Amir's POV:
I felt her mana just right behind me, this time it was much stronger than the previous one I fought earlier. This time, it was the real Louison, I saw in my peripheral that she arched her right arm and was about to claw me. But, as the light, I took advantage of it, traversing myself in a speed light going on behind her. I saw her flinched as I forcefully grasped the rear of its head.
"Game over!" I said,
She just giggled. I arch my brows. I tightened my grip on its head but she didn't flinch with that force. It's my time to kill her, strike her head.
"Light Magic: Way of Peaceful Light, Light B —"
Before I finished uttering my magic, I suddenly felt something peculiar about this lady, something off again. Her body was slowly dissolving turning into dust evaporating through the air, engulfed by the smog spinning around me, compressing me inside this deathly vortex.
"Now, the game is over for you, handsome..."
This can't be! I couldn't lose from her, I needed to make a move to escape this vortex.
Amir, this is still the combination of its two domains —
I know! What should I do it keeps compressing. Look at it now, it's turning into a vortex! It will kill me.
But this magic will affect your system.
I don't care! Do it!
You're compulsive, Amir!
The vortex is getting tight and tinier. The poisonous purple smog and rose petals started brushing off my skin, it burns and sores. Plus, my right hand was numb and purplish, the toxins gradually mounting up my chest part.
"... But, don't worry. I won't kill you if only you surrender and then let me win this duel," She voices out.
"In your dreams," I uttered.
"Well, If that's so...your death is coming!" She responded.
All set, Amir! Let's switch up.
It's too late.
I slowly shut my eyes while amid death as I am engulfed by the vortex, I can feel the poisons brushing off my skin and slowly entering my body, the pain, burning throughout my system. I felt numb and couldn't move any of my muscles. Body parts started to malfunction, blood flow gradually stopped, loss of breath, heartbeat stopped, and all darkness...
"Amir, the opposite of darkness; the light. The symbol of goodness, clarity, prosperity, and hope..."
Our Hope.
I saw a glimpse of light, appeared in the pitch darkness. The lights uttering my name, I heard it as soon as I gained back consciousness.
Amir! Wake up!
Am I alive?
Yes, you're alive.
Am I?
I lived, you lived. You lived, I lived. I am the power, you are the vessel. Remember that?
What just happened?
It's done! She's been defeated by light.
I gradually opened my eyes and saw a glimpse of the blue sky as I was lying down on the ground. I leaned my arms so that I could angle myself; the arm was fully healed and glanced around, and to my delight, I saw Louison lying down on the ground, unconscious. I gradually stood up from the ground and walked forward Louison.
"Louison," I uttered, she gradually moved and at that moment I moved back away from her.
"Y-you! T-that was...st-strong," She utterly mumbled, even if stuttering.
I actually couldn't remember what happened that moment, it is because I was engulfed by her power and almost choked up to death. But, lucky that I was by my power of light.
"Well, I admit that you're strong also, I almost died because of your combo," I uttered,
I held my arms at her to stand up. She grabbed it too and pulled her to stand.
"Such a gentleman," She said.
"Now, the deal," I said.
"Oh? The deal! Well, you beat me, so, I'll have to be fair. We'll leave," She said.
We? So, it means that it's not just her. Where's the other one?
"We?"
"Yes! At the moment, he was having a battle with your other friends."
It was Marcus and Cleb who were having a battle with her comrade.
"What?"
"Don't worry, I'll take him with me! But soon enough when we meet again..."
"...Let's have another round,"
I arch a smirked. Another round.
"Okay, if that's what you want. But, surely enough when we meet soon, I'm not going second thoughts to cutting your head off!" I said.
"Oh! Let's see about that, I'll make sure that I'll be much stronger than you!" She said. Arms over her chest.
I took sighed a gaze at her
"Now, leave."
She waved goodbye at me while backing away and slowly vanished like amog.
"See you again, handsome! Corpiones! Let's go!"
Marcus POV:
"Scorpion Demon Curse: Venomous Scorpiones; Hundred Thousand Curses..." He said,
We both looked at each other as soon as we heard a rumbling sound on the ground. It didn't go as planned.
"Change of plans..." I said and gazed at Cleb
"Takbooooo!!!" Cleb yelled.
I and Cleb run down the first floor of the colonial house. This one is dangerous, we don't have enough mana to counter his curse. That thousands of venomous scorpions crawling after us was too much to handle. As we reached the stairs, down to the first floor, we were aghast when we saw Corpiones standing over there with a menacing smile pinned on his lips. We pulled back to the right wing of the alley but a bunch of scorpions crawling towards us, I arched my sword and uttered both my Invisible Flame and Blaze Cut, yet, it only had nominal damage to them, we couldn't go back to the left wing since we came there earlier, scorpions were waiting for us there.
