Pull out all your reserves

‘Damn!’, Rick uttered and slightly turned his head away, wrinkling his nose. The man let out a powerful cry that shook the building which was on the verge of collapsing. Rick looked to Emilia and nodded. She then hurried to the helicopter, ready to take off. The man noticed the escape plan of the others and turned around, already bending down to prepare for his jump. But then he felt the sand underneath his feet. The sand rose forming to chains that slung themselves around the man. He grunted but his effort ended in vain.

Lastly the helicopter took off. So the man had to direct his anger at Rick who had gone into a dash. During his run he molded some sand into a scythe. He leapt up and slashed the scythe at the man who used managed to free one arm to use it as a shield. And it was a good shield for the arm didn’t severe.

‘You’ll die here!’, the man grunted.

‘Another person, well, ghoul said the same! Where is he now?’

The sand column were steadily decreasing and even the one that still stood were getting thinner as time passed. Nade was still on his legs but he was clasping his chest and his breathing had worsened. His face had gotten paler.

‘Just give up and come with me!’, Angelica ordered. However, Nade replied with the biggest smile he could muster at the moment.

‘I’m far from over, Angelica!’ He rose on arm, the arm itself partly froze. The temperature in the room dropped, fast. The ghouls had ceased their attacks because of Angelica’s intervention but their instincts were stronger than the order of Angelica and some of them made their way towards Nade.

‘I told you to do nothing!’, Angelica bellowed and beheaded the ghoul who had stepped before her. This sight scared off the rest and once again they decided to do nothing. However, here and there they would grunt at Angelica’s back. Some ghouls had even decided to retreat.

‘Be judged by the heaven!’, Nade uttered.

Rick was exchanging blows with the giant. He would use the sand to dampen the strength of the fist that here and there crashed into him. Well, his body still suffered. The man himself was clad in cuts, however, not deep enough. Then both felt it. Above their heads clouds were gathering, dark clouds. In their center a light was gathering, a blue cold light. So cold that the air around it froze. (Zahira: We must leave now! I know that attack. Back in the days of war Glacia often used it. It seems not to be on full power. Well our luck! It means we can still escape it! Hurry)

Rick glanced over to the man who was still focused on the light. Rick shot forth, gathering all his strength. The man noticed him and guarded his face. Well, for Rick’s luck that was not his goal. With one swipe of his scythe he cleaved the legs of the man. Then once again, sand formed underneath them, molded to chains that kept the man stuck to the ground. The helicopter was by now gone but Rick had seen the direction it had gone. He jumped of the building.

‘Damn, you’re getting serious, Nade. I am even getting the chills!’ (Angelica: That is more than I accepted. I can counter with my own attack, but it will cost me a lot! Damn! Then) ‘Attack him!’ The ghouls had been waiting for this very order. And so they stormed Nade. Their number was immense, truly immense. At the same time Angelica destroyed the ground underneath her. She would use the ghouls, her power and the building itself to defend from the attack. Nade was calm. (Glacia: If you’re unluck you’ll be alive after this attack and the enemy alive!) (Nade: Didn’t you want me to lose?) (Glacia: I want you to die. I have a weird feeling about this place and that also puts me in danger!)

‘Curse your bad luck, Glacia! And now let’s put an end to it! Ice Age – Heavenly Punishment – Dragon Roar!’

Rick was falling down but he used the sand , swung it around the building to stop himself from crashing into the ground. (Zahira: And now get away from this place!) Indeed, Rick saw some ghouls roam there, but they were escaping themselves and thus paying no attention to Rick. Rick didn’t question Zahira and did like she said. Still, he made sure to not be followed by a ghoul for later he would join Emilia. Just when Rick was far away the light above the building where Nade was shone stronger. Right away ice, shaped like a snake-like dragon emerged from the light and shot down. As it closed in it let out a cry and the roof where the man was still struggling to free himself froze. Then the ice dragon slammed into the building.