing at Zereth.
Standing there with his sword in hand, Zereth grinned. "Burn to ashes, Magical Flare Burst!" A ring of pure heat appeared in front of him, shooting fire at the coming vines.
"It's only normal—fire and nature are sworn enemies," he muttered, preparing himself for the next attack.
"Arggh!" The vines stood up like serpents, each having a will of its own, charging at Zereth.
"You're dead!" the beast barked, following the attack.
Zereth charged forward, leaning low to the ground. When the first vine attacked, he cut it off, going after the second.
"Arggh!"
A vine hit him in the back with enough force to send him flying.
"They can regenerate?" Zereth chimed, evading the attack of the vestige.
"You have nowhere to run to, agrha! Argha!" the beast yelled.
"Flare magic, fire bullets!" Multiple flames like bullets appeared, shooting at the beast.
"Not fast enough," the beast said, shifting to Zereth's left, controlling the bullets and directing them toward him. The small trees and the vines that were left caught fire.
Using his sonic speed, Zereth was no longer visible to the human eye.
"Where did he go?" faltered the beast, scanning the area.
"Looking for me?" Zereth declared, eyes widened with a devilish smile. Before the beast could react, Zereth slashed its back, where the vines were sticking.
"Arggh, curse you!" Absorbing the energy of the Draymorns still alive, the beast grew from seven meters easily to nine. It was now big enough to squash Zereth.
The young master and the others, feeling the energy from the beast, were stunned with fear. The battle was now still, with no surviving Draymorns. That was no good news—the monster in front of them could level them with one attack.
The young master's pride had crumbled. His hands shook, eyes twitching, his mouth widening. "We can't beat that thing…" Looking around, he saw they had the numbers, but it was not enough. "If only we could call more people…" He couldn't help but think of how foolish he was to believe he was a warrior descendant.
"We're doomed." The others were in shock; no one even heard him.
Scanning the area, he noticed that the boy standing in front of the beast wasn't scared. He wasn't wavering to begin with. "Is he smiling?"
"You are now more like a mythical beast's vestige," Zereth said, gritting the hilt of his sword.
The monstrosity in front of him kept getting stronger, with no sign of reaching its limit. The mere presence of its aura was so dense that it could easily kill a magic-born.
It was much stronger—might even be stronger than I am. No, it is stronger. This is the first time I fought a battle where death is a possible outcome.
The corners of his mouth lifted, and his teeth gleamed as his entire face brightened, as though the joy couldn't be contained within him.
Lightness in his steps, as if the weight of every burden had been lifted, leaving him completely empty.
It's funny how I don't feel fear or see myself dying; all that I feel is a sense of euphoria—like a piece of myself that has long been lost has finally been found.
[The 97th seal has been lifted.]
[The 96th seal has been lifted.]
"What's this… Impossible?" the beast groaned as the dark aura, which could easily kill a magic-born, was being sucked in like a thirsty man gulping water.
Stretching its hand, it went to eat him. Zereth stood still, not moving, showing an expression as if he had reached nirvana. The hand of the beast opened its mouth, swallowing him whole along with the ground.
"I've never seen a monster that grows in battle like that."
The arm of the beast broke, and an energy wolf, around the same height, appeared in front of the beast, which had already regenerated its arm.
"That's some handy ability there you have," Zereth remarked.
In the forehead of the wolf, inside like an autopilot, Zereth replied, "You... You should be digested by now… My acid neutralizes any form of energy. How are you still alive?"
"You mean this?" the wolf howled, releasing a mist-like substance toward the beast.
"You fool, I will regenerate. Huh? Why is it slow?" the beast lamented in pain.
"I devoured it." Crimson eyes piercing the beast, Zereth raised his sword hand, and the wolf did the same with its claws. He slashed it.
Losing both arms, the beast turned to run.
"What are you… There's no monster alive that could beat me, vestige or not. I'm the legendary mythical being, Asheeron!"
Following after it, Zereth said, "Mythical beast? Don't make fun of yourself. The Asheeron I know is just a key—a fragment of the real one who is sealed away. Someone tamed the fragment. But who?" The thoughts lingered.
As Zereth slashed the beast's legs for a minute, a boom like a mini earthquake shook everything around.
"What are you... You are an abomination that must be removed from the face of the planet," the beast said, crawling.
"I'm just an Oni. Allow me to end your suffering."
A ball of dark energy was now in his hand. "Abyss Devour." He hit the beast, and the orb grew large as the beast resisted, eating away at it until there was nothing left.
Touching his head, Zereth muttered, "What was that? Is it what they call the zone? No, it was more than that… Huff…"
"Looking at the area, we sure did a number on the place," he exclaimed, falling on his back, staring at the sky.
"Are you okay?" One of the ogres leaned in to check on him, offering a hand to help him stand. Zereth stared at the two tribe leaders at the top of the hill. We have to talk, was all he thought.
At the top of the hill, everyone was quiet. Their eyes gawking at each other. "Speak first."
"Who is that guy?" breaking the silence, the young master asked, looking at Zereth.
"I don't know. I heard he lives not far from here in Wrym," the princess replied.
"Well, this is something you clearly don't see every day. His power skyrocketed within an instant," Choji added, walking over to the main road.
"Well, it's not like a cleanup will help. The aura killed the life in the trees, so we have to depart," she lamented. "I hope everyone is safe back home."
Nodding at Choji's daughter, the young master gave a signal to leave the area.