"Marcus! Ano na?!" Cleb uttered.
"Okay, okay! I'll try! Cover me as long as you can" I responded.
"Sige!" He said, then uttered his double magnetic axe from both alley wings.
I took a deep breath. I'll try despite the disturbances of these scorpions.
Lady Fire! I need your help.
What is it, my lord?
The Dragon Breath.
But, my lord! You still can't fully possess the full form of Dragon Breath, you're not yet strong enough to wield it. At this moment, your sword couldn't contain the Dragon Breath; in Full Form, it will thaw your blade.
But, we already achieved it, right? Remember that at the camp?
Yes, but that was not the perfect form, and you almost burned yourself after that.
I don't care! let's do it right now.
As you wish!
"Marcus!!!" Cleb shouted,
I slowly opened my eyes, I felt the presence of the magic form running through my veins transmitting to the blade. My gaze pinned at Corpiones, devilishly grinning. I can see in my peripheral the thousands of scorpions forwarding us, but with gratitude to Cleb's sloppy attacks, at least he manages to damage and distract the scorpions. I arch my sword straight upward, above the head level, grasping it with both arms, the magic flows through the wielded blade — I can feel it. I slightly swung the sword at my rear to emphasize the attack and arched it forcefully, pivoting and shifting it right in front; steam was emitted followed by an intense blaze releases after I arched it through the bunch of scorpions, the blaze only formed into a dragon head — which is supposed to be a total dragon form if only if I can access its full form.
"Fire Magic: Dragon Breath, Head Fire!"
A catastrophic blazing fire heads toward the mobs of scorpions, and gradually burns them, taking a lot of damage to the hallway. I took another hit from the other alley too.
"Woohoo! Lakas 'nun! " Cleb uttered in thrill.
I took my gaze at Corpiones who appeared that didn't even flinch with my new magic. I arch my sword at him, and uttered the Dragon Breath; Head Fire. He dodged it by climbing up the wall and jumping over us with pincer and stinger, angled at us. I was about to counter him but in no time my leg got cramps, I was unable to move that instant, but luckily enough, Cleb was there to save the moment, he saw me that I bent my knee a bit, and made the sword stick into the floor for me to grasp and leaned on it. He jumps over with his axes to tackle Corpiones and crashes with each other.
"Marcus! Kung kaya mo pang tumakbo, takbo na!" He said while clashing with Corpiones.
"What about you?"
"Kaya ko na 'toh! Ikaw atupagin mo sarili mo! Pinulikat pa nga!" He added.
But I insisted, even though I had my leg cramps for a moment It didn't bother me unsheathed the sword off the floor and uttered a magic.
"Cleb! Duck!" I commanded him to duck over. As I uttered the Invisible Flaming Blade. He ducked after I commanded him. Corpiones didn't catch that attack which made him too late to respond to it and cut off its stinger.
Arghh! Screamed in harm.
"You!!! Scorpion Demon Curse: Venomous... — " He didn't finish his curse, it's because he stopped uttering it.
We were confused that time, I and Cleb looked at each other in puzzlement.
"Well, someone's calling me back! You just got lucky this time!" He uttered, The stinger slowly regenerated. He backed away from the dark corridor and slowly vanished from the darkness.
"What was that?" I said,
Cleb shrugged.
"Aba'y ewan ko! Naduwag 'ata! Hayaan mo na, kahit papano nakaligtas tayo sa kanya!" He reacted.
"Maybe, but somethings off..." I said.
"Ayos lang 'yon! Ikaw? Pinulikat ka pa, kaya mo pang lumakad o gusto mo buhatin na kita?!" He said, proposing to carry me back.
I rejected.
"No thanks! Come on, let's go back!" I said.
Amir's POV:
"How are they, Li?" I uttered, as Li was busy taking care of the injured warriors.
This guy has mastered his skills, he almost healed half of the warriors' numbers.
"They are fine now, they just need some rest," He replied. I look at him, he looks exhausted.
"You okay? I think you also need rest, you look exhausted." I uttered, concerned.
"No, I'm okay! Mukha ba akong pagod!?" Li urged, pointed himself then smiled.
I just shook my head up and down. I left him there and walked forward to the man whom I'd noticed earlier before the fight with Louison.
"Hi, Are you feeling okay now?" I uttered, the man took his gaze at me and then nodded down.
"I've noticed you earlier, you seem bothered. That's why I came here to tell if you're okay," I said,
"The casualties, Did those monsters do this?" I added.
Heads down, mumbling.
"Mga halimaw...s-si...la...ang m-may pakana nito, M-mahal na Prinsipe!" He raised his head and gazed at me with eyes in frightened.
