Numeron pt 2

Shock and utter disbelief was the only thing I could even think to describe what just transpired. I turned to Kin, Virgil, and the Indigo-haired man Estarossa. With a silent nod I stepped forward clutching my snapped wand I approached the smoldering husk.
Standing up the dragon lurched forward creepily, delivering a savage blow to my jaw before I could even process what had happened.

“You think a little firework display will keep me down!??”
“No! But we will! For the people of Rose Capital and the world!”

“You seriously think you four can stop the age of darkness?” the thing chuckled softly. “Humans are a joke” It began to undulate and writhe. Its body moving in a weird almost caterpillar-like fashion. Despite the fact it was practically folding itself, his feet remained planted on the ground. It suddenly stopped, shot straight up, and shook. Its back split open from shoulder blade to lower spine. From the back shot out and unfurled two large leathery sail-sized wings. Catching onto the air it quickly rose into the sky high above the ground. From its lofty position, it gazed down at us with contempt.

“I grow weary of this….lets end this quickly”

“Yes let’s!” I shouted back. Looking up at the dragon that burning sensation rose from within me once again. Burning like the sun in all of its brilliance. Blazing like a sacrificial pyre and hotter than the flames of hell. My soul was on fire and nothing was gonna stop me. The dragon laughed.

“LET THE AGE OF DARKNESS COMMENCE!!!!” Its mouth unhinged and widened. Dropping down to its chest and flopping side to side. It hung unimportantly, waving in the chill air like a nuisance. Then came the sparks. First one then two. Then four, eight, and so on. The black sparks shot off from its mouth every second as it gathered its power. A spinning black ball began to form in its mouth. First smaller than an apple, then a grapefruit, sports ball-sized, then finally, when all was said and done the orb overshadowed his body. Leaving us to only stare at a massive pulsating rotating black sun comprised solely of malice and bloodthirst. More sparks shot from the orb. Run, run, run! RUN! RUN! RUN!! My mind continued to yell. Death isn’t worth the renown. Save your hide and get out while you can! My mind commanded. Heaving and panting and hyperventilating I tried and wrestled with my mind. All the thoughts bottled within me bubbling to the surface: Sadness, anger, guilt, remorse, and joy. All battled for supremacy inside my mind. Tackling and sprawling over one another. I held my head and dropped to the ground. Talking the talk is one thing but how the hell am I supposed to walk the walk when he pulled out that shit?

“Hon!” Kin placed a hand on my shoulder and nodded. Everyone around him nodded in agreement. “Flaemis you’re not alone”

“Son….If there’s one thing I wanna do right in my life it’s help you kill this son of a bitch!” Virgil thumped on his chest. Ol’ man Virgil, while not known for being an honest man something about his declaration felt genuine. The softness in his eyes as he half-heartedly smiled, the inflection in his voice. It all resonated with me. I couldn’t help myself I rushed over and hugged him. Wrapping my arms around my grandfather’s shoulders. His body tensed up, every muscle instinctively knew that this wasn’t normal. “You ok Flaemis?” I didn’t answer I just hugged tighter feeling the warmth of his flames. And the stillness of his breath.

“Virgil….stay out of this….I don’t wanna lose you as well”
“No!” he pushed me off and grabbed my shoulders. “Look at me Flaemis! I’ve made so many mistakes, but now I have a chance to atone. If I die, then let me die with that dignity”

“Dad!”
“D-Dad? Did you mean to say that or was it just an unconscious slip of the tongue?”
“Er….Virgil….please! I don’t”

“You can’t sway this old man….we’re killing this bastard and nipping the age of darkness in the bud”

Estarossa suddenly grabbed my shoulder and punched me in the stomach. Without warning, all the air in my lungs wheezed away and escaped. I flopped to the ground and he lorded over me. “Look! Are you gonna keep winning or are you gonna fight? Your student risked his life to give us this opportunity We have to abuse it!” He suddenly dropped the macho man attitude and sighed deeply.

“I hate you but as a wise man once said The enemy of my enemy is my friend….so I guess I’ll help you put an end to that thing” He shook his head, his long Indigo hair flowing from side to side. “But that doesn’t mean we’re suddenly friends or anything!”

“Sounds good to me, Estarossa!” pulling myself from the ground I grabbed his arm and delivered a punch to his stomach. He doubled up and crumpled to his knees. Laughing as he did. Finally, there was Kin. my husband the one I swore my life to. With a soft grasp, he held my hands and smiled. “See we’re all here for you,” he said dropping my hands and suddenly reaching out and embracing me. Pulling me into a hug, his arms wrapped around my back and his head settled against my neck. “I’m here for you….always and forever” almost as immediately as he initiated the hug he ended it grabbing my cheeks and placing his head against mine. he said those three words that make my heart flutter. Those three words he taught me so many years ago. The three little words.