"It's okay! You're all safe! I mean — most of you were saved by Li itself, yet, some didn't survive the poisons and venoms and we apologize for that!" I uttered.
"Are you one of the thirteen offspring of power? J-just like... Marcus Maximo?" He asked.
I nodded.
The Maximo Clan is one of the three elite clans of warriors here in Bhaltair Village. People born here most likely know those names; Fuego, Estelle, and Maximo.
"W-where is Marcus? He's not safe here! They are coming for him! T-they after him!" He uttered voice cracking, startled and struggling to stand. I grabbed both arms and pinned him against the wall to calm him down.
"Hey, hey! Calm down! What do you mean they are after Marcus Maximo?" I asked.
He is breathing heavily, shaking.
"You need to calm down for a moment, okay? Calm down. Once you do, speak! Okay!" I emitted in authority.
I turned to Li who was still occupied. I took a deep sigh.
"You stay here, I'm gonna go check my friend there, okay?!" I said, and he nodded right after. I raised and walked towards Li.
"Li! Are you done?" As soon as I reached out.
Li turned around at me.
"Why? You need something?" He replied.
"The man right there earlier. He seems bothered and I need your help." I said.
He took a deep sigh and stood up.
"Okay, nasaan ba siya?" He asked.
I gently grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the man across.
"Speak!" I urged the man. Li secretly pinched me at my waist. I flinched and scratched it, after.
"Uhm, kumusta? ayos na po ba kayo? ano po pangalan niyo?" Li gently uttered.
"Makoto, ako si Makoto. Level four warrior ng Bhaltair," He responded.
I and Li gazed at each other and turned back at him to continue interrogating him.
"Maaari niyo po bang isalaysay ang mga pangyayaring naganap dito, Makoto?" Li asked.
He nodded and started speaking.
"Mayroon kaming paghahandang ginagawa para sa paparating na giyera sa Stone Gate, ito ay sa pamumuno ni Malvar Maximo at Eonu Estelle. Habang abala kami sa paghahanda, biglang nagpakita ang dalawang halimaw na may kakaibang lakas at anyo, hinahanap ang Neelam at si Marcus Maximo. Sinalakay kami, hindi kami nakapaghanda kaagad ng atake, kaya ito 'yong sinapit namin. Ito ang sinapit ng Bhaltair."
War at the Stone Gate? It's been weeks since I left Qill's Palace for my mission and couldn't attain some updates this past week, in every crisis that is happening in the realm, the Palace gets the first information about it. I wonder if there's more to it. After this, I will go back to the Palace and take back my responsibility as a Prince.
"War? There's an incoming war at the Stone Gate?"
He nodded.
"Sino? Anong pinagmulan? Paano nagsimula? The War? Tell us everything!" Li emitted,
"And how did they know about Marcus?" I added. Li gazes at me, confused.
"Marcus?"
"Yes! Now, tell us everything!"
"The Stone Gate, lugar kung saan natatago ang mga likas na yaman ng Haiyan, ginto't pilak, tanso, at mga antigo. Pinagbabawalan ang sinuman pumunta doon dahil sa isa ito sa maharlika't pribadong lugar ng Haiyan. Ang Haring Amadon ay nagtalaga na bantayan namin ang Stone Gate dahil sa may nababalitaang may mga tulisan na tinatangkang buksan ang Stone Gate sa pamamagitan ng Dark Magic na pinaniniwalaang ang majikang ito ay nagmula pa sa Witchantra. Ang mga tulisan ay nagmula mismo sa Raiyan, nainkwentro namin sila nakaraang linggo at sinabi nilang may kukunin sila sa loob ng Stone Gate na pagmamay-ari ng Raiyan at kapag pinilit namin silang pigilan na makapasok sa Stone Gate ay bubuo sila ng giyera laban sa atin. Hanggang sa dumating ang isa araw, sinabi na lang nina Malvar at Eonu na kailangan naming maghanda sa paparating na digmaan sa Stone Gate. Pero ito ang sinapit ng paghahanda namin, bigla kaming sinalakay ng mala-halimaw na anyo at lakas, hinahanap ang Neelam at si Marcus."
"Ba't nila hinahanap si Marcus?" Li asked.
"Hindi ko alam, pero kilala nila si Marcus,"
"Ang Neelam, may sinabi ka ba?" Li added.
He nodded.
"What did you say?!" I uttered.
"Hinahanap nila Neelam dito, ang sabi namin wala dito ang Neelam na sa kay Master Ki Bou ang bato at wala kaming alam kung nasaan si Master Ki Bou."
I took a deep sigh of relief as he didn't mention the camp.
"Good," I said.
I turned my gaze to Li.
"Li, let's talk about this once Marcus and Cleb arrived," I uttered.
Li nodded.
- END.