“Aishi Signore Ethsa” he spoke grabbing my cheeks and pulling me into an abrupt kiss. His lips, warm, pink and soft. Placing my hands against his cheeks, I kissed him back; pulling away I turned to face the impending doom above. Death looming only feet above us yet with Kin next to me. It felt manageable. I turned towards the other mages and without a word, we all cast a spell.

I spun the wheel of fortune watching is roll round and round leaving everything in the hands of fate. Kin’emon pierced his wand into the ground shattering it and sending the splintered scattering about.

BEASTIUS: QILIN SUMMON!!

From the ground rose a massive creature. It appeared with the body of a gazelle. Horns like that of old tree bark that segmented into seven branches. As it neighed and stroked its hooves against the ground, small arches of blue lightning zipped around it. While most would think of a gazelle as being well a normal color this wasn’t. With a cold pale blue that mixed with sporadic lightning-shaped white patches. It neighed and Kin’emon mounted it sitting atop its large back awaiting the others. Estarossa closed his fists and took a deep breath. He hopped on and sat along the steed’s neck. Virgil was the next to mount. Then suddenly that same burning feeling roared to life in my stomach. Taking a look at the spinner. Leo, the Lion the aspect of fiery courage that would never yield.

ASTROGIUS: LEONIS FORTITUDO!!!!!

The spinner disappeared and Flames erupted from the ground, converging towards me and enveloping me, and changing me. As the flames dispersed, there I was Leo. A large mane constructed from a blazing inferno, saber-like teeth that protruded from my mouth, and a large bulky body complete with Paws and claws. Hoping on the steed I scowled at the slowly approaching ball of death. Racing through the air like a lightning bolt, The Dragon screamed.

“NO!!! THE AGE OF DARKNESS SHALL BE ETERNAL!!!!” He flexed its arms and legs. Bending them down several protrusions came to the surface of its skin. Before shooting out and speeding towards us. Estarossa stood up and calmly removed his hands from his pockets.

He lifted his head and his eyes glowed a bright orange hue. A gear appearing in each eye he exclaimed.

CRONOSIUS: TIME STOP 5 SECONDS!!! A field of orange energy expanded from Estarossa’s body and radiated outward. Everything touched by it froze in place. Looking over to me he smiled. “May we meet again someday” He then began to spin and jump around shooting everything with his fingers. Suddenly he landed in the air. his feet taking hold as if it was nothing more than the dirt to be walked on. “Gotta make this count” His hands then began to glow and spark with green lightning. Holding his hands together he swiped the air and a loud BANG!!! Pierced the air before stopping as it collided with the Orange barrier. TORMENTIUS 100% CHARGE: ARMAGEDDON!!! As he exclaimed the orange field faded away slowly. Time began to resume.

“This is all I can do it’s up to you now Flaemis!!!” Estarossa exclaimed as he fell to the ground below disappearing into the darkness. As he fell several bangs and pops sounded around us knocking those pesky projectiles away. Then finally an invisible projectile collided with the orb.

“YOU FOOLISH HUMANS EMPEROR NAZARICK’S REIGN IS ETERNAL!!!!!” He fired again and more of those black projectiles shot towards us. Virgil stood up clasping his hands together. A large wall made of dancing flames appeared before us. Taking the projectiles in stride but not without sustaining injury. Chips and holes as the smaller orbs shot through it.

Kin’emon grabbed my shoulder.

“It's time.”

Leaping into the air, my claws Collided with the orb. Flames of varying colors gathered around me building onto my fist. Soon my hand was a massive fiery gauntlet of varying hues. Punching against the orb I could feel all the negativity that dwelled within. The hopeless cries, the murmurings of suffering. And the wailings of those who died in tragic ways. My flames burning hotter as the fire surrounding me burned and burned. A loud crack pierced through the air, my arm began to bleed, the bone protruding my the skin. Yet Nothing would deter me now. My fist continued to grow and grow. Until what was once a small lion’s claw was now-massive with claws of equal size. As I struggled Nidhogg laughed.

“Is this all that humanity’s hope can muster?”

“Hope!? You think this is all the hope inside my body!??”
“HOPE CANNOT OVERCOME DARKNESS!!!”

“MY MAGIC BURNS THROUGH DARKNESS!!! BUT OUR MAGIC PIERCES THROUGH THE AGE OF DARKNESS” With one final push I went through, zipping through to the other side. Catching Nidhogg in the stomach with my clawed fist.

LEONIS INFERNI!!!!! I screamed one final time and then it was over. Nidhogg was defeated sliced in two. His body plummetting to the ground below. With one final smile, I turned to Kin. My magic fading as my body gave out. I too fell to the ground below.

TO BE CONCLUDED

CHAPTER 10 END!!!!!